Search

By Averill Brewer

Solving our world’s waste problem (the 2.6 trillion tons of garbage going into landfills worldwide) will continue to require the ingenuity of scientists, engineers and businesswomen/men alike. Michael Braungart and William McDonough’s school of thought is that one way to alleviate our waste problem is by designing products so that they are made up of either biological or technical nutrients. Products designed with such materials are able to remain in a closed loop circle, never reaching a grave, i.e. landfill, because the product has the ability to either 1) biodegrade safely, returning to the soil or 2) maintain its value throughout an infinite product lifecycle of manufacturing, reuse and recovery.

However, the question still remains about what do with all of that other stuff sitting in our landfills and dumps. Although the World Bank’s most recent report on global waste conveys that OECD countries are responsible for generating the most waste, the overall ability of municipalities in the OECD countries to manage solid waste is pretty seamless. Emerging economies lacking in reliable waste management coordination and infrastructure via their municipalities are finding innovative solutions to chip away at the problems visibly burdening their countryside.

It makes perfect sense that some of our most valuable contributions to sustainable innovation will come from emerging economies because, when faced with adversity, inventiveness arises to solve the problems plaguing them. Reverse innovation is innovation that is first seen in emerging economies, before it is spread to the industrialized world. Below are examples of reverse innovation on a country-by-country basis

India

In 2002, the Khan brothers of KK Plastic Waste Management Ltd, a Bangalore-based firm, began building roads with a technology they developed that reuses plastic waste, so it can be combined in the asphalting of roads. KK Plastic Waste Management continues to invest in the research of plastic waste and its reuse into other construction materials. The plant processes up to 30 metric tons of plastic waste per day, according to the company's website.

With volatile fluctuations in the recycled scraps buyer’s market, like China's Green Fence Initiative, we must look for other options about how to deal with our trash, especially recyclables, that are no longer wanted due to their low-grade qualities. The Khan brothers’ technology has received worldwide attention and numerous awards. Industrialized countries are learning from the Khan’s innovation and beginning to adapt the technology into their own city streets and highways.

For example, Dutch company VolkerWessels and the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, are seriously considering using plastic waste combined with asphalt to build highways. As consumer economies like India’s continue to grow in developing countries, causing an increase in consumption, there will be more opportunities to turn the world’s trash into innovative and sustainable treasures. There is plenty of room for the exchange of technology and ideas between all economies as we continue to learn from one another.

Africa

The opportunity to start from scratch — to literally build from the ground up -- may seem like a dream scenario for many in the field of sustainable development. Transforming an area sustainably from its conception without having to delicately balance various states of transition is becoming a reality on the island of Príncipe, part of the archipelago chain of Sao Tome, off the coast of West Africa.

Plans are underway to develop Africa’s first sustainable island, the island of Príncipe. The development is rooted in eco-tourism and aims to create sustainable economic growth for the island, promote the conservation of biodiversity, and create awareness about Príncipe’s natural riches.

Additional practices of sustainable development include: the use of sustainable building materials in the create of all accommodations on the island; and the incorporation of renewable sources of energy like solar power, self filtering water systems and strict waste-management rules, as well as sustainable agriculture and fisheries in order to reduce dependence on food imports and to also create employment opportunities for locals. You can read more about the principles under which the island is being developed here.

With time, Príncipe’s success will provide an exemplary model of sustainable development, whose principles can be adopted in different ways globally. The lessons acquired from this project will possess the capacity to serve as a means of reverse innovation as industrialized countries can learn from a set of Príncipe’s best practices.

In Brazil, the world’s first solar-powered stadium has been built, inspired by upcoming mega-events like the 2016 Olympics. But nonetheless embodying sustainable principles like the use of renewable energy and rainwater harvesting to reduce water consumption.

The success of projects in sustainable development, whether taking place in emerging economies or industrialized economies, creates a unique opportunity for sharing knowledge and innovation. The above examples convey that progress is in sustainable development is not limited to any one type of demographic, socio-economic situation, nor is it dependent on the wealth or poverty of a nation. Sustainability is a global concept whose benefits can enhance the quality of life for everyone.

Image credit: Flickr/Jonathan Pincas 

Averill Brewer is a writer currently living in England. This autumn, she completed a master’s degree in international business with a focus in sustainable development. In her free time, she writes for her blog www.locoeco.com. Feel free to email her at averill.brewer@gmail.com.

