According to Amazon, plastic air pillows are no longer used in its warehouses. In a blog post on October 9, the e-commerce behemoth stated, "As of October 2024, we've removed all plastic air pillows from our delivery packaging used at our global fulfillment centers." After years of pressure from environmental organizations to prevent plastic garbage from entering the water, this is a good shift. In its packaging, the corporation is still trying to use fewer single-use plastics overall.



In a statement following Amazon's announcement, Matt Littlejohn, senior vice president of strategic projects at the NGO Oceana, stated, "It is great news for the world's oceans that the largest e-commerce company in the world has made plastic air pillows history globally." According to Oceana, plastic film, the substance that goes into those once-commonplace air pillows, is the most common form of plastic waste found close to beaches. For huge mammals like whales and dolphins that might consume it, that film is also the "deadliest" kind of plastic pollution, according to Oceana.




Amazon’s announcement comes after it pledged in June to get rid of plastic air pillows in North America by the end of the year. The company swapped out plastic air pillows and single-use delivery bags for paper and cardboard alternatives in Europe in 2022. It also ditched plastic film packaging at its facilities in India in 2020.


The US is Amazon’s largest market, and the company hasn’t managed to fully eliminate plastic packaging in North America just yet. It says it plans to reduce the amount of deliveries containing “Amazon-added plastic delivery packaging” in North America to just one-third of shipments by December, down from two-thirds in December 2023.




Amazon says it's getting rid of plastic air pillows





The evolution of libraries has been rapid in recent years as digital platforms become a central part of modern life. Access to an entire world of literature is no longer bound by geography or physical limits. With just a few clicks readers can dive into books across genres, time periods and languages. Find and explore your favorite authors on Zendy where the variety of stories waiting to be discovered is endless. Now more than ever the stories of the world are right at your fingertips.





The Advantages of Digital Libraries

The rise of digital libraries has transformed the reading experience in ways unimaginable just a few decades ago. No longer do readers need to worry about carrying heavy books or being in one location to access the knowledge they seek. With a digital library your personal collection can be stored on your phone or laptop giving you access to thousands of books wherever you are. Moreover many digital libraries provide features like search functions, bookmarks and customizable reading preferences that make reading a seamless experience.



Another important benefit is the democratization of information. Digital libraries bring access to materials that might have been previously difficult to obtain. Rare historical texts, international fiction and niche genres are all just a few clicks away. This accessibility has leveled the playing field for researchers, students and casual readers alike offering vast possibilities for exploration.



Other benefits are:

● Instant Access: With digital libraries there is no waiting time between discovering a book and diving into it. This immediate access has revolutionized how we approach reading.

● Portability: A digital library fits in your pocket. Whether you are traveling or just commuting you can bring an entire library with you wherever you go.

● Customizable Features: Many platforms let you adjust text size font and background making reading comfortable for everyone.

● Search and Find: Quickly locating a specific passage or keyword is easy with digital libraries. This makes research more efficient.

● Sustainability: By opting for digital resources readers reduce the need for physical paper contributing to environmental preservation.





The Types of Digital Libraries Available

There are different kinds of digital libraries that suit various needs and preferences. Some libraries focus on academic texts and research materials which are indispensable for students and professionals. Others aim to provide popular fiction non-fiction and even multimedia content. Zendy for instance offers a wide variety of books covering countless subjects making it a hub for casual readers and scholars alike.



Subscription-based platforms offer exclusive content and benefits like early access to new releases. Some also feature audiobooks catering to those who prefer listening over reading. Publicly funded libraries have also started offering digital memberships where users can borrow e-books for a set period much like they would with physical books. These different models ensure that everyone finds what they are looking for.





A Global Community of Readers

One of the most significant impacts of digital libraries is how they have created global communities. As readers worldwide access the same stories in real-time conversations about those books now transcend national and cultural boundaries. Reading has become a shared experience enabling discussions and deeper connections with others from different walks of life.



In this interconnected world readers have never been more empowered to discover and share their love for books. Whether you are uncovering a classic for the first time or rediscovering a favorite tale from childhood the options are endless. Digital libraries are bridging gaps and allowing more people to engage in the wonderful world of storytelling.



How Digital Libraries Are Putting the World’s Stories Right on Your Screen




 Google Docs is getting tabs to help with organization and finding information in lengthy documents. Although it might take a few weeks to emerge, the functionality, which was first revealed in April, is now progressively being made available to all Google Workspace users as well as personal Google accounts. In its most recent Workspace upgrade, Google declared that "you can now use tabs to draft and build content in a way that makes it possible for you to find what you're looking for quickly and stay on task." "Moreover, readers can easily scan your document and concentrate on the sections that are most important to them."




The bullet-point icon in the top-left corner of the document screen on the Gdocs desktop online editor can be used to access tabs. When hovered over, the sign that read "show document outline" now reads "Show tabs & outlines," giving users the ability to add and manage multiple tabs, including subtabs to create customisable categories. For instance, Google advises users to make a "budget" tab with subtabs for particular costs like transportation and meals.





Up to three levels of nested subtabs can be added using this feature. To create a subtab, drag a tab into another tab to make it automatically become a subtab, or choose "Add subtab" from the tab settings menu. Users can give each tab and subtab a distinct label and emoji to instantly identify them. When a document has two or more tabs, the tab navigation menu will open by default. Users can click the three dots next to each tab to share links to individual tabs.




Renaming, copying, and deleting tabs are among the tab editing features that are exclusive to people with editor access to the document. In suggestion mode, tabs can be viewed and navigated but not changed otherwise.

Google Docs Introduces New Tabs Feature for Seamless Information Organization Within a Single Document