An Introduction To Sustainability

Sustainability is the key to ensuring our future generations will be able to live prosperously.  What is sustainability? 

Simply defined, sustainability refers to developing aspects of the economy, (such as businesses), without sacrificing the resources of the future generation. 

These resources can be economic, environmental or cultural, though in practice many industries tend to focus more on environmental sustainability.

Yet, if sustainability is to truly be successful, businesses should try to conserve on all resources… not just environmental ones.  Why is this important? 

Well, the environment only contributes to the physical health of a human being.  Economy and culture contribute to one’s emotional health.  This means that businesses cannot sacrifice these elements in hopes of making the environment better. 

Consider the following example.  Suppose a business wants to embark in environmental sustainability without considering the costs associated with it, (if such solutions are more expensive in their industry). 

And, what if in the quest to form environmental sustainability, they do things that are not economically sustainable, such as outsourcing or even illegal things, (such as child labor)? 

Maybe in their minds doing these types of things would keep them from having to form factories, which could be harder on the environment, but are these moves sound both culturally and economically?  Indeed, there must be a balance when considering true sustainability. 

So, what can be done to ensure businesses are forming sustainable solutions that cover every area of need?  Well, it’s best to start small, especially if an industry doesn’t have the capital for more extensive technologies. 

For example, perhaps an industry could consider using recycled packaging in place of plastic or other materials that are not biodegradable.  Or, maybe they could look into using renewable energy to help run their plant. 

Ultimately, if business owners think hard enough, they should be able to find a plethora of ways they can begin in the journey of environmental sustainability. 

Once companies have established a foothold in sustainability, they will begin to be viewed favorably by the general public… assuming their products are up to par with non-sustainable companies. 

If they are not up to par, the public will ignore them in favor for products that work better.  They won’t care if these products were created from ‘non-green’ technologies.

Of course, a working product by itself is not everything.  Marketing is important too.  Many sustainable companies produce good products yet still lose out to non-sustainable competitors because their marketing campaigns focused too much on being ‘green’ and not enough on product efficiency. 

Yet, don’t think that it’s impossible to be successful as a sustainable company.  Many hybrid auto manufacturers are gaining popularity as well as companies pushing green cleaning products. 

Examples of other green products dominating the market include light bulbs, paint, pencils and paper.
In conclusion, while environmental sustainability is vital, it should not come about by harming non-environmental resources. 

If it does, it isn’t truly sustainable.  So, when seeking sustainable solutions for your company, make sure you start off with ideas and implementations that are within the spectrum of what you can afford both in terms of money and manpower.

Sustainability in a modern world

Achieving a sustainable lifestyle today is of paramount importance for the health of future generations. The devastation of our natural environment by individuals and corporations who carelessly pollute the water and air, clearcut forests, and destroy topsoil and natural habitats is in many cases irreversible.

Those of us living an urban or suburban lifestyle may just be beginning to feel the repercussions of our industrial lifestyle in the form of climate change. However, the perpetuation of anti-environment practices is sure to cause consequences that we cannot even imagine.

The world in which we live is a system in which all elements interrelate and coexist in a harmonious balance of creation and destruction. Nothing exists or functions in isolation. Everything is interconnected and every act affects the future of countless other elements.

This concept, also known as systems thinking, is easy to see when observing an ecosystem, especially when the harmony of that ecosystem is disrupted. The extinction or reduction of one species rebounds through the entire food chain, causing havoc on the lives of the rest of the species.

A sustainable lifestyle is one that seeks to harmonize with the elements of the natural world. We can use the forces of nature to our advantage, without abusing them and causing as little disturbance to the natural environment as possible. One such example is harnessing the energy of the sun.

Solar energy can be captured in a variety of ways. The most basic way, passive solar energy, refers to the type of construction materials used and their placement. For example, a house designed to face the south allows the heat of the sun to warm the house all day long.

Add to that other passive solar features such as thermal mass and the house is already well on its way to energy-independence.

Industrialism and the Information Age have provided our society with the tools it needs to reverse our current path of environmental degradation. Solar panel technology and the multitude of other inventions for collecting the energy of the sun are constantly improving and becoming more affordable. We may also gather energy from the wind, water, ground and even our own waste products.

The key to becoming sustainable as individuals and as a society is our own willingness to change and to be creative. Permaculture is a design system that guides us to build and manage sustainable living and working environments in which all of the elements overlap and interrelate to create a functioning whole.

Combining our knowledge of ecological principles with our earth-friendly technology we have only to succeed in achieving a more sustainable lifestyle today, and a brighter future for our children and grandchildren.