Is it possible to both care about forests and advocate for the cutting down of trees? Most people want to “do the right thing” for the environment but identifying the right thing can be complicated and often delivers counter-intuitive results. When you can’t trust your gut, who can you trust?
Big Decisions in the Toilet Paper Aisle
How many of us self-proclaimed “environmentalists” have stood in the grocery aisle, wondering whether we should choose toilet tissue made from 100% recycled fibre or 100% virgin fibre? Easy choice right…choose the recycled fibre. But wait, the virgin fibre tissue proudly displays a logo indicating environmental responsibility – maybe that’s a better choice. Oh dear, now the little voice in your head is awakened. Logos are good BUT it’s better to NOT cut down trees right? Right, so you reach for the recycled one… but that nagging voice in your head still isn’t satisfied, after all, the virgin fibre did have a fancy environmental logo. And the seesaw battle begins. Choosing toilet paper never used to leave you feeling quite so stressed.
Bob Langert, McDonald’s Global VP CSR and Sustainability, spoke to the TSSS audience on Oct. 9, 2013 about the lessons he’s learned from the “CSR front lines”. Langert’s presentation was both professional and personal; he described how once he became a grandfather, he found himself thinking much more about the future. This type of personal connection is a familiar story for many who have embarked upon a sustainability journey. Sustainability is about our collective future, for ourselves, but even more so, for the generations to come.
