Over 70,000 of our community members work or attend school at the University of Michigan. So, it is important to include them in conversations about reducing waste and focusing on connecting with each other rather than stuff, especially since the University of Michigan won first place in the zero waste category of the 2024 Campus Race to Zero Waste, a competition involving over 150 colleges and universities in the US and Canada. We sat down with Alison Richardson from the U-M Office of Campus Sustainability to learn more about the work they are doing to reduce waste and connect communities.

One of the first things that we discussed was the Move-In and Move-Out Donation Program that the University of Michigan has been running for 25 years. According to Alison Richardson, in 2024 U-M Sustainability collected 10.7 tons of donations including 4.7 tons of clothing to be sorted and redistributed.  

U-M Sustainability delivers these items to several organizations. House N2 Home, an organization that collects furniture and household goods that they use to furnish houses and apartments for our neighbors who are transitioning from homelessness. The Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop resells donated items to support Ann Arbor Public Schools. The proceeds also go to grants for community organizations that provide emergency assistance to our neighbors. Food donations go to the Maize and Blue Food Pantry, the food pantry that serves the campus community.

When asked what students can do to reduce their environmental and social footprint, Alison  Richardson advised, “Be mindful of your purchasing, before you even come to campus. Coordinate with your roommate to see if some items can be shared. Think about what you would actually need throughout the year – it's not as much as maybe students think that they need.” She also encourages students to look into renting mini-fridges and microwaves as well as other reuse options like the thrift stores listed above. Interested students can also take the Planet Blue Ambassador training which gives student information on the sustainability efforts on campus and some resources to become more involved.

Community Swap Days

The City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovation also hosts Community Swap Days.  A community swap day is like a garage sale, but everything is free. You can bring the items that you no longer want or need and give them to your neighbors who can still use them. You can also “shop” for new-to-you items.

We attended a recent community swap day. Check it out here:

When asked “what does more life, less stuff mean to you?” Alison explained, “I think that you can have lots of experiences and fun things in your life without the stuff that doesn't necessarily add to that. You don't need to accumulate items to have enriching and fulfilling experiences … and a lot of fun.” I think we could also use enriching and fulfilling experiences, and a bit more fun. 

* We interviewed them in part 1 of this story. Check it out here: https://www.ecocenter.org/sharing-stuff-creates-community 

* Learn more about the U-M Move out here: https://ocs.umich.edu/programs/waste-reduction/student-move-in-move-out/ 

By Crystal Zanders, More Life, Less Stuff Freelance Writer

Over the summer, I moved into a smaller apartment. My senior pug had been having difficulty with the stairs in my townhouse. So, I downsized. My new apartment is half the size of the old one, so decluttering was a priority.

You don’t realize how much stuff you have until it is time to pack it all up and move it. Some items were obviously not going to make the move. I loved my 11 ft blue sofa, but it was too big for my new place. Other things weren’t as simple. I don’t grate cheese. But some part of me knows that the minute I get rid of this cheese grater, some cheese will need grating. Guaranteed.

And there are some things that I held an emotional attachment to. I love my plants. They are part of my household, creating oxygen and promoting peace in my home. I didn’t have space for one of my bigger plants. How could I abandon a member of my plant family?

Share Economy

Around this time, I began doing research on the share economy and the Buy Nothing Project. The idea is that instead of putting items in a landfill, you offer those items to your neighbors who may need them. When they need something, they don’t have to shop for new stuff—stuff that carries an environmental cost to produce, distribute and sell. In the share economy, items move from home to home when needed, saving money, reducing waste, and connecting neighborhoods with each other. These communities tend to be hyper-local, encouraging connection and minimizing transportation costs.

So, I decided to try it out. I joined my local Buy Nothing group and began posting photos and descriptions of items I no longer needed. Remember my big blue sofa?  I gave it to a college student who was moving into an apartment with several roommates, the perfect place for a big couch. Her family came and picked it up. They were super nice.

I kept the cheese grater, but the plant went to a new home where it joined a new family. I imagine it is happier with more sunshine and space to grow.

