Furman Greenbelt Sustainable Living Community

One of the most important things that I have learned from my time in the Greenbelt is that sustainability can be part of everything, and the best way to get involved with sustainability is to make it a part of something you already enjoy. For me, I love soccer, and there is a soccer club that is showing the world how the sport can be more sustainable.

Forest Green Rovers is a club that plays in England’s fourth division of professional soccer and are living up to their name by showing how the sport can go green. Forest Green Rovers became the first soccer team to be certified as completely carbon neutral by the United Nations, and in 2017 they became the first and only vegan soccer team in the world. During a trip to their New Lawn stadium, one will find charging points for electric vehicles, solar powered lawn mowers that cut an organic pesticide-free field, an entirely vegan menu, and players wearing jerseys made from recycled coffee grounds and plastic. Despite the fact that the club’s stadium is more sustainable than many others, they have plans to build a new stadium called Eco Park, which will be even more sustainable than the New Lawn. Eco Park will be made entirely out of wood, will be surrounded by a park full of trees, and will be the first carbon neutral stadium in the world.

Action like this is needed from all clubs as the game of soccer is a large contributor to climate change and will likely experience its negative effects. The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia alone produced around 2.16 million tons of carbon emissions, and it is estimated that the entire sport itself is responsible for 0.3% to 0.4% of total global emissions. If action is not taken, 23 out of England’s 92 professional soccer teams will experience annual flooding of their stadiums by 2050. Although the climate crisis is much larger than just the game of soccer, clubs making an effort to become more sustainable like Forest Green Rovers is the next step in addressing the problem.

It is not just soccer that that can be more sustainable, but everything is affected by sustainability, including the things that you are passionate about. Check out the blogs from other Greenbelt students to see what I am talking about. Adrian for example loves the outdoors and talks all about how many of his favorite outdoor activities can be made more sustainable. Cami and Georgia both show how art and sustainability intersect, with Cami showing how to make sustainable crafts, and Georgia showing how photography is a tool that can help highlight the climate crisis. Sam even writes about the intersection of sustainability and math. This all goes to show every one of your hobbies and every aspect of life can be made more sustainable. My challenge to all of those reading this is to take the thing that you are most passionate about, whether that be soccer, art, or anything else, and find ways to make it more sustainable.

References:

“Another Way.” Forest Green Rovers, https://www.fgr.co.uk/another-way.

Ashoo, Sam. “Climate Crisis: How Can Football Make a Difference?” Euronews, 3 Dec. 2021, www.euronews.com/2021/10/28/the-climate-crisis-why-football-can-no-longer-hide.

Hewitson, Rosie. “It’s Time for Football to Reckon With Its Carbon Footprint.” Huck Magazine, 6 Nov. 2020, www.huckmag.com/outdoor/sport-outdoor/its-time-for-football-to-reckon-with-its-carbon-footprint.

“Playing Against the Clock.” Rapid Transition Alliance, 20 June 2020, https://www.rapidtransition.org/resources/playing-against-the-clock/.

You’re probably cleaning your house, room, apartment, or wherever you reside weekly or every other week – at least you probably should be. And it’s tempting to buy those products with the flashy labels that seem like they’ll clean your space best, but those can be harmful to the environment. Even some items labeled “green” are not necessarily any better because they are subject to green-washing, which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as “the creation or propagation of an unfounded or misleading environmentalist image” (OED). 

 

One product guilty of this is Simple Green Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner. While the green packaging and title seem environmental and user friendly, that could not be further from the truth. One chemical found in this product, 2-butoxyethanol, is said to be “a solvent absorbed through the skin that damages red blood cells and irritates eyes” (CBS, 2012). Another harmful product is Spic and Span Multi-Surface and Floor Cleaner, which contains a chemical that is “persist[ant] in the environment and has been found toxic to aquatic life” (CBS, 2012). This chemical – ethoxylate – has already been “banned for sale in the European Union” (CBS, 2012). It can be confusing and overwhelming when you’re buying cleaning products because there are so many options, so the chances are pretty high that you don’t know what is safest and most sustainable.

