Any product or technology which is sustainable can be created or used without preventing future generations from basically doing anything they want. From creation to consumption, sustainable products/technology are viable in terms of economy, society and environment.  

 

Most labels which consider the environment - Green, Eco-friendly etc. (Click here for more labels), are birthed from the idea of sustainability.

 

Some of these labels are compromised versions of sustainability for products/technology which focus on one aspect of sustainability and are not able to answer the tougher questions described below.

 

If you want to create or use sustainable products/technology, then - 

 

Ask yourself......

 

Could using this type of product allow our children to live healthier lives?

 

Then this is sustainable.

 

Could creating this type of technology allow our children to have an unforgettable experience  through observing and interacting with a special place, rare bird, elephant, fish (you get the idea)? 

 

Then this technology is sustainable. 

 

When I use this technology or product will it change the world for the worse for our grand-children?

 

Then it is not sustainable.

 

Do we have enough resources to continue to make or use this technology or product?

 

If there is a chance we do not, then this is not sustainable. 

 

Could this product prevent your grand-children from breathing clean air?

 

Then it is not sustainable. If you are not sure, well it probably is not sustainable. 

 

Could the cost of this technology created in one country prevent our grand-children in another country from enjoying clean water at the beach? 

 

Then it is not sustainable.

 

Any practice, habit, lifestyle or way of doing business which is sustainable allows future generations to make the same or different lifestyle choices. In our lives, someone probably did something in the past so that you either had certain choices  or not in your life. What will you do for the fate of future lives? 

 

To live sustainably means making some easy and even some tough choices. Sometimes there is thicker mud to plough through to figure out who is telling the truth about the sustainability of their product. Read more on labels HERE.