Our Views on Sustainability
“meeting the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
This basic definition comes from the Brundtland Commission and has become a very widely accepted definition for sustainability. As depicted in the diagram below, this definition is based on three interrelated "pillars" that, when all are met, create a state of sustainability.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development
Luurtsema Sales sees sustainability as a goal that will always be slightly out of reach. That is to say, what is considered sustainable today may not be in just a few years as our collective knowledge grows and new technologies develop. As a result we believe it is best to view sustainability as a path to be taken whereby we will always be questioning how we operate, which inputs are best to use, etc. Currently we are taking the following steps in our quest of sustainability:
1. In 2006 we began purchasing our electricity from renewable sources.
By 2008 100% of the electricity used by Luurtsema Sales was purchased
from renewable energy sources.
2. In 2007 we introduced our line of USDA Certified Organic herbs and
vegetables call "HARVEST IN HARMONY."
3. In 2008 Luurtsema Sales implemented a beta version of its
horticultural plastics recycling program. This program will be offered to all
customers begining the spring of 2009.
4. Luurtsema Sales is continually searching for new inputs with the least
impact on the environment possible. However, given the prevalence of
"greenwashing," it is not as simple as accepting the claims of
manufacturers. Below is a list of questions we are asking as we evaluate
new pots, soils, plants, etc.
- Total energy input in the product
- Transportation costs involved if produced overseas
- Extraction and growing of raw materials (including glues and adhesives)
- Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) discharges resulting from manufacturing
- Is the input compostable?
- Consumer ability to compost the product at home (does it require special processes)
- Involves the practices involved for producing the raw materials used to produce the input
- Comparison of recycling to composting
- Food for manufacturing
- Effect of food sources such as corn and whea
- Food source by-products can be used as compost in developing countries
- Energy input for growing the food crop
