Mike Sauers

Sustainability is an awesome and humbling word. Whether it is environmental, quality of life, economic, or any essential endeavor it requires research, knowledge, planning, implementation, commitment and ongoing evaluation. That is a challenge that cannot be taken lightly.

This piece started with the idea of economic sustainability but quickly evolved. You cannot think about economic sustainability without encroaching on other major topics such as ecology/environment and quality of life. At the risk of utter failure a civilization must look at the big picture while acknowledging the significance of the smaller parts. Again, this is a daunting task.

Part of my research involved asking young people, who are engaged in various occupations and are assuming leadership, how they envisioned world sustainability. They have strong opinions and good ideas but are just as perplexed as older people due to the enormity of the proposition. How can it be realized? Fair enough!

So, this writer, gleaning information from science, educated diversity and the wisdom of lives mostly lived has come up with some thoughts and conclusions. Bear with me.

Earth’s sustainability begins with the individual and requires that each individual takes a worldwide view. Think globally but act locally is a significant thought pattern. No matter what you become in life; farmer, teacher, parent, plumber, etc., you will, by virtue of your existence, become a CONSUMER. There is no escape. Consumers, as individuals or in aggregate, need to be cognizant and as such they have enormous power. Consumers should be informing the marketplace from beginning to end. Instead of having products and services foisted on us about which we have had little or no say, consumers should be informing providers about what they want. Consumers must consider the effects of products/services on themselves, their families, their communities and the planet. Money talks. Boycotts are effective. The problem is that consumers are cleverly disenfranchised and easily swayed. Companies spend billions telling people what to think and buy. It should be the other way around. Individuals become families. Families make up communities. Communities make up states and states make up countries. Countries make up the family of nations. Does a family of consumers/nations want a polluted planet? No! Does a family of consumers/nations want products made by slave, child or impoverished workers? No! These questions could and should go on and on. Consumers/Nations can decide what they want and how they want it. This will be hard work but worth it.

Now, a bit of reality. There are approximately 8 billion people on Earth. Current projections bump that up to 10 billion by 2050. Several billion people already live in abject poverty. This should be a priority concern of all consumers/nations and it must be addressed. The planet does not need more people. It needs all people to be players. Again, a difficult but doable task.

We are currently tangled in an economic model that is doomed to failure because Earth’s resources are finite. It relies on extraction of natural resources and leaves enormous destruction and pollution in its wake.The production part of this system creates toxic waste throughout. Workers are exposed to toxic substances. Consumers are exposed to toxic products. Some of this toxicity ends up in mother’s milk. Products are produced and marketed knowing that they will soon be obsolete. Enormous amounts of post production waste and post consumer products go to landfills and incinerators. This economic model/system is a post world war II monster that was created by corporations and promulgated by their representatives in Washington. The most powerful entity influencing and controlling government at all levels is business. There was no meaningful input from consumers or labor. The promulgators are also our elected representatives. The economic model needs to be changed and our elected representatives need to reprioritize or be replaced.

Fortunately, there are many people working to change the linear economic model referenced above. They recognize it as a system based on greed, ecological destruction, waste and the exploitation of people. Instead they are championing an array of strategies centered on sustainability and equity. These strategies focus on the use of renewable energy as a means of combating climate change. They stress the use of green chemistry with the result being a reduction/elimination of hazardous chemicals. They tout the importance of local economies in determining their future development. They promote individuals/consumers to be preventive as they practice waste reduction, recycling and environmental shopping strategies. They support businesses that use 0 waste and circular economy plans. They highlight the importance of consumers in determining what they want and what they will purchase. Fair labor practices and living wages are incorporated into a system that protects the air, water and land of Earth. The system protects ecological diversity. WOW! I admire these folks.

I like the idea of a circular economy. It requires a manufacturer to be responsible for a product from cradle to grave. Products are engineered and designed to be durable and recyclable when their useful life is over. That makes sense and it holds manufacturers responsible for the true costs of a product. I like the idea of environmental shopping. Consumers communicate with manufacturers and marketers. They consciously seek products that are good for the planet. For example, little or no packaging, made from recycled materials, can be recycled again, can be repurposed and can be composted. Also, they support locally grown organic produce, workers being paid a living wage and no animal cruelty. Consumers support local businesses and farms. They support schools that provide equal learning opportunities for all students, critical thinking skills and a thorough understanding of economics. They support creativity and entrepreneurism.

Keep in mind that the only rule of true capitalism is to make as large a profit as possible. This is accomplished through competitive practices, corporate welfare and controlling costs. Regulations, labor, materials, transportation, and marketing/advertising are key factors. Much of this is fluid and can be manipulated. It helps to be making a quality product that consumers want. Sustainable capitalism is certainly possible. Currently, the greatest fear of capitalism is an informed, activist consumer movement. I think we need one. Consumption is all encompassing. While they don’t always realize it, consumers are the 500 pound gorilla in the room.

The above is just the tip of the iceberg. Much more can be said and done. Changing our priorities is essential!