During the time that humans have existed on this planet, we have gone through multiple transitions. Each of those transitions have changed the course of humanity and ultimately improved our standard of living. It has also made our lives just a little bit easier.
In our modern culture, we no longer have to provide for ourselves. You can have anything you want with one click. In fact, ease and convenience is top of the list for most people, not the impact they are having on the planet.
But when it comes to a sustainable lifestyle convenience is not the king. It is our addiction toconvenience that is one of the common roadblocks to sustainable living.
So join me for episode 176 where I continue to discuss how to overcome some of the common roadblocks to a sustainable lifestyle.
Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E176 which is called Overcoming the Common Roadblocks to Sustainable Living Part II.
Sustainability question of the week
How much of the water that enters our homes actually goes down the drain?
The average person wastes as much as 30 gallons of water per day. The average household uses 300 gallons of water per day most of which is used for flushing toilets and taking showers. Bottom line, 95% of the fresh water entering our homes goes down the drain.
And this story comes from Africa. I think by now most of us know that our current agricultural practices are truly the bane of our existence. And the United Nations estimates that bye the year 2050 we are going to have to increase our food production by 60% in order to feed the growing world population.
Furthermore, the challenge in developing countries is that farming is how people feed their families andprovide some economic support. But one particular NGO may have found an answer to that challenge. Instead of just another tree-planting initiative, Trees for the Future is teaching local farmers simple agro-forests techniques.
One area in particular consists of 41,000 hectares, which is an area 7 times larger than the island of Manhattan. Forest farms consists of native trees that serve as an anchor for a mixture of subsistence and cash crops. This in turn promotes local biodiversity.
Trees for the Future works with farmers for four years to produce viable farm lands that typically produce a surplus. There are now pilot projects in 9 countries involving 17,000 smallholder farms. The basis of these farms is that fruit and nut trees provide shade which retains moisture in the soil. Shade tolerant vegetables and shrubs are grown between the trees. Other sun-loving veggies are grown in clearings. Farmers can then introduce livestock if they wish.
Farming projects also establish a small scale Village Savings and Loan Association. Farmers work together to save money, lend each other money at a low interest rate, and share the profits.
The end game of this project is massive environmental restoration using regenerative agriculture. This is truly an important step in the right direction. Obviously us big shots in developed can once again learn something from the little guys. If you want to check out the complete article I have provided a link in the transcripts or you can go to goodnewsnetwork.org
This weeks round of applause goes to Trees for the Future and their sustainable regenerative agriculture projects around the world.
So, let’s move on to this weeks episode.
In the last episode I introduced the topic of overcoming some of the common roadblocks to sustainable living. In that episode I discussed people having a preference for their existing lifestyle and dispelled the idea that it takes too much time to live sustainably.
In this episode I am going to discuss three more common roadblocks to a sustainable lifestyle which are inconvenience, cost effectiveness, and lack of government support.People argue that living sustainably is inconvenient, it is not cost effective, and there is a lack of support from government agencies and big business necessary to promote a sustainable lifestyle for everyone.
Inconvenience
First off, let’s tackle the idea that living a sustainable life is inconvenient.
It seems to me that there are certain things in life that we all know we should be doing. We should eat a low fat diet. We should eat 2 to 3 cups of vegetables everyday. We should have a minimum of three months of living expenses in our savings account.
We should exercise daily. We should floss and brush our teeth at least twice a day. We should live plastic free. We should always recycle. We should boycott companies with unethical work standards and unethical supply chain practices. We should always support local small businesses.And these are just a few examples of the things we all know we should do but we don’t. Why is that?
Part of the problem is that we are always busy. Busy with work, raising a family, managing constant social commitments, constant email, voicemails, text messages, managing our finances. One deadline after another after another. This is just our version of modern life. And it does not help that everyone else is just as busy and everyone wants everything instantly. Patience has become a thing of the past because we don’t have time to be patient. But I would contend that this is the price we pay for having the world at our fingertips.
And because we are always so busy we ultimately resort to whatever is convenient. Picking up the plastic bag at the supermarket is more convenient than hauling around reusable bags. Buying coffee in a non-recyclable cup is more convenient instead of remembering to bring your own stainless steel cup. Tossing something in the trash is easier and more convenient instead of washing it and placing it in the recycle bin. Convenience has truly blinded us to what is sustainable and ethical.
