Steps to Sustainability Basics Essay Example

solve the problem of space computer have been designed for virtual storage.

• Clothes

1. They are either made from wool, cotton or flax
2. They cushion people from harsh climate.
3. They affect the general appearance of an individual.
4. Clothes come in different colors, shapes and texture.

• Carpet

1. Made of nylon
2. Carpets assist in decorating the house
3. They affect the texture and durability of the floors.
4. Carpets are made into different sizes and shape.

• Mobile phone

1. Made of a combination of earth material and plastic
2. They facilitate easy communication and business transactions.
3. They emit radiations which are harmful to human health.
4. Continued use of mobile phones can result to eye problems.

Step 3. Discussion - Defining sustainability. In Table 3, describe how your ‘findings’ address the criteria and themes established in Step 2 and the relationship to these three "pillars" of sustainability? Based on the information provided in step 2, it can be concluded that the nature of the material used to make an item should possess certain characteristics. From an item to endure for long it must be made from a resilient material.

In other words, the implicit nature of the material is transferred to the respective item. The characteristic of a product has much effects to the economy, environment and the society. Sustainability can be divided into three major sections which includes; the economy, society and the environment (Kates et al 2001). Those sections have mutual relationship. An interaction between the three factors results to sustainability.

To achieve sustainability, those three pillars should be sustainable. Step 4: Ranking Products. Review your original rankings in Table 1.

Based on the criteria you identified, the groupings or categories you identified, and the three pillars of sustainability, decide whether your rankings and/or the reasons you give for those rankings changed. In Table 4, identify if your rankings changed or did not. Step 6.

Synthesis. Summarize this exercise, answering the following questions. Your summary should be one to two pages in length and of significant depth to receive full credit. Use cited sources to supplement your work. Summary of the exercise The original ranking criteria was based on resiliency and the ability to be recycled. This is the rationale used to rank the items in a descending order.

The ranking process took into account the number of years an item can be of service to man. The criterion therefore ignores factors such as effects to the environment and human health. The second ranking criterion has been tampered with because the rationale has been changed (Kates et al 2001). This second ranking relies solely on the durability and effects to the surrounding. The changes have taken a different approach to rank. Environmental sustainability can be defined as the ability to maintain rates of renewable rates resource supply, pollution and non-renewable resource depletion.

The economic sustainability is defined as the ability to sustain economic productivity over a long period of time. The social sustainability requires all social systems to maintain a certain level of social being indefinitely. Existence of a difference especially the definition of sustainability clearly shows that the scope of sustainability is broad and dynamic (Hansmann, et al 2012). Every definition takes into consideration the needs of both the present and future generation. The present generation should work

relentlessly to make sure that the future generation will have plenty and enough resource for their survival. The three pillars are addressing the major problem of the society through the examination of its members (Anand & Sen 2000).

The pillars clearly handle social, environment and economic problems. These are the problems that emanate from these segment of human life. The latter approach will not change how I will rank the sustainability of products. This is because the new ranking has taken into account product specifications with respect to the environment, society and the economy.

References

• Anand, S., & Sen, A. (2000). Human development and economic sustainability. World development, 28(12), 2029-2049.
• Hansmann, R., Mieg, H. A., & Frischknecht, P. (2012). Principal sustainability components: empirical analysis of synergies between the three pillars of sustainability. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 19(5), 451-459.
• Kates, R.

  W., Clark, W. C., Corell, R., Hall, J. M., Jaeger, C. C., Lowe, I., ... & Faucheux, S.

  (2001). Sustainability science. Science, 292(5517), 641-642.