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At first glance, your Kindle might seem like a no-frills reading device: straightforward, minimal, and focused on the basics. Kind of like an actual book, huh?But beneath its simple exterior lies a surprising range of features, tools, and tricks designed to make reading smoother, smarter, and more enjoyable.So, whether youre a seasoned reader or new to Kindle, here are five hidden gems to take your reading experience to the next level.Double-Tap to Turn Pages[Gif: Doug Aamoth]Amazon may have killed off physical buttons, theres a new feature that might help ease the pain.If youve got the most recent Kindle Paperwhite or the new Kindle Colorsoft, you now have access to double-tap functionalityavailable with the 5.18.1 update that dropped in March.It lets you turn pages with two quick taps to the side or back of your Kindle, making one-handed reading a far easier endeavor.Once your Kindle is updated to version 5.18.1, go to Settings > Device Options and toggle on Double Tap to Page Turn.Pinch to Adjust Font Size[Photo: Doug Aamoth]Im embarrassed that I didnt know about this sooner and, frankly, shocked I never did it by accident.For the aging-eyed among us, theres no need to dig track down your cheaters or dig through settings to change text size. Just pinch, baby.To try this, use two fingers to pinch or spread apart on the screen while reading. Itll instantly adjusting the font sizeeasy as that.Send-to-Kindle for Easy File Sharing[Photo: Doug Aamoth]One of my favorite features lets you can transform your Kindle into an all-in-one reading hub by sending documents, PDFs, and even web articles directly to it.Locate your Kindle email address in Settings > Your Account > Send-to-Kindle Email, and then email files to that address. Theyll soon appear in your library after syncing.You can also use the Chrome browser extension for web articles to streamline the process. And you can go to Amazon.com/MyK to customize your Send-to-Kindle email address to make it easier to remember.Export Notes and Highlights[Photo: Doug Aamoth]If you make use of the note-taking and highlighting features, Kindle makes it easy to export your musings via email.To use this feature, tap the top of the screen while reading and select the Notes and Highlights icon in the upper-right corner, which looks like a little notebook. From there, tap the share icon in the upper-right corner and youll find the option to email your notes to yourself or someone elsejust follow the prompts to complete the process.Whispersync for Voice[Photo: Audible]Why choose between reading and listening when you can do both?Whispersync for Voice enables seamless transitions between the Kindle version of a book and its Audible counterpart.Purchase both versions of a book with Whispersync compatibility, open it, and tap Switch to Audio or let the Kindle automatically sync your position between formats.You can also use Amazons Matchmaker feature, which scans your Kindle library and offers a discount price for to add audio to audio-compatible books.
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E-Commerce
The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. April is Earth Month and that means all I want to do is talk about plastic. Last August, I learned of a new study that revealed that the human brains studied were nearly 0.5% plastic by weight. Let that sink in. Plastic has infiltrated our bodies so thoroughly that its likely now a measurable part of our minds. Shouldnt our brains just be, well, brain matter? How did we get here? For decades, weve been misled about plastic. Those blue recycling bins and chasing-arrow symbols gave us the illusion that the plastic we use is being recycled and repurposed. In reality, only 5-6% of plastic in the U.S. is actually recycled, depending on the municipality. The rest? Some of it is incinerated, releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere. The majority is either buried in landfills or, worse, left to break down into microplastics and nanoplastics that now contaminate our environmentand our bodies. And even that small percentage of plastic that does get recycled? After just one or two cycles, it, too, ends up as waste. But the crisis isnt just environmental anymoreits personal. Plastic pollution is now a major concern for our human health. Microplastics havent just been found in our brains; theyve been found in our blood, breast milk, placentas, testicles, and arteries. These arent harmless splinters floating through our systemstheyre petrochemical-based materials that can leach toxins into our bodies, potentially increasing risks for serious health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Recycling isnt the answer When I decided to join Grove Collaborative, I had just read a book by William McCaskill that highlighted the importance of long-termismhow we should aspire to make decisions that are not just right today, but for future generations. This becomes more acute in parenthood (Im a lucky father of three), where I quickly realized its not about me and us, but about kidsmine and othersand future generations. We are surrounded by plastic, a petrochemical product that never biodegrades and instead breaks down into microplastics that live inside all of usforever! As a business leader, I also feel an immense responsibility. The consumer products industry that Im part of helped create this problem. For years, businesses assured consumers that plastic was fine and that recycling would solve the issue. But now we know that assurance turned out to be a lie. So what do we do now? A path forward First, we need to educate ourselves and others. The more we understand about how plastic affects our planet and our personal health, the more we can push for change. As each study comes out, we learn more about the impact of microplastics on our environment, but also our own health. Scientists, journalists, and researchers are increasingly sounding the alarm. Now its time for businesses and consumers alike to listen. Second, we must reduce our plastic consumption wherever possible. While going 100% plastic-free is nearly impossible (believe me, weve tried at Grove Collaborative), striving for progress rather than perfection is key. Small, mindful choices add up. When shopping for personal care, cleaning supplies, or food storage, opt for refillable or reusable formats, concentrated formulas, or materials with higher recycling rates, such as aluminum, glass, bamboo, or paper. Lean into the circular economy and repurpose items where you can by thrifting or shopping with Goodwill or ThredUp, and avoid companies like Temu and Shein that push fast fashion and consumerism. However, lets be clear: This crisis cannot be solved by individuals alone. Industry must step up. As CEO of Grove Collaborative, Im proud to lead a company committed to offering sustainable everyday essentials. Since our founding, weve focused on creating and curating brands that go beyond the normproducts are better for the planet without sacrificing performance. We’ve championed plastic reduction initiatives, but our mission is evolving. Packaging matters, but whats inside the packaging matters just as much. Weve long held ourselves to a higher standard when it comes to both ingredients and materials. Now, were deepening our commitment to educating consumers on why both are crucialnot just for environmental sustainability, but for human health as well. This approach goes against conventional business wisdom. The old saying goes, You need to walk the walk before you talk the talk. Too often, businesses master the art of talking without truly walking. We need more companies to be transparentnot just about their sustainability claims but about their actual impact. Consumers deserve to know whats in their products, how theyre made, and the consequences of their production choices. This is not about corporate altruism. Its about businessand the future of it. Millions of consumers are actively seeking healthier, more sustainable alternatives. The market is demanding change. Were ready to meet that demand. Will you join us? Jeff Yurcisin is CEO of the Grove Collaborative.