Yet there is overwhelming evidence these days from numerous surveys and studies that show the average person truly cares about sustainability, climate change, and the environment. But we still continue down this road of convenience. A perfect example of that is fast fashion.
Fast fashion is one of the worst industry on the face of the planet. From the materials that are produced, to the chemicals used in manufacturing, the unethical work standards, and the enormous amount of environmental pollution, nothing about this industry is sustainable or ethical. Yet what people want is convenience and low prices.
It is the under 30 age group that is by far the most vocal about corporate responsibility, sustainable and ethical practices and even boycotting brands that they deem unethical. Yet it is this same age group that is the most proliferate consumers of fast fashion. So why are we as consumers compromising our morals. It is because of ease, convenience, and bad habits.
So at the end of the day, the question is how do we become comfortable with inconvenience? Well, I can tell you the fastest way to do that. Go live and work in the third world country for awhile. For most people that live in this type of culture, waiting for something, or simply waiting in line is darn near a second profession. When living in such a culture you just have to learn to be patient because you don’t have a choice.
But, on a more serious note, we just need to change our habits so that convenience does not always win out over sustainability. Truly, it comes right down to the fact that our everyday habits and conveniences have resulted in our ecological downfall and that is something we need to change.
It is also far too easy to place blame on big business for ruining the environment. But in the end they are just matching their products with consumer demand. Everyone wants the next best product, the next best iPhone, the next best fashion. But these are the very consumer habits that takes an enormous toll on the environment because we want quick, cheap and the latest and greatest.
But our choice of convenience first is truly just a matter of habit and repetition. Buying the to-go coffee, take out food, drinking bottled water, allowing food to go to waste is all a matter of habit. For most people choosing to act and shop sustainably doesn’t provide as much immediate satisfaction as buying the latest product. We see no immediate environmental benefit to recycling. Consequently, few people seldom put out the effort. But once again, much of what we do is a matter of habit.
Now to be fair, habits are actually a good thing. If something becomes a habit then we do it without really thinking about it. This frees up some mental time and attention to focus on other things. It helpsus to get through our day. And opting for convenience is just another habit.
However, as difficult as it may seem,stepping away from the convenience habit is not as difficult as you may think. You have to remember that our choices do make changes. And taking one small step at a time to transition to a plastic free life, to start recycling, to reduce your food waste is simply a matter of developing some new habits.
Think of it this way. What if we had a culture that values things that took longer to make, cost more, lasted longer, and was more environmentally friendly? Big business would respond to our demands and change their bad habits.
What if we had a society that worked harder to have as little environmental impact as possible? This would eventually become the norm.
What if we only ate local produce and no longer choose fruits and vegetables that were out of season? Then 60% of our fruits and vegetables would no longer be imported and it would literally transform the global food market.
What if we didn’t always reach for the easiest, fastest thing. Business and our economy would change to our demands. It is just a matter of changing our habits. Not only that, the inconvenience would truly be short lived. Sooner or later we would find a way to have goods and services that were both convenient and sustainable. That is how we overcome this barrier to a sustainable life. We just need to change our habits. It may be somewhat inconvenient at first but that would change because as long as people have been on this planet we have always managed to find an easier way to do everything.
Lack of support
Now let’s take a look at the next barrier to leading a sustainable life which is lack of support from government and big business.
Now to be fair, government policy can either aid or hinder environmentally friendly living. Governments do play a valuable role in fostering an environment that encourages people to live more sustainably. It is vital for governments to put appropriate legislation and policies in place that provides the framework for a sustainable economy. For example, things such as tax incentives and subsidies for renewable energy help tremendously. The German government has a 45 year history of sustainable policy making and that has been key for Germany becoming one of the most sustainable countries in the world.
The government also has a lot to do with national infrastructure which is a key element for a sustainable national economy.For example, the only way to power an entire country off of renewable energy, which is entirely possible by the way, is for our utility infrastructure to be completely over hauled. Government participation would be vital in making that a reality.
Again, to be fair, the government does play a vital part. However, we truly cannot wait for the governments of the world to adjourn from their never ending board meeting in order to start building a sustainable future. Otherwise it will not happen any time soon.
