When it comes to showing off, people prefer not to do it. They often don’t want to be seen as a person having done something only for the profit of it, hence they keep a low profile. Other times they don’t see a reason why they should tell others about what they did.
It might be true that we sometimes should keep it low and not show off, but when it comes to the environment it is the opposite. Everytime we challenge what is the norm, we should speak up so that others are aware of the fact that time is changing. It is always a win win situation, for the companies and the environment and I rather call this for what it is, raising awareness.
During this year I noticed a big increase in interest from companies wanting to go green and many are actually also taking the step. We still have companies though, that don’t see the reason why they should tell people about the green steps they are taking. Companies that don’t realise that their action, if known, will have a ripple effect. You see, when people see an increase in green actions, they are more likely to follow suit and with this you empower the people on top of making the change for your company. It really is a win win situation.
I think that businesses overall in Malta are underestimating the power a green movement has and that they either need to get on board now or miss out. Malta with it’s scenic views could be the one place to visit as an eco-tourist for example, but still we concentrate more on widening our roads and increasing the amount of cars on them. We are sometimes so short-sighted that we believe that as long as we have tourists coming here, we will be fine. What we don’t see is that we are staring ourselves blind at acquisition only and not retention.
The new generation is green, whether we want it or not. Not particularly because they want to be, but because they have no choice. For them the threat of an unlivable world is so much more present. They will make their choices where to work and where to shop or travel based on how environmental friendly the product is. So what are we waiting for?
Take the change from plastic straws to bamboo straws as an example. I have discussed this with many businessmen and they all say at their defense, as a first reply, “It is much more expensive than plastic straws, so I can’t do that change”. Do we really not see further than our noses reach?
The solution is simple, we need to see the big picture and work solution based. Every problem in life has a solution and if you think outside the box we will manage to solve it. Buying bamboo straws for a restaurant is indeed more expensive, so we need to find a solution for that. What if you also sell the bamboo straws at the bar? What if the change is advertised and the amount of clients increases? When you show businessmen that they actually can make a profit out of changing plastic to reusable and on top of it get free advertisement and a very good reputation, they are very quick to get on board.
Where there is a will, there's a way. We need to understand that going green is not an option, it’s a must if we want to safeguard the world for the generations to come. When I was a child, my parents and grandparents told me that earth might not be around for another million years. From the moment I heard about ozone layer and climate change, that reality started to change drastically. Now we are talking about decades and we are actually seeing the direct result of climate change everyday. Still some are blindfolded and pretend we will be fine, no matter what.
We need to get the heads out of the sand and deal with this, now rather than later. There is no escape and it’s time for some drastic decisions and some strong leadership. Let us not forget that we can’t only rely on the leaders of the country though, we need to do our part in this as well. So let’s all start being the change we want to see in the world. No matter if we are in time or not, at least it won’t get worse if we do our best.
One day when we look back at the time when plastic ruined the world, I at least want to be able to look into the eyes of the younger generation and say that I did my best. What about you?