Sustainability Defined.
The words,“Sustainable” and “Sustainability”, are like overplayed pop songs these days. But what does being sustainable really mean once you remove the ‘green’?
A common definition: To be “sustainable” an action, product, or material—OR human, can meet their current needs without compromising the possibilities of future generations to meet their needs—wants, hopes, dreams.
These three pillars have helped define sustainability: social, environmental, economic—also known as people, planet, profit.
The opposite of sustainable is UNsustainable. The results?
Climate change, ecosystem collapse (i.e., loss of biodiversity, ocean acidification, air pollution, and ozone depletion), and exhausted resources (i.e., freshwater, oil, soil).
Thinking Sustainably & Applying Sustainability
We all have shirts. Let’s start there. Take a look at yours. Can the shirt you have on meet your current needs without compromising your (future) grandbabies’ needs? Not just to wear a shirt, but to maintain a comfortable quality of life and beyond. Can it also ensure that it is not harming flora and fauna, or depleting infinite resources through its manufacturing and distribution?
To answer this question we need to know:
-What the shirt is made of?
-How was it produced?
-Where and how the material sourcing and production took place?
-Who made the shirt? If they were treated properly when making the shirt?
-What affects the shirt will have after it moves on from your possession to either the landfill or another wearer? (microplastic?)
That’s a lot of brainpower for a t-shirt, but can you see how the subject of sustainability can get so...murky? If a t-shirt brand says they are sustainable, but can’t answer those questions, the truth is that they aren’t very truthful.
The point is to do the best we can...
...Admit when we’ve done wrong. And improve once we know better.
Sustainability is simple, but that doesn’t mean easy or perfect. It’s better to try. Try for yourself, future generations, and/or the world around you. Rather than to turn away as if these results don’t directly affect you or harm others.
Don’t forget about equity
Sustainability utilizes efficiency, i.e., can the thing continue to do its thing forever—essentially. But when efficiency comes into play equity can be eliminated. This is why it also becomes hard to implement sustainability while making sure efficiency does not outweigh equity, like human rights…
For example, it would be more sustainable if we didn't use electricity... Bottom line. Mic-dropped. BUT! What would our world look like today if we were not allowed to use electricity? No Netflix and chill, sure. But also, no emergency rooms. No on-demand food supply (i.e., grocery stores).
Short Answer: It would not be the world we live in today. Bleak, dark and cold. So how do we meet our needs today while protecting the needs of the future? And further, while making sure that all groups are getting equitable opportunities to ensure their futures as well.
That is what sustainability is all about.