Thankfully, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the “Safer Choice program, which certifies products that contain safer ingredients for human health and the environment” (EPA). This program is useful in giving cleaning product consumers a better idea of what is actually sustainable, so they are not fooled by greenwashing labels. The EPA compiles a list of more sustainable options by paying attention to VOC (volatile organic compounds) content, safer chemicals, renewable resources, sustainable packaging, and more. 

So you may be asking yourself, “what can I do?” The answer is pretty simple: educate yourself, avoid harmful products, and invest in more sustainable cleaning supplies. Some sustainable cleaning brands you should try to incorporate into your cleaning routine are Grove Collaborative, Common Good, and ECOS (The Good Trade). As The Good Trade says, “these natural and eco-friendly household cleaning brands are consciousof your family’s health and the wellbeing of the earth”( The Good Trade). They are great opportunities to introduce sustainability into your cleaning routine, and some of them even have refillable options to reduce single use plastic waste!

There is an additional option to the green cleaning initiative, which is making your own products. If you want to put in a little bit of work for what might be the most sustainable option of all for an all-purpose cleaner, just mix these ingredients together: ½ cup vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda, and 4 to 8 cups hot water in a spray bottle” (WebMD). You can even add a little bit of an essential oil of your choice if you want to add a scent. For my personal all-purpose cleaner, I went with a lemon scent, which is subtle, yet effective.

If you’re looking for ways to incorporate sustainability in your routine without switching your lifestyle up too much, green cleaning is for you. It implements sustainable options in place of something you already do, so it isn’t too hard to add! I highly suggest trying out some of the above brands or following the steps to create your own cleaner, for both your health and the earth’s.

Resources

​​”greenwashing, n.” OED Online. Oxford University Press, March 2022. Web. 26 April 2022.

“Identifying Greener Cleaning Products.” EPA, last updated 26 March 2022. https://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/identifying-greener-cleaning-products.

“EWG’s ‘Hall of Shame’ of toxic household cleaners.” CBS News, 12 September 2012, https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/ewgs-hall-of-shame-of-toxic-household-cleaners/. 

“10 Natural and Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products For The Conscious Home.” The Good Trade, https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/natural-eco-friendly-cleaning-products-for-the-conscious-home. 

“Guide to Natural Cleaning.” Web MD, medically reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS, 19 April 2021. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-guide-to-natural-cleaning#:~:text=For%20mild%20cleaning%2C%20mix%201,give%20it%20a%20fresh%20scent. 

The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race and for campsites across the nation. As spring comes to a close and with summer right around the corner, there are many activities that should be taken advantage of in the outdoors. What immediately comes to mind are things like camping, stargazing, fishing, climbing, swimming, and other things. It is always good to go outside and catch some rays, but with all these new camping and outdoors products being released, it can be hard to fully enjoy what nature has to offer if you’re too busy pumping air into your inflatable mattress or finding a spot of sun for your solar-powered portable charger. Instead, pack minimally, so that you’re prepared for an emergency but are not distracted by what society deems as “necessary.” When we bring more things than we need, like extra bags and disposable items, we tend to produce lots of waste which can be left behind at a site or park. This is obviously harmful to the environment and the animals that live there, so by bringing less you are less likely to make a negative impact.

 

Fishing is a big summer activity that is enjoyed across the nation. There’s nothing better than posting up under a shady tree and casting out some lines, waiting for a bite. But there can be consequences to recreational fishing if you do not practice catch-and-release. While overfishing is a topic often discussed in the oceans, inland overfishing is seldom a headline-issue, despite its severity. One of the biggest issues here is catching fish when they are too small. Keeping fish that have not yet reached maturity are not able to reproduce (because you ate them), so if this goes unchecked, then a fish species could easily decline in a certain body of water. To combat this, each state has you; a) get a fishing license, which can be obtained easily at most gas stations for less than $30; b) abide by the state mandated slot limit for each fish for the particular body of water. The slot limit is the minimum/maximum size a fish has to be in order to keep it, which prevents species decline. So when you fish this summer, make sure you preserve fish populations by following your state’s laws, governed by The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

