The Principle of Sustainability

Sustainability is a word that gets bandied about a fair amount these days. We all know it has something to do with environmental awareness - but what does it actually mean? Quite literally, if something is sustainable it is able to endure and carry on into the future without limitation. Since 1987 though, the word sustainable has been linked to the word development by a virtual iron-shackle of environmental integrity. This definition was created by the United Nations at the Brundtland Commission:

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Essentially this suggests that economy, environment and society shouldn’t be negatively affected by any development – a rather tricky web to weave.

To use a very basic example, a factory that pumps waste into a nearby river may be profiting well from cutting corners; but downstream the water will be unusable for local communities, and will adversely affect the fauna and flora which live in the riparian zone. The development in this case is unsustainable as society and the environment are worse off from its existence.

Now to be fair, most of us are not large scale factory owners - but the principle of sustainability should apply throughout our lifestyles regardless. One of the simplest ways to instil sustainability in one’s own life is to remember the mantra of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’.

Reducing our consumption habits is the easiest way to begin practicing sustainability, from sharing a lift, switching to energy-saving light bulbs or deciding not to buy anymore plastic packets; it’s a good place to start. Choosing products with less packaging or packaging that is fully recyclable adds to this, and before you know it you’ll be thinking in a sustainable way about all your purchases.

Reusing things is also a simple method of being greener, and it doesn’t just have to mean shoving your lunch sandwich in a margarine tub! Many top notch designers and home-grown craft initiatives use everything from beer caps to car parts to make incredibly clever items. Purchasing goods made from recyclables means you’re being eco-savvy as well as supporting local people and the local economy.

Recycling is of course a no-brainer these days, with more and more people taking it upon themselves to drop off their sorted trash at recycling depots. It has to be said it does make one feel pretty good about doing that, an added bonus to being environmentally conscious!

At Servest we strive for sustainability.