What is the difference between going green and sustainability? Everyone seems to be talking about sustainable living these days. And it is clear that they are also emphasising going green, eco-friendly, eco-friendly and a whole lot of other buzzwords!
How one can know and understand the difference between going green and sustainability has been discussed here.
After the consumption of this article, you will get to know about the difference between going green and sustainability and how you will be able to live sustainably and go green at the same time.
The Misunderstanding
People often misunderstand the terms “green” and “sustainable” and they use them interchangeably in most cases, although they have different meanings.
The two words have similar intentions as the two words focuses on how important it is to protect the earth and the natural resources in it, but it’s almost where the only similarity lies.
What does it mean to go green and how do one start going green?
“Going Green” pervades news, advertising, our social media, and stores. But what doe it mean to go green mean? The more you are able to get and understand what it means to be green or go green, the more successful you will be in difference-making and helping in the process of making a difference.
Reduce waste
When you decide to commit to reducing waste that means that all the items you are making use of should be used until they become so useless that you cannot be able to continue making use of them.
Ultimately, this means fewer items end up in landfills and less need to produce replacement items.
Reduce pollution
In our daily life, polluting the environment cannot be avoided. From soap in the sewers to the food packaging we throw away, to the gas emitted during transport – we pollute all day long. Try to be aware of when you release chemicals or products into the environment and think of ways to reduce your emissions.
Save energy
In the most recent couple of decades, humanity has begun to realize that a good number of the world’s energy sources (gas, coal, water) are limited. There are also problems with sustainable harvesting of sunlight for energy (Toxic substances are contained in our solar panels and need to be replaced frequently). The best thing to do for the planet right now is to conserve the overall energy use.
Save resources
The resources on Earth are being consumed in a very fast way, more than we can bear – the papers which come from trees, our homes and furniture, the natural metals, the water we drink and compounds that create what we depend on are all examples of Earth’s resources that we use every day.
One of the most important aspects of going green is that this process helps us save the same resources we do consume.
Reduce consumption
Doing only recycling won’t be able to cut it anymore. If being as green as possible is what you want, getting your overall consumption reduced as soon as possible is the way to go about it.
When shopping for any the question you should ask yourself is this; “Do I really need this?” Consider if you own something similar to the one you want to buy, and use it instead of buying a new one. If after considering this and you understood that you really do need a new something, you may consider buying a used one or looking for your friends who have what you need and borrow from them.
Going Green: A Public Relation Campaign?
Some companies can use Go Green as a Public relations campaign to hide other less environmentally friendly practices. Instead of looking at the bigger picture, they may be looking at their supply chain and making small changes.
For example, a company that is into clothing might create a sustainable clothing line, ignoring the fact that in today’s fast-fashion world, like a clothing company, as a consumer-based company, they are inherently responsible for the planet cause damage.
But, there are a good number of companies that is committed to making real change, and so can you!
What is sustainability?
We can define the term ‘’Sustainability’’ as “the quality that does not harm the environment or consumes natural resources, which end up helping for the long-term ecological balance”.
Sustainability reminds us that the planet we live on constitutes finite resources and taking steps to keep the planet and help it sustain the ability to sustain itself in the long term.
This does not do with plants alone but also has a lot to do with the well-being of the world’s community.
What Is the Definition of Eco-Friendly?
To be eco-friendly means considering the ecology of the planet and making sure that the products you consume and the practices you adhere to have the least impact on the planet itself.
Environmentally friendly products
A good number of products out there may be labelled eco-friendly, when you see this, what exactly does that mean?
First, the said should be a non-toxic product. This means they are made without toxic materials or toxic pesticides and herbicides.
Products that are Eco-friendly are products that are made from recycled materials such as wood, metal, glass or plastic that have been broken down from waste and reassembled into something new.
Products that are eco-friendly should contain sustainably grown or manufactured ingredients – meaning doing so with minimal damage to the planet and the communities they come from.
What is Greenwashing?
Unfortunately, a good number of companies engage in “greenwashing,”. If you do not know what greenwashing means – this is the act of labelling products as “eco or environmentally friendly” or without being committed due diligence to ensure it’s correct.
Other companies may get involved in the production of products that are eco-friendly to cover up other non-green practices in the supply chain.
In a bid not to get cut up in this, be sure to research the brand thoroughly before buying. Don’t just trust labels unless they are certified claims.
Why is there a lot of confusion?
A good number of industries have begun to notice the impact their sourcing, manufacturing and distribution have on the planet. While a good number of companies are traditionally committed to a future of sustainability, they may not necessarily have an eco-friendly practice that is green in nature.
What can you do to live greener?
We have put together some of the tips that will help you live a greener, all you need to do is pay attention to these tips and you will find all you need to know.
Sustainability as a livestyle
Immediately you start to understand all the things you can and should be doing for sustainable living, it is something that may become overwhelming and you may think like you may not be able to get to a place where you can fully live sustainably. However, bear in mind that this is a choice of a consistent lifestyle and a journey.
All you need to do is start from the little things and walk your way up to a fully sustainable lifestyle.
You need to set your goals
The number one thing you need to do is to set have set goals for your organisation and yourself.
Setting goals means you have some ideas and you will take steps to achieve them. For example, the goal might be to stop using single-use coffee cups. Carry a travel mug with you at least once a week, starting small and then moving to every day.
