Sustainability and Pollution: Two futures, One Choice

The goal is to meet the needs of our present without having to compromise the ability of future generations so they can meet their own needs. Environmental sustainability affects vulnerable communities and existing inequalities; resulting in resource depletion, extreme climate changes, and our planets ecosystem cannot keep up with the demand of product.

It is invaluable to care about Earth, they provide clean, breathable air and water, healthier soil that provides nutrient cycling through already existing bacteria, microbes, and fungi. All these microorganisms are great in providing a solid foundation, (as known as soil), that work together to break down airborne gases; basically, our ecosystem is on overdrive trying to eliminate pollutants that are toxic and prevent oxygen from depleting. If mother nature stopped providing, there would be no life form on this planet due to the oxygen being deprived and toxic to breathe, and people would starve due to poisoned crops and contaminated water. It truly is a cycle, because the decisions we make today not only impact future generations, but if we continue to pollute our planet, animals would starve and go extinct because much like humans, they too need food, clean oxygen, and water to survive.

Inaction breeds disaster, but action plants hope

We can clearly see the visible results of living a more sustainable life, however I have to ask myself, “why are biodegradable products so expensive”, because let’s be honest, they are expensive and it is cheaper to buy the petroleum-based plastic products. Well I investigated this and what I found on the internet is biodegradable products, especially ones that say they have plant-based polymers, these are made from a biological process called PHA bacterial fermentation, and the use of fermentation, it can convert over to carbon sources. What is PHA? A scientific word I cannot pronounce, but you should try: polyhydroxyalkanoates and these naturally break down in the environment instead of lingering around for 400 years, much like a plastic bottle. No, this number is not an accurate estimation because depending on the type of plastic, and yes there are different kinds of plastics, it could even take up to double the amount of our previous number.

What does this mean and how does it explain why biodegradable products are more expensive? Glad you are asking the right questions, so basically to produce these materials it takes a detailed and costly process because it requires special equipment. Also our environmental friendly products require an immense amount of research and creativity, which means its going to cost companies more money and they have to find new and innovative ways to create a product that can still hold a good shelf life, and durable. Although none of this sounds difficult to you or me, the process time varies depending on the type of product that is being created, so anywhere from days to months. Here’s another thing to add to the list of responsibilities for companies that choose to be planet friendly, their products must be certified and labeled for biodegradable standards which can increase the proposed budget.

Pollution isn’t inevitable. It’s a choice you and I make everyday

Here is the good news: 1. We don’t have to pronounce long, complicated scientific words, 2. When demand increases for biodegradable products, much like anything else. The cost will become more consumer friendly and competitive, and the last thankful good news is that a majority of the work is done naturally through our ecosystem, which means you and I just need to reduce plastic waste, reuse when you can, and be more environmentally conscious when purchasing products. The best part of this is mother nature does not require payment in return, it is just asked that as we are being taken care of, we can also take care of them back.

Every decision we make leaves a legacy on our planet

I have noticed that the more environmentally conscious I have been, the more money I am saving. Why is that? Well when I go to Home Goods, Target, and the craft store I am thinking about the things I need versus things that I want, and lets face it, I have everything I need and I’m hoping if you are reading this, that means you do as well. A roof over your head, clean air, drinkable water, food to eat, a way to get to and from, and ways to maintain basic hygiene. I have an entire room full of décor that looking back on those items brought me instant gratification when purchasing them, but as time has gone on, the item lost my interest because that spark is no longer there. The decorations collect dust, and I plan on donating the items, but that does not take me back in time to when I first held that gnome decoration in my hand or that little gingerbread light up house, and somehow convinced myself that I needed these two for my home, or that I justified spending the amount of money I did when going to a store.

Growing a better world, One choice at a time

Ask yourself what things are you able to live without? Pretend the goal is to lower your bills and be able to put money aside or spend it on having dinner with an old friend. Could you accomplish that goal and what are the things you would get rid of? I decided to give up getting food delivered because it was more affordable to eat it at the restaurant, (disclaimer: I don’t cook), than to get food dropped to my door in plastic or Styrofoam containers that go to waste. This forces me to use my time wisely, and plan for my dinners ahead of time so I know where I am going to eat, what I am going to eat, when I need to leave work so I arrive on time for my dinner reservation, and how much I am choosing to spend. Small changes make big impacts, we just can’t see our progress right away, but don’t let that deter you from making more eco-friendly choices, because although it is easier to push “add to cart” and “place order”, it is also imperative going forward you start to make changes in your routines.

Before I go, I just want to say how fortunate I am to live in a world where our opinions are valued and respected, that we deserve to be heard, and people are holding spaces for those growing. I look forward to new inventions, new leaders, new ways to help everyone live a longer, healthier, happier life.

References

University of Minnesota Extension, “Soil biology”, 2025, https://extension.umn.edu/soil-management-and-health/soil-biology#:~:text=In%20most%20ecosystems%2C%20more%20life,small%20mammals%20and%20plant%20roots.

Sustainability Directory, “How do soil microbes improve air quality?”, September 15, 2025, https://lifestyle.sustainability-directory.com/question/how-do-soil-microbes-improve-air-quality/#:~:text=Certain%20types%20of%20soil%20microbes,or%20integrated%20into%20natural%20cycles.

ScienceDirect, “Waste to wealth: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production from food waste for a sustainable packaging paradigm”, December 2024, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566224000327#:~:text=This%20paper%20presents%20an%20in,support%20to%20promote%20widespread%20use.

United Nations, “In images: plastic is forever”, June 2021, https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/in-images-plastic-forever#:~:text=Plastic%20waste%20can%20take%20anywhere%20from%2020,been%20produced%20in%20the%20last%2013%20years.

TIPA Compostable Packaging, “Biodegradable packaging”, https://tipa-corp.com/biodegradable-packaging/#:~:text=Returns%20to%20nature%20within%20a,months%20in%20industrial%20composting%20environments.