Chapter 2. Environment & You

Sustainable Consumables

Backstory: Sustainability is defined as the ability to maintain a usable quantity or quality of resources for indefinite periods of time. This can be visualized as a bucket full of water with a drain at the bottom and a running faucet constantly filling the bucket. At the point where the two rates intersect they reach “equilibrium.” If the bucket loses water, the resource, at the same rate as it is being refilled it will never be empty. If, on the other hand, the water is being lost at a higher rate than it is being refilled, the bucket will eventually be emptied. There is a gradient between the maximum refill and maximum loss. Resources that are constantly being used are known as consumables and can be placed in the graph based on use and renewal. They are effectively used up and must be continuously replenished. Each resource has a place along the use/replenish gradient.

Activity: Think about the products and materials you need to continually replace in your everyday life. Choose one or more products from each of the following categories: (1) energy, (2) food, (3) work or school supplies, (4) health and beauty supplies, and (5) entertainment, and address the following:

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