A perfect example is that the first seminal paper on climate change was published in 1896. Bye the 1930s increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was directly connected to global warming. ExxonMobile has known for decades that the burning of fossil fuels would cause global warming. And here we are 128 years later since that first paper was published and now we are in 911 mode.
The bottom line is that you cannot wait for the government and big business to address the problem. It is the cumulative affect of the choices of 7.8 billion people on this planet that have gotten us where we are today. And it is the cumulative effect of the everyday choices we make that will force government and big business to change their bad behavior.So, start making different choices. Put your money where your mouth is. And if you think your choices do not make a difference, get a load of this.
A perfect example of how ordinary people made a significant difference is in the country of Iceland. Individual choices lead to a national transition to renewable energy. It all started out of necessity. But this transition was spurred by local entrepreneurs.
Since Iceland is a small, relatively isolated European country, the local economy could not tolerate fluctuations in global oil prices. Realizing this, Iceland set about on a mission toward renewable energy because the country needed a stable and economically feasible domestic energy source.
Interestingly enough, this whole process was spurred by local entrepreneurs. Early in the 20th century a farmer built a primitive geothermal heating system for his farm using hot water that seeped out of the ground. Local municipalities built on his success and further explored and implemented geothermal heating systems. Eventually drilling was used to obtain hotter water and geothermal heating districts were established.
Early hydroelectric power systems were similarly established by farmers to power their farm houses or as a cooperative effort to power several farm houses. By 1950 about 530 small scale hydroelectric power plants were scattered throughout Iceland.
The government then established a geothermal drilling mitigation fund in the late 1960s. The fund was used to loan money for research and test drilling and to provide cost recovery for failed projects.
Simultaneously, the Iceland government was focusing on large scale hydroelectric power. This in turn attracted international industries. The new industries diversified the economy, created jobs, and established a national power grid. In the end this gave Iceland the stable economy and energy independence that the country needed.And it all started with one farmer that had a need and did not wait for government support. That one farmer’s actions spurred a transition that changed the entire country. So what are we waiting for?Our choices make changes so make different choices.
Not cost effective
The next barrier that I want to discuss is cost effectiveness.There are still a fair number of people that believe living sustainably is just not cost effective.
In some ways I can see why people get this impression. When we look to purchase a product many times our main consideration is the price. We often overlook the fact that you get what you pay for. For the most part things that are less expensive and also cheaply produced. Consequently, those products do not last as long and we end up having to replace them sooner. Not to mention that many products are produced with planned obsolescence meaning they have a limited lifespan and then you have to go buy another.
Purchasing a quality product is going to cost you more up front. But it will last longer and in some cases you may never have to replace it. A perfect example is when I purchase outdoor gear. I still have a backpack that I purchased 25 years ago. I still have a North Face sleeping bag I purchased 30 years ago. I still have cast iron cookware I purchased 20 years ago. Yes I spent more money up front but these products will last me a lifetime.
But I think it is also valuable to look at the economics of sustainable products or products in general.
-Product demand: Any product that has a high demand is often going to cost less. For example, plant based meat alternatives cost far more than beef because there is not a lot of demand. But if we all starting purchasing eco-friendly products the cost would eventually go down.
-Raw materials: Quality raw materials without the use of chemicals or pesticides are going to cost more. There is likely a higher manufacturing cost and products are often produced in smaller quantities.
-Third party certifications: Certifications such as Fair Trade and organic cost businesses money. First they have to pay a fee and then undergo rigorous testing and inspection which of course increases their cost. That cost is passed along to the consumer.
-Green business practices: Some companies may not produce and sell eco-friendly products but they adhere to sustainable business practices. For examples using recyclable packaging, operating on renewable energy, and paying fair wages. But often this cost money and once again that cost is passed along to the consumer.
So the bottom line is that any business practice that cost more money is going to be reflected in the cost of the product to the consumer. That is just basic economics.
But, as consumers every time we make a purchase we vote with our dollars. When you buy sustainable products you are making a statement about supporting the use of sustainable resources, opting for third-party certifications, and voting for fair labor practices. It sets a good example for friends and family and potentially others will follow your lead.