 

Another popular summer activity is camping, and luckily there are many parks here in the U.S to do so. Unfortunately, many people do not understand the value of conservation/preservation of these landmarks, so they end up tossing their trash outside without a second thought. But the meaning behind the infamous “leave no trace” mantra extends beyond just picking up your trash. There are many things you may do while camping that you wouldn’t think leave a big impact. Carving into a tree, for example, can prematurely expose the wood to diseases, eventually killing it. Using sunscreen or bug-spray can introduce harmful chemicals into the air, which could harm the wildlife; same goes for soaps in bodies of water. Even building campfires makes the quality of the soil deteriorate, and obviously are a fire hazard, so be very careful with fire building and its location.

All this being said, do not be discouraged from going and enjoying all the outdoors has to offer. Don’t bring so much stuff camping, fishing, or some other outdoor activity so that you will be distracted from the very thing you came out to do. Enjoy where you are at the moment, and never take being outside for granted. Keep in mind we are here to reap the fruits (literally and figuratively) of nature, as long as we do our part to sew the right seeds so future generations will be able to enjoy a beautiful Earth, not one where you can’t see the stars or breathe the fresh air, which unfortunately is the track we are currently on; sustainability is not just about recycling some bottles, it’s about keeping the world as clean and conserved as we can, one act at a time.

 

 

 

Emsheimer, Ella. “Unexpected Ways We Harm the Environment While Camping.” RV LIFE, 17 Aug. 2021, https://rvlife.com/environment-harm/.

There are multiple reasons as to why I decided to focus my blog on sustainable transportation. My interest in the subject was originally piqued when me and two fellow Greenbelters, Evan Hucke and Campbell Lomel, embarked on our yearlong Greenbelt Cookbook project. I have no skill in the cooking department, so my work centered around driving to grocery stores around the Greenville/Travelers Rest area, in order to see which locations were of the highest quality, cheapest, and most accessible. That made me wonder: is what I’m doing actually sustainable? Every one of us sustainability-minded folk has that existential crisis. It’s just part of learning about what possible mistakes you’re making in your quest to live more sustainably. It’s no secret that the United States’ infrastructure system has been built to be car-dependent, and I had actually been interested in looking into that for a while. Most of us have to use a car to complete many activities throughout the day, such as going grocery shopping. This is especially true for those of us living on a college campus. Anyways, that’s a lot of reasoning behind just one of the causes of me writing about sustainable transportation. Phew! The other reason is because my car has since broken down, and it is currently under repair at a shop. Let’s jump right in!

 

Living without using a car at college is not new to me. In fact, I had chosen to use my car minimally as part of my Lifestyle Change project earlier in the semester. I just didn’t expect that part of the challenge to become my actual life. Gone is the luxury of being able to drive anywhere on campus because I don’t feel like leaving my cabin earlier to walk. The prospect of going on a Cookout run, even, is a distant memory. Since I’ve lost my car, I’ve been forced to think a lot more about what sustainable alternatives (or just any alternatives) are.

 

Walking

Walking is sort of a no-brainer here. It will always be the most sustainable mode of transportation, and we as humans have relied on that for millennia. While walking might take the longest time to get from Point A to Point B, that leaves other opportunities to be explored. Walking gives me more time to enjoy the outdoors or listen to music while on the go. Many Furman students and campus visitors alike enjoy going on a lake walk. I know this for a fact as I see someone walking nearly every time I leave Greenbelt. According to healthline.com, walking has many physical and mental health benefits, including burning calories, boosting immune function, and clearing your head.

