Spotlight on Sustainability
Written by: Conservation Associate Mandy Papke
Sustainability is a word that’s being thrown around a lot these days. At its core, to sustain something means to maintain it at a certain level. It’s a practice that can be applied to many situations- farming, development, growth. In situations concerning the environment, being sustainable means being conscious of what we’re using and producing and how it affects the rest of the world and those who live here.
Natural resources should be used sustainably to benefit the animals and environments that need them, but man-made resources also fall under the concern of environmentalists. A big problem for our oceans is waste, especially plastic. Over 800 species are affected by trash that litters their home, ensnares their bodies, and fills their bellies. Sea turtles are a well-recognized victim of the plastic problem, but there’s more to it than straws. Some sea turtle species eat jellyfish and mistake plastic bags for their prey. Not only is there the potential hazard of choking, but sea turtles can actually die from starvation when they ingest plastic bags because their stomachs feel full and they don’t feel the need to eat.
As educators, we like to look through the eyes of a student. When field trips come through the Dalton Discovery Center they not only learn about the animals and their habitats, but also the challenges that these animals and environments are facing. They meet Bindi, our Eastern indigo snake, whose species is threatened due to habitat loss. They learn about our critically endangered Florida panthers whose habitat has been destroyed and fragmented due to development. They see our three young American alligators, a success story of how a species once endangered because of habitat loss and over-hunting made a comeback due to conservation efforts. They are shocked by our “Trash Harms the Ocean and Everything In It” display, guessing the length of time it takes for commonly discarded items to completely break down. They observe our Patch Reef aquarium exhibit, a habitat that is suffering in the wild because of pollution and other human impacts.
This is a lot to take in. The impacts humans have on the natural environment and the creatures in it are mind boggling. Educating yourself and others on these issues can be discouraging, but it’s the first step to working towards solutions. People won’t want to fix a problem they don’t realize is there. Being conscious of the decisions we make every day opens our eyes to how we as individuals contribute to the problem, and to how simple it is to change some of these habits! The more people making these choices creates a larger market for sustainable products and practices, and companies will have to adapt to consumer spending.
So what are some of these solutions? I’ve found that zero-waste products are fairly easy- and inexpensive- to switch over to. These are more durable products that are used in place of single-use ones.
· When going shopping, bring along your own bag(s) to carry your items out of the store. This is most often thought of with grocery shopping, but can also be done when shopping for clothes or really any other item!
· If you’re someone who prefers drinking out of a straw, invest in one made from glass, bamboo, or metal. There are companies that make foldable metal straws that come with their own cleaning brush so you can take them on the go.
· Travel coffee mugs and reusable water bottles are great alternatives to disposable coffee cups and bottled water.
· Beeswax-based wraps to cover food or containers eliminates the need for plastic wrap, and often times stay in place better.
· Silicon zip-top baggies for food storage are not only reusable but also easy to clean as opposed to ones made of plastic.
If you take a look at the items in your life that have some sort of plastic or other single use material, most have more sustainable swaps if you look for them! Not all items will have a completely zero waste alternative, but there are more than you’d think that have refillable options or packaging made from more easily recycled materials such as aluminum or glass. You can also purchase items made from recycled materials.
Speaking of recycled materials, do you ever wonder what items are recycled in your community? Here are some resources to help you find out!
http://www.leegov.com/solidwaste/residential/recycling
https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/services/solidwaste/Pages/Residential-Curbside-Service.aspx
http://www.hendryfla.net/hendry_county_recycling.php
If an item can’t be recycled by a traditional facility, there are organizations and programs that specialize in recycling certain items. These can include printers, toner cartridges, contact lens containers, textiles, and electronics, just to name a few.
Other sustainable solutions apply to how we use and consume resources such as energy, water, and food. For instance, adjusting the temperature on your thermostat by just a couple of degrees, scheduling it to only be on when you’re home, or making sure your house and windows are properly insulated makes a huge difference. You can cut back on water use by planting native plants or only running washing machines and dishwashers when they’re full. In regards to food, simply making one fully vegetarian or vegan meal a week would drastically reduce the waste produced and energy used by the food industry. Many people have heard about how bad the meat industry is for the planet but struggle with the thought of giving up meat. You don’t have to eliminate meat from your diet to make a difference; just one meal a week can reduce your carbon footprint.
We likely won’t be able to fix every problem humans have caused, but that is not the goal. The goal is to stop causing more harm, make improvements where possible, and continue to believe we can make a difference.
