Ultimate Sustainabiity

Paul Hawken's, A Declaration of Sustainability, clearly lays out an extensive plan to combat environmental degradation and promote environmental health which would work in a newly born society, however his plans need much editing to be applied to the current world.

He begins with the example of Ben and Jerry's ice cream company. Ben and Jerry's is a company I would assume the majority of us have taken pleasure in at one time. Their initiatives to "redefine their social and ethical responsibilities" are commendable compared to many other companies. However, I think Hawken does a great point of recognizing that their ultimate goal is still to advance, and grow, and using resources efficiently clearly helps them do this, as noted the company is now currently taking over competitor franchise Haagen-Dazs. In the U.S., Ben and Jerry's is a household name, however it is one recognized for their tasty sweet treats, not their attention to sustainability and the environment. Therefore, Ben and Jerry's attention to these matters is overall not one effective enough to produce social change or create sustainability. Nor is it one that challenges others to combat eventual environmental degradation and over-exploitation of resources. This comes to Hawken's argument that in order to have a truly sustainable society, "we cannot fully succeed until institutions surrounding commerce are redesigned," a company level simply effort will not produce the necessary results.

My favorite of his suggested strategies is number two, "Adjust price to reflect cost." Although, it would also take years to establish a system to do this, I think it would be the most effective and all encompassing. Companies would be forced to use more environmentally friendly products or their production costs would outweigh sales. Therefore growth and advancement would specifically correlate with environmental health. Companies like Ben and Jerry would grow specifically because of their policies of ethical responsibilities, not simply because of their tasty products, and this would promote a larger social change. People everywhere would make more environmentally friendly purchases, because they would be more affordable. And subsidies on corn and other agricultural products would be vanquished, because they allow people to produce products without taking responsibility for the environmental effects.

Ultimately though, there are many other strategies that could promote just as large of a positive effect on environmental issues. So, what is the key to achieving the ultimate sustainable lifestyle? Hawken's outlines a total of 12 strategies for sustainability, basically stating the necessity for a complete social and political reform. His 12 strategies, in theory, are a perfectly acceptable solution to creating a sustainable lifestyle. However, in reality, this large of a reform would be virtually impossible. If all of these strategies were in fact, implemented, it would take years and years to put them in place and see the comprehensive positive effects, especially strategy three, where Hawken claims the necessity "to throw out an replace the entire tax system." By the time a change such as this could occur and be agreed on, our resources could be already depleted to a level beyond repair. Although Hawken's points are valid, an outline of strategies this extensive can hold no true argument simply because it is unrealistic.