Bicycle

Another common sustainable alternative is to go about by bicycle. Obviously, biking everywhere is easier than walking in terms of accessibility. Most people probably wouldn’t want to spend the entire day walking to Swamp Rabbit Cafe, as an example, but it is quite enjoyable to bike there. It is also relatively easy to learn to ride a bicycle. Although a bike can be difficult to maintain, it is still a strong sustainable alternative to driving. Biking, just like every other sustainable alternative to driving, is a great choice because no nonrenewable are burned and it reduces air pollution, per biofriendlyplanet.com.

Skateboard

My personal favorite alternative to driving: skateboarding. Essentially a scooter with no handlebars, a good longboard can take me from Greenbelt to Plyler Hall in just five minutes– going uphill. Skateboarding is not as accessible as riding a bicycle, but it requires less maintenance. It is also the least safe mode of transportation of the three; going on a steep downhill on a skateboard is not recommended. For those that are just starting out on a board, I would suggest wearing a helmet and/or knee and shoulder pads. According to sustainability-times.com, “manufacturing skateboards uses fewer materials than manufacturing bikes, and if its techniques are mastered, skateboarding can be faster than commuting on a bicycle.”

 

So, which of these three alternatives is the best? That’s the best part of it, you can decide– or even come up with another alternative! I have not been able to drive for a while, and the thought of driving to the music building or to get dinner is in the rearview mirror. Get out there and see which sustainable alternative to driving is the best for you!

 

Works Cited

Walking

Biking

Skateboarding

When hearing about pollution, one typically thinks about air, water, and land. However, there are other types that are impactful and not as talked about. One of these types is light pollution. Although artificial light has been a great and impactful invention, we produce a lot of waste.  The misuse of artificial light impacts the environment both directly and indirectly. This has impacts on the environment, economy, and ecosystems.

Light pollution can be divided into four components. First there is glare which is “excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort” (darksky). There is also skyglow: “brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas” (darksky). Another aspect is light trespass which is “light falling where it is not intended or need” (darksky). Last, there is clutter, which is “bright, confusing, and excessive groupings of light sources” (darksky). These four types combine to make it harder to see the night sky. This impacts not only humans, but wildlife.

Artificial lighting creates a lot of waste and harm; economically, environmentally, and is even dangerous to health. Poorly managed outdoor lighting wastes about $10 per U.S. citizen. In regard to the environment, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to power outdoor lighting is the same as 3 million passenger cars (darksky). Along with need massive amounts of carbon dioxide, artificial light messes up body patterns in animals and humans. This includes the circadian rhythm which helps regulate our sleeping pattern. “An increasing amount of light at night lower melatonin production, which results in sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety, and other health problems” (natgeo). Light pollution blocks moonlight which hinders the migratory patterns of birds, sea turtles, and other animals. This causes them to lose sense of direction and possibly die.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using certain lightbulbs also have an impact on energy efficiency and sustainability. There are three main types of light bulbs: incandescent, CFL (Compact Fluorescent), and LED (Light-emitting Diodes). Incandescent bulbs are the most wasteful, in fact, generating heat is “90% of their output” (onecommunityglobal). This heat can also heat up one’s residence, increasing the air conditioning bill (as well as greenhouse gas emissions).  CFLs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10,000 hours (10 times longer). However, they are not the most efficient light bulb. That title belongs to the LEDs. They can last 50,000 hours and emit little (if any) heat. The only downside is that they can be more expensive ($5, vs. $2 and $1 in CFLs and LEDs, respectively).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the cabins, we have several amenities in order to limit light usage and pollution. The bathrooms have special sun lights so that we do not have to turn any artificial lighting on until at night. They do a great job of lighting up the room, so that it even works in the evening. We also have LED-strips around the common area, so that we do not have to use the other lights at night. However, there are some issues with artificial lighting and living in a dorm. Since we do not pay the electricity bill, students may be prone to leaving their lights on without a care. These are indoor lights so they do not severely impact light pollution, but this still burns fossil fuels, wastes money, and can contribute to some light pollution. I usually turn off my own lights in my room, but I can be guilty of not turning lights off in the common area. However, I have gotten better about it. If there is no one in the common area and I am leaving it, I will make sure to turn the main lights off.

