Climate Change & Sustainability ~ with skincare in mind
In this blog, you will be hearing from Amanda Simone, who has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a double minor in geology and history. She is applying to law school for Fall 2021 admission to study environmental law in order to advocate for climate change policy and clean energy, air, and water.
The Environmental Problem
The most critical environmental problem that our world is facing today is climate change. Climate change is a notable shift or change in average weather conditions. Climate change can most simply be seen through rises in global average temperatures, a shift in weather patterns, rising sea levels, melting ice sheets, increased frequency and power of wildfires, and lower air and water quality. Changes in weather patterns can happen naturally, but the effects of human lifestyle have caused rapid and significant changes that have not been seen in our planet’s 4.6 billion year lifetime. But what causes climate change? Over the past 260 years, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, civilization has experienced rapid growth and development in technological advancement. But everything comes at a cost. Rises in population and an increased focus on corporations and products have put a strain on our natural resources and our environment. The leading human cause of climate change is the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases are important for keeping our planet warm enough to sustain life, but too much of them can cause severe damage. Clouds and ice help to reflect some of the Sun’s heat and energy in order to cool our planet. These greenhouse gases cloud our atmosphere and prevent our planet from regulating its temperature, causing the planet to overheat. Carbon dioxide and methane gases are the lead contributors to this problem. Deforestation, transportation and the burning of fossil fuels have led to a 40% rise in carbon dioxide emission since preindustrial times. Increased strain on agriculture has created increased levels of methane emissions, as cattle and livestock release methane at greater and greater rates. As the planet warms up due to an increase in these greenhouse gas emissions, weather patterns are directly affected. Warming weather patterns and higher temperatures can increase the severity and frequency of natural disasters such as storms, floods, heat waves and droughts.
Sustainability
In order for us to make our planet a sustainable place for many generations to come, change needs to happen now. Studies have shown that human effects caused a 33.8°F increase in global average surface temperature since pre-Industrial times. And while this change may sound insignificant, imagine the coldest night being 34 degrees colder and the hottest day being 34 degrees hotter. If it continues at its current rate, it is expected to rise to 34.7°F between 2030 and 2052. That change in temperature has already been seen in warmer regions, but try to imagine the damage it will do to the remaining ice on our poles, which are essential for cooling the planet and keeping our sea levels low. This change in temperature can increase the number of deaths due to vector-borne diseases like malaria, create food insecurity issues due to reduced yields in crops, and expose coastal cities to storm surges and floods.
Natural disasters in the United States alone cost $91 billion in 2018 alone. This is a problem that affects every living thing and will only become more impactful as time goes on. It is essential that we all do our part to believe that climate change is real and is a threat to us, now, in the present.
What You Can Do To Help
While real, impactful change must take place at the highest levels of government, you can try to do your part to help climate change. Unplug devices when they are not being used. Wash your clothes in cold water. Buy renewable products in order to create less waste. Try to eat less meat and buy organic whenever possible. Start an in-home composting system to lessen waste and create great fertilizer for a garden. Ride a bike, carpool, or take public transportation if you can and when you need to fly, pay the airline carbon offset fee. Switch out your light bulbs for energy efficient LED bulbs. Buy thrifted or secondhand clothes. Buy from companies that use sustainable or repurposed materials. Use filtered water instead of buying bottled water. When washing your own car, do so at a self-serve car wash to prevent the polluted waters from running into your community’s sewers. Bring your own shopping bags when you go to the grocery store. Shop local to support small businesses and reduce transportation costs. Support clean energy initiatives. Stay informed through podcasts such as Warm Regards and instagram accounts like @greenmatters.
Do skincare & beauty brands care?
According to Zero Waste Week, the cosmetics industry produces more than 120 billion units of packaging every year, which contributes to the loss of 18 million acres of forest annually. This packaging is the number one contributor to global plastic production, which also means it is the number one contributor for plastic waste pollution. Furthermore, Skincare and Beauty giants waste approximately 75% of the water being used in product production. This may not directly effect you right now, but keep in mind that there are 748 million people, around the world, who do not have access to clean drinking water and are dying everyday.
These statistics are a driving force for Intune. We are a small business, with a clear vision for the future. Currently, we make small batches that allow us to achieve zero water waste and we primarily use glass and tin for our products. Also, we do not use excess boxes and packaging and source as many local ingredients as possible. We promise to hold true to our values and continue to care for your skin, with our environment in mind, as we grow.