By Tim Sparke

All humans have one thing in common, regardless of their nationality, religion, creed or socio-economic status -- and that's their dependence on the environment. Each and every one of us needs clean water, clean air and nutritious food to survive.

The problem is that our lifestyle often contributes to environmental destruction. Every time we throw away a takeaway coffee cup, stay in the shower for ages or drive our car a walk-able distance, we're adding to the problem. Of course, irresponsible big businesses and ineffective government policies make matters worse.

But, at the same time, we all have the power to do something environmentally friendly. Each and every one of us can choose to use a reusable cup, buy a water-saving shower-head or walk instead of drive; just as big businesses and governments can change their strategies.

So, when it comes to organics, sustainability and the environment, where does the buck stop? Who is responsible?

Ultimately, every single ‘layer’ of society must play a role, if we are to secure the environment’s long-term future. At one end, there’s the individual (that’s you). At the other, there’s the international political community. The sooner we realize that, the quicker – and more effectively – we can take action.

The individual

Many people feel the ‘blame’ lies with the ‘powerful’ – be it companies or governments. But, at the end of the day, these bodies can’t exist without the support of the people – not in democratic nations, anyway. How can a multinational company survive if people don’t buy its products? How can a political party get into power if people don’t vote for it?

So, the individual’s importance is undeniable. And one of our most powerful tools is our purchasing power. Consumers control companies. So, the best way to support the organics industry is to buy organic products. Sure, they can be expensive. But, as more and more people invest, prices will drop.

In fact, a responsible consumer should take care when buying any product. Big companies have the most extensive capacity for environmental destruction simply because they manufacture in such large amounts. So, it’s vital that people support businesses with a proven track record of sustainable policies. Guides like Shop Ethical can help. Going beyond PR, the database demonstrates exactly how companies behave, both environmentally and socially.

The same principle applies to voting – if you want your government to implement environmentally-friendly policies, then your best bet is to vote for a party that believes in them.

Companies

There’s a lot that people can do at a grassroots level. But it’s crucial that companies take action, too. After all, their policies have such a major impact. A risky or ill-informed decision by a single business can lead to widespread damage, as oil spills have proved. Right now, for example, Shell was recently fined (only) $33,000 following its 2011 spill in the North Sea, which caused the leak of more than 200 tons of oil and was the worst incident of its kind in 10 years.

These days, companies have the technology to reduce their carbon footprint, recycle and minimize environmental damage, so they should be using it. Fortunately, some businesses are taking the initiative.

For example, renowned outdoor company Patagonia makes sure that 75 percent of all the materials it uses are ‘environmentally preferred,' which means that they’re organic, recycled or sustainable. In addition, the company has been giving 1 percent of profits to environmental preservation groups since 1975.

Governments

Last, but most certainly not least, are governments. Their responsibility is wide-reaching – from deciding and obeying international law to developing sustainable policies at all levels.

Many nations agree to international treaties. However, in Australia, these are not legally binding, until they have become a part of domestic law. Once this happens, the people have the power to take the government to court. For example, in June 2015, the Dutch people famously took their government to The Hague, forcing it to cut emissions by a minimum of 25 percent within five years.

Domestically, legal responsibility for the environment occurs at all levels of government: local, state and national. It is crucial that all three work together to develop environmental policies that encourage organics, enforce sustainable policies and penalize companies and individuals who break environmental laws.

To conclude

Ultimately, taking care of the environment is the responsibility of each and every one of us. To ensure a sustainable future, we can all take action – at individual, corporate and government levels.

Image credit: Pixabay

Tim Sparke is the CEO at 4 pumps and for several years, he has been an active advocate of organic farming and sustainability. He also has a passion for writing and he writes the blog at 4pumps.

European SRI retail funds have continued to show good growth over the course of 2015, according to the yearly report produced by CR evaluation agency Vigeo Italy in partnership with data provider Morningstar (June 2014 to June 2015).

The four largest markets (France, UK, Switzerland, Netherlands) confirm their leadership, accounting for 68% of European assets while smaller markets gained new assets: Spain (+19%), Austria (+17%) and Italy (+2,5%).