Don’t be discouraged if you forget it, try to remember it next time. You can start with small changes, start slowly, and put effort to go up the sustainable, eco-friendly ladder.
Buy products that are local
When you purchase local products, you support not only local farms and businesses but the global environment by reducing the transportation fuel for food and supplies that must be transported long distances.
Do not use a lot of Water
When you stop using a lot of water, you will by default understand that this is one of the most efficient ways to conserve resources and reduce consumption. Make sure that the water is turned off when washing dishes or brushing your teeth. Try as much as possible to shorten the time of shower time and do not engage in unnecessary bathing.
Do not drive a lot
You can make use of other forms of transportation, such as walking or biking, instead of driving. If you are going to a place where you must need a vehicle, then you can go with commercial transportation, or carpooling to have your carbon footprint reduced.
Use what you have used before
Reusing or making use of the same items and products is an integral part of living an eco-friendly lifestyle. By reusing, you reduce waste and limit the need for the further manufacturing of new products.
Reduce the use of light
Remember that turn off lights when they are not in use in a bid to save energy. You can also try shopping for light bulbs and other appliances that are energy efficient.
What is the difference between going green and sustainable and environmentally friendly?
A lot of individuals confuse sustainability, going green and eco-friendly – but once you look closely, the distinction between the three isn’t that hard.
Let us try to define these in short possible and understandable terms
What is Going green?
Going green is a term that refers to everything from fashion to architecture to eco-friendly products throughout the movement.
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability is a term that means that the activities we perform today do not deplete the resources of the generation in the generations.
What is Environmentally or Eco-friendly?
Environmentally or Eco-friendly is a term that means that products, practices or activities do not harm the environment.
What is the Difference between Purchasing Green vs Purchasing Sustainable?
A product can be considered be a green product because of its composition, but that same product may be considered unsustainable because of its production.
An example of this is a product that was produced with renewable resources, like a wooden hairbrush, is can be considered to be green, but it is not acceptable if a life cycle analysis of the production process shows that manufacturing and transportation require a lot of energy and that the hairbrush cannot be properly disposed of after it is complete.
An ideal way to do this is to try to locate brands and products that are both environmentally friendly and sustainable.
The Lifestyle: What You Should Understand
With what we have been discussing in this article, going for full sustainability through is far easier to understand.. Sustainability presents requirements that that is not there when it comes to going green and environmental protection does not.
However, this does not imply that working towards a sustainable future is not worthwhile. Adjusting our choices and mindset is an important first step. When we all strive to be sustainable, we can stay green.
Some people may go for personal goals, such as switching to LED bulbs and building shower heads that are water-efficient.
However, a lot of other people may opt for a more involved approach, such as going in the direction of a neutral carbon footprint. Irrespective of how you decide to begin, being consistent and equipping you with the required knowledge is key. Protecting the earth is something we should commit to doing all strive to achieve, even if we’re still trying to figure out the difference between these terms.
What is Clean?
It’s also simple once you understand that “clean” means no chemicals or synthetic materials, and often only natural ingredients.
What is Non-Toxic?
Nontoxic is used to describe things that are free of chemicals or something that does not contain materials that are not good to humans or the environment where we live.
What is Organic?
Organic means the ingredients are grown without pesticides or herbicides. Organic products have a strict certification process that varies by country, but not the other two claims (clean and non-toxic).
Effects on future generations
If we should talk about the effects of these on the generations to come, each is as important as the other. Without green products and practices, the planet will suffer; if there are no activities that are sustainable, we may run out of resources.
Other Importance of Going Green and Sustainability
Below are some of the importance of Going Green and Sustainability
Societal Impact
Apart from the fact that it going green and practising sustainability can help your company improve profitability, the actions you take can make a real difference.
When change is implemented, there will be a smaller carbon footprint and the number of toxins that are released which will pollute the atmosphere will be reduced
Attract New Customers and Increase Sales
Practising Going Green and sustainability can market your company more. Most consumers are directly concerned about the environment and when you make improvements, it will make your company more reputable.
Reduce Energy-Related Costs
The top concerns for manufacturers are the cost of energy and water. Having our focus on improvement can reduce these costs. Often, improvements like this are realized as yearly savings rather than faster short-term cost reductions.
When you switch to energy-efficient lighting and have your lighting levels adjusted with respect to your production schedule will greatly have your long-term electricity costs reduced.
Tax Incentives
There are a good number of tax credits and rebates available at the federal and state levels for manufacturers who are actively on the journey of going the path of more sustainability and also making the necessary improvements. Your business may have incentives.
Boost Workforce Morale and Innovations
Improving Sustainably is an effort that is collaborative. It fosters a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement as employees work together to identify and implement green and sustainable initiatives.
When employees are engaged and proud of the company, they work harder. By communicating internally the benefits of changes and their effects on the business and the environment, manufacturers will have a positive impact on the culture of their corporation.
Conclusion
What Is the Difference Between Going Green and Sustainability? This is a huge question as it does not only have to do with explaining the difference between the two terms but also discussing its importance and how one can go green and live more sustainably.
This article has done justice to this topic and all you need to do carefully is go through this article again or as many times as you wish for proper understanding.
References:
- https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/what-is-difference-between-going-green-and-sustainability/
- https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/five-benefits-embracing-sustainability-and-green-manufacturing
- https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/whats-green-sustainable
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