GREEN vs. SUSTAINABLE

Over the last few years, the word “green” has gained a definition that goes way beyond color. Today, “green” has established itself in our vocabulary as an adjective, noun and verb, not to mention a movement.

Just like the term “green,” “sustainability” encompasses a broad range of activities and issues. It’s sustainable (and green) to support local farms, and to buy goods and services from locally owned businesses. Regardless of where you shop, it’s sustainable (and green) to bring your own reusable shopping bags instead of consuming disposable plastic bags that persist in the environment and are made from petroleum products.

G reen isn’t always sustainable

Although “green” and “sustainable” are often used interchangeably, there are important differences between what is “green” and what is “sustainable.” To get a better understanding of where these differences lie, we might start with a definition of sustainability that came out of a 1987 conference at the United Nations:

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Sustainable entities are those that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.