This Is Not Goodbye

Just because the quarter is coming to a close, does not mean that my sustainability efforts are coming to an end!

Previous: 4.7 Planets

 If everyone lived like I do, we would need 4.7 Planet Earths to provide enough resources.  At 42%, my largest area of impact was in the service category.  This was followed by food at 23%, goods at 20%, mobility at 10% and shelter at 5%.  

New: 4.5 Planets

If everyone lived like I do, we would need 4.5 Planet Earths to provide enough resources.  At 44%, my largest area of impact was in the service category.  This was followed by food at 30%,  goods at 18%, shelter at 5% and mobility at 3%.

My footprint was reduced, however, only slightly.  I think that these changes can be attributed to a more thorough survey response on my part because I better understood my sustainability habits.  But I don't think that this survey is very accurate in measuring all sustainability efforts because the changes that I chose to make were not evaluated.  

The changes I chose to make were as followed:

1. I will always bring reusable grocery bags to the store.

2. I will learn exactly what items can and cannot be recycled in order to properly dispose of them.

3. I will only use reusable cups and water bottles.

I thought that these would be easy habits to undertake, however, it proved to be a bit more difficult.  While I definitely made the effort, I could not seem to remember be bring reusable grocery bags to the store EVERY TIME or ONLY use reusable cups and water bottles.  These changes may not be irreversible habits yet, but I am certainly more aware of the choices I make, the things I buy and the things I throw away.  

Half way through the quarter, I made some additional goals which included:

1. Turning off the lights when not in use

2. Composting

These goals were easy to implement and I am pleased to say that I am staying strong.

Lastly, I have been doing almost all of my grocery shopping at the co-op which is just a few blocks away from my house, so I'm able to walk!  I absolutely love it and am able to find a lot more local and organic options.  But the other day while I was shopping, I forgot to bring my reusable bag!! I felt as though everyone was judging me as they watched me place all of my groceries into two tiny paper bags.  I left there shifting the bags around from arm to arm and began my walk home.  Not a minute later,  it started to POUR down rain completely soaking me and my bags until they tore and my groceries tumbled to the ground in front of my house!  It was as if the sustainability gods were punishing me and since then I have not forgotten my reusable bags!!

I am very thankful for the class and believe that it should be a required course for all college students.  While there is much more to be done, I feel much more aware of my environmental impact and will encourage sustainable practices especially where they are easy to implement!

There is not a simple fix but we can all do our part, however small!

Biodegradable Sneakers

What do I do with my old sneakers?  Everybody asks it but nobody has a good answer.  Oftentimes old shoes are thrown out or left in the back of your closet but is there a better way to dispose of the item?  Disposal is frequently the most difficult and harmful part of the product life cycle because the manufacturer has little, if any, control over the use of the product once it is in the hands of the consumer.  But one Amsterdam-based shoe company, OAT shoes, decided to design a shoe that fixes the disposal problem!  A biodegradable sneaker!  OAT shoes combines "...attractive style and biodegradable materials to produce sneakers that not only look good, but leave no mark on the environment when you throw them out. Bury them in the garden, woods or compost, water regularly and flowers will bloom from your old kicks!"  Beth Buczynski

Similar to deciding between convenience or price versus being green, if you want to be a successful sustainable business, you can't make your customer choose--in this case, being green or stylish!

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/biodegradable-sneakers-could-revolutionize-sustainable-fashion.html

Sustainable Apparel Coalition Launched

Aware of its tremendous negative impact, the fashion industry is making efforts towards implementing sustainable businesses practices.  A group of 30 organizations, including retail companies, apparel and shoe manufacturers, fashion houses, non-profits and the EPA got together and created the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) in order to help lessen the environmental footprint left by the clothing industry.  

All the way through the product life cycle and supply chain of fashion, harmful practices are used and dangerous toxins released into our environment.  Industry leaders in sustainability Nike, Gap Inc, H&M, Levi Strauss, Marks & Spencer, and Patagonia, to name a few, are designing improved strategies and tools for measuring bettered operation in hopes of inspiring others to do their part as well.

"The Coalition's purpose at a higher level has two goals. First, the member organizations will develop plans to soften the apparel industry's impact on water and industry consumption, while making commitments to improved waste diversion and the reduction in the use of chemicals. To that end, the Coalition's members will work with industry peers and supply chain partners to achieve the fullest possible life cycle transparency for clothing. Meanwhile, the SAC seeks to ensure that workplaces throughout the apparel industry adopt fair employment practices and a safe working environment, while eliminating any exposure to toxic chemicals.

Second, the Coalition will develop a metrics-based tool that will assist companies in the measurement of their environmental and social impacts. For now described as the Version 1.0 Apparel Index, the tool works similarly to Nike's Apparel Environmental Design Tool and the Outdoor Industry Association's Eco Index. Besides offering an assessment on companies' usages of energy, water, and chemicals, the index will also evaluate products' entire life cycles. Companies will be able to measure their performance, compare them to their peers, and receive guidelines and resources for how they can improve their performance all such metrics. The Apparel Index is slated to launch next month."

Leon Kaye for www.guardian.co.uk

How To Inspire Going Green? Make It Cool!

In order to help increase awareness of the green movement and get people on board (especially younger demographics), it is crucial to find a way to "make it cool." Many celebrities are doing their part, take a look:

Local Businesses Doing Their Part

I was sitting at Boundary Bay Brewery the other night when I looked to my right to find the following sign on the wall:

Serving water by request-only seems a very small effort in sustainability but every drop counts and helps restaurants save gallons of water a day.  More businesses should adopt this practice as a standard.

Other simple water saving ideas for businesses:

•  low-flow showerheads
• 1.0 gallon aerators
• 1.6 gpm dishwashing valves
• low-flow toilets
• waterless urinals

sbwater.org

Sustainable Progress #2

Well, some of these goals are proving hard to keep, however I have without trouble, began a few new positive practices.  These include both turning off the lights whenever they are not in use (it's surprising how easy it is to do, yet how often they are pointlessly left on) and starting a compost bin.  My roommates and I turned an old coffee container into a compost bin just a few weeks ago and it is proving to be worth our while.  Yes, some maintenance is required, however it is very little compared to its payoff.  

I spoke with Carol Berry this past week and she stated that relatively, very little should be disposed of as landfill waste, what with the use of recycling and compost.  

I am pleased with the progress I've made and believe that these changes will be permanent.  Because I am more aware of my surroundings and the harm we are creating, I can see what adjustments I need to make in order to properly reduce my carbon footprint and save our future.

Recycled Clothing

Don't know what to do with your empty candy wrappers or old newspapers?  Make a dress!!

Don't know how?  Well at least marvel at those who do!

 espresso foil bags

 Newspaper

Banned Speedo LZR Swimsuits

 600 Peanut M&M Wrappers

 Bicycle Inner Tubes and Wool

 Automotive Radiator Copper

1,000 Paper Cranes

Photos courtesy of treehugger.com