Month: December 2021

There isn’t much time left to be said for the year of 2021, so looking forward to 2022, the year will need to be started off on the right foot and that means starting sustainably. In order to do that, the common practices of celebrating the New Year will need to be revisited to see if what we do for New Year’s is up to standard or not.

First we can start with the most common New Year’s practice, setting off fireworks to bring the New Year in with a bang! The act of creating an explosion in the air that releases metal and gasses isn’t necessarily sustainable, especially when those gasses released are common greenhouse gasses such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen which are high contributors to climate change. Even when they are launched from the ground, they impact the environment by releasing sulfur as part of their propellent system. When fireworks explode, they release fine particulate matter into the air around the explosion.  Particle pollutants like the fine particulate matter are a major health risk as well as they’re easily able to get into your lungs and bloodstream, causing damage to those systems. Around celebratory events, the amount of fine particulate matter in the air can be registered up to 2 to 10 times greater than background levels. Even basic sparklers are not great for the planet as they still emit gasses into the air that will cause a higher increase in damage to the atmosphere. Because of all of the risks and damage that comes along with the use of fireworks, they have banned in multiple states and other areas in order to reduce the negative impacts they cause.

So instead of using the regular fireworks to celebrate this New Years, maybe more people can start to implement the use of more eco-friendly fireworks. There are groups who have developed more environmentally friendly fireworks, sparklers and other celebratory pyrotechnics. Some of these fireworks use smokeless charges and some have worked on using sulfur-free propellants. Researchers tracked the use of these eco-friendly fireworks to see exactly how much of a difference they make by seeing the amount of particles left in the air afterwards as well as overall quality of the air in the area they were launched compared to the areas where regular fireworks were launched. The researchers used their research to determine that the use of environmentally friendly fireworks results in a much smaller, shorter-lasting plume from the explosion point. Statistically, they are also better for particle emission resulting in only 15-65% of the fine particulate matter emissions compared to using traditional fireworks. This is a major improvement over regular fireworks, but these emissions are still far over the amount of fine particulate matter that is recommended by the World Health Organization guidelines. It is significantly over the amount due to the large use of fireworks on these holidays.

 

So in conclusion, fireworks in general are never truly good for the environment, but if you are going to set off fireworks this holiday, try to do so with eco-friendly fireworks and set off only a few to reduce the amount of damage you personally do to the environment.

 

Works Cited

“Are Fireworks Bad for the Environment? the Environmental Impact of Fireworks.” Brightly, 6 Dec. 2021, https://brightly.eco/fireworks-environmental-impact/.

EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics.

“How ‘Green’ Are Environmentally Friendly Fireworks?” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 3 Mar. 2021, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210303081403.htm.

What’s better than plastic? Paper! As the world finally starts to appreciate the environmental consequences of decades worth of plastic being dumped into oceans and landfills, there’s been a rise in the production of single-use paper products. Over the course of one year the world uses over 400 million tons worth of paper products – anything from napkins, paper plates, newspaper, cardboard, to cash – to be used and eventually thrown away or recycled. Compared to 400+ years it takes for a single piece of plastic to break down, paper has a much more sustainable life cycle, one that ends in anywhere from 4-6 weeks’ worth of decomposition or shipment to a recycling plant.

Although industrial paper recycling reduces a significant percentage of the carbon emissions and environmental degradation associated with new paper production and manufacturing, it doesn’t mean there are NO negative impacts associated with this process. I know that sounds incredibly disheartening and you’re probably left wondering things like: What am I supposed to do as a consumer if recycling isn’t a perfect solution to solving the climate crisis? and What can I do to be more sustainable while still consuming single use paper products? Well, the most effective solution is to decrease the amount of single use products you consume. But for most people, drastically reducing personal waste isn’t particularly feasible, so here’s one example of a fun and easy way to reduce the amount of paper you send to recycling centers and landfills without having to cut down on consumption:

Make Your Own Paper! (Using old, “pre-loved” paper):

Recycling paper at home is extremely accessible and doesn’t take much time, money, or effort. I was inspired to make my own paper after watching a TikTok video last year in my dorm room. It seemed like a sustainable excuse to write sweet, homemade notes to my new college buddies without spending money at the store AND it gave my old notebooks and scrap paper a new purpose (other than filling up my shelves and recycling bin)! This is a great activity to do with friends and can be done outside or even in your dorm room. 

