Healthy Planet Healthy People Ilda T Hershey OSU

Healthy Planet, Healthy People Ilda T. Hershey OSU Sustainability Coordinator

Overview • What is “Sustainability”? • What does a healthy planet provide for us humans? • How do some negative impacts on the environment affect our own health? – How can we do better? – What is OSU doing? • What can you do? Page 2

Sustainability What is sustainability? sustain + ability Page 3

Sustainability • Sustainability Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs • Sustainability = Good Stewardship Environment Economy Society Page 4

Sustainability • Tenets of Sustainability – All things on Earth are connected • Web of life; actions have consequences – It’s better to live off nature’s income, not its capital • Renewable energy; conservation; recycling – There is no waste in nature • Design for the Environment (Df. E) & Lean Production – Defining best processing & manufacturing practices – Reducing toxins & waste • Circular Production; Cradle to Cradle Design – Considers entire life cycle (LCA) Page 5

Healthy Planet Why do we care? What’s in it for us? Page 6

The Earth Provides • We depend on ecosystem services for basic human needs: – – – Oxygen Fresh water Food Materials for shelter Protection from storms Biodiversity provides: • • • Medicinal properties Healthy soils Pest control Pollination & seed dispersal Sustainable designs based on Biomimicry • Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature. Page 7

Negative Impacts • Single-Use Plastics – How can we do better? – What is OSU doing? • Food as a Product – How can we do better? – What is OSU doing? • Air Pollution – How can we do better? – What is OSU doing? Page 8

Single-Use Plastics • Plastic is Fantastic – Used in a wide range of industries – Has changed history – 50% single-use (disposable) • What are most plastics made of? – Petroleum products plus added chemicals – 8% world oil production – Techno-nutrient or Bio-nutrient? • Plastic makes bad garbage – "Good garbage breaks down as it goes… bad garbage grows and grows” Tom Chapin, songwriter – MSW 13% (32 M tons); Volume? ; Mostly containers & packaging – As a techno-nutrient it could be recovered for remanufacture – Only about 9% is recycled; must be clean and numbered Page 9

Plastic Pollution • Pollution of waterways and oceans 20/80% – All watersheds drain to oceans – When discarded plastic enters the environment it is harmful to wildlife and people 1. 2. Entanglement - Once entangled, animals have trouble eating, breathing or swimming Ingestion – Floating plastic looks like food – Can damage the digestive system or make animal feel full 3. Toxicity – Floating plastic is like a sponge for attracting pollutants – Toxins, like mercury, PCBs and other dioxins easily attach to plastics – When ingested by marine animals & other wildlife Ø Can injure or poison them, or cause birth defects Ø Can transfer through the food chain and become more concentrated Ø Humans (esp. children & exp. mothers) should limit consumption of predatory fish Page 10

Single-Use Plastics Direct Affect on Human Health • Chemicals added to plastics during manufacturing are absorbed by human bodies - carcinogens & endocrine disruptors – Bisphenol-A (BPA); Di-(2 -ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP); Styrene; Benzene • Microwave, wash & reuse disposable plastics? – Not single-use plastics! FDA says okay if labeled “microwave safe” – Heat, UV light, fatty or oily foods cause the chemicals to leach out – Tiny cracks harbor bacteria, which thrive, even after washing • Styrofoam • • Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Very porous. Do not heat leftovers! • “The Poison is in the Dose” • Children are especially vulnerable Page 11

Single-Use Plastics How can we do better? • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (in that order!) • Use durables (glass, metal, ceramic) instead of disposables – Start with your coffee cup & water bottle (wash vs. trash) – Start with children • • • Avoid individual serving packets Select items with minimal packaging Use durable shopping bags Buy recycled content Bring a waste-free lunch Rethink Page 12

What is OSU Doing? • Drinking Fountains: – Retrofits or new fountains with refill taps – Reduction of plastic bottles counter – Green Student Initiative • Reduce & Reuse Programs: – Move-out Collections • Real Pokes Pass It On • FGSH Yard Sale • Textbook buybacks & donations – OSU Surplus & Salvage – Dining Services • Biodegradable disposables • Less Styrofoam • Reusable cups/mugs/bags Page 13

What is OSU Doing? • Paper & Cardboard • Mixed paper • Shredded paper in bags • Cardboard (flattened) • Containers • Plastic bottles (#1 PET) • Aluminum cans • Single-stream for living quarters • Move-In Recycling Program Page 14

Food & Agriculture has a huge impact on the health of the environment (and our own health). What we eat and how much has a huge impact on our own health (and the health of the environment). Page 15

Food Sustainability What can we do? Don’t freak out Eat food, not too much, mostly plants - Michael Pollan, Author • Eat “Real” Foods (foods) – Processed as little as possible; minimal artificial substances & additives – Grown in healthy soil – focus of Organic or Sustainable farming • John & Kris Gosney, Aug. Wellness Wednesday, Organic Farming • “Healthy soil makes healthy plants makes healthy food” [makes healthy people] • Not too much – Choose quality over quantity – Pay more, buy less • Mostly Plants – – Eat lower on the food chain Better for our health & ecosystem health Support local farmers/ranchers Always offer fruits/vegetables (Healthy Meetings Toolkit) Page 16

