Sustainability and P2 Flashcards
Define Sustainability
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
What is the UN Global Compact?
The world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative
UN Global Compact Principles: Human Rights
- Businesses should support and respect the protection on internationally proclaimed human rights
- Make sure they are not complicated on human rights abuses
UN Global Compact Principles: Labor
- Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
- The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor
- The effective abolition of child labor
- The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
UN Global Compact Principles: Environment
- Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges
- Understand initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility
- Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies
UN Global Compact Principles: Anti-Corruption
- Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms
What are the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals?
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Good health and well being
- Quality education
- Gender equality
- Clean water and sanitation
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Decent work and economic growth
- Industry, innovation, infrastructure
- Reduced inequalities
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Responsible consumption and production
- Climate action
- Life below water
- Life on land
- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Partnerships for the goals
Environmental related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
-Clean water and sanitation
-Affordable and clean energy
-Sustainable communities
-Responsible consumption and production
-Climate action
-Life Below waters - conserve oceans, seas, marine resources
-Life on land - conserve forests zzz combat desertification, halt land degradation
EPA’s definitions of Sustainability
Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue Sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Considered by the EPA as a commitment to Sustainability
What is Pollution Prevention (P2)?
-Source Reduction
-practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of nontoxic/less toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and reusing materials rather than putting them into the waste stream.
The P2 Act establishes the following national policies:
-Pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source when feasible
-Pollution that cannot be prevented should be recycled in an environmentally safe manner wherever feasible
-Pollution that cannot be prevented or recycled should be treated in an environmentally safe manner when feasible
-Disposal or other release into the environment should be employed only as a last resort
Environmental Protection Hierarchy
Pollution Prevention —> most preferrable
Re-Use
Recycling
Treatment
Disposal (Release) —> least preferrable
What is a cross-media transfer of waste?
Pollution control and treatment often moves the pollution from one environmental medium (air, water, land) to another.
EPA definition of Pollution Prevention
Source Reduction and other practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants through:
-increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources
-protection of natural resources by conservation