 

MATERIALS:

• Mould and deckle (i.e., tool for straining the paper pulp and shaping your pages)
  • Pro Tip: buy one from a craft store or from Amazon OR head to your local secondhand store and pick up two wooden picture frames of the same size. Cut a piece, a few inches larger than your frames, out of an old pair of stockings (or any fabric material you have access to that would easily let water drain from it – the more porous the better). Lay the fabric over one of the frames and staple it down.
• Medium sized bin/storage container 
• 2 gallons of water 
• Scrap paper (newspaper, notes, egg cartons, cardstock, etc.)
• 1 small bed sheet
• Blender

STEPS:

1. Rip up all the paper you intend on using – I typically use the equivalent of 1 newspaper per batch of homemade paper – into small pieces.
2. Fill about a ⅓ of the blender with the shredded paper and the rest with lukewarm water. 
3. Blend the paper until the water and paper become a smooth pulpy paste. 
4. Fill the bin/storage container with the 2 gallons of water and pour in the blended paper pulp. Stir the mixture until the pulp is evenly distributed in the water. 
   • Pro Tip: add a few drops of natural fabric dye or a splash of coffee to change the color of the paper. Get creative with it!
5. Place the mould and deckle (or your makeshift one) horizontally into the water with the fabric side on the bottom. Slowly lift the mould and deckle out of the water, making sure to let the water drain from the pulp left on the fabric.
6. Take the still horizontal mould and deckle to the sheet, – which should be laid on a flat surface – remove the top frame and press the page-shaped pulp face down on the sheet. The page-shaped pulp should be left flat on the sheet.
7. Repeat the process until the pulp becomes too thin in the water to form pages or until you have made the desired number of pages.
8. Let the pages, now laying on the bed sheet, dry for at least 48 hours before gently peeling them off the sheet.
9. And that’s it! Now you have homemade paper for writing anything from love letters to organic chemistry notes!

 

With the holidays just around the corner, make sure to tie a piece of ribbon or twine around a stack of your beautiful, handmade paper and gift it to a loved one. I’m sure they will adore your practical and sustainable present! Have fun crafting!!

 

 

Citations:

“Is Paper Better than Plastic?” BBC News, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/made-on-earth/how-paper-is-making-a-comeback/.

Parker, Laura. “Plastic Pollution Facts and Information.” Environment, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution.

Pullen, Kate. “Create Your Own Handmade Papers from Recycled Card.” The Spruce Crafts, The Spruce Crafts, 30 July 2020, https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/make-unique-handmade-paper-by-recycling-2905566.

Many of us know the basics of sustainability and/or caring for the environment– less carbon dioxide emissions, more renewable energy sources, eat less meat, eat locally, etc. This being said, the question must be asked: how many of us actually have a practical solution to address any of these issues or goals? If you don’t have a degree in Sustainability Sciences, you might not have a solution. After all, it is difficult to account for the advancement of every single person in an environmental, economic, and social sense. However, one doesn’t need an advanced degree to understand the basics of farming. Working at Oak Hill Cafe and Farm this past summer taught me everything I needed to know.

Oak Hill Cafe and Farm is a farm-to-table restaurant on Poinsett Highway in between Furman University and downtown Greenville. Taking a quick glance at Oak Hill from the outside, it looks rather unassuming. After all, it is situated right next to a gas station on the right, Hakim Persian Rugs on the left, and an old apartment complex behind it. However, once I actually visited for the first time, I found that it was more of a quaint, urban-style restaurant with a small farm in the backyard.

I originally chose to work at Oak Hill Cafe to find something to do over the summer, as summers in Myrtle Beach can get quite a bit dull. However, I was unprepared for everything I would experience during my time there. I spent long hours and longer days tilling soil, weeding, planting new seedlings, harvesting old ones, washing vegetables, and fending off ant bites, often alongside my fellow Greenbelter Kerry Black. I might sound as if I’m making out my experience at Greenbelt to be negative, but I have learned very valuable lessons from my internship! This has led me to believe that farming done sustainably is arguably the most effective strategy to make a positive environmental impact on the world.

 

Why, you might ask?

It’s easy! This type of farming without use of harmful elements like pesticides and insecticides, also called subsistence farming, has been around since circa 8,000 B.C. (NatGeo), so it’s not like this is a relatively new concept. However, its popularity is starting to be revived after a decades long period of near insignificance due to the domination of big agribusiness. It is inspiring to know that there are an increasing amount of “pockets” of sustainability that exist where it previously seemed impossible, as my mentor Haley Disinger recalled. One would not expect a space wedged in between a gas station and a rug store to house a well-operated and sustainable cafe and farm, but Oak Hill Cafe and Farm is making it happen. It is my hope that other creative thinkers– not just those with a college degree– become inspired to act in a sustainable fashion just as I have!