Buy No Things Ann Arbor

To learn more about Buy Nothing groups, I interviewed Daniel Grenzicki, moderator of the Ann Arbor Buy No Things group. He explained the basic concept behind Buy Nothing, “Essentially, it's just a community of people, that, share items. It is a way to kind of connect people with each other through stuff.” He told me that one of the biggest benefits of Buy No Things is the sense of community it provides, “It's really easy to just not know your neighbors at all and live here forever. This group gives you another to way get out in your community and connect with people who live near you.”

Daniel Grenzicki explained that the Buy No Things group is not limited to items. “There are all kinds of little things that people want to donate their time and efforts to. They've had clothing swaps. There's somebody doing a sourdough class; people offer free photography stuff. There's a Pullover Prevention group in Ypsi. They do events in the community where they'll help fix your car up, so you don't get pulled over.”

To join a Buy Nothing group or the Ann Arbor Buy No Things Group, Daniel recommends searching for your local group through Facebook, although they can also be found on some other social media platforms. He also encourages people who are interested in participating in a group but don’t have a local group to start their own. He explained, “It’s low effort, high impact. You can connect somebody with something that's just perfect. It's like lock and key sometimes. It's cool the way it works.”

Ultimately, participating in Buy Nothing groups empowers folks to focus less on stuff and more on community, while minimizing their environmental impact. When asked what more life less, stuff means to him, Daniel replied, “ I'm always trying to declutter and minimize the amount of things I have, because you either own your stuff, or it starts owning you. It's very easy to get over encumbered and forget the things that actually bring you joy-- you don't need anything for them.”

Buy Nothing Year

After my move, I committed that I would spend the next year making a conscious effort not to accumulate as much stuff. I don’t want to purchase things that I don’t need or hold on to things I don’t use. For inspiration, I spoke with Dr. Kathryn Savoie, Director of Equity and Environmental Justice at The Ecology Center, to learn about her journey undertaking a 'Buy Nothing' year.

Although I had seen folks talk about taking a 'Buy Nothing' year on social media, it means different things to different people. Dr. Savoie explained how she tailored the idea to her life, “I'm not an absolutist about it. To me, it's a way of being more intentional.  It makes me stop and really think 'do I need this?' So, there are exceptions. I bought socks and underwear. I buy food, toilet paper, and things for the household. But do I need a new set of sheets right now? No, I probably don't.” She told me that the biggest challenge was mental, “Most of the adjustment has been a change in my attitude towards things. I'm not spending money on things that I don't need. I'm not cluttering up my house with things. And I have more time to do the things I enjoy.”

One of the things that I was most curious about was gifts. I love to buy Christmas presents for my niece and nephew who are young enough to see Christmas as magical, to listen for reindeer on the rooftop. Would doing a 'Buy Nothing' year mean that I couldn’t buy them gifts? According to Dr. Savoie, canceling Christmas, as far as gifts are concerned, is not necessary. For her the goal of a 'Buy Nothing' year is to slow down and think before making purchases. She explained, “I do gifts. I am just more thoughtful about what kind of gifts I give people so that I'm not adding to their clutter. I've been much more intentional about buying gifts that are experiences: a gift card for a massage or tickets to a movie, show, play or concert. Sometimes I make canned fruit from my garden and give people homemade jam.”

When asked about what more life, less stuff means to her, Dr. Savoie gave this sincere response, “I think it just means that we try to focus on what's important in life and enjoy this beautiful planet, the people that we love, and the things we love and without getting caught up in all the stuff.” Ultimately,  Dr. Savoie explained, “We can live with so much less and be so much better off.”

I felt inspired by the words of Daniel and Dr. Savoie. It is important to prioritize each other and our experiences and be mindful of the constant pressure to consume. At the end of the day, more life is about connection. Limiting the things that we buy allows us the space to connect to ourselves. Participating in the share economy encourages us to connect with our neighbors.

So, I am encouraging members of this community to join me in participating in the 90 Day No New Clothes Challenge. To do that, I will agree not to purchase any new clothing items for three months. Because I can’t shop at thrift stores, that means I will be committing to wearing past year’s winter clothes. I looked pretty fabulous the last few winters; that shouldn’t be much of a sacrifice.

You've probably heard one or two myths about EVs. Here are some facts about EVs:

Investing in electric vehicle manufacturing will energize Michigan's economy.

