We have a good topic today, though different aspects of this topic will be covered again in a later blog post, enjoy this as an introduction.
Buying Second Hand
What constitutes as second hand is very simple by most definitions, anything that has already been used once constitutes as a second hand item. Second hand means buying from estate sales, garage/yard sales, vintage markets, consignment shops, or antique stores.
Why is this important? A large portion of second hand items can be given a new life and purpose if they’re not recyclable. This prevents said items from ending up in landfills or, more unfortunately, places such as the ocean.
Most of us know this, but it’s more than just reducing the waste in landfills and oceans. The earth has a finite amount of resources, that is to say, limited. Think of a fruit bearing tree. Each Spring, the tree produces fruit, but there’s a limited number you can harvest until the next Spring. Unlike a tree, our planet isn’t going to replenish its resources anew every Spring. Yes, our planet is big, and has hidden reservoir’s of resources but do we want to rely on just that? No. Buying second hand allows for materials to be reused or repurposed rather than relying on the usage of new materials alone.
Not everything in your household has to be second hand, but it can be simple changes. Reusing clothing, or using it for fabric. Vintage decorative pieces or pieces of furniture. There’s few things I love more than buying old artworks. Second hand items often have decade related traits such as styles or colors that can be replicated but are not as good as the original.
Mass production will continue. Items will end up in landfills. It is each individual's decision to buy what they want. These are all truths. What people sometimes fail to see is that, even if you think you are just one person, you’re not. And even if you were one person, you’d be one person doing good. That’s not so bad, is it?
The Famous Footprint: What is and What it isn't
No, the footprints I'm talking about are not the Yeti or Bigfoot. Unlike their mythological counterparts, these are real and harrowing footprints. Like the yeti, finding a definition for carbon footprint wasn’t easy. The term didn’t come around until 2003 as a part of ecological footprint. The WHO definition of carbon footprint is that it's a measure of the impact your activities have on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced through the burning of fossil fuels. On the other hand, this is not the same as ecological footprint. Ecological footprint in its simple terms is the measure of how fast we use renewable and non-renewable resources and generate waste. That measure is compared to how fast nature can absorb waste and renew resources. Carbon footprint = impact on climate change. Ecological footprint = impact to life on earth. If we’re using resources 10x faster than they can be replaced, we have a problem.
So yes, carbon footprint is essential to predict climate change, but no, it is not the best measure for the global impact humans have on earth. Ecological footprints can be calculated down to individual groups or nations. That means you can also calculate your ecological footprint and find out how many earth's it would take to support your lifestyle.
This is a great ecological footprint calculator I’d use in lectures as an example, Ecological Footprint Calculator. It has a variety of languages you can choose from. Be prepared to know that it is very difficult to get the usage to one earth without government and global efforts. Don't let that discourage, but encourage you.
Final Koality Check
If you can’t be a part of the change then start it. It can be as simple as you or the inclusion of others such as family, friends or community members. As a biotechnologist, the majority of my chosen classes dealt with environmental sciences and genetics. Depending on your profession, you’ll see the world through a different lens. Mine is very much tinted by the level of impact we have in our ecosystems from our everyday usage to massive toxic waste spills, landfill cleans up and all the steps that are taken to bioremediate these sites. Each step we take, whether big or small, can either help the earth or make it sick, and as such, we’re not just affecting it for our lifetime and done, we’re affecting the generations that come after us.
Until next time!
PS. This is a safe, respectful blog. Anyone and everyone is welcomed. Doggo's also welcomed.
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