Light pollution is a lesser known but harmful detriment to the environment. It directly harms human health, natural habitats, and stops us from enjoying the beauty of the night sky. Indirectly, too much light usage uses up more fossil fuels and drives up energy costs. By making sure to use sustainable light bulbs, improving natural lighting, and turning off lights when not in use, humans can live a healthier and more sustainable life.

LED Light Bulbs: Comparison Charts | Eartheasy Guides & Articles

Light Bulb Buying Guide: How to Choose LEDs, CFLs – Even WiFi Smart Lights | HGTV

Light Pollution | National Geographic Society

Light Pollution: The Overuse & Misuse of Artificial Light at Night – JMU

Light Pollution Wastes Energy and Money – International Dark-Sky Association (darksky.org)

Most Sustainable Lightbulbs & Light Bulb Companies Research & Savings (onecommunityglobal.org)

By Georgia Whiteside

This set of photography is titled Plastic’s Chokehold and features different images of nature entangled by sheets of thin plastic.

Photographs by Georgia Whiteside

These images are intended to be an emotional, visual, representation of the American Chemical Society ‘s Article Degradation Rates of Plastics in the Environment written by Ali Chamas, Hyunjin Moon, Jiajia Zheng, Yang Qiu, Tarnuma Tabassum, Jun Hee Jang, Mahdi Abu-Omar, Susannah L. Scott, and Sangwon Suh.

Their specific data can be found below:

“Figure 8. Specific surface degradation rates for various plastics, in μm year–1. Vertical columns represent different environmental conditions (L, landfill/compost/soil; M, marine; B, biological; S, sunlight) and plastics types (represented by their resin identification codes). Plastics type 7, “others”, corresponds to various nominally biodegradable plastics. The range and average value for plastics types 1–6 are shown on the right as lines and squares, respectively, as well as for biodegradable “others”. Data points representing degradation rates that were unmeasurably slow are shown on the x-axis. Gray columns represent combinations for which no data were found.” Feb 3, 2020. (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b06635)

 

To summarize this article there are varying points at which plastic is unsustained in our environment and chemically unable to break down.  Leaving varying chemical compounds littered in nature.  These images are intended to invoke the feeling of disbelief and struggle accosted with this fact. That there is a constant power dynamic between the compounds we find in our environment and the compounds we it litter with. And how one is suffocating the other. These images are a struggle that needs a harsh light shown on it. My hope is that the juxtaposition shows just how incompatible these two forces are, and why they should not be so intertwined. As one corrodes and suffocates the other, we must do our best to prevent further harm done by litter in our environment and advocate for change.

Artist Statement:

I created this work because I wanted to experiment with creating a usable object out of “waste.” I created a tote bag made completely out of fabric scraps left over by a variety of people, including my roommates and myself. Oftentimes, when people alter or “crop” their own clothing, there are pieces of cloth left over that end up in the trash, and ultimately, the landfill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 17 million tons of textile waste end up in a landfill per year (Brown). I wanted to create a bag that was sturdy enough to hold things such as groceries (no plastic bag waste!) and lessens my negative impact on the environment. I also feel that this project is replicable and can be created by anyone. Making a tote bag can also eliminate the need to buy one which saves money and prevents contributions to the negative environmental impacts of producing fashion.

 

Source:

roadrunnerwm.com/blog/textile-waste-environmental-crisis

When you hear “zero-waste” what do you think? Do you assume it’s unattainable or out of your reach? Through this article, I want to explain some small steps you can take in your house, apartment, or dorm to come closer to living a zero-waste lifestyle.

A zero-waste lifestyle is one that promotes reducing the amount of waste we produce, for example, single-use plastic or packaging on food and other products, and instead using products and materials in a way that preserves their value and minimizes their environmental impacts through use until the end of that product’s life cycle. That could mean recycling, composting, down- or up-cycling, but one thing I want to focus on packaging.