The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race, at least regarding the lasting effects of carbon emissions. Sure, industrialization it gave us fancy clothes, cool cars, and YikYak, but it behooves us to acknowledge the impact carbon emissions and fossil fuels have on our planet. The main harm carbon emissions, or CO2, pose is the greenhouse effect. 

This is essentially when the CO2 in the atmosphere traps heat from the sun from leaving, making the planet hotter. Our atmosphere is does have to conserve some heat from the Sun, or else Earth would always have sub-zero temperatures, similar to Mars, which has a very thin atmosphere. But the Earth is not designed to heat up as much as it is, as quickly as it is. So, in an age of discovery and innovation, how can we continue to progress, while cutting carbon emissions as much as we can? 

One solution has been solar power, which sounds cool, but not many people know its benefits/drawbacks. Obviously, the sun is very powerful and generates a lot of energy; the amount of sunlight that covers the Earth’s surface for an hour and a half is sufficient to power the world’s energy consumption for a whole year. So why don’t we just put a bunch of solar panels in the desert, where no one lives? Well, unfortunately with the way we currently harness energy from the Sun, a large solar power plant would pale in comparison to a plant of different energy, say nuclear or otherwise, with regard to both energy production and cost efficiency.

So, it is more likely to use solar energy for personal use, on top of your home. This can either power portions of your home, or, depending on your energy usage, power your entire home! The installation of solar panels is costly, but it most definitely pays for itself over the years, as you save money and energy the longer you have them up.

It seems we’ve solved the climate problem then, yes? Simply put up solar panels! Well, no. Electricity production makes up only 25% of greenhouse gas emissions (2019), where the transportation sector is responsible for 29%. On average, the daily miles driven by a given car in the US is roughly 25.9 (2017). Provided that the car is taken out more than once, we can assume a trip is less than 13 miles (13 miles there and back is roughly the average of 26). Given the average biker clocks 15mph on an hour-long ride, biking to your locations, especially urban, is very possible, and more sustainable than driving, both for power and cost. If biking is not feasible, you can always save up for a hybrid or electric car, too, to lessen your carbon footprint. Of course, sustainability is all about practice, not perfection, so trying to implement these and other practices into your routine, even a little, will make you feel more fulfilled and ready to combat climate change. Simply turning off the water and the lights when you’re not using them can make a difference, and are a catalyst for bigger changes in your life. And once you’ve done all you can to live sustainably, the only thing left to do is encourage corporations to do the same.

 

References:

Kazmeyer, Milton. “Is CO2 Bad for the Planet?” Sciencing, 2 Mar. 2019, https://sciencing.com/co2-bad-planet-4876.html.

Coffee is arguably one of the most prevalent drugs in america, over 150 million americans are regular coffee drinkers, and lately during the pandemic around 85% of people have at least one cup of coffee at home. I personally have a cup every morning, partly for the energy but mostly for the routine. I’ve been doing so for a few years, and as a consequence have learned a lot about what it means to know where your beans came from. Many people don’t think twice about it, likely not even once. They just take their cup and keep walking. Many, however, do care about holding accountable the hands that deliver us our joe, and that’s led to a large movement in the past few decades towards keeping those hands clean. Today, we can deliberate over wide selections of coffee, varying in roast depth, flavor notes, origin, acidity levels, even the specific process by which the beans were roasted. Along with these often is information about how sustainable the farms and roasters are, allowing consumers to make informed decisions about their java.

First, we must understand the path of a coffee bean from crop to cup. Coffee trees actually come from the same beans we roast, and they take about 3-4 years to bear crop. They’re harvested either by hand or by machine, depending on the landscape, and if by hand, they can also be harvested selectively or all at once. They’re then either dried as they are, or processed with water to remove the pulp from the cherry that surrounds the bean. If processed wet they must still be dried after. The beans are then milled to remove the parchment layer, and sorted by weight and size. Then they’re shipped off and roasted in the importing countries, at about 550 degrees fahrenheit. Then they’re either packaged whole bean or ground, bought by consumers, and brewed (if packaged whole bean the consumer will grind it themselves). So, where is there room for sustainability?

Where the coffee plant is grown, all agricultural tenets of sustainability apply, such as avoiding unsafe pesticides and herbicides, conserving water, and supporting surrounding ecosystems. Where the beans are processed, dry processing helps to conserve water, though it may take more time. After imported, most beans go to cafes or commercial roasters and grinders, and it almost goes without arguing that large scale production is usually unsustainable. Once in your hands, you can brew them however you want, and some methods such as espresso machines and french presses are less wasteful then methods that require paper filters. Yet if you do use paper filters, most filters are compostable. Either way, you should try to find a way to compost your grounds, as they are relatively rich with nutrients for your compost.