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E-Commerce
The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. PFAS contamination is everywhere: clothing, household products, even the water we drink. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), aka forever chemicals, are engineered to last, making them commonplace in manufacturing but devastating to human health and the environment. While regulators scramble to set new limits, traditional water treatment methods arent keeping up. For industry, this is an environmental crisis and a business imperative. Investing in PFAS removal and destruction technologies can help the industries contributing to PFAS contamination mitigate risks, open new markets, keep pace with regulations, and earn trust in an era where sustainability and operational efficiency are key business drivers. The true cost of inaction Studies suggest that PFAS has contaminated almost 50% of the U.S. tap water supply. These chemicals are linked to a growing list of health risks, including cancers and chronic diseases. Many global institutions have recently taken regulatory action. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed stringent limits for PFAS in drinking water. Meanwhile, the European Union is considering a near-total PFAS ban in consumer products. But PFAS contamination isnt just a regulatory headache, its also a massive financial burden. One report estimates that decontaminating Europe from PFAS could cost at least 100 billion annually and 2 trillion over two decades. In the U.S., the EPA projects that public drinking water systems will need $1.5 billion per year to meet proposed PFAS limits. The American Water Works Association suggests that cost could exceed $3.8 billion annually, and thats for just two PFAS compounds (PFOA and PFOS) out of thousands. Beyond drinking water, recent studies expose another major PFAS concern: wastewater and sludge. Treated wastewater, often considered safe for reuse, has been found to still carry significant levels of PFAS. Even more concerning is the widespread practice of using treated sewage sludge as farm fertilizer. The EPA has warned that PFAS in sludge can contaminate crops, soil, and groundwater, creating a direct pathway from industrial chemical waste to the food we eat. Industries from agriculture to consumer goods face supply chain disruptions, product recalls, and legal battles over PFAS exposure. This is a problem that cant be ignored. The question isnt whether businesses should act, its whether they can afford not to. Why industry leadership is essential Government action alone isnt enough to tackle PFAS contamination effectively. The private sectors speed, resources, and innovation are crucial to addressing PFAS contamination. Public utilities and municipalities often lack the funding and technical expertise to implement cutting-edge solutions on their own. Businesses, especially those in water treatment, chemical manufacturing, and waste management, have both the responsibility and capability to lead the charge in PFAS decontamination. This leadership goes beyond compliance and represents a real opportunity. Companies that invest in next-generation PFAS treatment technologies will be well-positioned to meet growing demand from a range of stakeholders seeking to reduce their environmental footprint. Proactive companies can also shape industry standards, influence policy, and build reputations as sustainability leaders. Current solutions are falling short Many existing PFAS treatment methods are simply shifting the problem elsewhere. Most treatments remove the forever chemicals from water but create a new problem: concentrated waste. This waste is often incinerated or landfilled, practices that are costly, energy-intensive, and environmentally risky. In some cases, utilities transport PFAS-contaminated waste across state lines for disposal. This effectively increases costs and emissions and shifts the contamination burden from one community to another, without solving the core problem. The real solution? Destroying PFAS at its source. The business case for on-site PFAS destruction Emerging technologies like electrochemical oxidation and micro-foam fractionation can eliminate PFAS at the molecular level rather than just concentrating and relocating it. These technologies offer a dual advantage: environmental safety and economic efficiency. By treating PFAS on site, companies reduce the risk of these toxic substances re-entering the environment and provide a cost-effective solution for municipalities and industrial users. For industries that rely on water (manufacturing, energy, pharmaceuticals), adopting these technologies is about more than complianceits about resilience. The time to lead is now A world in which PFAS no longer contaminates our food, water, or ecosystems is within reach. It requires bold industry action, leadership, and innovation. The fight against PFAS isnt confined to one sector; it demands collaboration across industries, from fashion and pharmaceuticals to agriculture and water management. By investing in sustainable water technologies, companies can create new markets and this will drive economic growth. Most importantly, this investment will safeguard public health. The PFAS crisis is here. Its global and its growing, but it is solvable. The question is not whether companies should address PFAS, but how fast they are willing to lead. With the right combination of innovation, investment, and accountability, businesses can turn the tide on PFAS pollution. Industry players who act now will be at the forefront of a cleaner and safer future, one that is more sustainable. Prakash Govindan is cofounder and COO of Gradiant.
Category:
E-Commerce
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