Packaging wraps and protects food, beverages, medicines, and cosmetics, and even more packaging is used to ship and store those products. In 2018, only 53.9% of containers and other generated packaging were recycled, and further, 30.5 million tons of packaging were added to landfills (EPA). The following chart shows the waste trends since 1960; notably, there is a downward trend of waste in the landfills since around 1980, however, a larger upward trend of the total tons of waste.

 

(EPA)

 

One way to avoid this in Greenville is shopping locally at farmer’s markets which not only helps you to avoid packaged food, but also encourages consumption of less processed food which is healthier. Similarly, there are bulk food, zero waste, and refill grocery stores in which you can bring your own containers and buy your goods in bulk without waste. For example, in Greenville, South Carolina, Whole Foods and Swamp Rabbit Grocery accommodate these efforts. So now, not only can you bring a reusable bag to pack up your groceries, but you can also bring reusable containers to put your items in!

(Zeeshan).

 

Along with shopping at zero-waste grocery stores in your area, a baby step towards that goal of making grocery shopping more eco-friendly is to look for more sustainable packaging. While the city of Greenville does not recycle glass, it is the next best option in this case. Products with glass packaging are safe to reuse once washed and can be repurposed for future use. Check out what Greenville does and does not recycle at this link!

Another option which has proven highly useful during the pandemic is “Loop” an online store that sells products of partnered brands in durable and reusable packaging to which they will clean and reuse once you finish with the product. Further, they deliver in a reusable and waste-free Loop Tote! While this may sound like a sponsored blog, I am just intrigued myself by this, and it has brands that are very common, like Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, etc. (Loop).

While zero-waste may sound daunting, the deeper you search into zero-waste efforts, the more you will find. Baby steps are steps nonetheless, and changing these behaviors in such a drastic could make all the difference for large scale production and environmental impacts.

 

Sources:

“Containers and Packaging: Product-Specific Data.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/containers-and-packaging-product-specific.

“Guide to Recyclables.” Guide to Recyclables | Greenville, SC – Official Website, https://www.greenvillesc.gov/291/Guide-to-Recyclables.

“How It Works.” Loop, https://loopstore.com/how-it-works.

Junaid, Zeeshan. “Zero Waste Grocery Shopping.” Ecocart.io, https://ecocart.io/posts/zero-waste-grocery-shopping.

“Resolutions.” United States Conference of Mayors, 10 July 2019, https://www.usmayors.org/the-conference/resolutions/?category=b83aReso050&meeting=83rd+Annual+Meeting.

“Bulk Food, Zero Waste, and Refill Stores in South Carolina.” Zero Waste California, 29 Feb. 2020, https://zerowastecalifornia.org/2018/12/07/bulk-food-zero-waste-and-refill-stores-in-south-carolina/.

 

 

Sustainability is probably a word you hear all the time, in every sustainable website, class, presentation, and fake corporate ad. Barring the fake corporate ads, every content producer has the right intention. But often the long term sustainable lifestyle teachings are left by the wayside to make room for habits and fun activities that make sustainability easy and empowering. The truth is, real long term sustainability requires more than just habits. It requires a conscious and intentional change of mind. Admittedly, in a more practical sense the best approach to eliminating damage to our planet is to target the big production companies, which is best done by raising awareness about our planet and the need for sustainability.

However, if we’re to really recover from where we are today and keep going, we have to actually change how we go about our lives. Recycling, for example, is a largely misunderstood process, and it could be considerably more efficient if we better understood it. Too much of the recycling we assume dissapears from our record actually ends up in landfills, and for lots of reasons. For one, “wishful recycling,” which is the habit of erring on the side of recycling when deciding where your handful goes, puts unfortunate amounts of unrecyclable material into the system, which means there have to be comprehensive ways of removing it, which is costly and lowers efficiency.

