Seven common roadblocks — and what you can do about it.
I have been working, teaching and advocating in the sustainability space for more than a decade. As both a lawyer and sustainability practitioner, I have connected with a broad range of activists, other experts and community members. There are so many things that hold us back from real change and deep climate work. Below are the seven things I wish everyone knew:
1. Clear language is incredibly important.
Terms like “green” and “eco-friendly” get tossed around all the time. The problem with these terms is that they mean so many things that they essentially mean nothing. When I ask 10 people to describe a “green” product I get 10 different answers — I have tried this many times and never gotten the same answer.
Different definitions may not seem like a problem, but the power of language means that these types of broad, undefined terms can be at best confusing and at worst misleading. Marketing products as “green,” when they only reflect superficial sustainability hurts consumers, competitors who truly are “green” and so many others.
What you can do: pay attention to the language you use and the language that advertisers use to market sustainable products. If a term like “eco-friendly” is not clear, ask for clarification or look elsewhere.
2. Companies are constantly competing for your “green” dollars.
Related to the above, companies are always looking to capture a consumer market that is increasingly searching for “more sustainable” products. To do this, they often over-state or mis-state the positive environmental impacts of a product or service (or claim that it has no negative impacts) — this is greenwashing. A classic example is “Earth Rated” or “Earth Approved.” The “Earth” does not rate or approve anything; companies do, and the standards they use vary wildly.
What you can do: this one is harder because while many companies are now disclosing far more information about their products, this information can be difficult to find and interpret. Ask questions, advocate for your right to know what is in the products you bring into your home, and if you don’t get clear answers, spend your money elsewhere. Bonus points if you let the less-than-transparent company know you’ve gone elsewhere.
3. Recycling is a complex topic that requires a hands-on approach.
Just like “green,” terms like “recyclable” can mean many different things. Recycling is a very complex issue, and because there is no federal, standardized recycling program, what is “recyclable” varies drastically depending on where you are.
The issues surrounding recycling have even led to new terms like “wishcycling,” which is essentially the good-intentioned hope (or overestimation) regarding the types of products that can actually be recycled. Most people believe that it is better to try to recycle something that *may* be recyclable than to put a potentially recyclable item in the trash. While we do not want to discourage recycling, this can lead to a contaminated recycling stream that ultimately just gets landfilled.
What you can do: research local resources that help you understand what can be recycled in your area. Many cities and counties actively try to educate consumers. For example, King County, Washington has a helpful “what do I do with” website, where users type in a specific product, such as “lightbulb” or “batteries,” and the proper disposal process is outlined. In addition to researching tools in your area, you can support the push for manufacturers to reduce plastic use from the beginning.
4. Your individual action really does make a difference.
The global aspect of environmental issues can make them feel overwhelming and difficult to engage with. Here’s the truth: your individual conduct, actions and choices actually make a difference, because scale matters.
Think about it this way: if you reduce your individual driving habits, that may seem like a drop in the bucket. However, as outlined in the New York Times, if every American drove 10% less, this would be the equivalent carbon savings of taking 28 coal-fired power plants offline for an entire year. It’s all about scale and how you think about the impact of the changes you make.
What you can do: realize that your conduct actually does make a difference and start somewhere. Then increase the scale of your impact by sharing your sustainable choices with your community. Humans gravitate towards what they think “everyone else” is doing, so having conversations with your community will increase the impact of your individual choices.
5. Sustainability can be really complicated, but simple solutions are just as important.
Much of my work focuses on buildings, and, as an example, a truly sustainable and regenerative building is a pretty complicated thing. And many other aspects of sustainability dive deep into complex chemistry and integrated processes. But there are also really simple, and really important aspects of sustainability. Reusing just one thing is sustainable. Keeping one item out of the waste stream is sustainable. These small, simple acts often get overlooked, but they are just as important, particularly when they compound (see item 4, above).
What you can do: start somewhere, start where you are, and find beauty in the analog. Sustainability doesn’t have to be fancy, it just needs to happen.
6. The latest research demonstrates tangible benefits from incorporating nature into our everyday lives.
The benefits of natural light and views of nature are not new, they are just gaining more attention as the research — from reputable institutions — solidifies what you probably already know and experience. An increasing body of research has shown that exposure to nature has a variety of positive benefits ranging from lower blood pressure and heart rate, to improved stress recovery (ability to quickly “bounce back” from a stressful experience).
What you can do: if you’re skeptical, try it out for yourself. Spend more time in nature or incorporate images of nature or natural elements into your workspace. This could be as simple as moving your desk to capture more natural light or adding a small plant to your desk. Chances are you will feel the benefits.
7. It is not too late, but it is really, really close.
While it is not too late to make a difference, we do have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. Climate change can feel really overwhelming and difficult to connect with. A rapidly changing climate is scary, and even I have my moments where I feel like we should just give up. I think it is important to acknowledge that we have hard work ahead of us, but also that we can do this work.
What you can do: focus on opportunities instead of challenges. Start small, start with what matters to you, and try to scale up small changes (see items 4 and 5 above). Practice what I called “inspired urgency,” and operate from a place of collective empowerment, not fear.
These seven aspects will change and evolve over time. Let’s consider this a starting point and an opportunity for further conversation. If everyone who reads this article implements just one of these strategies, I’ll call that a win.