Realistic Sustainability
Hi all. In today's blog I am going to talk about how to mentally and structurally transition into a more realistic sustainable lifestyle. No, it does not always mean buying exceptionally expensive and heavily branded materials. Sure some of those products are pretty innovative but it can really put a dent in your pocket and eventually you'll wonder whether going sustainable is really right for you. Today's sustainability movement is great in that its 'fashionable' but it won't last as it has, as all fashionable things do, only its fifteen minutes of fame. That's why today I'm here to clear the air! No, sustainable-living does not mean buying expensive biodegradable everything! It starts with a change in mindset, a constant awareness of your interactions with your local and greater community, and a love for your planet. If you're willing to do these three things, then keep reading!
First things first, sustainability means adopting the ideology that you and the environment around you will always be improving and this is necessary. Not everything is sustainable nor is it always feasible in the moment to achieve 100% sustainability. The goal is to be conscious of our personal choices and our impacts. Understanding the impacts of where we put our money and what life we want to live means planning as well as making things last, and making our own household items when we can. This is my definition of sustainable living.
On the other side of the coin, there is such a thing as having quality items that benefit or cause less harm to our environment. Its just finding the right brand, company, product, etc. that will give us the "best of both worlds". Luckily, this is where the fashionable movement kicks in and allows for advertisements of sustainable roots to spread seemingly like wildfire (insert your local VSCO girl). Yes, word of mouth, sponsorship, etc. is a great help in expressing what products you believe work. Which brings me to my next point; sustainable living goes hand in hand with building and maintaining a community.
Community shows the strength of individuals that work together, for each other! I would argue that working with your local community has a far greater impact than trying to tackle a nation's ideology around sustainable living by yourself. By collaborating on a local level you can help spread awareness about dated habits or industries and become more self-reliant by incorporating new technology, knowledge from the stakeholders of the community about the community and the land its on, and being resourceful. According to the Institute for Sustainable Communities:
"A sustainable community manages its human, natural, and financial capital to meet current needs while ensuring that adequate resources are available for future generations."
The Institute further developed four key elements to a successful sustainable community. These include Leadership and civic engagement and responsibility, ecological integrity, economic security, and social well-being.
The Stafford Borough Council has characterized sustainable communities as meeting
"the needs [and safety] of everyone in the community... healthy and ultimately happy; the environment is appreciated, protected and enhanced and damage to the environment is minimised, the economy is vibrant, employment opportunities are improved and the working lives are more rewarding".
Thinking about your local communities interactions with the surrounded ecosystem is the next step in growth, once your own mind has been developed into a more conscious buyer, producer, or middle-man. The final terrain is more national or global, but that's too big of a bite for me to explain in this tiny blog. For now, writing a list of what you buy from the store and compare it to some items you think you can hand-make, reuse, produce, or purchase as less harmful on the environment is a great place to start. What can you lose by testing your memory?
Also feel free to check out my reading list on the main Sustainable living blog platform or these following links:
https://upjourney.com/best-books-on-sustainable-and-eco-friendly-living
https://zerowastememoirs.com/baby-step-10-book-sustainability/
https://bookriot.com/best-books-on-sustainable-living/
https://bookauthority.org/books/new-sustainability-books .
There. That should take you to several great recommendation lists to start your immersive journey.
Again, feel free to leave comments on my blogs! I love making this an interactive experience, as I am learning besides any passerby that decides to read these little scribbles.
Until next time.
References:
https://sustain.org/about/what-is-a-sustainable-community/
https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/characteristics-of-a-sustainable-community