Every year, the United States endures numerous natural disasters. From devastating tornadoes in the midwest to hurricanes sweeping across the gulf, people and their homes are left behind. In the wake of hurricane Helene and Milton people are just beginning to pick up the pieces. Did you know that natural disasters are affected by climate change? This means it’s up to people to make changes in their lives to increase sustainability. Everyone can do their part to prevent natural disasters, and it’s time to start now.
International Day of Disaster Reduction is celebrated each year on October 13th. But why are people only celebrating this initiative on one day of the year? People should be practicing sustainability and natural disaster prevention as a part of their daily routines. The more people take climate change seriously and implement sustainable practices such as recycling into their schedule, the healthier the planet will be.
One of the biggest challenges the planet faces is the amount of waste that is produced each year. A lot of this waste unfortunately is either not biodegradable, so it just wastes away in landfills, or it is not being sorted properly into recycling manufacturers. Both of these issues are adding to the amount of waste produced each year, and creating more greenhouse gasses, which harms the environment. That’s why accountability on a consumer and capital level is necessary to help battle climate change, and prevent disasters.
You might think that waste production doesn’t have an impact on the earth but it does. The more greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere, the more climate change is accelerated. This means the earth will continue to heat up to irreversible levels. Studies show that the planet has already warmed up by 2 degrees since the early 1900s, and researchers expect it to reach nearly 3 degrees over the next few decades. When temperatures heat up, this causes more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns that create the destruction we are starting to see today.
One of the most efficient ways to help prevent these issues is to put some of the responsibility back on Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies. New laws are beginning to hold manufacturers accountable for the type of packaging they create, and enforcing them to use more sustainable materials.
“Every American throws away 4.5 pounds of trash daily, but only 21% is recycled. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation aims to change this by holding CPG companies and packaging manufacturers accountable for their packaging’s entire lifecycle, including end-of-life disposal,” says JD Ambati, Founder & CEO of EverestLabs.
Not only are EPR laws helping protect the environment, but technology is making it easier for CPG companies to fulfill their EPR quotas. Advanced technology such as AI and robots are making the material sorting process more efficient and accurate, which cuts back on waste and increases the recycling rate. When companies invest in sustainable measures, it will create a chain reaction of sustainability all the way down to the consumer level.
“AI-driven robotics can be a game-changer for these companies, ensuring proper sorting of packaging materials, diverting waste from landfills, and providing valuable data on recycling rates. This data helps optimize packaging design and material choices, advancing the circular economy,” Ambati says.
The amount of waste produced is just part of the reason for the acceleration of climate change. However, it’s important to note that people at home and in the manufacturing industry can make influential changes to help protect the environment. The more people practice sustainability the better the planet will be.
Now this doesn’t mean people and the waste they produce are solely responsible for the natural disasters happening today. It means that taking proactive measures against waste and greenhouse gas production can help prevent more extreme weather conditions. It’s the little things that can go a long way, and preventing natural disasters should go beyond just one day a year.