Author Archives: christinemmorse

At the beginning of this course, I defined sustainability as using fewer resources. To me this speaks about our current sustainability crisis in America today. We have all heard about the concept of “green” and the benefits of “buying local” … Continue reading →

Eco-labeling is a source of controversy. It is an excellent concept, helping consumers make smarter choices about the products they buy. But can we assume that buyers are smart about the labels? With so much controversy surrounding “organic” products or … Continue reading →

‘Buy Local,’ a recent sustainability push to buy locally manufactured or produced products, has taken root in my hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Whether you shop at Walmart, or Whole Foods, a section will always be set aside for those ‘Local’ products. … Continue reading →

Cradle to cradle is a new sustainable practice that creates the elimination of waste in the consumption process. This idea is not revolutionary, in nomadic cultures, cradle to cradle was a given, local biological materials were used, then were discarded … Continue reading →

My calculated carbon footprint was around 21 tons of CO2 per year, which is just below the U.S. average per person. However, to combat this large number, I learned some behavioral changes that I could make. I can install low-flow … Continue reading →

There are two steps to creating a sustainable society: creating awareness and modifying behavior. Creating awareness goes beyond identifying the faults in our society, and the steps to fix it. Creating awareness means reconstructing perceptions about our true ecological footprint, … Continue reading →

Biomimicry in design is a sustainable ideology that suggests we design our ecosystems after the organic systems of nature. If we look to nature to solve our design problems, we are certain to find more economically, and perhaps socially, efficient … Continue reading →

At what point does emotional attachment to an object become detrimental? Sustainability necessitates creating a durable and lasting product that the consumer will want to use for a long time. However, just focusing on emotional attachment, and not usability, of a … Continue reading →

“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” Sir Ken Robinson Sustainability is not always the conventional way of thinking. Our society is facing a schism; creating sustainable practices for a better future or continuing … Continue reading →

Ultimately, who is responsible for the push for sustainability in our society? In our capitalistic society today, consumers are the ultimate drivers for the market. Companies now produce products and services that revolve around customer needs and desires. If we … Continue reading →