Sustainability-not a "trend" as much as a new means of survival
Deidre Schwartz
Helping designers, specifiers, and buyers elevate their projects with exquisite furnishings and finishes that exude style, sophistication, and value.
There is a lot of talk about sustainability and especially referred to as a trend. I beg to differ. It's a bit like saying "technology" is a trend. Technology is part of our lives and aspects of it (i.e. AI, blockchain, big-data, etc...) trend up and through our private and professional spheres.
So, let's be clear, Sustainability is NOT a trend. And, like technology, it IS here to stay and will continue to grow in importance....especially as we see more climate-related disasters, sea-level rise, extinction of species, loss of bio-diversity, and other challenges to our survival.
So, what are the sustainability trends today? For one, we have a war on plastic and controversy is abundant in terms of if there are any "good" plastic options. We see plastic that is recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. What is the best option? How do we digest all the plastic that we consume by the regular trips to the grocery store.
NPR hosted a good session last month on grocery store plastics. To hear more, check it out: https://www.npr.org/2019/05/01/707142496/sorting-out-plastics-at-the-grocery-store. Well worth the 6 minute investment. If you are confused by all the plastic, it's a good start to a better understanding and the results are not all good or bad. Packaging end-of-life must be addressed and we, consumers, need to demand better and sustainable solutions. We also need to educate ourselves and divert as much as possible from the landfill.
At our office, Waste Management handles our waste, recycling, and compost programs. They come in at least once annually to refresh us on the rules and best practices to remain compliant with their single stream recycling and industrial compost programs. It's essential to work with your local waste hauler to ensure what you "think" is recyclable, is "actually" recyclable. We learn something new every time they instruct us on site.
Earth Day (4/22) and World Environment Day (6/5) have been around for over 40 years. In fact, Earth Day will have it's 50th birthday next year! It's time we make EVERY DAY Earth Day, right? Be a conscientious consumer and think/buy with the thought of what happens at the end of life for the product and it's packaging.
Have a very enlightened World Environment Day tomorrow. Be grateful of your choices and opportunities, but also be the agent of change needed to steer us off this collision course. Remember, the planet will survive.....but we may not. Nature is speaking-listen up. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmVLcj-XKnM)