Sustainability
Sus·tain·ability: the potential longevity of vital human ecological support systems, such as the planet's climatic system, systems of agriculture, industry, forestry, and fisheries, and human communities in general and the various systems on which they depend.
What does sustainability mean to you? Unfortunately, this is not a practice widely engaged here in the United States. We tend to be a wasteful society using and disposing of staggering amounts of trash. According to the EPA, in 2005, we disposed of 245 million tons of waste, which is equal to approximately 4.5 pounds of trash per person every day! Landfills are crowded, creating enormous emissions of methane gas which only contribute to global warming.
Fortunately, we as a society can help reduce our emissions and waste. Element Distributing is an Omaha, Nebraska based supplier of compostable, eco-friendly products for restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores, offices and many other businesses. Here at Element Distributing, we are conscious of the choices that effect the environment. Each of us leaves a "carbon footprint" that impacts our local environment. Do your part to eliminate landfill waste and choose products that are biodegradable.
10 Quick and Easy Tips to becoming more environmentally conscious:
1. Recycle. Participate in a city program, if one does not exist, find out where you can take your recyclables.
2. Sign up for green power. Call your local power supplier and ask for green energy, if they do not offer a green energy source, ask why not.
3. When they ask you at the grocery store paper, or plastic? Say neither. Many stores offer reusbale cloth bags, including us. Not only do you avoid more waste, you also can carry more in cloth bags than plastic bags and can even make a statement with custom printing.
4. Support local farmers markets. If you can't grow a garden because you weren't born with that green thumb, support local farmers markets. They provide locally grown produce that reduce the use of cross country shipping and further energy use.
5. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners. In recent years, many new products have come to the market providing safer ways to clean your home.
6. Reduce the amount of meat you consume. Use those vegetables from the garden. To create grazing lands, forests are being destroyed at an alarming, each vegetarian saves 1 acre of trees per year.
7. Drive less. Let's face it, Americans love their cars, but none of us like high gasoline prices. Reduce the amount you drive by biking it, using mass transportation, or dust off those walking shoes or get out of that SUV and choose a hybrid vehicle.
8. Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL). CFL bulbs last 10-15 times longer than incandescent lights and use 60% to 70% less energy.
9. Particiapte in city clean-ups. Participating can really open your eyes to see how much trash ends up in the wrong places. Besides, who doesn't want a more attractive city?
10. Use compostable products, such as PLA, Bagasse and recycled materials. In addition to using these materials, search for commerical composting facilities. By composting biodegradable packaging and food waste, we can drastically reduce unneccessary landfilling and excessive methane emissions.
Our website will provide information about our products and tips to help you reduce your "carbon footprint."
Element Distributing
P.O. Box 8516
Omaha, NE 68108
P: 402.709.9374
Omaha, NE
Updated Tuesday, February 07, 2012 3:52 AM
Partly Cloudy | 27°F | High: 28°F
Low: 11°F
Wind: 17 mph
Humidity: 89%
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