Sustainability and Social Responsibility
Written by: Allegra Latimer
Allegra Latimer is the Fall 2022 Compost Collective Intern. She has worked at the Office of Sustainability since 2019.
As we transition from long, sunny days and the verdant green of the Grove towards more fluctuating temperatures and autumnal colorings of reds, yellows, and browns, one becomes acutely aware of the unwavering fluidity of our environment. It is in this way that our environment plays a critical role in how we structure our day. Conversely, our role as humans in a progressing society has a large and intrinsic role in the pace and magnitude of these environmental changes. While these changes are woven into long-term climate effects, there are often short-term impacts that we as humans have in contributing to variances in these environmental patterns. Quantitatively, the extent of this impact can be measured through our individual carbon footprint. True to its name, carbon footprints are just that, a measurement of the magnitude of individual consumption. These steps, whether big or small, contribute to the emissions of fossil fuels. This can exist in the form of transport, food consumption/disposal, purchasing, and a wide variety of other actions.
Just as no two people are the same, no two footprints are the same. If we equate steps in reverse as a form of social responsibility, it can be concluded that while we all have an intrinsic partnership with our environment and an obligation to act in the best interest of society and the environment as a whole, carbon footprints and social responsibility are more aptly defined on a graded scale.
So what does this look like?–a student perspective.
To live a sustainable lifestyle, do I have to be vegan, drive an electric car, compost, recycle, buy solar panels, AND never shop big business again?
While there are endless options to living a more sustainable lifestyle, each with its own merit, no one individual is responsible, yet alone capable of participating in these choices in the same way. Each of us must make these choices based on our own capacity. One way to avoid sustainability burnout and guide us through these choices is to consider our personal scale of consumption versus contribution. It is simply impossible for each of us to transition in the same way, sustainable transitions must be both economically and personally equitable for each individual. Given two hypothetical scenarios, we can better understand what is required of individuals to contribute to a sustainable future.
Scenario 1: A student lives on campus. They walk to their classes and regularly use public transportation or their bike for personal travel off-campus. This student does not buy food or clothing beyond the basic necessities and does not travel beyond what is required for school, work, etc.
Scenario 2: A student lives off-campus and drives their personal vehicle to and from school, work, as well as extracurricular activities. This student regularly travels for school, work, and leisure activities and also regularly purchases clothing and technology.
Given the resources available to Student 2 as well as their increased consumption, it would be apt to say that their level of social responsibility is greater. If they wish to contribute to a sustainable future, they may consider purchasing locally, and if faced with extra food/packaging waste, they could consider composting and recycling. As a frequent traveler both for school and for leisure, Student 2 could consider contributing to carbon offsets and if looking for a new vehicle, could consider an electric alternative. Because Student 1 does not economically consume as much as Student 2, it is not necessary that Student 1 consider themselves as having the same level of obligation to contribute to more financially linked forms of sustainability. For example, Student 1 does not have a personal vehicle or does not use their personal vehicle; therefore, it is not necessary that they consider buying an electric vehicle.
A similar comparison can be made with regard to the fashion industry. There is increasing dialogue around businesses moving towards sustainable fabrics, more equitable working conditions for employees, and sourcing locally. While all of these factors contribute to a higher quality and more sustainable product, this often comes at a cost. For someone who regularly purchases clothes and is interested in fashion beyond wearing clothes as a basic utility, purchasing from more sustainable brands is an element to consider; however, if someone maintains a smaller wardrobe and does not consume much from this sector, then purchasing higher priced sustainable clothing is less of a factor of concern.
These are merely examples of how to begin conceptualizing your own social responsibility to sustainability. One of the first and greatest steps in sustainability is to simply be conscious and knowledgeable about the world in which we live. Being aware of the interconnectedness of humans and their environment allows for the dialogue of sustainability to continue and the initiation of remedial action both on personal and social scales. While it is important to consider this hierarchy of sustainability, particularly in relation to social responsibility and financial obligations, there are countless other ways to contribute to sustainable efforts. These examples are such that can be incorporated into any lifestyle with low commitment and high benefits.
One of the easiest ways to incorporate sustainability into your everyday life is to save and reduce. Reducing meaning to reduce overconsumption of food and other forms of purchasing. Overconsumption stems from overproduction and leads to excess amounts of waste. This cyclic effect leads to environmental impacts such as land-fill build-up and greenhouse gas release. Saving can equate to reusing or opting for purchased materials that can be used multiple times such as reusable water bottles and packing lunches rather than purchasing from outside. Walking or using forms of low-emission or shared transportation are all great ways to lessen your individual carbon footprint.
Within Oxford and on the Ole Miss campus, most everything is within walkable distances and otherwise has an available bus route. If you are a student and looking to get involved locally, joining sustainable and environmentally oriented organizations is a way to contribute to sustainable action and discussion both academically and socially. This list is non-exhaustive and can vary from person to person. Our impact as consumers, students, and humans has a profound impact on the world in which we live. There are endless options for living a more sustainable lifestyle and no two individuals’ social responsibility, carbon footprint, or capacity are the same. Being mindful of our impacts and responsibly choosing sustainable actions within our means is what will keep us moving toward a brighter future for tomorrow and future generations (rather than blowing all of our income on an electric vehicle we don’t use or can’t afford).
Written by Fall 2022 Compost Collective Intern, Allegra Latimer
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