Embracing Nature's Leadership: Rethinking Business and Sustainability

In today's era we are constantly seeing words like 'Sustainable Business,' 'Net Zero,' 'Carbon Neutral,' and 'Zero Waste,' but a critical term often overlooked is 'nature.' As sustainability takes center stage in business conversations, it is important to think about how it is intertwined with nature.

This question gains depth when considering innovative approaches adopted by companies like Faith in Nature, which appointed Nature to its board of directors. This move raised an eyebrow and stirred inquiries regarding the role of nature in the corporate world. Where sustainability talks can become too abstract, reframing to nature helps to cut more specifically to the crux of some of these issues.

Tom Greenwood contemplates this in his newsletter Oxymoron; how would nature run a business? What would nature advocate for if placed on a company's board of directors or given full authority?

Read the article here.

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10 Ways to Have a More Sustainable Holiday Season

Creating a sustainable holiday season is not only about reducing waste but also an opportunity to be mindful of our year-round impacts on the planet. Here are ten ways to make your holidays more environmentally friendly:

1. Eco-friendly Gift Giving: Opt for sustainable gifts such as experiences, homemade items, or eco-friendly products. Consider gifts that promote a low carbon footprint.

2. Mindful Decorations: Choose decorations made from sustainable materials or those that can be reused in multiple seasons. Get creative by crafting decorations from recycled materials or opting for natural elements like pinecones, evergreen branches, or dried flowers.

3. Energy-efficient Lighting: Use LED lights for decorations, both indoors and outdoors. LED lights are more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan, reducing electricity consumption and waste.

4. Reduced Food Waste: Plan meals carefully to avoid food wastage. Opt for locally sourced produce for your festive meals and consider composting organic waste.

5. Minimalistic Wrapping: Wrap gifts using recycled or reusable materials like old newspapers, fabric scraps, or decorative boxes that can be reused. Avoid glossy or metallic wrapping paper, as it is often non-recyclable.

6. Carbon-conscious Travel: If traveling during the holidays, consider carpooling, using public transport, or opting for carbon offset programs to mitigate the environmental impact of your journey.

7. Support Sustainable Brands: Choose to support brands that prioritize sustainability and ethical practices in their production processes.

8. Give Back to Nature: Consider giving back to nature by planting trees or supporting environmental charities as gifts or donations in honour of your loved ones.

9. Mindful Consumption: Be mindful of your consumption habits and avoid impulse purchases. Consider the environmental impact of the items you are buying.

10. Embrace Reusability: Use reusable items wherever possible, such as cloth napkins, dishes, and utensils instead of disposable ones. Encourage guests to bring their reusable containers for leftovers.

The holiday season is a perfect time to embrace sustainable practices and make a positive impact on the planet. If you're gifting books (a timeless and trustworthy choice!) and you want to learn more about sustainability in the book industry, check out our blog.

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Thinking About Sustainable Web Design

In an era where digital presence is paramount, there's a growing awareness of the environmental impact associated with our online activities. This project by Formafantasma and Studio Blanco redefines web design in the name of sustainability.

Ways that this interface minimizes energy consumption and reduces CO2 emissions typically generated by internet usage:

• Uses system typefaces (Arial and Times New Roman) to avoid unnecessary HTTP requests

• Follows the OS colour scheme's preference by default to reduce screen brightness and energy consumption

• Clear and simple design to avoid loading unwanted content

• Before viewing pictures at a larger size, a preview of the average file weight that a device will need to download is available

The importance of understanding sustainable digital landscapes is a step toward shaping a more eco-conscious tomorrow.

See Formafantasma's website to learn more..

Photo by Sarah Dorweiler on Unsplash