Single stream recycling is somewhat to blame. When recycling was all separated at the household level, recycling was actually very efficient and effective, though it wasn’t very widespread. Nowadays, single stream recycling has made collection and involvement skyrocket, though it as a process is embarrasingly ineffective. Non-recyclables thrown in “just in case they are” comprise about 13 percent of all recyclables. Essentially, for every 10 trucks of completely recyclable material, 1 trucks worth is competely landfill bound. Also, glass is almost entirely not recycled. It’s simply not worth it after separating it from the rest of the recyclables. The best way to fix this is to require separation of recyclables, though immediately the problem with that is that most of people recycle because it’s taboo not to, not because they genuinely believe in the necessity of it. And so if it becomes any more difficult to recycle, it just won’t happen on a large enough scale to make it effective. Another big change we need to make is in the production on greenhouse gas emissions.

Or rather, in reducing it. Like I said, a vast majority of the destruction of our environment comes from a very small minority of the biggest companies. This makes it very easy in theory to reduce emissions, because bigger companies are more eager to improve their social image, and thus are very much subject to social opinons. And yet, the problem has not been solved. The truth is, the market works on interest, and interest is a lot harder to change than intention. Companies will say anything and do anything to get you to buy, and lying works. We must be more diligent in holding big corporate empires responsible. and we must be more diligent in how we think about sustainability. It’s more than a diet, it’s a wholesome way of life.

 

 

wamu.org/story/19/02/12/does-your-recycling-actually-get-recycled-yes-maybe-it-depends/

brightly.eco/why-your-favorite-companies-arent-going-green/#:~:text=The%20two%20most%20common%20reasons,just%20don’t%20hold%20water.

Upon divulging I am a math major to unsuspecting passersby, I am most frequently asked “what do you plan to do with that?”  There typically are two possible reasons behind this:  (1) they know the diversity of mathematics and are actually interested to know how I’ll choose to use it or (2) they think I’ll have to be a teacher.  I will be speaking to the first crowd, not because I plan to use the mathematics of sustainability as a career path, but because it is relevant to understand the mathematics behind the science side of sustainability.

This topic can be further broken down into two different sections: the academic/ research side, as well as the personal side applicable to us all.  The academic side is of greater interest to me, in part for the diversity of topics that can be researched, but I will also try and touch on how to use (very simple) math in your daily life.   The most apparent usage would come in terms of climate change, for which SustainabilityMath is a great resource.  Their compilation of calculus and statistics-based concepts provides an easy introduction to how math is being used to better our planet in climate and social justice.  The CODEE journal publication on differential equations does a good job of highlighting the numerous ways that can be accomplished.  From climate change to technology to political science, the use of differential equations and understanding of how change occurs is being utilized to combat social inequity and sustainability.  In addition to descriptive uses where math models real-world problems, it can also be used to increase efficiency.  A famous problem in optimization is known as the traveling salesman problem (TSP).  Given a series of points, what is the shortest distance an individual can travel in order to reach every location and return back to the starting point.   Companies such as Amazon and UPS have interests in such problems as a cost-saving measure, however are also helping with sustainability as cars on a shorter route save emissions.  Whenever you plug a destination into a map app on your phone, it’s helping save gas as compared to you trying to determine the route on your own.  In addition to these purely academic settings, there is also sustainability in the way we teach math, by focusing less on the numbers and problem solving and more on what it can solve.  A blog by the American Mathematical Society explains both these concepts nicely, in addition to better planning regarding the arrangement of academic events that require travel for their participants.

 

 

A few of you, our lovely readers, may be able to use the aforementioned ideas.  Most will not.  Instead, I pose to you that you can use math in your daily life to increase your sustainability.  Since most people hate math, I am not asking you to sit down and “crunch the numbers.”  Instead, for instance, look at how much you can store of a certain product in your residence to decrease how often you need to go out to get it.  It’s even better if you can go to multiple locations in the same trip instead of driving back and forth from your home, and also more convenient!  In general, anything in your life that uses materials or effort of any sort can be better optimized through sustainability.  While I cannot anticipate all these ways, it isn’t too difficult to sit down and think through it!

 

 

https://sustainabilitymath.org/

https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1048&context=codee

Sustainable Mathematics