I am a big proponent of taking the time to become as informed as possible when considering any changes in lifestyle due to concerns related to sustainability. It turns out that many actions that initially appear to only have a positive effect on the sustainability of our planet may actually cause harm and/or have harmful social implications. For example, installing solar panels on your roof are great for the planet since solar energy is one of the cleanest sources of energy available and therefore reduces emissions from burning coal and other fossil fuels. But you may also be aware that many companies source the materials used to manufacture those panels, even if they are manufactured in the United States, from countries or regions of the world that are considered conflict zones or where unfair labor practices are common.
As a second example, electric vehicles may initially seem like another great idea in terms of reducing our personal carbon footprint, but the extent to which that is true depends on where you live and how much of your electricity is sourced from fossil fuels. Also, many of the metals used to create the battery are sourced from regions where child labor is rampant, where deforestation due to mining is occurring, or where groundwater quality and quantity are depleted to a level that cannot sustain human or animal life.
And yet another example involves toothbrushes and other plastic products. Purchasing toothbrushes or utensils made from bamboo may sound like a more environmentally-friendly option when compared to plastic, but they may be causing significant harm to critical habitats if the bamboo is not certified to have been grown and harvested in a sustainable manner (certified by the FSC or Forest Stewardship Council).
Though it may seem that once we are informed and aware of the implications of the various decisions that we can make regarding sustainability, does this necessarily translate into a society that makes sustainability a top priority when making decisions? Information is key, but another step is needed before we can really have an impact on our own decisions as well as the decisions made by a society as a whole. We need to form ourselves into people who have sincere concern for the environment, are willing to take informed actions in order to preserve our environment, and have the passion to spread the message in a way that is not confrontational but more of an invitation to address these issues as equal members of a community.
An example that I can relate to personally is with regard to native plants. Even though I had learned about the many benefits of growing native plants in terms of expanding habitats for birds and pollinators and reducing the amount of water that goes into our storm sewers, I was still not passionate enough to take action. I needed a way to form myself into caring enough to take major actions. The turning point was when I attended a native plant giveaway at my local church. I took home three native plants, one of which was a milkweed. At the time, I had no idea what a blooming milkweed looked like or how many insects it would attract. I initially planted it in a pot and honestly expected it to die within a few weeks; I certainly did not expect it to bloom with more than a handful of flowers. During the first summer, it grew modestly but no blossoms appeared. (I did not understand at the time that the type of milkweed I had typically blooms in the late summer and early fall). But as the end of summer approached, I was pleasantly surprised to see the plant begin to grow more aggressively, and the by time fall arrived, there were hundreds of flowers on this one plant.
At this point, my family and I were moving into a new home, and so I decided to replant the milkweed in a small garden in front of our house. I honestly thought the plant would not make it through the winter, but again to my pleasant surprise, the milkweed appeared in early spring, and this time not just with one stem but with over a dozen separate stems. By the time the next fall arrived there were several hundred purple flowers that had appeared.
And each year this milkweed, along with the multitude of other native plants we have planted over the last few years, have continued to surprise us with their growth, spread, and ability to attract such a variety and high number of butterflies, bees, and birds. The excitement and energy we now feel whenever we purchase and plant new native plants, as well as when we speak to others about native plants, goes beyond just being informed. Actually going through the actions of personally taking care of and watching this milkweed grow year after year and sharing our experience with others has helped take us the next steps towards being formed.
Objective
I hope to not only inform you through much of what is written and shared in this and past articles, but also contribute towards forming you by providing simple objectives. Pick one area of sustainability towards which you have the knowledge to act, but for whatever reason have not, and act in some simple, yet concrete, way. After some period of time, write down and/or share your experience with others. Some examples include the following:
- Purchase a bamboo toothbrush.
- Purchase a native plant (maybe wait for the spring for this one).
- Try a shampoo bar.
- Select “no” each time you are asked whether you would like a receipt at the gas pump.
- Identify the trees and plants growing in your yard using an app such as “Picture This.”
- Remove the vines from one of your trees. (This really helped my family and me realize what a negative impact invasive vines have on tree growth.)
- Use laundry and/or dishwasher tablets.
- Refrain from using straws when dining out.
- Purchase “pasture raised” or “free range” organic eggs that come in a cardboard carton
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