Three Things You Might Not Know About Sustainability
Hello! Last week was an exciting one at Bag The Box: the street team is at the Sustainable Brands 2011 Conference in Monterey, California.
As an introduction to just some of the incredibly inspiring ideas discussed, here are three things that you might not realize about the S word. (Sustainability, of course!)
1. It’s not just about the environment.
Sustainability is everywhere, and it’s about all the things we do—as people, as communities, as companies—to do the best we can with what we have in a way that helps ensure there will be something left for tomorrow. From finding a more cost-effective cup of coffee so you can afford one all five days of the week, to building a better cup to hold it from recycled paper, to creating better communities that are able to sustain themselves in the areas of the world where that coffee comes from. Sustainability is about thinking ahead, from start to finish. Speaking of coffee: check out what Green Mountain Coffee Roasters are up to, with their “Brewing a Better World” efforts.
2. It’s about human beings, happiness and having fun.
The theme of the week’s events was “Play On.” In the opening night’s festivities, we were all given drums and jammed out as a group of hundreds of happenstance musicians. Wandering from meeting to meeting, we’ve stumbled into games of Four Square. So—what’s up with all the games when we’re here to “save the planet?” Fun, pure and simple. People are more willing to make changes that pay it forward when they, themselves are playing it forward. Taking a subject matter that’s not a game and creating a game-like way to approach it is an important tool in creating change. So when the going get’s tough, play on.
3. You’ve got lots to say, and companies are listening to you—so keep on talking!
You’ve probably heard that famous quote that says, “Be the change to want to see in the world.” The changes you see in how companies make products is more and more related to the changes (however small) you’re making as just one person. Companies want to provide you with what you want, and they’re listening to find out what how YOU would like to reduce your family’s footprint. Most importantly, companies want to make better products that are friendlier for the earth but that cost you less money. Because that’s real sustainability. So keep on telling the companies whose products you buy and organizations whose services you use how YOU want to see the world unfold. And keep telling us how to better Bag The Box. We’re excited to hear what you have to say!
What’s your definition of sustainability?
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