Who will pay the price?
Surprisingly, not all glass is created equal. This is mainly because the different chemical make-ups pose a problem when they are mixed to create new glass.
Carbon offsetting refers to a situation where the emissions you create are balanced out by the initiatives you support that absorb the equivalent emissions. However, this doesn’t address the root issue of needing to reduce the amount of emissions created in the first place.
Even though they aren't plastic, they are still single-use and made of raw materials. Another negative point is that they require specific conditions to be compostable, such as time and temperature.
Although there’s a fair amount of overlap between the terms, “green” usually suggests a preference for the natural over the artificial.
It would be disastrous for the world if every individual felt like this. Everyone has a role to play in the push toward sustainability and protecting the environment and planet.
Consumer choices and grassroots activism are important. But progress on some reforms, such as curbing CO2 emissions, can only happen quickly with government intervention.
Some people claim that climate change is a myth because climate change has always existed and is a natural process. However, it's scientifically proven that catastrophic changes are occurring at a much faster pace because of human interference.
There are certain foods that create immense CO2 emissions, and one of the main factors for this is transportation, particularly when the food is imported from different countries. But this only applies to a small percentage of foods that are transported by air. Airplanes are one of the least environmentally friendly modes of transport, but luckily, only 0.16% of exported food around the world is transferred by plane.
While recycling is important, as it reduces the need to extract raw materials from the ground, forests, and fossil-fuel deposits, it's unfortunately not enough. If you want to live sustainably, you need to also think about energy and transportation.
There doesn't have to be a new technological invention to strive for greater sustainability. Sometimes, existing technology and a new business model can make a huge difference.
Due to their financial power, luxury brands have tighter control over sourcing and manufacturing, and the conditions under which products are created. This means they often hire local, skilled workers to ensure a well-made product is created.
The modern meaning of the word entered the lexicon in 1987 with the publication of 'Our Common Future', by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development. The report defined it as the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
This depends, when you buy cheap in large quantities, you generate a tendency to throw away more food which is equivalent to 20-50% more cost of its organic counterpart. So, in the end, if you eat organic produce, you pay the same amount for what you eat.
Recycling is typically convenient, and most places offer recycling stations. But what many people don’t realize is that there’s a right way and a wrong way to recycle. For example, if there's any food left on the material, it can't be recycled.
Waste separation is an important step in saving reusable rubbish from incineration and is essential for sustainability.
Unfortunately, a choice that seems sustainable can turn out to be problematic upon closer examination. Nothing can really be declared sustainable until you have done a complete life-cycle analysis of its environmental costs.
Some people believe that sustainability is a phase, like a period of austerity after an economic recession. Sustainability is actually a long-term plan that companies and governments are taking steps to implement.
Sustainability is here to stay. It's a mindset that constantly changes, develops, and adapts to both short-term and long-term needs.
Sources: (Scientific American) (Euro News Green)
The original meaning of sustainability was in finding ways to let poor nations catch up to richer ones in terms of standard of living. That meant giving disadvantaged countries better access to natural resources, including water, energy, and food, which all came from the environment.
As sustainability started to become a buzzword, many companies tried to include it in their marketing as a strategy to stay relevant. Today, it's no longer a strategy, but rather a foundation for any company or project to actually implement.
Research is often required to find sustainable products, and things like composting or gardening do take some effort. But being eco-friendly can seamlessly be integrated into your daily routine. Be realistic and find what fits your interests and lifestyle.
Every environmental problem is ultimately a population problem. If the world's population was lower, the amount of waste generated wouldn't overwhelm nature’s cleanup systems. The best way to limit over-population is to educate women and generally raise the standard of living in developing countries.
Sustainability doesn't mean you have to do more with less. It simply involves taking better care of what you have, organizing yourself, and being more conscious when it comes to material things.
Sustainable fashion has come a long way. There are many brands out there that are producing ethically-made and fashionable clothing. Also, even if you want to support slow fashion, it doesn’t mean you never have to buy fast fashion again.
When the concept of zero-waste living started, a trend surfaced where people showed off all their trash fitting into a single Mason jar. This just gives a false idea of the amount of trash we actually produce. But of course, it's still worth trying to reduce your trash.
Switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet has been shown to be one of the best ways to lessen your environmental impact. But this doesn't you have to be fully vegan to live sustainably.
Of course, it’s not always possible to live 100% waste-free. But striving for it as much as possible does help, be it by reducing plastic waste or bringing a tote bag when you shop.
Considering the long-term benefits, sustainability isn't expensive. You may just be wary of the one-off cost of switching from an unsustainable system to a sustainable alternative, like installing solar panels in your home.
It’s common to assume that in order to be sustainable, you need to eliminate every last piece of plastic from your life. But as most stuff contains plastic, this is practically impossible.
Many myths and misconceptions about sustainability have arisen as the world becomes more environmentally conscious. However, with certain misconceptions swirling around, it can prevent people from taking steps to better the planet. It's time to stop perpetuating the myths that work against our goal to fight climate change.
Want to discover some of the biggest myths about sustainability? Then click through the gallery.
Debunking the most popular myths about sustainability
These are some of the most common eco-myths
LIFESTYLE Environment
Many myths and misconceptions about sustainability have arisen as the world becomes more environmentally conscious. However, with certain misconceptions swirling around, it can prevent people from taking steps to better the planet. It's time to stop perpetuating the myths that work against our goal to fight climate change.
Want to discover some of the biggest myths about sustainability? Then click through the gallery.