Why does sustainability matter

If you pay attention most labels show that clothes are being made in distant places such as China, Bangladesh or Vietnam. There are many documentaries about this issue. People in these countries often women and children usually get really low wages and work under bad conditions. They can hardly improve their social situation and most times keep on working just to pay the bills and survive.

This largely contributes to the inequality we see in the world since in the rich went richer and the poor poorer, according to an Oxfam report. So unless someone is driving a car with 4 or 5 passengers, taking public transportation, especially trains but also buses, are more sustainable choices.

Today, there are even more sophisticated solutions to reduce the pollution caused by moving around. At a vehicle level, the popularity and industry development of alternatives like electric cars or even hydrogen cars or electric scooters are growing at a high rate. At the same time, solutions like carpooling, where through which drivers can get their cars empty and save some money and pollution are great alternatives.

Not to mention the fact that more companies are letting their employees working from home or remotely, allowing them to save polluting kilometers. The zero-waste movement is a lifestyle that encourages people to use all types of resources in a circular way , just like the natural world does.

Therefore, the ultimate goal of this philosophy is to avoid resources to follow a linear route and end up as trash in the oceans or landfills. The movement is also very well known by people taking their own bulks to shops to buy commodities such as chickpeas, rice, or liquid soap.

The goal is clear: not to take any trash home. And so is the enemy: plastic. A company that tries to grow its crops by not using or using few toxic pesticides, focusing instead on organic farming and biomimicry practices is certainly a less polluting one.

If it pays fair wages to its employees and manages to still be competitive on the market, it is then being responsible when it comes to profit, people and planet. Workplaces can also be organized in sustainable ways. For instance, companies betting on new technologies, becoming paperless or providing conditions and training for employees to recycle are being careful about waste management.

If it is economically viable, the company could install solar panels and power its operations with this energy. At the same time, the company would be using renewable energy , which is especially important in places where the electricity grid works mostly on fossil fuels. The raw materials used, how they are sourced and from where, whether products are designed with eco-design principles in mind or distribution optimization are also areas with for room for improvement when it comes to sustainability.

So besides taking care of their workplaces and trying to be eco-friendly along their value-chain, companies with a sustainability mindset are also concerned about social issues like gender equality, happiness at the workplace or taking care of the communities affected by their activities. Sustainable cities can be considered as cities that have strong social, economic and environmental performances. They have good scores when it comes to air pollution, availability of public transportation, the number of educated and employed people, the percentage of green spaces, energy consumption, or access to drinking water.

Presumably, sustainable cities are to be better prepared to face the challenges of urban areas as society develops and as climate change events get more frequent and intense. They are more resilient and adapted to unforeseen circumstances. The most reputable forum regarding sustainable and green cities is the C40 network. Supply and demand.

Demand and supply. Supply and demand are economic forces of the free market that control what suppliers are willing to manufacture and what consumers are willing to purchase. And demand refers to how much of this product or service consumers are willing to purchase at a particular price. The relationship between demand and supply carries the forces behind the allocation of resources. According to market economy theories, demand and supply theory will allocate resources in the most efficient way.

This demand is happening not only because the population is increasing. It is also due to the appealing equilibrium price which is, among other things, influenced by a lowed by mass production. At the same time, sustainability is also often spoken in terms of the supply chain. The sustainability of ecosystems is about keeping the ecological services working. But what is biocapacity? Also, according to the Global Footprint Network , biocapacity can change because of climate and depending on which ecosystem services are considered useful inputs to be used in the human economy.

Bill Reed defends sustainability is being used as a concept that tries to reduce the damage caused by excessive natural resource use — and that this is not enough.

Wahl says the first puts nature at the service of humanity, who is meant to control it for its own pleasure and needs. Rather, he explains we are part of Nature, not separate or higher than it. The process of designing this regenerative world starts by spending time understanding how the systems of life work in each unique place and observing many different natural variables behind complex ecosystems. Log in and interact with engaging content: show how they matter to you, share your experience First Name.

Last Name. What Is Sustainability? Principles of Sustainability: the 3 Pillars of Sustainability What is sustainability? We must strive to meet the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations. Yes, quite naturally. Just as personal wellness is about a long-term living and existence, wellness and sustainability are linked philosophically and in practice because they have the natural environment as a common denominator.

Walking is not only an excellent exercise for mind and spirit, it also reduces the need to rely on a vehicle to travel short distances. Also, both personal wellness and sustainability reduce costs: better health reduces family insurance premiums, while resource efficiency reduces bottom-line costs.

Learn more about sustainability work on campus and participate in our sustainability campaigns. Visit our Sustainable Stanford website to see what Stanford is doing to reduce its environmental footprint and how the university leads by example. The Sustainable Stanford campus initiatives also offer seasonal and regular engagement campaigns on topics including energy saving, recycling habits, water conservation, smart purchasing, and building-level opportunities.

Putting things in the trash instead of recycling them correctly is harmful for our planet. Among other things, it contributes to the pollution of our soil, oceans and water sources. Start a compost bin at your house, separate and recycle plastic, glass bottles and cans correctly. Use reusable containers and buy a durable drink bottle.

These small changes all contribute to BIG effects on our environment, and if we don't do it; who will? Now that you are awar e of the small changes we can all make to generate a big impact on the environment, you can get started! There are many more things we can do, b ut we want you to enjoy life and not spend your life reading our blog , SO Order by November 15th for delivery before thanksgiving. Create Account. First of all, what is sustainability? Why should I care?

What can I do? Eat plant-based foods Eating more plant-based foods is the number one way to support sustainability , according to the Harvard T.