“Journey to Sustainability” Reminds Viewers to Think How Current Actions Impact Future

A recent screening of the video, “The Journey to Sustainability: A Conversation with Ray Anderson,” at the EESI office in Washington D.C. introduced or reminded some of us of the incredible power and honesty of Anderson’s work to promote sustainability. Anderson was the founder of Interface Inc., one of the largest manufacturers of modular carpet in the world. After becoming concerned about the impact industry was having on the environment, Anderson started Interface’s “Mission Zero,” a goal to eliminate any negative environmental impact from the company by 2020 and later spoke widely on the importance of reducing waste in business.

The 2002 video was produced by EESI Policy Fellow Jonathan Herz while at the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Governmentwide Policy as a follow up to his 2000 publication, “Real Property Sustainable Development Guide,” and “Sustainability 2000 Workshop,” where Anderson was a keynote speaker.

During the 20 minute video, Anderson discusses his vision of “climbing mount sustainability,” with Joseph Moravec, Commissioner of the GSA Public Buildings Service. Anderson further spoke about going beyond sustainable to being restorative, to “put back more than we take, and to do good for earth, not just no harm.”

Anderson closed his conversation by reciting a poem that had been sent to him after a presentation to employees at a sales meeting. The poem, "Tomorrow’s Child," reminded us that we need to change our way of thinking about how we live, and to consider that everything we do today will determine the wellbeing of those who come after us. As Ray said:

“The message is simply this--every last one of us is part of the web of life. Every one of us. And we have a decision to make while we're here in our very brief visit to this beautiful blue planet, we can either hurt it, or we can help it.

“It's that simple. And it is every human being's choice.”

While Anderson spoke those words nearly 20 years ago, his vision for a more sustainable world still resonates today.

 

"Tomorrow’s Child"

Without a name; an unseen face

And knowing not your time nor place

Tomorrow's child, though yet unborn,

I saw you first last Tuesday morn.

 

A wise friend introduced us two,

And through his shining point of view

I saw a day which you would see;

A day for you, but not for me.

 

Knowing you has changed my thinking,

For I never had an inkling

That perhaps the things I do

Might someday, somehow, threaten you.

 

Tomorrow's child, my daughter-son,

I'm afraid I’ve just begun

To think of you and of your good,

Though always having known I should.

 

Begin I will to weigh the cost

Of what I squander; what is lost

If ever I forget that you

Will someday come to live here too.