Michigan’s growing EV manufacturing industry is boosting economic growth in communities and local economies throughout the state, while strengthening the state’s automotive workforce. Michigan was named the national leader in the EV battery and clean energy race, fostering $21.3 billion in new projects with 16,600+ jobs created, and 167,000 jobs projected.

With federal tax rebates, EVs are becoming more affordable.

The expanded EV tax credit in the IRA allows car buyers at all income levels to claim up to $7,500 in tax credits for purchasing a new electric vehicle. There are new EVs on the market starting at $28,000, and as EV manufacturing and battery production increases in the United States, EVs will become even more affordable. 

EVs put Michigan in a prime position to continue to lead in global automotive manufacturing.

Michigan workers make great cars, electric and otherwise, and they know Michigan needs to stay competitive in the global race for quality electric vehicles. While we already produce several industry-leading EVs in the auto state, much more is coming, thanks to recent announcements making Michigan the leading state for bringing home federal IRA investments for EV and battery manufacturing.

EVs are NOT mandated.

While there have been some misleading claims in the popular media on this point, the federal government does not mandate the use of EVs. EVs are one of the options that automakers have to help them meet vehicle fuel economy standards, and there are several incentives and other programs available that help make the technology more accessible to American drivers. Federal tax incentives also encourage the purchase of electric vehicles and batteries that are made in the United States. 

EVs are GOOD for the environment. 

EVs are a lower-emissions option than cars with internal combustion engines. A recent Bloomberg report confirms that EV lifecycle emissions can be over 70% lower than gasoline and diesel vehicles. EVs create 3,932 lbs. of CO2 equivalent per year, compared to 11,435 lbs. for gasoline vehicles. Said simply, EVs produce way less pollution. A safer, smoother ride with less maintenance and cleaner air!

EVs are GOOD for consumers, too. 

EVs are significantly cheaper to fuel and maintain than their gasoline counterparts.  The cost of electricity, for example, is much less volatile and at least half the price of gas. With fewer moving parts, they are also cheaper to maintain.  With federal incentives and rebates backed by the Biden-Harris administration, EVs are becoming increasingly more affordable. 

The bottom line: 

There's a lot of damaging misinformation about EVs being spread by the naysayers right now. We hope you consider the source of that information and know that EVs are critical to ending our dependence on fossil fuels, reducing pollution, and improving our health. Investing in a cleaner, more sustainable auto industry now ensures that Michigan is prepared to lead the auto industry in the future. 

For multiple years, Ecology Center has been testing the impact of artificial turf plastics, revealing some significant findings. Collaborating with national artificial turf campaigners, Chris Kassotis at Wayne State University, and his students (notably Kyle Siegel and Brooklynn Murray), a new study was published providing initial evidence of endocrine disruption and cardiometabolic health impacts from artificial turf plastics. Cardiometabolic diseases include heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Published in the journal "Science of the Total Environment," the study has broader implications for understanding how plastics behave when exposed to environmental conditions. This extensive research, which spanned several years, underscores the need for further investigation into turf-associated chemical exposures and their potential impacts on human health. Meanwhile, Chris Kassotis's team and other researchers are actively engaged in two additional artificial turf studies, striving to deepen our understanding of these critical issues.

Link to the Artificial Turf Paper

Citation: Kyle R. Siegel, Brooklynn R. Murray, Jeff Gearhart, Christopher D. Kassotis. (2024). "In vitro endocrine and cardiometabolic toxicity associated with artificial turf materials." Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2024.104562 

By Crystal Zanders

Our More Life, Less Stuff campaign, a partnership of the City of Ann Arbor and the Ecology Center, is sharing stories about building community, strengthening our connections, and celebrating life, all while using less stuff.   

The More Life, Less Stuff campaign is about rethinking our relationship with stuff and reimagining ways that our stuff, once no longer needed, can serve our community. As our lives and needs change, we don't have to add items in good condition to landfills. We can share those items with our neighbors and use them to serve and support our community members, especially our newest members. We spoke with volunteers from two community organizations, the Washtenaw Refugee Welcome (WRW) and the House By the Side of the Road, to learn about the folks who need help, how to access help, and what we can do to support these organizations that perform the vital services of welcoming our neighbors and ensuring folks have what they need. 