The report confirms France as the largest European SRI retail market (35% of the total), characterised by a high proportion of fixed income funds. The UK remained in second place (15%), outstripping other countries.

The Netherlands retains the highest country market share for SRI retail funds even if decreasing 16.3% this year compared to 17.8% in 2014. Belgium ranks 2nd (9,3%) in terms of penetration of SRI funds in the retail funds market. .

Equity funds (52% of the total) still outweigh fixed income funds (27%) and balanced funds (21%), says the report. 

Fouad Benseddik, director of Methodology at Vigeo commented: "SRI continues to represent a form of investment that is dynamic and a forward looking solution. Number of funds, assets under management and players engaged continue to growth which confirm the capacity of SRI to resist to the crisis."
 

Sportswear giant Adidas and creative think tank Parley for the Oceans have showcased a new footwear concept, the 3D-printed Ocean Plastic shoe midsole, to demonstrate how the sportswear and fashion industries can re-think design and contribute to stop ocean plastic pollution.

Presented at an event at COP21, the concept shoe consists of an upper made with ocean plastic content and a midsole which is 3D printed using recycled polyester and gill net content.

"World leaders forging an agreement is wonderful, but we shouldn't need to be told to do the right thing. The industry can't afford to wait for directions any longer. Together with the network of Parley for the Oceans we have started taking action and creating new sustainable materials and innovations for athletes," said Eric Liedtke, adidas Group Executive Board member responsible for Global Brands.

"The 3D-printed Ocean Plastic shoe midsole stands for how we can set new industry standards if we start questioning the reason to be of what we create." 

 

 

What is more emblematic of the holiday season and anniversaries than that airy plastic cushioning we pawed through as kids to get to our favorite present or our favorite food? Bubble wrap, the stuff that is used in shipping, moving and storage to protect our most valuable possessions, was created for an oddly different purpose in mind more than 60 years ago. But today it's an almost indispensable material in both home and business. It's also been one of Sealed Air Corp.'s most popular products for decades, as one of the company's model examples of simple engineering and ingenuity

Sealed Air and shrink wrap

Cryovac, that air-tight wrapping that protects and cushions the turkeys we buy in the supermarket, also serves an important purpose when it comes to highly perishable products: It locks out bacteria. In many cases, it may look like the perfect, transparent method for showcasing that juicy steak or a selection of fresh fruit, but its real benefit, said Ronald Cotterman, Sealed Air's vice president of sustainability, is its hygienic properties.

"Cryovac was one of the early pioneers in developing [hygienic] solutions for food that would extend the shelf-life of food by basically by removing the air or the oxygen that surrounds that food and then sealing the package under vacuum." He added that this technique has "led to dramatic increases of the freshness and life of that food."

Cotterman said that studies conducted in New Zealand in early 2000, where the food-borne bacteria Campylobater is often a problem, showed that using barrier packaging like Cryovac served as an effective way to stop food contamination. The country made a number of changes to its poultry production guidelines, including introducing new packaging requirements.

"Within two years of implementing those guidelines," which included new hermetically-sealed packaging, Cotterman said, "the rate [of incidence] dropped by over half. So there are many, many studies like this that show where individual countries can implement improved hygiene and packaging standards and see dramatic results."

But Sealed Air's Food Care products have another benefit here in the U.S. as well, Cotterman said.

"Within the supply chain ... the USDA estimates about 4 percent of poultry is [lost] just because of the limits of their supply chain." He said hygienic food handling, an adequate cold chain that keeps the product sufficiently cold during transport and sophisticated packaging standards that cut down bacteria exposure is critical to reducing that food loss statistic.

Using packaging to reduce food waste

But the other factor that Sealed Air focuses on, Cotterman explained, is food waste: produce and other products that are discarded at the post-consumer stage because of expiration, spoilage or an overabundance of food. He said understanding consumer perceptions when it comes to food waste has been key to redesigning how the company addresses its packaging procedures.

Researchers tasked with interviewing households in the U.S., Brazil, Argentina and Mexico found some interesting statistics when it came to the perception of food waste and our collective role in reducing its prominence.

Reducing food waste isn't just dependent on smart buying habits, Cotterman said. It's also dependent on consumer perception.

"That's something we probed recently with a consumer survey," Cotterman continued. In this case, the company surveyed consumers from four countries: the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. The results were surprising.

