What is environmental sustainability?
Definitions of Environmental sustainability on the Internet:
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Sustainability is the capacity to endure. In ecology the word describes how biological systems
remain diverse and productive over time. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_sustainability
Ensuring that the overall productivity of accumulated human and physical capital resulting from
development actions more than compensates for the direct or indirect loss or degradation of the
environment. ...
web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTOED/EXTENVIRONMENT/0,,contentMDK:21813865~
menuPK:5189977~pagePK:64829573~piPK:64829550~theSitePK:4681890,00.html
The assessment that a projects outputs can be produced without permanent and unacceptable
change in the natural environment on which it and other economic activities depend, over the
life of the project.
www.adb.org/documents/guidelines/Eco_Analysis/glossary.asp
A movement towards redesigning the ways society's needs and wants are met so that they can
be accommodated within the long-term carrying capacity of the environment.
www.med.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentPage____32084.aspx
Long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations.
www.throughthewoods.us/gogreen_glossary.html
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their needs. ...
www.fao.org/ag/wfe2005/glossary_en.htm
Practices to ensure that the natural resource capital remains intact; ie, that the source and sink
functions of the environment should not be degraded. ...
sustainablelanduse.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/some-terminology-definitions-sustainabilityland-use-impact-assessment
How can we achieve Sustainability?
One of the most important areas for society to act sustainably is in how it throws away its waste, its trash and
detritus. Nothing else, other than fossil fuel energy over-use causing climate change, and war, has the
potential to do so much accumulating damage. www.ezinearticles.com
"We thrive and survive on planet earth as a single human family. And one of our main responsibilities is to
leave to successor generations a sustainable future."
General Kofi A. Annan
"I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop
and use our natural resources, but I do not recognize the
right to waste them, or rob by wasteful use, the generations
that come after us."
President Theodore Roosevelt
October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919
Definition how Sustainability can be achieved:
a) Reducing consumption of resources such as water and energy.
b) Better building practices
to reduce energy waste
c) More fuel efficient engines in cars + trucks,
generators, chain saws, lawn mowers etc"
d) Increasing recycling or the use of
recycled materials.
e) Protection of forests all over Earth
f) Protection of soil all over Earth
www.keepbanderabeautiful.org
Another major advantage of reclaimed wood is the fact that is one of the most environmentally friendly
options. In a way, it is a recycled product but has the same qualities than new wood. Even more, most types
of reclaimed wood are stronger, more stable and more durable than newly sawn wood because reclaimed
wood has been exposed to humidity and temperature changes a lot longer. This makes it a perfect choice for
environmentally conscious individuals for two reasons. Firstly, it uses old wood and secondly, it lasts longer
than other types of wood and does not need to be replaced as frequently. On the contrary, quality furniture
made from reclaimed wood can be passed on to the next generation. Increased use of reclaimed wood for
furniture, flooring and other products would significantly reduce deforestation which in turn would help
combat the global warming. www.woodheritage.co.uk
What are sustainable design principals?
While the practical application varies among disciplines, some common principles are as follows:
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Low-impact materials: choose non-toxic, sustainably produced or recycled materials which require
little energy to process.
Energy efficiency: use manufacturing processes and produce products which require less energy.
Quality and durability: longer-lasting and better-functioning products will have to be replaced less
frequently, reducing the impacts of producing replacements.
Design for reuse and recycling: "Products, processes, and systems should be designed for
performance in a commercial 'afterlife'.
Sustainable Design Standards and project design guides are also increasingly available and are
vigorously being developed by a wide array of private organizations and individuals. There is also a
large body of new methods emerging from the rapid development of what has become known as
'sustainability science' promoted by a wide variety of educational and governmental institutions.
Biomimicry: "redesigning industrial systems on biological lines ... enabling the constant reuse of
materials in continuous closed cycle...’’
Renewability: materials should come from nearby (local or bioregional), sustainably managed
renewable sources that can be composted when their usefulness has been exhausted.