The Washtenaw Refugee Welcome is Empowering Neighbors to Help Neighbors.

Salam Beydoun, Environmental Justice Organizer at the Ecology Center, brings a unique perspective to environmental justice and equity, shaped by her heritage and experiences growing up in Dearborn, MI. With roots in Southern Lebanon, Salam’s journey portrays an unwavering commitment to justice, community, and environmental advocacy. Her path, which includes an educational background in Philosophy, Sociology, and Social Work from Wayne State University, led her to focus on environmental justice, particularly in the Detroit and Dearborn areas.

Drawing from personal experiences and daily challenges faced by her community, Salam is passionate about addressing the intersections of injustice. Her work emphasizes air quality advocacy within Southeast Michigan, aiming to connect the dots between air pollution and other critical issues affecting our cities, like affordable housing, food insecurity, and poverty. In her role at Ecology Center, Salam is dedicated to empowering residents and community members to speak out about injustice, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs addressed.

Since joining the Ecology Center in 2023, Salam has been instrumental in coordinating community education initiatives, such as DIY Box Fan Air Filter workshops, to combat poor air quality exacerbated by factors such as industrial pollution and wildfire smoke. She also played a key role in the newly launched Clear the Air coalition, organizing events for Air Quality Awareness Week 2024 and pushing for legislative policies to protect vulnerable and unproportionally-impacted communities.

We had the opportunity to speak with Salam about her journey, her work at the Ecology Center, and her vision for a just and equitable future for all communities.

(This interview has been edited for clarity and length.)

Tell us a little bit about yourself – where are you from? What did you do for fun as a kid? What did you study in school? What specific life experiences, interests, or ambitions led you on that path?

I grew up in Dearborn, MI, both of my grandfathers were immigrants from Southern Lebanon who came in the late 60s/early 70s and worked for Ford. As a kid I loved playing outside, doing somersaults in the front yard of my parents’ home. I grew up playing football with my dad and brother, joined a basketball league when I was eight and a volleyball team when I was ten and continued playing those sports up until high school. Moving my body has always been an essential part of my life and continues even now as I practice and teach yoga.

I went to Wayne State for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I studied Philosophy and Sociology in undergrad, with the initial goal of becoming a lawyer. I have always been drawn to helping people, and the profession fits my parents’ approval of acceptable careers. After graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in 2019, I realized that it wasn’t the right avenue for me. This led me down a path of trying to decide what to do with a degree that didn’t mean much to most employers, while still trying to feel that I was doing my part in advocating for justice and vulnerable people. During the George Floyd and BLM protests in combination with the #SaveSheikhJarrah in Palestine campaign during the summer of 2020, I felt drawn to the organizing that went behind these powerful movements. I eventually found myself applying to Wayne State’s School of Social Work after learning that there was a tract designed to train social workers, like myself, to become community leaders and organizers. During the program, my personal focus became environmental justice, especially in Detroit and Dearborn, knowing that it’s a crucial point where almost all injustices meet.

I don’t think any one specific instance led me to this point – rather, a conglomeration of all my experiences and the identities I hold. Being a second-generation Lebanese Muslim woman growing up in Dearborn, I was surrounded by others with a similar background as myself. The majority of my friends and I are from families displaced by war and occupational forces causing instability in our Southern villages, so I grew up hearing stories about discrimination for our religious background and race from those around me. This strengthened my internal pull towards wanting to know more about the systems that perpetuate it. Even in religion, our duties as Muslims are to be advocates for justice when we witness oppression or injustice, as we are meant to be protectors of the environment and one another. “In Islam, love is not just a feeling, but a responsibility; to care for, support, and uplift one another in goodness and righteousness,” @Soul.Guider on Instagram. All of this and more brought me to this point, and while I can’t do it all, I know that I’m doing my part to bring about change and justice, acting in alignment with my value system.

You joined the Ecology Center in 2023 as an ​​Environmental Justice Organizer, a new position at our organization. Can you tell us your hopes for this position and the work you’ll do in this position?