In the U.S., food safety was cited as consumers' No. 1 concern, and food waste as the second major concern. But when respondents were asked how concerned they were about food waste within their respective households, the food waste stats dropped dramatically.

"Whereas 63 percent of Americans reported that food waste was really important, within their own household, it dropped to 34 percent -- a really remarkable shift in perception."

That shift wasn't as evident in the responses in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, where consumers seemed to have a more realistic view of the connection between national food waste and their own trash cans. Respondents in Mexico reflected the most pragmatism, with 79 percent expressing concern about the evidence of food waste and 62 percent admitting concern about food that is wasted in their own households.  Brazil and Argentina showed a greater disparity with 89/70 percent and 76/42 percent respectively.

With changing demographics here in the U.S. that is shifting toward smaller family size, it makes sense to reexamine the way food is packaged, Cotterman continued. And yet, while households are shrinking, food portions, or what is purchased at the store, "haven't necessarily kept up with that."

New packaging alternatives

To address that problem, Sealed Air has come up with new packaging "saddle packs" that allow the consumer to purchase a set number of portions in ready-to-cook amounts, "so that you only open that portion you need." Cotterman pointed out that it's become a convenient option for poultry, which is highly susceptible to cross-contamination.

"Most consumers want to purchase their chicken fresh ... So, we did a lot of consumer research to figure out that this type of packaging would meet not only convenience [preferences], but would [also] be freezer-ready and reduce waste," Cotterman said.

A siimilar use of single-portion hermetically sealed packaging is often used for fish, where the servings are sold in a designated number of shrink-wrapped portions. The packaging allows the consumer to choose the number of portions for that night's dinner, and then pop the rest back in the freezer without having to defrost an entire fish.

He admitted that some consumers may not be happy with having more packaging. But reducing food waste, he argued, "tips the scale in a very favorable way in net reduction and total environmental impact."

Asked whether Sealed Air envisages moving away from fossil fuels in its packaging materials, he said "very active research" is underway to determine alternative sources for packaging. The company has come up with new biodegradable products for non-food uses, such as molded cushioning made out of food waste to replace some plastic products it makes, but ultimately it raises an important question about the use of food products for non-food purposes. The company has also found ways to reduce the amount of plastics it uses in products and is continuing its research into ways to boost the recyclability of its products in areas where landfills and other recycle depots don't take #4 plastics.

A bigger challenge, however, is ensuring that the plastic is sterile enough to be recycled. In many cases, Cotterman pointed out, Cryovac materials that have been used on meat and dairy products may not meet the "clean and dry" standards that are necessary for recycling. Another option the company is looking into is converting the plastics to fuel for transportation use.

In keeping with the current focus on sustainable business practices and this month's COP21 talks, the company has developed its own "big, bold and ambitious" sustainability goals. These goals include attaining a zero-landfill threshold; developing ethical sourcing practices that include a robust research and development process; and ensuring that its products have a social benefit by enhancing livelihoods, reducing cross-contamination and preventing disease in food products. And part of the path to those goals is training employees to serve as social ambassadors in the fight to reduce global food waste.

"We are working different channels," said Cotterman, to bring about a new thinking when it comes to food security and the critical need to drastically reduce food waste.

Images: 1) Sean Freese; 2) USDA (2); 3) Marissa Strniste; 4) Oatsy40

The world is coming together to try to build a clean energy future, but the UNFCC COP21 Paris climate talks themselves are being bankrolled by the very companies that got us into this mess.

That is according to a new report from Corporate Accountability International, which found that four French companies sponsoring the climate talks – Engie, EDF, Suez Environment and BNP Paribas – are responsible for more than $15 billion invested in the coal industry; and more than 200 megatons of CO2 equivalent emissions – more than the yearly output of all but 20 countries.

“Most of these companies are big emitters of the very greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, such as EDF or Engie whose coal plants alone are equivalent to nearly half of France's entire emissions,” said Malika Peyraut, of Friends of the Earth to DeSmogBlog. “Putting the most important climate conference of the decade under the patronage of climate-incompatible businesses does not bode well.”

