Sustainability Evolution

Sustainable is the new “Green.”

We’ve heard the phrase sustainable being thrown around a lot recently. And not just from environmentalists. Politicians are one of the most common new users. They usually throw it out while paying lip service to budget issues and spending gaps they have no intention closing. It’s also showing up in the corporate world more than ever. Popping up when big banks and business execs want the American people to think the company is taking stock of itself, reevaluating policy, rebranding, or changing it’s image.

I’ve heard it said that “Green is the new beige,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s now a blanket term used to cover the smallest of behavior or product changes. People say, ‘I’m going green because I recycle. Or buy plant based cleaners.‘ That’s a good first step, but it whitewashes over the fact that consumption is the real problem.

If Green is the new beige, then sustainable is the new green. People seem to know we need to get back to a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle, but they aren’t sure how.

It has to start on the most local of levels. I’m not just talking about a township, city, or countywide. I mean hyper-local. It starts with individual households, families, and offices. You can lose your breath trying to convince, cajole, convert, impress, induce, assure, exhort or influence someone into trying to do better by the planet. But it’s not a very convincing argument if you’re not taking those steps yourself.

Of course that’s easier said than done. We all live in the real world, which means we’re forced to make real world choices every single day. It can be a real challenge. For starters, we’re faced with choices about food, transportation and energy consumption. That’s why it’s vitally important to educate and lead by example. Especially around family, friends and coworkers. Most people want to make better choices but most just don’t know what their alternatives are.

Hopefully they’ll see you bypassing the styrofoam coffee cups in favor of bringing a mug from home. But there’s no reason to confront them if they don’t. The goal is to educate, not confront. There’s no quicker way to turn someone off then by telling them they should or they have to do something.

The bottom Line: The idea of sustainability can’t spread until it’s first embraced by the local community.


Call it a case of Monkey See Monkey Do.

Many people are turned off because they don’t feel like their actions make a difference one way or another. They’re not going to change until they can take ownership of it. Most people feel the need to preserve what they see everyday, i.e. their communities and neighborhoods, but it’s much harder to convince them to think on a global scale, like protecting a river in India.

We’re all individuals but we still have some of that evolutionary need to fit in with the crowd. Of course not everyone will start taking canvas bags to the market just because they see me do it. But getting outside and picking up trash off the street sends a stronger message. Hopefully the neighbors will see it. If not, at least you’ll sleep better at night.

We simply can’t wait for the rest of the world to get on board. We can’t wait for Congress to wake up. There’s no magic law or regulation that’s going to fix the broken system we live in today. There’s too much money involved.

The only way to stand up is to make your voice heard with your money. You have to be committed. It’s not enough just to buy organic lettuce or recycled paper towels.


We need an Evolution.

Not a revolution but an evolution. Let’s face it, we’ve got to adapt. A sustainable way of living isn’t something that happens overnight. It starts with a backyard garden and spreads to the neighborhood garage sales and swap meets. I feel like it’s been said to death but it’s just so darned important. You have to stay local if you want to make an impact. The American people will never be regarded as anything other than consumers. Changing your spending habits is the only way the biggest polluters will take notice.

Factory farms won’t stop selling pesticide laced crops and hormone fed meats unless we stop buying from them. It’s that simple. That means avoiding chain restaurants and supporting local places that use local ingredients. And, it means cutting back on meat in a big way. I’m by no means a vegetarian, but realistically no one really needs to eat beef more than once or twice a week (as long as it’s raised responsibly).

We need to evolve into a society that thinks about where things come from. I mean, we’re only a few generations removed from it. So get back out in the community and let your neighbors know you care about preserving it. It lets them know there’s a level of support out there so they can make their voices heard too.

The Bottom Line: It starts by rebuilding communities. Your dollars are your voice. Spend them locally and be visible and vocal in your support of others who do the same.