Our Humble Approach to Sustainability at Simple State

At Simple State, we know that the word "sustainability" gets tossed around a lot, but what does it really mean? We wanted to share how we approach sustainability and what we're working towards with our valued clients.

As someone who studied sustainability at university, I quickly realized that the key to embracing it is understanding just how complex the issue is. Sustainability isn’t something you can tick off a list—it’s a mindset. It’s a constant journey of learning and growing, and we aim to embrace that journey humbly, always seeking to do better.

The Wicked Problem of Sustainability

Sustainability is a multi-layered issue, often called a “wicked problem.” This means that every attempt to solve it often leads to new challenges. It’s not as simple as finding one solution and calling it a day—sustainability requires an ongoing, thoughtful approach.

Questioning Green Myths

Figuring out if a product is truly sustainable isn’t always as easy as it seems. “Green myths” often cloud our judgment and prevent us from understanding the real environmental issues (Acaroglu, 2014). That’s why it’s so important to question what we think we know and look deeper into the impact of what we consume.

Every product has a life story—whether it’s the materials used, the manufacturing process, packaging, transportation, or disposal. To understand its environmental impact, we need to look at the entire picture. Take paper versus plastic bags, for example. You might think paper is always the better choice, but when you look at the full life cycle, plastic bags actually have a smaller environmental footprint.

The Life Cycle of Paper vs. Plastic

Paper bags require cutting down trees, transporting them, manufacturing the bags, and shipping them. They’re heavier, which means more resources are used during production. Plus, they often end up in landfills because they break easily. In the end, paper bags use 4 to 10 times more resources than plastic bags! In no way am I advocating for plastic bags, but maybe paper bags aren’t the solution either. This is why it's crucial to consider the entire life cycle of a product before making a decision. 

Using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to Make Informed Choices

At Simple State, we use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to help us make sustainable choices. For example, when choosing a paper towel supplier, we didn't just look at the product—we looked at the entire process.

We chose a brand that uses bamboo instead of trees and avoids the harmful bleaching process, which can release chemicals into waterways. While the product is made in China, we learned that Australia doesn’t grow enough bamboo to meet production needs locally. To offset the emissions from shipping, the brand donates to Greenfleet, planting trees with every order. 

Why We Chose This Brand

We also love that the brand’s packaging is plastic-free and that their paper towels are thinner. Thinner towels break down faster, reducing their environmental impact when disposed of. After weighing all these factors and looking at the entirety of the product's lifecycle we chose this brand for its genuine commitment to sustainability.

At Simple State, we understand that sustainability is a journey, not a destination. By using tools like Life Cycle Assessment, we strive to make informed, thoughtful choices that reduce our environmental footprint. Sustainability isn’t about perfect solutions—it’s about continuous improvement and making the best choices we can, every step of the way. Thank you for joining us on this journey!