Sustainability and responsibility

What good is a great dinner if there is no planet to live on?

Did I get your attention? I was pondering what to write about this week and happened upon this video put out by National Geographic. It deals with sustainability. We talk about sustainable agriculture and sustainable economy, but in using the word do we really consider the seriousness of not living on a sustainable planet? Buying local veggies isn't going to help if I don't consider other elements like how much plastic I use and where it goes. Do we even think about the many modern conveniences that make up our day and how they affect the future of our families and our planet? Let me remind you of a few of them...

• Do you make a cup of coffee in your pod coffee maker? The plastic pod, is it recycled??
• When you pack lunches (do you use pre-packaged items like juice boxes, single portion crackers & cheese or cookies in plastic, frozen items to be reheated?
• Are breakfast items in single portion packages?
• Does your commute involve a stop at Timmy's or Starbucks or the like? Do you use a travel mug or take it in a to-go cup?
• When you go for lunch do you grab fast food, in a plastic wrapper?
• at the kids' soccer practice, or your yoga class, do you drink bottled water? From a flat of bottles you bought somewhere, or a personal bottle?
• When you stop to pick up groceries, do you have reusable bags to use, or do you pay for the plastic ones?
• How much packaging is included with your groceries for dinner? Do you notice if non-recyclable styrofoam is part of packages?
• After dinner, do you pack up leftovers in reusable containers, or disposable ones?
• Are you able to take the empty pickle and salad dressing jars to the recycling depot, or do you just never have time?

Those are 10 times during the day you can consider the amount of disposable packaging that you are using in your everyday life. I know it's not realistic to expect that we can all go back to basics and give up all of this convenience with the pace of life we have today. But I would ask that you take a moment to watch this video and think of the consequences of our current pace.

It's a Plastic World short film (4 mn)

I argue for the value of fresh food mostly from a taste perspective, but the concept of sustainability involves a sense of responsibility as well. In the best interest of our species, I do believe that a holistic approach to our food - and how it is presented - is important to our long term existence. In simpler terms, every little bit counts and we can be positive role models for the younger generations.

 

Here are 10 ideas on how to minimize our consumption of plastic and maximize our recycling efforts:

1. avoid purchasing single portion items, and buy larger packages instead with less material
2. put portable food and drink into reusable personal containers that can be washed instead of recycled or put in the garbage
3. use water from the tap or a filtered system instead of bottled water
4. ask for minimum packaging when taking items to go (use personal containers like travel mugs)
5. don't use any more bags than you have to when purchasing fruits, veggies, etc. Reuse them as much as possible.
6. take your own grocery totes to carry purchases home
7. organize recycling of as many items as possible - use the "carpool" concept to share drop-offs with neighbours or friends for things that don't get picked up, or look out for non-profit groups that might be doing events like bottle drives
8. avoid buying food that comes in excess or non-recyclable packaging (e.g. don't choose the eggs in sytrofoam containers)
9. put leftovers in reusable washable containers instead of plastic wrap or bags
10. look at fun ways that you can use items instead of sending them to recycling - wine corks and caps can make wreaths and picture frame decorations; colourful wrappers can be used in frames, over small furniture pieces or even as wallpaper in bathrooms and hallways - check Pinterest for ideas!

I'm not trying to preach, just open up your mind to the idea that there might be a bit more you could do to help make a positive change. I know after I watched the video it made me consider how I could do better.

Who doesn't want to be a better person, make a difference in the world, in some small way?

Just a thought, while you sip your coffee... out of a non-disposable mug :)

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.