What is Sustainability? + What it Means to Us

It's the start of April, which means Earth Month has arrived. At Sherpani, we celebrate our planet every day, though we will happily take the excuse of a dedicated time of year to talk about our passion for environmental protection!

As travelers, we know the joys of exploring a new city, but there is something profound about adventures that take place in the natural world. With a love of nature comes the call to protect it, which is why we choose sustainable business practices at every turn.

 

This month, "sustainability" will be a buzzword you'll see a lot, so let's start with what it actually means. For something to be sustainable, it must be able to be continuously upheld or maintained. "Sustainable development" is defined as development that meets the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations. In other words, for development to be sustainable, it must not deplete the natural resources of our planet.

When we discuss the social contract of sustainability, we are talking about humankind's ability to coexist with the earth. The stakes for learning to do this couldn't be higher, as we live on a planet with finite resources. Continuing to develop without sustainability in mind will result in the destruction of species. It may start with coral reefs and polar bears, but down the line, it means an uninhabitable planet for humans, too.

Shaping a sustainable future takes a concentrated effort from businesses and individuals alike. Sherpani aims to do right by our people and our planet every day. Read on to learn about some of our sustainable initiatives!

Bottle Count

Sherpani has been incorporating recycled materials into our designs for years. Today, our travel bags are made from 100% recycled material! One material we utilize is recycled yarn that results from broken-down plastic bottles. We have been repurposing plastic bottles and incorporating them into sustainable designs for over a decade.

This gives a second life to single-use plastics that would otherwise end up in the ocean. Over the years, we've kept a count of how many plastic bottles Sherpani has saved through the process. We were surprised and delighted by the results of our most recent bottle count, and we are now honored to share them with you.

To date, Sherpani has diverted 7.6 million (& counting!) plastic bottles from landfills and waterways, turning them into stylish bags with remarkable functionality.

7,600,000!

Here are some fun ways to conceptualize this large number:

• 7.6 million days is 20,822 years
• 7.6 million pounds is the weight of 633 African Elephants
• 7.6 million gallons of water would fill 11.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools
• 7.6 million dollars could get you this house in North Carolina
• 7.6 million people is more than the population of Arizona
• 7.6 million is the population of Laos (a beautiful Southeast Asian destination!)
• To read 7.6 million words, you would have to read:
• War and Peace
• David Copperfield
• Moby Dick
• Les Miserables
• The Stand
• The Count of Monte Cristo
• Don Quixote
• Anna Karenina
• The Iliad
• Every novel written by Jane Austen
• All four books in The Hunger Games
• The Lord of the Rings series (including The Hobbit)
• The entirety of Harry Potter  - twice.

So yeah, that's a lot of plastic bottles. We are proud to see how our steady effort has made such a difference over the years! To see what all those bottles turned into, browse our collection of sustainable styles.

 

Blue Verve Project

Another of Sherpani's sustainability efforts is the Blue Verve Project. BVP has been a part of Sherpani since 2009, when it started as an internal set of principles for sustainability within our brand. We wanted to set a high standard for ourselves and see how far our efforts could reach.

As we untangled the complexity of our core environmental issue - plastic - it became evident we wanted to share what we learned. BVP has since evolved into a public space where we discuss plastic pollution.

Blue Verve Project inspires individuals and organizations to eliminate ocean plastic pollution by raising consciousness, providing educational resources, and supporting meaningful action. We believe the complex cultural and economic answers lie below the surface. Blue Verve is diving deeper to discover sustainable solutions.

We aren't experts on environmentalism (just on recycled materials and smart design) but we have compiled trusted sources where you can get the facts about ocean plastic. You can also discover solutions and resources to further your own sustainability journey. BVP is centered in community; it's for people who want to do right by the planet and who envision a future with plastic-free waters.

Learn more about the Blue Verve Project! 

Carbon Offsets

A more recent initiative we would like to share is that we have incorporated a process to offset the carbon emissions that result from orders placed on our website!

Naturally, the shipping and processing of e-commerce can result in a large carbon footprint, but Sherpani is now able to offset our emissions, which we are more than happy to do! Now, when you shop on Sherpani.com, we will pay to offset the carbon emissions from your order. That's right—you don't have to do a thing; it's conscious consumerism made easy.

To make an even bigger difference, you now have the option to donate $0.25 during your checkout session. This extra eco effort supports the groundbreaking carbon removal technologies we trust. While a quarter might not do much good in your pocket, it can go a long way for the sustainability companies that do this important work. The next time you buy a Sherpani bag, spare some change for this noble effort.

As a travel brand, we believe carbon offsets are a vital piece to the sustainability puzzle. Learn more about the companies we partner with to offset carbon.

 

Obviously, we could go on and on about sustainability. It's not a facade when we say that our passion for respecting and protecting the planet is stitched into everything we do. More of our eco-friendly efforts include the use of non-toxic dyes, supporting other sustainable brands, donating to impactful causes, and making products that last a long time.

Every month is Earth Month at Sherpani. We have witnessed our small business make a big impact, and believe that no effort is too small when it comes to shaping a sustainable future. We hope that this April and beyond, you connect with the environmental issues that speak to you, take action in big or small ways, encourage others to participate in the conversation, and support sustainable businesses.

Most of all, we hope you spend some time connecting with nature. The outdoor world has always been our greatest source of inspiration. When you're able to reach a remote and natural place, the impression it leaves on you is everything needed to change the world.

 

 

Discover More from the Sherpani Travel Blog

Find more inspiration in Celebrating Our Female Cofounder for International Women's Day: Meet Maria

Looking for ways to make a difference? Try Giving Tuesday: Travel Acts of Kindness

Discover our sustainable styles in Bag Breakdown: Seven Purse Styles and Their Uses for Every Day, Travel, and More!

 

By women for women, the Sherpani Travel Blog talks about all things travel. With a new post every week on Travel Tuesday, our blog is the go-to place for unique travel guides, general travel tips, personal stories from the women in our community, and more!