I’m excited to be doing work with the Ecology Center! I feel fortunate to be part of this organization and to do Air Quality advocacy and organizing within Dearborn and Detroit. Through my position, I hope to be able to draw connections to the intersections of injustice many people within Southeast Michigan face. Through air quality, we can see the negative effects on communities also facing a lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, poverty, unreliable public transportation, and so much more. Ultimately, I’d like to have a network of organizers and organizations who are willing to connect our issues and empower residents and community members to be advocates for their own change. Using my social work background, it’s necessary to emphasize the needs of the community first, and I hope we can work together to identify those issues and work towards a more just and equitable future.

In the meantime, much of my work involves community education around air quality issues, especially with regard to the wildfire smoke that impacted us last summer. We only anticipate this to continue and find it necessary to provide affordable and accessible ways to mitigate it. There are plans to host DIY Box Fan Filter workshops throughout the summer to supplement the education and resources. These workshops will be co-hosted with partner organizations throughout Detroit with the intent of showing residents and community members how simple it is to assemble their own indoor air purifier with materials found at any supply store. It’s important and necessary to make this type of health impact easily accessible.

As a native of Dearborn, which has historically experienced poor air quality due to the extensive industrial properties in Dearborn, Melvindale, and Detroit, what does EJ advocacy work mean to you?

Admittedly, I grew up in the better part of Dearborn, not so close to industry (like the Ford Rouge Plant or Cleveland Cliffs Steel Plant) affecting the air quality around me. I did have several family members work for these industries, however, and saw the negative health impact  for those who were exposed to it daily, causing cancers and respiratory issues. Environmental Justice advocacy means understanding my privilege of not having lived in areas that would have negatively impacted my own health AND knowing my responsibility to be an advocate for those who are impacted. The communities living in the shadow of these polluting industries are majority Black, Latinx, and Arab, and so many within these communities are immigrants who may not have access to the language or resources to advocate on behalf of themselves. It’s our duty to tap into these communities and really understand the harms that are being done and ask them what they need in order to live with the right to breathe clean air.

The Clear the Air coalition launched in May during AQ awareness week. What did the week look like? 

Through the new Clear the Air coalition, I coordinated a week of events for Air Quality Awareness Week, which was May 6 –10 this year. The week was in coordination with other members of the coalition and partner organizations. We had film showings about air quality and pollution in Detroit and Dearborn, showing the industries contributing to the harm of residents who live around them. There was also a panel discussion on Tuesday, May 7th hosting coalition members, community leaders, and health researchers talking about the need for cumulative impact policy on a local and state level – the purpose of the coalition is to educate communities about it and push these policies forward. We had a DIY Box Fan Filter workshop with parents in Southwest Detroit, educating them on how to use these in their homes to mitigate poor indoor air quality, especially as the summer and wildfire smoke season approached us. A press conference in Dearborn’s Southend was also held to emphasize the close proximity of the steel plant to the elementary and middle school, impacting the health of everyone who lives and goes to school nearby. The DIY Box Fan Filter workshop and press conference were among a full week of events through SE Michigan. 

Air Quality Awareness Week was educational, allowing residents and community members to learn more about what cumulative impact policies are and what it means for their health. We provided resources for folks to learn about how to mitigate poor air quality days and how poor air impacts our lungs, and who is most susceptible to its impacts. Air Quality Awareness week provided folks with an opportunity to learn about who is in their community and to build relationships in the fight for our right to clean air.

You also teach yoga. How does that teaching inform your work at the Ecology Center?

I have been practicing yoga sporadically over the last 10 years, and more seriously through the last 4 years. Yoga has been a grounding force as I pushed through grad school, helping me maintain a healthy balance between self care and community care. Feeling so grateful to have learned a way to recenter and ground myself, it was only natural that I pursued my yoga teaching certification so that I could share this knowledge with others who might also benefit from the healing nature of the practice. Teaching yoga is a selfless service, the focus always on the student and showing up for themselves. I’m a mere guide on their journey to self-discovery and self-determination.

So many of the tools I have learned through teaching transfers over into my work with the community, with an emphasis on meeting people where they are. Yoga is a practice meant to honor our bodies and to be patient as we learn to tap into the mind-body connection. When working with others and organizing, I have learned to reflect on this principle when considering the life experiences of those I have the privilege of working with by leading my work with openness and curiosity, while leaving assumptions at the door. I’ve learned to apply it to myself as I started this position a year ago. I have had to learn to be patient with myself, giving myself grace to take time to learn the skill sets I need and make the connections necessary to do the work. Above all, yoga encourages me to be intentional and present, encouraging balance on and off the mat. This work can require a lot out of us because there’s always something to do, it’s nice to have that gentle reminder to come back to myself and recenter. As Audre Lorde has said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” We must fill our own cups before pouring into others to sustain ourselves in this very demanding work.

