| Major Planet and Toby the Wonder Dog are our sustainability heroes—and not just because they’re cute! These two show you easy and fun ways to be green...and they’ll help you look great, too! |
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Q: So what exactly is “sustainability”?
At the most basic level, being sustainable means meeting the basic needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Daily lifestyle and consumption choices have a big impact on environmental quality. Preventing waste, eating organically, and conserving energy are just a few of the ways we can contribute to a long-lasting environment.
Q: As an ambassador for saving the planet, doesn’t it bother you that many products—including food and beauty—are packaged in plastic?
Yes, but the good news is that so many companies (Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, and Johnson & Johnson) are phasing them out. In their place, companies are using biodegradable packing made from corn, which doesn’t emit the gases that contribute to global warming.
Q: Your skin always looks so clear and rosy. What’s your secret?
The secret is eating organic foods! As well as using many of the new organic beauty products on the market. I use a moisturizer that’s chock-full of organic cherries, so it smells good and makes me look great. I’m sure the joy I get from saving the planet helps me keep my dewy glow!
Q: How does eating and/or using organic products help?
Organic foods have more vitamins and taste better, and they also sustain the environment– food grown according to organic principles is free from exposure to harmful herbicides and pesticides. Many Dining Services restaurants offer organic meals and snacks, and all offer Fair Trade Coffee. Or take advantage of shopping San Diego's many organic farms and shops!
Q: Do you use organic products in all of your daily routines?
I try! It's not hard, because there are so many green products on the market now. Organic moisturizers, lip balms, body oil, perfumes—even sustainable razors! The best place to start looking for these types of products is the UCSD Bookstore. Off campus, try Origins, the Body Shop, and Whole Foods. The web is always a great resource, too!
Q: Any last thoughts before I let you get back to saving the planet?
Yes! When in doubt, always remember the 3 R's: Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse.
Reduce: The most important principle of sustainability: Take only what you need. Use "real" dishes instead of paper or plastic, or Tupperware instead of plastic baggies.
Recycle: When you can't reduce or re-use, recycle (instead of trashing). Use recycling bins for glass, plastic, mixed paper, cardboard, and more. Recycle your batteries or electronics at your ResLife office. For more information, contact UCSD Environmental Management at 858.534.2753 or visit our What You Can Do page.
Re-Use: Use old paper for notes or doodles. Refill soap & detergent bottles from bulk containers. Be creative– use soup cans for penholders, flatten and save boxes for move-out, make collages out of magazines, use the comics page to wrap gifts, etc.
Know any fun or unusual ways to recycle? Share your thoughts with Major Planet & Toby!
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