Cradle to Cradle Chapter 5: Respesct Diversity

Hello I am Justine Welsh and this is my response to chapter 5.

This chapter emphasizes the respect we must have for diversity. I liked this point because the ways things are today, everything has become too commercialized. The example they brought up in the book was referring to a manufacturer who decided to rethink the way they make their detergent since not every consumer used the product the same. In most cases the soap was put in a washing machine, however the women in India washed their clothes by hand on large rocks thus introducing the harsh chemicals of the detergent to both their hands and the environment. So instead of following the “one size fits all” idea that we have all become accustomed too, these manufacturers need to start look at products on a smaller scale- every region of the world is unique in of itself and therefore calls for its own special needs. This unique diversity then becomes the foundation of all new ideas. By learning more about the native species, companies can find ways to use these species so that the environment still accepts them after use. For instance the book talks about doing away with Styrofoam packaging by creating a design made entirely of rice stalks and then encouraging people to throw their trash on the ground when finished so it can decompose and give something back to the soil.

The other way we must respect diversity is by finding this multiplicity in our products. The French reuse jam pots as drinking glasses. Something as simple as this needs to be modified in more products. Mankind has come a long way in regards to evolution, so now it is time to step back and rethink the way things are. This chapter lets us know that we have enough knowledge create or improve anything we want, but this time around products need to be more eco-efficient instead of bigger faster stronger. It’s time for a new revolution.

Cradle to Cradle Chapter 4: Waste Equals Food

Hello :) my name is Kat Labate, I am a rising junior textile design major and SOSA's secretary of events and planning. First of all, kind of off topic, however I am so excited to be watching Bill Nye on the science channel on a series about 100 greatest discoveries in astronomy :) I haven't seen him since I was really little...

Anyways... reading chapter 4 worked in conjunction with several events for me this week. I urge anyone interested to check out the documentary entitled "Home" on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU

The discussion in Chapter 4 and the documentary run parrallel in their opening with the history of humans as a species on this planet. They remember mans nomadic days, when humans as a whole willed to be apart of earth’s biological system and not above it. Now, looking back in history to the beginning of agriculture, the industrial revolution along with the continuing technological boom we understand it necessary to regain the balance offset by the mankind’s continued technological advancement. Now I don’t mean to damper on progress however, it is such that has set mankind back on a much bigger scale and chapter four, waste equals food paints a clear picture on a brillian system to bring groove back our great mothers biological system.

Post Industrial Revolution, we find it necessary to have two systems inorder to meet lifestyle needs of mankind without further setting off the balance. Waste equals food provides a model using two systems to potentially re-establish equilibrium to life on earth. The first system proposed being the Technical. The technical nutrients consist of materials such as plastics and metals that may not be returned to the earth and safely biodegrade without harm to the natural system. This system would prevent today's phenomon of "throw away products." To think people throw away such modern technology as computers when they areout of date is appalling when so many of the materials can be recycled and as Cradle to Cradle suggests and turned into parts for cars or medical equiptment. Technical nutrients could also produce energy. For eaxmple landfills all over the world burn the waste as methane off into the atmosphere. Many landfills however are harnessing that methane and using it to power buildings. I have seen Johnson & Johnson commercials, explaining how they power their factory from methane harnessed from a local landfill. The goal is to eliminate the use of landfills completely, however improvement has to start somewhere.

The other system needed re-establish balance will require us to use technology to bring us back to our roots. We need to re-discover the materials provided by the earth, that are so organic, they can be simply discarded after use into a compost or the woods and will biodegrade not only without harming the enviroment, but ideally helping to further whatever ecosystem it becomes apart of. Cradle to Cradle uses an example of a Swedish Textile Mill that created a fabric that could be safely composted, while mainting buyer standards such as durability. Another place a biological nutrient could be succesfully used is packaging. Society creates extreme amounts of waste in packaging and if packaging was made from plant cellulose we would save energy from having to recycle the plastic and it could be composted easily. On the other end of the spectrum, packaging if created with a further use in mind, for example, I bought a box of Q-Tips the other day that came in a plastic tupperware like container that held the swabs and cardboard as protection in the box which was recyled. Simple decisions such as packaging can make the biggest difference.

At this point in the evolution of man, life without advanced technology would be impossible. It is mans greatest demise, yet its only solution to reverse this process weve started. It is therefore, our generations job as designers, engineers, scientists, politicians, parents, entrepreneurs or anyother path to instill this change before man does irreversable damage.

Labate6843@philau.edu

Cradle to Cradle Ch. 3: Eco-Effectiveness

Hey guys, my name is Calla Massman. A little about me, I’m currently an Architecture major at PhilaU with a minor in Sustainability, I’m also vice president of SOSA. For me, Ch. 3 has really struck home in relation to my projects in class. In all my assignments I aim to create designs in which encourage sustainable practices in all areas of the project including social, economic, and environmental factors. Through research of other projects and through my actual designs, I have come to realize there are countless ways to better a building; more south-facing windows to create more comfortable spaces and lessen energy use, open spaces to create more natural air flow and low building material costs… but there is no way I’ve come across to ever make it perfectly “sustainable”.

As chapter 3 brings up, a building could be efficient and cost effective, but by taking measures to make it this way, it could compensate for quality of material and environment. Further, there is the problem of what finishing materials to use such as; paint, carpet, flooring, etc. For every option there’s a teeter totter of pros and cons; what is a better material to use once one considers the energy put into making the material, the material life, off-gassing, etc. Environment-friendly water-based paints are a good example of this situation as a replacement of voc (volatile organic compounds)-ridden latex or oil based paints, however, the lifespan is shorter while the price is higher. This is where eco-effectiveness comes into play and has to be estimated; what is effective as a viable solution to these problems and do the pros outweigh the cons?

