Sustainability: “Work in Progress”

I have to confess I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed where sustainability is concerned.

Having worked in areas like organic produce, local foods, indoor agriculture, and developing markets for hemp-based products, it’s been gratifying, satisfying, and exciting to contribute at least a few drops to that vast ocean of opportunity — and need — that sustainability represents.

With more and more clients, and increasing numbers of their customers committing to green initiatives, the urge to do more is strong. As starting points, relatively close to home, our company is a member of Green Umbrella in southwest Ohio and of the Midwest Hemp Council. We also support the Great Lakes Alliance and the Nature Conservancy.

Still, in exploring ways to put more definition and focus on sustainable initiatives, I ran across this website, Sustainable Development Goals — a U.S. site for statistics relating to global objectives as identified by the United Nations.

If I felt overwhelmed before, the seventeen goals depicted by each “tile” in the chart below left me feeling mighty humble. So many initiatives. So much need. Where to start? And then I noticed the statement to the right side of the page, just below the bookmarks bar:

“This site is a work in progress.”

Yes, this is indeed a work in progress. An important one, and one with considerably urgency. Approaching sustainability as “a work in progress” is indeed something I can work with. Pick a place to start and focus attention on one aspect — or possibly two or three — of sustainability. Take some steps; walk a block. Pick up the pace; jog a mile. Sweat for the community, a cause, and keep on building.

In 2022, we continue our quest to help develop, introduce, and integrate hemp-based products into the markets our clients. We are also working with local food producers to increase variety, security, and availability in the markets they can reach within a day’s drive.

These feel like baby steps, and I’m looking forward to feeling like we’re taking giant strides, mile after mile. I’m excited that so many innovators seem to be setting a pace to aspire to. I think there’s hope for us all and for our planet. I hope to see and hear from many of you on this adventure!