The Necessary Revolution - Peter Senge et al - Part 4

The Necessary Revolution - Peter Senge
and others

2017 Reading Challenge - Day 59

 February 28, 2017 

Book 17 - The Necessary Revolution:
How Individuals and Organizations are Working Together to Create a Sustainable World
by Peter M. Senge, Bryan Smith, Nina Kruschwitz, Joe Laur, Sara Schley (2008)
 Part 4 - pages 179-221
Reading Time - 60 minutes

I'm learning a lot about how some of the big multi-national corporations are actually leading in the way in sustainability. Alcoa (formerly Alcan) for instance, has made a big step in reducing waste water and landfill waste. They recognized that water shortages would severely hamper their business and made a commitment to recycle their water back through their smelters.

Nike is another great example of a company that ran afoul back in the 1990s of bad publicity when a lot of their overseas manufacturers were exposed for bad labour practices. Today, Nike is a a leader in the industry. Essentially, companies can comply and try to stay out of trouble, or they can become leaders in their industry. It's all about short term fixes vs long term fundamental solutions.

There is also a recognition that a lot of waste is actually a gold mine of materials. Think aluminum cans which, as we know, are infinitely recyclable. Plus, reusing old aluminum is a huge energy savings - cause it uses 95% less energy than making aluminum from scratch. And yet... only about half of all aluminum cans are recycled. Crazy...

On a sadder note... in terms of recycling in general, the US has a deplorable rate. In 1992, the recycling rate in the US was 68%. Not bad, eh. In 2012, though, the rate was 34%. Meanwhile, Japan has a 92% rate and Brazil has a 95% rate.

Where does Canada fit in recycling?? We are at a miserly 28% recycling rate. Not surprising given some provinces still don't have a bottle return deposit program. Think of all those aluminum cans being left by the roadside... crazy! (Winnipeg, for example, is sending more than $1,000,000 worth of aluminum cans to the landfill each year).

On a happier note... our city has some pretty good numbers... Food waste goes to a composting program... so we have a recycling rate of 64%... not bad... could be better.