Book: The Upcycle : beyond sustainability--designing for abundance
Author: William McDonough and Michael Braungart
"The
goal of the upcycle is a delightfully diverse, safe, healthy, and just
world with clean air, water, soil, and power--economically, equitably,
ecologically, and elegantly enjoyed."
Who wouldn't want
that? This book explores this mission statement and emphatically
asserts that this is an attainable goal! With fascinating examples and
plenty of new ideas to chew on along with a powerfully positive
approach.
Here are 10 points that the authors want readers to remember:
1.
We don't have an energy problem. We have a materials-in-the-wrong
place problem. Toss out the idea of a nurturing "Mother Nature"--it is
not exclusively benevolent, BUT it is fairly intelligent after millions
of years of evolution. We can look to Nature as our teacher. Let's
redesign.
2. Get "Out of Sight" Out of Mind. You
don't have a garbage can--you have a nutrient rest stop. Next time you
want to use the word "waste", bite your tongue. Worms consume food and,
through the system of their bodies, produce richer nutrients. You,
through the system of your intelligence, can create richer nutrients,
too.
3. Always be asking "What's Next?" We want you
to think of every component of a design as being borrowed--it will be
returned one day to the biosphere or technosphere. It is your role to
return it in as good a condition as you found it, as a good neighbor
would. Design for your particular use period, always with its next
reuse and its next reuse and its next reuse in mind.
4.
You are alive. Your toaster is not. Technical products do not have a
life cycle--they are not alive, they are inert. They don't die and
vanish--this is the problem and the opportunity. We must learn to
design products as technical nutrients; after they are used for one
purpose, they should be repurposed for re-use over and over again.
People ARE alive. They should not be considered a "resource" like a
commodity owned by the company--goods to be used. We should rename our
"Human Resources" department to "Human Relations" department; focus on
how the company is relating to the needs and desires of the people who
work so hard for them, so as to create an optimized relationship.
5.
Optimize, optimize, optimize. Speak to the world in positives. "We
will run on 20% renewable power by 2020 and 100% as soon as it is
cost-effective." You are doing good. Enjoy it. Say it. We like to
hear it. Upcycle your descriptions of your work and progress--don't be a
pessimist. But don't just be a passive optimist either. "The glass is
half full". Start with inventory; take scientific stock of your
situation. "The glass is full of water and air." Then signal your
intention for design. "I want the glass to be bigger."
6.
You can and you will. Change is possible, beneficial, profitable. The
city CAN look into creating biogas plants as the local dump to create
free energy; the company WILL resell its used paper to a nutrient
manager who uses the materials for other key products and pays the
company back. This is a joyful project before us--let's speak that way,
too.
7. Add good on top of subtracting bad. Let's
find a way to honor people's intentions. No one can get to perfection
overnight, but people can be honored, recognized, and encouraged for
having begun in earnest. Starting is important and creating
additionality is essential. Think small, think big, think adding good
on top of subtracting bad. There is always room for more additionality.
We can add on, not just pile up.
8. Gaze a the world
right around you...then begin. Get specific about your locality. You
will arrive at more ingeniously indigenous solutions if you let the
locality guide you. Start where you are. All sustainability, like
politics, is local.
9. The time is now. We--all of
us--have a lot to do. We know that this work requires all of us and it
will take forever, but some of this work is urgent. Rebuilding soil in
general is as important right now to our future as converting to
renewable energy. We need to focus on indoor air quality. We can
immediately stop introducing unknown chemicals and materials into our
biosphere. The precautionary principle is and is about being alive and
well.
10. Go forward beneficially. You have one life
and, like a tree, you can create abundance, a profusion. You can
celebrate your emissions. Every year of your life, you are accumulating
more potential for good for the world. We know that with your
intelligence, your talents, your intent, you will make life for your
contemporaries and for future generations better. You are a known
positive. You can contribute. You are part of the ever-upcycling path
of life. Accept that deep in your hert and mind. Then go forward.
Be successful. We hope to enjoy all that you share. And tell your
children that things are looking up.
I like the attitude of this book and appreciate how it is applied to help us approach the important challenges we all face.
-14Aug13
