Earth Day: Cleanups are just part of solution for sustainability

At Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, we do more than just host huge beach cleanups across the state, more than just educate over 10,000 kids annually in their schools, and more than just divert thousands of pounds away from our landfill and incinerator through composting and recycling.

Our main success is in inspiring Hawaii’s communities to care for their coastlines in the long term by examining consumer behaviors and modifying them to take the oceans into account before consuming. To further examine how we can improve our coastlines, we’ve identified a few of the issues along with solutions to create sustainable cleaner beaches for Hawaii’s future. Enjoy, and Happy Earth Day!

Issue: Almost every single piece of plastic ever created is still here on Earth. Most plastic items are used for just a few minutes yet they’re made out of a material that lasts forever. If pollution is the result of failed design, then this is a design flaw.

Solution: Use less of it! Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Execute the four R’s in order. Recycling plastic is a lastditch effort that simply delays the inevitable. Choose glass and aluminum over plastic because they can be truly recycled back into the exact same item. For the long term, we need to design the element of waste out of the products we design.

Issue: Plastic is made from fossil fuels like oil and natural gas (fracking).

Solution: We need new materials and increased demand for existing alternatives like bamboo, glass, aluminum and organic cotton. We need to invest in the creation of new materials that can replace plastic.

Issue: Governments are heavily influenced by special interests.

Solution: Recognize that the power of the plastics industry stems from its ability to influence elections through campaign contributions. Repeal Citizens United.

Issue: Commercial fishing is resulting in polluted beaches, life-endangering obstacles and dwindling fishing stocks.

Solution: Support local small-scale fishermen like your neighbor, friends and family. Check out Local I’a, a company aimed at connecting local fishermen with you.

Issue: Most restaurants still utilize plastic bags and other single-use plastics.

Solution: Look for the Ocean Friendly Restaurant sticker. This means that the establishment does not hand out plastic bags, styrofoam or other single-use plastics. You can learn more at www.oceanfriendlyrestaurantshawaii.org.

Issue: Companies are creating a fake sense of environmental stewardship in the form of Greenwashing. This is when a company uses the environment without actually helping it — for example, the thick plastic bags from certain retailers with the words “Malama Aina” and “Reusable, Help Protect the Aina” written across them.

Solution: See it for what it is. Pure Greenwashing. Then, do not support these retailers. Identify other greenwashing tactics used by companies — for example, a green cap on a single-use plastic bottle calling itself an eco-bottle.

Let’s also identify other solutions that we hear about and ask ourselves: Does this solution require me to change my consumer behaviors or does it allow me to continue to perpetuate the status quo? Most solutions highlighted by media will highlight the easy road, the solution that doesn’t require us to stop consuming. In the end, that’s what industry wants us to keep doing. Keep consuming, keep being beholden, and keep making them money despite the expense on the environment.

We have an exciting and challenging year ahead. Considering that we are surrounded by and spend so much time in the ocean, it only makes sense we do everything in our powers to protect it.

Kahi Pacarro is executive director of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.