New beginnings

I recently wanted an episode of Adam Ruins Everything on 'Going Green' and his ending take away was that, as individuals, we will not make any differences significant enough to make real change and therefore, our best bet is to try and build community action and inspire each other as nothing apart from big business is going to change the environment in the dramatic way we need to.

As you can tell based on the name of my blog I do not totally agree with the sentiment... But it did inspire me to get back on my blog (and Instagram page!) and get back to writing about living zero waste!

I recently got a new job in a sustainability related department and it's so great being surrounded by people thinking about the environment and trying to make a difference on a truly global scale. I'm learning a lot about our research projects and meeting so many students with amazing ideas who are applying for funding to get to put those ideas into action.

Thanks to the generous endowments to the Institute, so many projects are getting off the ground and communities all over the world are benefiting from this work. From research into preserving the Great Lakes to conserving natural habitats in  Ghana to helping build up communities in Detroit, so much is being learned and shared. And this wouldn't be possible without the one man who started it all with a donation to sustainability research... So Adam, I've said it before and I'll say it again. One person is plenty.

Sustainable Business

I recently went to the Positive Business Conference facilitated by Michigan Ross School of Business. It was a two day event focusing on positive culture in the workplace, case studies of great places, places that turned things around, research studies, and workshops to better understand why this is so important and how to ensure that your workplace is living up to this standard. It was so awesome and inspiring to be in a room full of such empowering people and hearing them speak about their journeys and the thing that struck me the most as the level of authenticity in everything they said. There was no hidden agenda, they were open with their personal experiences of hardship and depression and also with their business practices because they are all wonderful people doing wonderful things!

I was also struck by how much they talked about sustainability and how it is the only purpose that fits every business in the entire world. That it is no longer a sideline issue and for companies to succeed, consumers are forcing them to care more about these issues. Yes, that's right. WE, the consumer, are making a difference by acting with our wallets. Every time we buy something we are sending a message about the kinds of things we want and what type of product we are interested in and every time we buy something that is more sustainable than our alternatives, we are sending the right message - and they are listening!

Since Unilever bought Seventh Generation they have vowed to increase their sustainability efforts across all their product lines which I think is a massive step in the right direction. I always try and support small and local businesses where I can, but seeing a huge company make a commitment to being sustainable means that so much more of a difference could be made. I have realised from these comments from the conference, that I am making more of a difference being one person in a huge institution trying to make a difference by joining forces with other like minded individuals that I would be if I left and created my own perfectly sustainable company. I feel inspired to make even more of an impact during my time here and to keep that goal in mind as I move through my career. My three take aways: Be Authentic, Be Sustainable, Be Positive. What wonderful words to try and live by.