This Week In Sustainability - Edition 8

Sustainability In The Press

In 2017 after a sick whale washed up on Norway’s shore, its stomach filled with plastic, the country decided it was time to put an end to its contribution to plastic in the ocean. The recycling company, Infinitium, was born and now it recycles a staggering 97% of Norway’s plastic bottles. Let’s compare that number to the UK, who recycles 43%, and then the US, who recycles a measly 28% of its plastic bottles. Norway has taken on an industry-inclusive method that makes companies just as responsible as the consumers. Do you think the rest of us could follow suit?

From a fellow regenerative pastured chicken farmer, this in-depth article on the state of our food system is not to be missed. Well researched, well-written, and deeply thoughtful, commit some time to reading this instead of watching Netflix’s docuseries Rotten (which missed the point on a number of key issues).

Speaking of farmers, the USDA just released its census data for 2017, the last being released in 2012. As a farmer, there’s so much enticing information in here that I could spend a week reading the whole thing. One of the highlights is that they started tracking organic farms by gender, so now we have a better picture of how many women are getting into farming, and staying in. Organic farming aside, in 2012, there were 288,000 female farmers listed as the principal operator, and in 2017 that number rose to almost 800,000. The future is female farmers! On a more somber note, the average farm size shows that rural real estate cannibalism is still at an all-time high, hitting an average of 441 acres per farm in 2017, up from 434 acres in 2012.

We are on a farming kick for this edition! In a CNN Perspectives piece, Patagonia and Dr. Bronner’s CEOs have joined forces to bring to light the consequences of reckless farming. Along with a handful of famous farmers, they have formed the Regenerative Organic Alliance and are beginning a pilot program for a new type of climate friendly certification to encourage growers to be kinder to the earth.

Sustainability Podcasts

The Positively Green Podcast Episode 13: The truth behind sustainable food packaging with Dan Kurzrock

Food Heroes Podcast Episode 28: Farming, feminism, and the fight to feed the world with Trina Moyles

Parting Thoughts

In our effort to nix single-use plastic this year, I will be the first to say how impossible it feels. Every time we try to find a solution, we end up back at square one (throwing something in the garbage). I'm continuing to have grace with myself and be patient with the process, so let my struggle be comforting to you if you are just starting out. Here I am with a whole blog dedicated to sustainable living and I still haven't got it 100% figured out. It's okay that you aren't doing things perfectly. There is no such thing as a perfect sustainable life, just the constant state of discovery and self evaluation.  Make the process exploratory and trust that we are all in this together!

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