It may feel like you don’t have much control over what happens before beans end up on the shelf, but you do. Aside from choosing companies that are green certified, fair trade, or organic, you can also choose coffee companies that dedicate themselves to furthering sustainable efforts in ways that you as a consumer may not be able to. Counter Culture Coffee, for example, publishes a transparency report every year that opens the windows on everything they’re doing to put stuff in your mug that you can feel good about. Not only does this keep them accountable, but it holds a higher standard for other companies who may not be honest about how sustainable they are.

There are lots of ways to be sustainable in your life, coffee is just one way. Yet the ability of consumers to hold big companies accountable for their actions is something that the coffee community does very well. We should all do our part to maintain a focus on our future.

 

Works Cited

National Coffee Association. NCA. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/10-steps-from-seed-to-cup.

The semester is coming to an end, which means it’s almost time for Christmas! As you begin your holiday preparations, it’s important to keep in mind the environmental impact of your Christmas celebration. Here are just a few ways you can have a sustainable Christmas.

One of the most important parts of any holiday celebration is food, however we have a tendency to overeat during the holiday season. A study in the UK found that 80 percent more food is consumed over the Christmas period than any other time of year (Jessop). All of this food can not possibly be eaten, so much of it ends up getting thrown away. There are several things you can do to prevent holiday food waste. First, determine how many people you will be cooking for and then calculate how much food you need to feed that exact number of people and no more. If there is still food left over after the meal, make sure you pack up the leftovers so they can be eaten later. Christmas dinner in my family often lasts for three days because there is so much left-over food. If you don’t want all of that food for yourself, ask all of your guests to bring Tupperware so everyone can take their fair share of the leftovers.

Another way to make your meal more environmentally friendly is to cut back on the amount of meat and dairy. It is widely known that animal products require much more energy and water to produce than fruits and vegetables. Bonus points if you buy locally grown produce in order to limit the amount of fuel used to transport your Christmas meal.

The Christmas tree is another important part of the celebration, but some Christmas trees are better than others. The best thing you can do is to get a tree from a Christmas tree farm and then replant it when you are done. You could also try composting your tree. Try not to cut down a wild tree though. “Those trees could grow to be 50 to 100 years old if left alone, and they’re helping the planed by sequestering carbon” (Shade). If you’re like my family and insist on an artificial tree, try to get an already used tree and reuse it many times. Research shows that you have to reuse your artificial tree anywhere from 4-10 years before it has a lower environmental impact than a real tree (CDEnviro). In our Greenbelt class this semester we learned to make sustainable crafts, which are a fun way to make decorations, including Christmas trees! My favorite design is the book tree, which allows you to make use of the books collecting dust on your shelf. If you want to hang lights on your tree, make sure they are LEDs as they are more efficient, and try to put your lights on a timer so they don’t run all night.

Let’s WRAP this up by talking about wrapping paper. It’s easy to see how wasteful wrapping paper is. It does not serve a huge purpose, and it is thrown away almost immediately. This year, try a tip from my aunt who is famous for using old newspapers, magazines, cookie tins, or anything else she can find that is not wrapping paper. If you really want to use wrapping paper, make sure it is recyclable. A lot of wrapping paper can’t be recycled, especially if it has tape or glitter. Check out this tutorial on how to wrap gifts without using tape at all. Elena wrote a great post about this back in October, scroll down a few and check it out!

This Christmas, I challenge you to try at least one of the sustainability strategies I mentioned here.

Happy Holidays!

 

Works Cited

CDEnviro. “Christmas, the Most Wasteful Time Of The Year.” CDEnviro, https://www.cdenviro.com/news/2019/december/christmas-the-most-wasteful-time-of-the-year. Accessed 28 November 2021.

Jessop, Andy. “Why It Is Important To Have An Eco-Friendly Christmas.” Commercialwaste, https://commercialwaste.trade/the-true-cost-of-christmas/.  Accessed 28 November 2021.

Shade, Martha. “How To Have a Stylish, Sustainable Christmas.” CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/us/how-to-have-sustainable-christmas-iyw-trnd/index.html. Accessed 28 November 2021.

 

Images:

Caroline. Christmas Dinner For One, Feed Your Sole, 25 December 2020, https://feed-your-sole.com/christmas-dinner-for-one/.

Gibbs, Miranda. 17 DIY Instructions and Ideas to Make a Christmas Tree with Books, Guide Patterns, 9 November 2015, https://www.guidepatterns.com/17-diy-instructions-and-ideas-to-make-a-christmas-tree-with-books.php.