Myth Buster
- Sustainability is just a fad: The very definition of sustainability implies a long-term commitment; the road to sustainability is a journey, not a destination.
- Sustainability is just about the environment, recycling and “going green”: while caring for the environment, recycling, and “going green” are key factors in sustainability, the term also encompasses human rights, economic sustainability, etc.
- Being sustainable is too expensive: Some eco-friendly products, such as high-efficiency washes and dryers are more expensive upfront but save money in the long-run.
- It is easier to be sustainable when you come from a place of privilege: While there is some truth to this, it doesn’t mean that working towards sustainability is wrong. It simply means that certain groups must recognize their privilege and work alongside marginalized communities to achieve sustainable goals.
- My actions won’t make an impact on the environment, I’m just one person. Every person’s efforts count. If everyone thought like this, we wouldn’t be able to collaborate and make a real difference. Living sustainably varies from person to person, small efforts can still make a tremendous impact on the environment.
Facts about Waste:
- The most common finds during international coastal cleanups are cigarette butts, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, plastic lids, straws and stirrers, glass beverage bottles, other kinds of plastic bags, and foam take-away containers.
- Plastic bags and Styrofoam containers can take up to thousands of years to decompose leading to marine animal death and the contamination of soil and water.
- Every ton of recycled paper saves almost 400 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill and seventeen trees.
- People can get cash back by recycling their old electronics such as cell phones, computers, mp3 or batteries.
Facts about Water:
- Around 80% of the energy used to wash clothes comes from heating the water. Using warm or cool water will save energy and get your clothes just as clean
- Running tap water for two minutes is equivalent to 3-5 gallons of water.
- It takes 95-190 litres (25-50 US gal) to take a shower longer than 15 minutes
- It takes about 6 litres (4,68 US gal) of water to brush your teeth if you leave the tap open
Facts about Energy:
- Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Recycling one aluminum can provide enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours
- A compact fluorescent light bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a regular bulb and it can last up to four years.
- It is better to use laptops instead of desktops. They use more than 50% less energy and require less resources and energy to produce.