Robust eco-design: robust design principles are applied to the design of a pollution sources).
www.nps.gov/dsc/d_publications/d_1_gpsd.htm
Sustainable design is a kind of design meant to yield products that are made only of renewable resources.
Furthermore, products made though sustainable design are intended not to seriously impact the environment
either when they are being created or when they are being used. These products are also often designed to
allow the users to feel more connected or to relate more closely to the natural environment.
www.espdesign.org
Sustainable design is also called "environmental design" and "environmentally-conscious design." It is also
sometimes called "environmentally sustainable design" or "ESD." No matter what it is called, this kind of a
design is just as much a philosophy as it is a practice. It is based on economic, ecological, and social principles
regarding the importance of sustainability. www.wisegeek.com
What are recyclable and biodegradable materials?
PAPER
Although the raw material for making paper is predominantly trees, it is a common misconception that
recycling waste paper saves trees. Trees are grown for commercial use and harvested as a long term crop with
new trees planted to replace those cut down. In addition, papermakers are able to use the parts of the trees
that cannot be used in other industries such as construction and furniture making. Different species of trees
provide fibres that are used in different types of paper. Coniferous softwoods such as spruce, pine birch and
cedar produce fibres which are long (average fibre length is 3mm) and are used to make papers which have a
lot of strength. Hardwoods such as birch and aspen do not grow as fast as softwoods and produce short fibres
(average fibre length 1mm) which are used for bulky papers such as writing paper and fluting, which is the
middle part of cardboard. Nearly all paper is made from wood grown in these "sustainable" forests.
Reuse is the best form of recycling
Traditionally cardboard has been perceived as easier to recycle than to reuse. This is changing, which is a
positive change in line with the Governments waste hierarchy - which rightly states that reuse is a more
economic and efficient approach to resources than recycling. http://www.wastebook.org/boxes.htm
Cardboard Recycling Facts
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Corrugated cardboard is often made of recycled content and almost always made of postconsumer material.
Corrugated cardboard is more environmentally friendly than ever before. It can accept non-toxic
water-based inks and also be processed without bleaching.
Even raw materials used to make corrugated cardboard-including lumber industry byproducts
such as sawdust and wood chips-are renewable resources.
Corrugated cardboard manufactured from recycled pulp uses about 75% of the energy used in
the manufacture of corrugated cardboard made from virgin pulp.
Corrugated packaging is a $17 billion per-year industry-the largest segment of the entire
packaging industry. www.itseasytorecycle.org
What are sustainable materials?
A sustainable raw material is a material that once used can be replenished, quickly, without mitigating
environmental and ecological impacts. A perfect example of a sustainable product is a bamboo. As fast as you
can cut it down and reprocess it and make it into a product, you have another blade of bamboo. Hemp is the
same process. The Principals of Sustainability, Simon Dresner
Timber is a sustainable material If you cut down a tree to use in making something then you sustain the supply
by planting another tree. www.greenliving9.com
A sustainable material, or a sustainable resource is something whose production is supported indefinitely by
nature. It is not always the same as a renewable material. www.wikianswers.com
Definitions of renewable materials on the Web:
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materials that can be replaced as fast as they are used up, such as sunlight or well-managed
timber supplies.
www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/glossary/glossary-of-green-terms/
 Materials made from fibers/materials that are replenished by natural processes at a rate
comparable or faster than its rate of consumption by humans or other users.
www.fschumacher.com/faqs/glossary.aspx
Renewable materials are substances derived from a living tree, plant, animal or ecosystem which
have the ability to regenerate themselves. A renewable material can be produced again and
again. For example, when we use wood to make paper, we can plant more trees to replace it. ...
www.whiteapricot.com/fab_finds/glossary.php
Materials, such as bamboo, grasses and trees, which can be regenerated. Bamboo is an example
of a rapidly renewable resource because it can replace itself within five years.
www.greenexhibits.org/build/glossary.shtml
Recycled glass
Cork
Bamboo
Hemp
Recycled wood Recycled plastic Recycled rubber
Reclaimed wood