But when it comes to food, do you value your wallet more than your health? Once I read the report published by the Environmental Working Group about the dozens of pesticides found in our vegetables and fruits it completely changed my mind about paying the extra money for organic produce.
By far the simplest way to decrease the cost of sustainable products is to increase the demand. Our choices drive the market place every time.
Now that being said, there are numerous ways tolive more sustainably without spending more money.In fact, the following tips will actually save you money. For example:
-Eat less meat and more vegetables. Veggies cost a lot less than meat.
-Reduce your food waste. On average we throw away almost $3,000 USD worth of food every year
-Cook at home from basic ingredients instead of spending half of your monthly food budget on fast food and take out.
-Grow you own food. If you are limited on space then have a small container garden or put some plants on your window seal.
-Buy second hand products instead of opting for something new.
-Borrow something if you can instead of buying it.
-Change you light bulbs to LEDs.
-Improve the energy efficiency of your home
-Air dry your clothes
-Avoid purchasing single use products
-Conserve water
-Opt to work at home a couple of day a week if possible
-Compost
-Buy in bulk
-Drive less
And the list goes on. In fact, if you want even more information on this topic, go back and listen to podcastE84 The True Cost of Sustainable Living. Additionally, listen to E38 The Value of Simplicity and E66, E67, and E68 on reducing your carbon footprint. All of these episodes are loaded with valuable tips on sustainable living that will save you money.
Summary
In summary, we have now discussed three more barriers to sustainable living: inconvenience, lack of support and cost effectiveness.
Inconvenience: The belief that living sustainable is inconvenient can be overcome by simply changing your habits. Simple habits such as reusable shopping bags make a difference. But I can tell you that it took me a little bit of time to change this habit. Now when I go to the supermarket I automatically reach for my reusable bags.
The average person throws away nearly 365 plastics bags every year. Globally, humanity disposes of 5 trillion plastic bags annually. So yes your choices make a difference. Inconvenience can be overcome by simply changing your habits.
Lack of support: As everyday citizens, we cannot wait for big business and big government to plan our sustainable future. It is quite possible for everyone of us to take back control of most of our own resources. I have being doing it for over 25 years. Sustainability means that you take full responsibility for everything you choose to do and everything you choose not to do. So why are you allowing someone else to control your life? So take control of your own life and stop waiting for the government to swoop in to the rescue. One farmer in Iceland is responsible to starting a trend that change the entire country. You can make a difference.
Cost effectiveness: To be fair, many sustainable products do cost more and I have discussed the reasons for that. My best advice is pick and choose what you purchase. Careful choose your own adventure.For example, I only buy organic produce because anything else has been proven to be laced with numerous pesticides. Yes I pay more for that produce. But that additional cost compromises only a small amount of my monthly budget. So eating sustainably does not have to break your wallet. Just make some careful choices.
Additionally, as I outlined above there are many sustainable habits you can incorporate in your life that cost nothing and will actually save you money. Living sustainable actually cost less. And because I have gone out of my way to live the way I do, I am now debt free and within reason do whatever I want. Living the way I do cost less, not more. It is just a matter of changing the way you think. So try it.
Well folks, that just about covers things for this week. If you join me again next week, I am going to continue with another episode on how to overcome some of the common barriers to sustainable living.
Now let’s get back to sustainability question of the week.
How much of the water that enters our homes actually goes down the drain?
The average person wastes as much as 30 gallons of water per day. The average household uses 300 gallons of water per day most of which is used for flushing toilets and taking showers. Bottom line, 95% of the fresh water entering our homes goes down the drain.
So think about that the next time you take a shower, the next time you are washing clothes, or the next time you flush the toilet for the 20th time for the day. We waste a tremendous amount of water and that is completely avoidable.
Now, I want to close this episode with one of my favorite quotes because I think it is applicable to this week’s episode.
Margaret Mead who was a cultural anthropologist and frequent public speaker in the 1960s and 1970s once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
In closing folks, be sure to visit me on my website adventuresinsustainableliving.com where there are weekly updates on sustainable topics and podcast episodes. If you go there and subscribe you will also get immediate access to 200 frequently asked questions and answers about sustainable living. It is a great tip sheet that will help you get started down that path.
Until next week folks, this is your host Patrick signing off. Always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future.
