eco-friendly

Going Green: Sustainability at Work

Earlier this month, several Ohio State University Extension educators toured the Ohio Stadium (also known as The Shoe) in Columbus. The purpose of the tour was to learn how the fourth-largest stadium in the country continuously ranks #1 when it comes to recycling. In fact, OSU diverts 90% or more of materials from the landfill by recycling, repurposing, and composting after every football game.  

On the drive home from Columbus, I started to reflect on my behavior at work and the sustainability practices in our county Extension office. Although I do a lot at home to be sustainable, I realized I was not being as environmentally conscientious at work. To be “greener”, I am trying these ideas to make my work life more sustainable. 

  • Eliminate single-use plastics. Think about your break room and find ways to replace coffee pods, plastic utensils, straws, soap dispensers, Styrofoam cups, and water bottles. To reduce using these pesky plastics, visit a thrift store and purchase cups, dishes, and cutlery that can be used repeatedly. Plastic-Free July has numerous resources to help you reduce your plastic consumption. 
  • If you pack your meals, try to be as waste-free as possible. Consider purchasing condiments and other food items that can stay in your office so you can skip individualized food items like ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, sugar, and creamer. 
  • Turn off office lights and electronics when you are out of the office. Purchase energy-efficient lighting and appliances to lower your energy consumption at work and save money. 
  • Educate yourself about your local recycling option and limit what gets put in the landfill. Compost food waste and coffee grinds. Take advantage of the Hefty ReNew program currently offered in central Ohio, Greater Cincinnati, and Greater Dayton. 
  • Reduce paper use by limiting how much you print. When you print something, always use both sides of the paper. Have leftover handouts? Use them for scrap paper before putting them in the recycling bin. 
  • Collect pop can tabs to donate to the closest Ronald McDonald House. There are five locations in Ohio, including Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, and Cleveland. 
  • Consider cloth napkins and towels, as well as Swedish dishcloths to reduce paper waste. In the U.S., it’s estimated that one person produces 40 pounds of paper towel waste every year. If paper towels are the only option, adopt a “one or none” mindset to reduce waste.  
  • Purchase eco-friendly products and supplies, and use the services of sustainable suppliers. 

To be more mindful when planning work events, you can download the Ohio State University Extension Sustainable Meeting Guide to think of ways to limit waste at meetings and conferences. In addition, our Sustainability team has created numerous educational resources to help protect the planet and its resources. Visit our website to find tip sheets, videos, and even a home tour to help you be more sustainable. 

Older hand passing the planet to younger hands

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Warren County, stanton.60@osu.edu. 

Reviewed by: Susan Zies, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Wood County, zies.1@osu.edu. 

Beyond the Suit Case: Step Toward Sustainability

a set of luggage

As I plan my summer travel, I wondered what changes I could make before I even purchase my tickets that would make trekking across the ocean just a bit more sustainable. According to the Vacationer, 82% of Americans plan on traveling this summer with 25% planning to head abroad in 2024. Regardless of where travelers head to, tourists effect the people, economy, and environment they travel to. When crossing any national, ethnic, cultural, or state border it is important to consider what impact travel can have on both parties. One way to ensure each party has as little negative impact on each other as possible is to travel more sustainably.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism development as travel that compares the negative to the positive social, cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of the travel in the host nation. Before the plane has the left the tarmac, here are some simple steps to help support sustainable travel for future nomads.

Check Your Travel Options

a flowchart shoing how carbon offsetting works
Picture of Carbon Emissions Offsetting Process https://www.altexsoft.com/blog/carbon-offset-aviation/

Planes, trains, and automobiles, all present challenges considering the environmental impact of our travel. Because of the very public battles with climate change, reports on carbon emissions are often at the top of environmental concerns when discussing sustainable travel. And because most of our travel in the United States requires moving across wide distances over land or an expansive ocean, it can be a challenge to find sustainable ways to see the world. One simple way to hunt for sustainable travel is to find an airline that off sets their carbon dioxide emissions.  By offsetting their carbon emissions, airlines pay for other reduction services based on the carbon produced on their flights. Airlines may have a logo that identifies their strategies to offset carbon emissions, or they may be part of a national or international commission to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. It is also good to be aware of potential “greenwashing” campaign, where companies paint a much greener picture than the reality.

Select a Sustainable Destination

From the definition, sustainable travel can look at cultural, social , economic, or environmental sustainability, which means selecting your ideal location can coincide with sustainable ideals. From international travel guides and news outlets, many sources have done the research regarding some of the most sustainable destinations.  Cities across the globe are focusing on reducing waste, zeroing their carbon footprint, or building more sustainable infrastructure. In 2024, the BBC listed Valencia, Spain one of the most sustainable destinations. To get on the list, Valencia has been working toward sourcing all electricity from renewable resources and building interconnected neighborhoods promoting more biking and green spaces. This is just one of many locations where sustainable travel is a bit more achievable.

Keep Educating Yourself!

Learning about social issues, cultural differences, and current events allows the traveler to be aware of spots to visit and locations to avoid. From what you wear to where to go, a “Responsible Traveler” as the Center for Responsible Travel calls it, supports the host nation’s social and cultural dynamics, the local economy, and the environment while in the host nation. Seeking opportunities to see culturally significant locations while avoiding tourism that harms the local economy is very important. Having cultural awareness, or knowing how and why other cultures are different from yours, will set your trip up for success.

No one begins the journey towards sustainability without a few missteps. By keeping the environment, social needs, and locality in mind, travelers can take steps toward being more sustainable beyond their suitcase.

Writer: Ryan Kline, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County, kline.375@osu.edu

Reviewer: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

Sources:
Hammond, Richard. “How to Travel Better: A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Travel in 2023 and Beyond.” Travel, 9 Nov. 2022, www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-to-travel-better-a-beginners-guide-to-sustainable-travel-in-2023-and-beyond.

Martinez, Nikki. “How to Travel Sustainably in Summer 2022.” Warner College of Natural Resources, 1 June 2022, warnercnr.source.colostate.edu/how-to-travel-sustainably-in-summer-2022/.