Fossil fuels companies are also master lobbyists. In California, earlier this year, fossil fuel companies prevented SB 350 from including a 50 percent oil and gas reduction standard, a major victory for dirty energy. But they are also feeling the pressure. The divestment movement has moved an estimated $3.4 trillion away from fossil fuel companies, and here in the United States, coal companies are going bankrupt as clean, renewable energy becomes cheaper and cheaper.

“Inviting some of the world's biggest polluters to pay for the COP is akin to hiring a fox to guard a hen house. We must eliminate this conflict of interest before COPs become corporate tradeshows for false market-based solutions,” said Patti Lynn, executive director of Corporate Accountability International, in an email statement.

This comes on the heels of news that the New York State Attorney General will be suing one of America's largest fossil fuels companies – Exxon-Mobil – for its willful denial of climate sciences and climate action despite knowing of its validity for years.

“It’s an outrage that Exxon conspired to hoodwink the public on the reality of climate change, and their decision to do so has placed American lives in peril,” stated Anthony Rogers-Wright, policy director of Environmental Action, in a statement.

This is why CAI and several other NGOs are pushing for the climate talks to kick out big polluters, who have been standing against, not for, progress. It is because of them that we are facing such a huge challenge right now: preventing catastrophic climate change.

“The fossil fuel industry is actively lobbying against climate action and standing in the way of progress. When you’re trying to burn the table down, you don’t deserve a seat at it,” Hoda Baraka, global communications manager for 350.org, in a statement.

Let's hope -- for the sake of the world -- that the millions being spent by these dirty French companies has no impact on the talks.

Image credits: 1) Staplehunter 2) Mary Mazzoni

It would seem clear to anyone whose head is not buried in the sand (or is watching too much Fox News) that times and attitudes are changing. People are becoming more aware of the impact of human activity on the planet and beginning to take responsibility. If that awareness is not broadly clear across the U.S., it certainly is in the land up North.

Recent elections have swept out the oil-friendly regime of Stephen Harper and replaced him with Justin Trudeau, who won on a campaign that promised to end fossil fuel subsides and boost investment in renewables.  But the return of liberal leadership to Ottawa, Canada, is not nearly as surprising as the changing of the provincial guard that occurred in Alberta, the world’s tar sands capital. The election of the New Democratic Party’s candidate, Rachel Notley, was declared by BBC News to be a “political earthquake.”

Why an earthquake? The last time the right-leaning Progressive Conservatives were not running the show in Alberta, Richard Nixon was still the U.S. president.  Like Trudeau, Alberta’s Notley made dealing with climate change a central focus of her campaign. Not wasting any time, she unveiled a new climate action plan at the end of November, just days before the Paris climate summit. The plan includes an economy-wide carbon tax, putting a cap on emissions from oil sands developments, and phasing out coal-fired power plants by 2030. The strategy will also cut methane emissions 45 percent by 2025.

“This is the day we step up,” said Notley, “at long last, to one of the world’s biggest problems. This is the day we stop denying there is an issue. And this is the day we do our part.”

This, in the province that, with only 10 percent of the population, has long been Canada’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter. Notley’s stated goal: turn Alberta into “one of the world’s most progressive and forward-looking energy producers.”

The carbon tax of $30 per ton will be phased-in by January 2018, and is expected to bring in $3 billion in revenue. Notley stated that those funds would be invested in clean-technology research, public transportation and energy-efficiency programs. She also spoke of “rehabilitating the province’s environmental reputation.”

Acknowledging the changing sentiment, Tim McMillan, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said, “We expect today’s announcement to further enhance the reputation of our sector and improve our province’s environmental credibility as we seek to expand market access.”

Still, while these new aggressive targets might seem extreme to some, the cap on oil sands emissions, at 100 megatons, still leaves room for tar sands extraction, which emits 70 megatons today, to grow.

Like the agreement that is likely to emerge from the two-week summit in Paris, it won’t be everything that every environmentalist would like to see. But then it will most certainly be an important next step.

Meanwhile, in Paris this week, Prime Minister Trudeau said: “Indigenous peoples have known for thousands of years how to care for our planet. The rest of us have a lot to learn. And no time to waste.”

A number of indigenous leaders accompanied Trudeau to Paris, as part of his delegation.

