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The global pandemic. The environmental crisis. Social justice. All these issues are vying for
our attention right now. But one is not more important than the other. In fact, they are directly linked and affect one another like the legs of a three-legged stool, with the world balanced on top. When these legs are not equal, there is instability and if they are out of balance enough, the world comes crashing down.

How does our singular focus on one issue create more issues? Let’s take the health pandemic and the increased use of disposables over reusables. Without any assurance that disposables provide more protection from the virus, we see them widely adopted. Why? Because that plastic- wrapped syringe at the hospital is sterile, we equate plastic wrapped with clean, but the plastic bottle at your event is not safer for you than a properly sanitized glass. In fact, the plastic bottle will breakdown into microplastics that we know cause harm to any living thing that ingests it.

But how does a healthy planet help equality? Let’s stay with plastic: plastic contaminants are processed, shipped, and stored in the poorest areas. The link between plastic production and health issues is clear and direct and the link between air pollution and severity of Corona virus symptoms is well documented. Dirty industries don’t set up shop on millionaires’ row and plastic waste isn’t stored in rich countries. When we don’t pay attention to our supply chain, disadvantaged populations are further exploited. Business academics call this the law of unintended consequences. When we aren’t thoughtful about our purchasing and processes, bad things happen, and they usually happen to the least powerful of us.