What is Sustainability?

YOU are in control of your own lifestyle, that is the fantastic thing about choosing sustainability.

In today’s society, the concept of sustainability gets tossed around a lot. We hear it all over the media and we hear it tied to fresh movements such as the shop local trend, environmental action in politics and brands that brag about being sustainable. But… what is ‘sustainability’? What does ‘living sustainably’ mean? Why choose ‘sustainability’? For those of us already on a low-waste path, or even those of us who have just begun our journeys towards living more sustainably, it is important to know our 3 W’s. The 3 W’s can be applied to any habit or change you want to make in your life but in this blog, we will use them to help us tune in on the importance of sustainability and how we can achieve it.

WHAT.

The first W is what. What is sustainability? There are so many different definitions we can use to define ‘sustainability’ and we can use them all to deepen our understanding. So, what is your definition of ‘sustainability’? Sit and marinate in that definition for a minute. The technical definition goes something like this: a lifestyle of being a conscious consumer that stems from the mindset of using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged. This definition is beautiful because it is almost like a mantra and can be applied to the simplest changes. I implore you, the next time you find yourself shopping or debating on whether to purchase an item, ask yourself:

“What do I know about this brand?”

“What do I know about the production process of this item?”

“Is it sustainable?”

Make yourself a conscious consumer. It is quite simple. If you don’t know much about the brand or production process of the item you are considering, do a quick google search. Many of the items we consume are produced in an unethical fashion and the resources used are often depleted or permanently damaged. This information is often swept under the rug and as an individual who wants to make a difference and live of life of sustainability, we need to know about these harsh truths. By asking these questions, we can divide consumable items into two categories: what is sustainable and what is not sustainable. We can use this knowledge to make purchasing decisions that support our goal of sustainability.

WHY.

Now, we come to our second W: why. Why choose sustainability? People often counter this question with “it's too much work” or “what difference will I make to the planet? I’m just one person.” Admittedly, yes, a sustainable lifestyle can be a lot more work. But YOU are in control of your own lifestyle, that is the fantastic thing about choosing sustainability! You can pick and choose habits and changes that support an easier shift to reducing your waste. It is totally up to you and what you do to support your sustainable beliefs! By doing this, you can assemble new routines that make tasks and chores easier in your everyday. The next counter is completely false. ONE person can make the world of a difference.

Let us use an example. Let’s pretend there is a watering hole in the middle of a desert and there are no other sources of water for miles around. Now, let’s say, a total of 5 people use that water to support their own needs. If each person only took enough water to satisfy their needs, the watering hole would last exponentially longer and would be able to replenish itself. Now, let’s say, one of these individuals decided to take more water than they needed and sell it to others. The life span of that watering hole for ALL users has diminished. If ALL of those people start taking more water to sell, the watering hole will dry up much quicker. Soon enough, the watering hole will no longer be able to replenish itself.

This example shows us what is happening to the earth. Natural resources are being destroyed, overused, and damaged to satisfy the demand of overconsumption. If ONE person decides to make a change and reduce their consumption and waste, demand will fall and the stress on resources will be alleviated. If the number of individuals grows, imagine the difference that would make on natural resources across the globe. We can encourage others around us to make low-waste swaps, we can raise our children with sustainable practices, we can gift sustainable items to our friends and families, etc. There are so many ways we can make a difference by following sustainability as an individual.

WHEN

Our last W: when?

Now, and in whenever you can! Climate change is REAL and is quickly approaching an irreversible date. By acting NOW, we can make an even bigger difference and ensure a healthy planet for our future. We all can start out by taking baby steps and making small changes to our routines. These small changes can be catalysts for us to grow our sustainable practices and continue on our low-waste journeys. Some examples can be to simply begin using a bamboo toothbrush, switch to bar soaps and bar shampoo's, start a garden, research composting, educate yourself on environmental issues. There are so many ways we can implement sustainability in our lives and even YOU can make a difference.

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