Image credit Flickr/thekirbster

While most of the attention in Paris is on what's happening at COP21, dozens of other conferences, events and gatherings are taking place during December in the city. One of the largest is the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), which has over 3,000 attendees looking at the scientific and policy implications of land use.

With agriculture alone accounting for over a quarter of global greenhouse emissions, the solutions being discussed here may well be critically important to the success of COP21 on the other side of the city.

This year, the biggest source of agricultural CO2 emissions were the horrific fires in Indonesia, which we covered extensively at TriplePundit. Not surprisingly, several sessions at the GLF were about palm oil, deforestation, fires and initiatives to prevent both from happening.

When the horrific fires broke out in Indonesia this past year -- driven, at least partially, though not entirely, by El Nino -- the blame was pointed at a whole host of figures. During a jam-packed session on zero-deforestation commitments, in which three of the panelists were Indonesian, the topic of palm oil, fires and complicity were fiercely debated by both panelists and those in the audience.

“We want to secure our supply,” said Tiur Rumondang, with the Indonesia Business Council on Sustainable Development, speaking on behalf of Indonesia's palm oil companies.

The reality is that palm oil is a complex commodity, with a long, interwoven supply chain that makes traceability difficult. Adding to the challenge is that, in Indonesia, much of the fruit is produced on smallholder farms, which then sell it to refineries which, in turn, pass it on to major global conglomerates, to producers, and then into food and bath products consumed all around the world.

“Many smallholders have independent plantations,” said Mansuetus Darto with the Indonesian Smallholders Palm Oil Union. “The problem is schemes are not attractive to smallholders, so they go outside the scheme, and keep planting.”

That means the system is set up so that it promotes individual smallholders, many of whom are independent and lack access to much financial capital, to plant as much as they can, as fast as they can. Fires, which are used to clear land, are a symptom of this larger problem.

Another challenge in holding smallholders accountable is that many of them do not have land titles, which, for many, is far too expensive to ascertain – and a barrier to them being part of no-deforestation and sustainability schemes.

“Companies and governments must help to make this easier,” Darto said, “to assist smallholders' legality.”

Anissa Rahmawati, with Greenpeace Indonesia, believes that, while smallholders do have a role to play, companies, governments and consumers in countries like the United States or in Europe are part of the problem, but also the solution.

“It's not fair to put the responsibility only on companies, but we need more companies to commit to zero-deforestation policies,”Rahmawati said.

Right now, the rainy season as brought some relief to Southeast Asia, but with El Nino strengthening, seemingly by the day, many expect that dry conditions will return early in 2016, and with them, more fires. As we continue to learn more about palm oil supply chains, it is crucial that zero-deforestation commitments go beyond big words and work with smallholders and other actors throughout the supply chain to ensure that fires stop and landscapes are preserved.

Image credit: Irene Scott AusAID

Global chemical giant DuPont has set ambitious sustainability targets for 2020 that focus on three strategic areas: innovation, food security and the company’s footprint.

Specifically, DuPont says it will invest a startling $10 billion in food security research and development, create 4,000 new products, and facilitate “2 million engagements with young people around the world to foster sustainable food and agriculture knowledge.” In addition, it will “improve the livelihoods” of at least 3 million farmers and their rural communities. Is “ambitious” an understatement?

DuPont’s 2015 Sustainability Progress Report says its 2020 goals include a challenge to make all the products in its pipeline “contribute to a safer, healthier, more sustainable world.”

“A rising global population and middle class, food insecurity, and energy demands are among the many factors placing unprecedented strains on our planet’s scarce resources,” says Edward D. Breen, chair of the board and CEO of DuPont. “We believe solutions lie in collaborative efforts involving people and institutions with a stake in building a safer, healthier and more prosperous world.”

The report says a major goal for 2020 is to “innovate to feed the world.” In line with that, the company “will continue to develop innovations that produce more food, enhance nutritional value, safety and agricultural sustainability, and boost availability and shelf life, while reducing waste.”

Regarding its footprint goals, DuPont said it will reduce its non-renewable energy use by 10 percent per adjusted dollar of revenue, compared to a baseline of 2010, and further reduce greenhouse gas emissions “intensity” by 7 percent from a 2015 baseline.

The company said it will generate less waste with each of its business lines, meeting a 2020 waste goal “appropriate to their operations in the respective businesses.”

