SustainabilitySustainability

What’s it all about?What’s it all about?

Humans have destroyed more than 30 per cent of the natural world since 1970 with serious depletion of the forest, freshwater and marine systems on which life depends.Guardian 10 February 1998

SustainabilitySustainability

We all use the Earth’s resources in We all use the Earth’s resources in our daily lives, but these cannot last our daily lives, but these cannot last forever and cannot be repalced. Oil forever and cannot be repalced. Oil will run out (no plastics or fuels), will run out (no plastics or fuels), trees are being cut down faster than trees are being cut down faster than they can grow, metals are being used they can grow, metals are being used at such a rate that some are at such a rate that some are becoming scarce.becoming scarce.

What can you do to help?What can you do to help?

SustainabilitySustainability

What is Sustainable Timber?

Sustainable timber means that the tree harvested will be replaced by another tree, whether naturally grown or planted. Extraction is compensated for, unlike in the case of most other materials.

SustainabilitySustainability Most hardwoods Most hardwoods

come from the come from the rainforests. rainforests.

Industrial society has tended to see forests as free sources of valuable materials or as needless woods, occupying land and getting 'in the way' of development. As a result of these pressures, every second the planet loses another two football fields of its precious rainforest cloak.

RETHINKRETHINK

A new global measure of progress, the ‘Happy Planet Index’, reveals for the first time that happiness doesn’t have to cost the Earth. It shows that people can live long, happy lives without using more than their fair share of the Earth’s resources. We only have one planet, but in the UK we live as if we had three. Rethink how you are using it’s resources...

REUSEREUSE

Product reuse involves the multiple use of an item in its original form, for its original purpose or for an alternative, with or without reconditioning. In many cases waste that cannot be prevented can be reused instead of buying new products.

RECYCLERECYCLE

Many items or materials Many items or materials can be recycled. This can be recycled. This means that they can be means that they can be reprocessed and turned reprocessed and turned into something else. Do you into something else. Do you own a fleece coat or jacket? own a fleece coat or jacket? It probably started life as It probably started life as plastic bottles! If they were plastic bottles! If they were buried in a landfill site, they buried in a landfill site, they would take more than 100 would take more than 100 years to rot away and the years to rot away and the oil to make them cannot be oil to make them cannot be replaced. Metals and paper replaced. Metals and paper can be recycled too!can be recycled too!

REPAIRREPAIR

Many everyday things can Many everyday things can be repaired when they be repaired when they break, but unfortunately we break, but unfortunately we live in a ‘throw away live in a ‘throw away society’ where it is easier to society’ where it is easier to buy a complete new buy a complete new product. Every time you buy product. Every time you buy a new product, more of the a new product, more of the Earth’s resources are used Earth’s resources are used up.up.

Do you really need to throw Do you really need to throw that TV away just because it that TV away just because it needs one new part? Or needs one new part? Or those worn out shoes - could those worn out shoes - could they have a new sole fitted?they have a new sole fitted?

REDUCEREDUCE

We should all be aiming We should all be aiming to reduce the amount of to reduce the amount of resources that we use. resources that we use. For example, using public For example, using public transport or sharing lifts transport or sharing lifts can reduce the amount can reduce the amount of fuel that we use. Re of fuel that we use. Re using furniture can using furniture can reduce the amount of reduce the amount of trees cut down, as can trees cut down, as can recycled paper.recycled paper.

REFUSEREFUSE

Do you REALLY Do you REALLY need that extra need that extra iPod? Do you iPod? Do you REALLY know where REALLY know where the wood came the wood came from to make that from to make that lovely table you lovely table you have just bought?have just bought?

Refuse to buy it if Refuse to buy it if you are not sure!!you are not sure!!

SustainabilitySustainability

So, as you can see, we need So, as you can see, we need to think carefully about what to think carefully about what we are taking from our planet. we are taking from our planet.

WHEN ITS GONE, ITS GONE!WHEN ITS GONE, ITS GONE!

You CAN make a difference!You CAN make a difference!