Sustainability- it’s not just about straws
A sustainable future starts with baby steps that we can all begin today! For me, one of those steps is the start of this blog. I hope you will join me on this journey towards learning more about sustainability to advocate for a future supportive of a symbiotic community and ecosystem.
The fast-paced modern lifestyle presents us with many choices on how to live, but it can often encourage complacency with the strong influence of media and culture. I think, we as humans, often cherish our family and home but do not apply that same sentiment towards the planet earth and humankind. When thinking about the present and towards the future, it is our civic duty to do what is right, which translates to living a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, equally conscientious of ourselves and our environment.
This conversation begins with asking one seemingly simple question, What is ‘sustainability’?
The truth is that there is no simple answer. We could debate this at length, however, simply, sustainability can be defined through the following scope:
Sourcing: raw materials must be renewable resources (i.e., biomass) meaning that they are plentiful and easily replenished
Processing: the use of economically and environmentally efficient manufacturing processes, utilizing ethical human labor, minimizing animal testing
End of life: products must have the ability to be composted/biodegraded into environmentally benign materials or reprocessed/recycled into new usable products
This only scratches the surface of sustainability but can be a starting point towards dissecting the sustainable aspects of consumer products.
I want this blog to be the beginnings of a discussion of my journey towards minimizing my waste and consumption. I am learning new ways everyday of how I can better support my community and also how it can support me. I would love to hear from you and have you be a part of this dialogue. What ideas are you implementing in your daily life to support a sustainable supportive community?
Peace and love,
Farihah