Also, DuPont said sites that have been evaluated as “high or extremely high water risk will establish risk mitigation plans and complete priority implementation objectives by 2020.”

The report noted that in 2014, DuPont:

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent


• Reduced its total water consumption by 4 percent


• Recorded an 11 percent reduction in non-renewable energy use


• Posted $2.6 billion in revenue from products that created energy efficiency and/or significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions

“We challenged ourselves to set the bar higher and do even more to embed sustainability in our innovation portfolio,” said Linda J. Fisher, chief sustainability office and vice president of DuPont's Safety, Health and Environment division.

Well, $10 billion for food security research does set the bar way high – throwing money at a problem of this size should reap some progress, shouldn’t it?

Image: Cover from DuPont's 2015 Sustainability Progress Report 

The rainfall and snowpack so far this autumn have been encouraging, but the stubborn reality is that California is still mired in drought. While farmers from Bakersfield to Fresno to Redding are screaming about water quotas, California residents say they are doing what they can, from pulling out grass lawns to capturing what little rainwater exists. We hear constant harping on the fact that 70 to 80 percent of California’s water goes to agriculture, which comprises only 2 percent of the state’s economy. But the focus on statistics overlooks the fact that the agriculture sector is growing — and no one wants to see the Sacramento Valley, Imperial Valley or San Joaquin Valley turn into wasteland.

Meanwhile, municipalities are trying to sort out how they can keep their citizens hydrated and their businesses running in an era of declining rainfall and depleted aquifers. Desalination is on its way in San Diego, where 7 to 10 percent of the region’s water will come from a plant in Carlsbad. While the technology is improving and costs are falling, the process is still expensive. Importing water from other states is not an option, as California’s neighbors already feel as if the Golden State’s 39 million residents are consuming more than their fair share. Massive snowfalls on the Atlantic coast have sparked some ideas of an East-West water pipeline, but the odds of that occurring are about as good as the Keystone XL pipeline project winning the green light.

Therefore, the future of water in California, the United States and really the world could be in water recycling. Yes, as in all that shower, sink and toilet water. Never mind the “gross" factor. Since 2008, Orange County, California, has been turning toilet water into tap, and is paving the way for other municipalities to get past the “yuck.”

The magic of recycled water in Orange County is a three-step process. First, all that wastewater at the Orange County Water District’s water recycling plant in Fountain Valley is micro-filtered. That water is then pressed through reverse-osmosis membranes, many of which are provided by Dow Chemical, long a leader in “RO” technology. Finally, that water is treated with ultraviolet light before it is discharged into the OC’s aquifers.

With its recent expansion, the Fountain Valley facility can process 100 million gallons (soon to be 130 million gallons) daily, enough to meet the needs of 850,000 people, or 27 percent of the county’s residents. The OC’s water district meets several goals: waste diversion from effluent pouring out into the Pacific Ocean, avoiding the risk of losing its aquifers forever, and a cost-effective way to produce water that has been recognized worldwide, is cheaper and more energy efficient than desalination, and exceeds federal safety standards.

The recycling of water is already commonplace, from the Middle East to Australia to other municipalities across North America. But the difference in Orange County is that it used for drinking water, while other cities, including Los Angeles, only use it for non-potable functions such as landscape irrigation. San Diego has a water expansion program underway, set to generate drinking water in the coming decade. Silicon Valley is also joining the toilet-to-tap club.

The reality we must face is that most water we use, whether coming from our faucets or in a bottle from Whole Foods, has been recycled an endless number of times. Wastewater generated in Dallas, for example, ends up in the Trinity River, and eventually becomes part of Houston’s supply. Many cities have simply taken a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to incorporating recycled water into their supplies, but of course, once the word gets out, the sky ends up falling. Los Angeles, for example, suggested a toilet-to-tap project that would have cost residents an additional $20 a year, but the following collective freak-out delayed those plans.

But with California still far from recovering from this long drought, it is time for citizens to buck up and accept the fact that recycling water is a safe process. The “gross” factor just is not an important enough objection, especially when considering the fact that our water supplies come in contact with all kinds of substances we do not want to imagine. The technology is there, it is becoming cheaper and more effective, and there really is no other economical choice. If we want to continue flushing, then we need to be pragmatic about what we are drinking.

Image credit: OCWD