What is OSU Doing? University Dining Services • Offering more Local, Organic, Vegetarian Food Options – Farm Fresh Program – Made in Oklahoma Program – Red Earth Kitchen • Eliminated all frying oil containing trans-fat • Conduct Healthy Eating Lifestyle Programs – Choose Orange - identifies healthier items – Healthy Cooking - free demonstrations/classes geared toward students • Promotes Fair Trade & Rainforest Alliance products • Organize OSU Farmers’ Market each fall Page 17

Air Pollution • Fossil Fuels: Building blocks of our modern, industrial society – High levels of pollution & respiratory illnesses Page 18

Air Pollution • What can we do? – Conserve Energy • Turn off lights & electronics when not in use • Dress for the weather • Consider energy efficiency of new purchases – Support Renewable & Cleaner Energy Sources – Choose alternative transportation when possible: walk, bicycle, carpool, bus • Generates less pollution • Gets us moving Page 19

What is OSU Doing? Energy Management Program • Energy Conservation Guidelines established August 2007 • HVAC including Seasonal Set Points • Lighting, Electronics, Water • OSU Energy Policy • The Board of Regents “expects all personnel at each campus to make a positive contribution to maximize energy conservation and produce real energy savings” • Over $32 M saved system-wide through behavior change Page 20

What is OSU Doing? Renewable Energy • Wind Power • Geothermal • Solar

What is OSU Doing? Transportation • • • The Bus - Mass Transit Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Carpool Benefits Orange Ride Bike Rental/Repair OSU Named Bike-Friendly University Page 22

OSU and YOU OSU is helping us…. . • Reduce plastic waste • Eat healthier • Conserve energy What do you do? . . . Page 23

What can you do? Continue to support what OSU is doing… – Bring awareness to sustainability • • Create a Green Team Set an example by “Walking the Talk” Ask for group presentations/tours Visit OSU Sustainability website & “follow us” – Participate in “Sustainability in the Workplace” • HR Training; 2 -hour workshop; Feb. 4 th – Take action to: 1) protect your family’s quality of life today, and 2) leave a legacy of good health & prosperity for your grandchildren Page 24

Overview • Sustainability • Website: http: //sustainability. okstate. edu • Email: sustainability@okstate. edu • Utilities and Energy Management • Website: http: //www. okstate. edu/energy • Email: energy@okstate. edu • Recycling • Website: physicalplant. okstate. edu/osurecycles • Email: recycle@okstate. edu • Follow Us • Facebook: www. facebook. com/osuenergy • Twitter/Instagram/Vine: OSUgreen Page 25

Overview Questions? Oklahoma State University Sustainability and Energy Management Page 26

Handout What is Sustainability? • Environmental Protection Agency Sustainability homepage: www. epa. gov/sustainability/basicinfo. htm • The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (use your okstate. edu email address to access members-only resources from the website): www. aashe. org • Mc. Donough Braungart Design Chemistry, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things: www. mbdc. com/cradle-to-cradle/c 2 c-framework What’s in it for us? • Land Stewardship Centre: www. landstewardship. org/ecological-goods-and-services • National Wildlife Federation – What is Biodiversity? www. nwf. org/Wildlife. Conservation/Biodiversity. aspx • Biomimicry Institute: http: //biomimicry. org/what-is-biomimicry Page 27

Handout Single-Use Plastics • Scientific American, “Plastic not-so-fantastic: How the Versatile Material Harms the Environment and Human Health”: www. scientificamerican. com/article/plastic-not-so-fantastic • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “What we know about plastic Marine Debris”: http: //marinedebris. noaa. gov/sites/default/files/Gen_Plastic-hi_9 -20 -11_1. pdf • Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy, “Smart Plastics Guide Healthier Food Uses of Plastics”: www. iatp. org/files/421_2_102202. pdf Food “Products” • Understanding “Whole Foods” Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: www. nutritionmd. org/nutrition_tips_understand_foods/whole_advantages. html • • The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Poteau, OK: www. kerrcenter. com Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Health & Environmental Implications of U. S. Meat Consumption & Production: www. jhsph. edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johnshopkins-center-for-a-livable-future/projects/meatless_monday/resources/meat_consumption. html • National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity “Healthy Meeting Toolkit”: http: //cspinet. org/nutritionpolicy/Healthy-Meeting-Toolkit. pdf Page 28

Handout Air Pollution • Scientific American, “The Human Cost of Energy” & “The Health Burden of Fossil Fuels”: www. scientificamerican. com/article/the-human-cost-of-energy • World Health Association, “ 7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution”: www. who. int/mediacentre/nes/releases/2014/air-pollution/en • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, “Air Pollution”: www. niehs. nih. gov/research/supported/exposure/air_pollution/index. cfm OSU Sustainability • General information: http: //sustainability. okstate. edu and http: //energy. okstate. edu • Emails: sustainability@okstate. edu; energy@okstate. edu; recycle@okstate. edu • Facebook: www. facebook. com/osuenergy; Twitter/Instagram/Vine: OSUgreen Page 29