Another point, Cradle to Cradle does not promote “fixing” what we already have as our way out. However, our effort as we try to find solutions to our environmental crisis may be our first step to the realization that there is no quick fix. What needs to happen is the replacement of the failing systems with better, closed loop systems, in which there is zero waste and carbon offsets are neutralized. Do you think it is possible to create systems such as the cherry tree (mentioned in the book); in which the main structure sufficiently provides food for all the organisms in its system, enriches the environment and supports life, and even in its decomposition (if this happens), is able to reduce into something in which another system could be created or built from? It doesn’t seem easy and it’s not something that will be established very quickly but with the eminent need for a positive change, a design overhaul needs to be put in place. Cradle to Cradle looks as if it’s on the right track towards establishing an example of how this might come to fruition.

Don't forget to post your e-mail address!!

Hey everybody!
A lot of you are forgetting to post your e-mail address along with your post. We can't tell you you've won unless we know who you are!


A few of you did this on the second post mostly...so comment again if you have to as long as we have your e-mail address.

Thanks!

Cradle to Cradle Chapter Two: Why Being Less Bad is No Good

Hello Everyone this is Viktoria Unger and these are my thoughts on chapter two.
This chapter was quite an eye opener. It begins describing our early attempts to make industry less destructive. In the past, industry was so destructive regulations had to be put in place to avoid, “immediate sickness and death.” We certainly have come a long way. Works like Silent Spring by Rachel Carson have catalyzed the formation of many conservation societies and resulted in the passing of many environmental regulation laws. However the authors go on to describe how our efforts are thus far not sufficient. They compare recycling to aspirin, insinuating it is only good enough to ease a post-consumption hangover rather than eliminating the waste problem from the root. Not only that but they claim that because none of our products are actually designed to be recycled, we are actually “downcycling” them. In many cases, it actually takes more energy to “recycle” a product and requires the use of harmful chemicals that perpetuate the pollution cycle. Furthermore, these materials lose their quality and value. It can also be more expensive for companies, reducing incentive for companies to attempt to adapt sustainable policies.

Generally, businesses see environmental regulations as uneconomic and try to avoid them at all costs. Oil companies are just one of the many companies that lobby politicians to ignore or reject legislation that would push for sustainable practices. (In fact you can go to Exxonsecrets.org to see just where their money goes) At first I believed the authors were being slightly harsh on our efforts thus far, but quickly realized it is true and the aspirin metaphor is a perfect way to look at it. Many of the so-called “solutions” we’ve come up with for our gross overconsumption are weak attempts at covering up mistakes we’re made in the past, and are NOT long term solutions.

In order for us to really make a difference we have to change the way we produce things, we need to make them in such a way that they can be easily recycled without the addition of any extra chemicals. Currently our attempts at “eco-efficiency” have only resulted in a “less bad” approach that is not good enough for the long term. We need to revamp the system and we need to do it from all angles. From grass-roots organization to large-scale legislation we need to change the way we run business and industry.

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts, I look forward to reading yours!

SOSA Featured in Philau's new "Green" Education Plan

Hey All!

First of all...I am very excited about the posting beginning-so far I like what I see! (This is Viktoria by the way..I usually post under PHILAUSOSA although other leadership team members also have the power to do so)

Secondly, SOSA has been recognized, and promoted by the university in a big green PR (public relations) push that was just published.

SOSA has been featured in the University's Four Point Approach to Sustainability- Philadelphia University: A National Leader in Green Education. You can visit check it out by going to the philau home page (it's right on front) or just by going here!!!

http://www.philau.edu/ebooks/sustainability/

There are some pictures-including a few of us in the garden and the plastic bottle installation that was built for our first ever sustainability fair! I encourage you all to check it out!

P.S. The blogging continues this week with a Post by myself on Chapter 2 of Cradle to Cradle: Why Being Less Bad is No Good so be sure to respond, again for a chance to win $50!

Cradle to Cradle: Chapter One

Hi, my name is Dawn. I am a junior textile design major and a member of the of the SOSA leadership team. I want to take this opportunity to share with you my perspective. I am someone who is a strong advocate for change within my industry. I understand that textiles have been a great contributor to worldwide pollution. But I believe that we can make an effort to conserve and recycle more materials as I did in my first hand-weaving class. In that class, I experimented with reused materials like bubble wrap, plastic bags, and used stockings, so that they would not join the waste stream.

Concerning the first chapter of Cradle to Cradle, the Industrial Revolution is mentioned. As you will read, The Industrial Revolution was a significant period in American History and has had both positive and negative global effects. The Industrial Revolution created more jobs but also created hazardous working conditions for the workers and the environment. Some textile factories, in this country, are still emitting harmful chemicals into the air, water and soil.

Speaking on the subject of textiles, It is difficult for me to admit that the industry already heavily impacts the health of our planet. The production, distribution, and disposal of textiles greatly harms the workers who manufacture them, the consumers who buy them, and, after a while, the environment that is left to absorb them as waste. That is why textiles designers should use a 'Universal design' thought process.'Universal design' requires designers to think about the local and global effects of their creations. A thought process that anticipates future needs while not sacrificing the those resources that are available in the present.

Since the U.S. imports most of it's textiles, we do not see the worst effects. Read the tag attached to the inside of your clothes carefully. Depending on where it was made, the garment could have been constructed in harmful working conditions and with sub-standard or inhumane processes. As consumers of clothes made in these conditions, we can have great influence over the success of these foreign producers with our purchase power. In plainer terms, if you do not work for or buy from the company that produces such products, you are effectively boycotting, and forcing a hand in the methods and practices that they use.

I hope that others purchase with a conscience. By your contribution The Green Movement could become a beacon for those in the textile design and manufacturing industry to follow. Thank you.