During MPSC hearing, groups renewed support for state’s clean energy standards

Marquette, Mich. — A diverse coalition of organizations is repeating its support for Michigan’s clean energy laws following a Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) hearing on the Upper Peninsula’s (U.P.) implementation of the clean energy standards on Tuesday, July 30.

Last year, Michigan lawmakers passed legislation to transition to 100% clean energy by 2040 from sources such as wind and solar power — giving Michigan the most robust energy efficiency standards in the country, while helping to address energy affordability, health and safety for many low-income households.     

“Michiganders pay the highest rates for electricity for the worst electric utility services in the Midwest,” said Ashley Rudzinski, climate and environment program director for Groundwork Center. “On top of that, many Yoopers pay the highest electric rates in Michigan. It’s time to hold utility companies accountable for rising costs, bad service and pollution in our air and water. The Upper Peninsula can transition to 100% renewable, clean energy by 2040 and help reduce carbon pollution that is disrupting our climate.”

The coalition has pledged to beat back any efforts to undermine the law while asking the MPSC to help move Michigan to cleaner, renewable energy.

“We must protect the Great Lakes we rely on for our economy, drinking water and way of life by implementing the 100% clean energy standard,” said Charles Griffith, Ecology Center climate & energy program director. “New technologies and renewable energy innovations are being developed every day and costs continue to come down, and it would be premature to say the U.P. will not be able to implement the clean energy standard by goals more than a decade away.”

Measuring the cost of different forms of energy, an analysis found that clean, renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, are cheaper than coal and natural gas, even without subsidies.

“Michigan lawmakers passed groundbreaking legislation that will help lower the cost of our utility bills and ensure we have cleaner air to breathe and water to drink by transitioning to clean, renewable energy,” said Carlee Knott, energy and climate policy coordinator for the Michigan Environmental Council. “Our fellow Michiganders in the Upper Peninsula deserve the same opportunities to create new good-paying jobs and reduce pollution by generating clean energy.”

“It’s time for the big utilities — everywhere in our great state — to move toward 100% clean energy by 2040,” said Derrell Slaughter, Michigan policy director, climate and energy, at NRDC. “We owe it to our kids and grandkids in the U.P. to protect them and their futures. Renewable energy will provide cleaner air to breathe and water to drink, improve public health, and save lives.”

“Reliable clean energy is essential to protecting human health”, said Elizabeth Del Buono, MD, president of Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action. “Michigan residents are experiencing the health impacts of fossil fuel pollution today, and it will only worsen as our climate changes. The good news is that transitioning to clean energy saves lives and health care dollars. People living in the Upper Peninsula deserve the opportunity to benefit from Michigan's 100% clean energy standard by 2040 without compromises.”

“U.P. residents have much to gain from the lower electric bills and enhanced reliability that more clean energy and energy efficiency can bring,” said Amy Bandyk, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan. “We shouldn’t delay on rate relief for the U.P.”

“The Clean Energy Standard presents a transformative opportunity to secure a future where clean, reliable, and affordable energy is a reality for all U.P. residents,” said Tim Minotas, deputy legislative and political director at the Michigan Sierra Club. “Transitioning to a future powered by clean energy will enable the U.P. to capitalize on the financial support available through the Inflation Reduction Act, ultimately delivering the air and water and cost-saving benefits that clean energy provides.”

The following groups also expressed support for clean energy implementation in the U.P.:

• Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA)
• Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)

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Sustainable purchasing is fundamental to a healthy, prosperous, and resilient future. Sustainable purchasing can strengthen Michigan communities, support businesses, save money, and protect health and the environment.

The world is experiencing an unprecedented set of environmental and social challenges including a climate crisis, a pollution crisis, and a biodiversity crisis. Plastic pollution is now threatening ecosystems and human health. Residents of the State of Michigan confront these multiple environmental crises that threaten social stability, human and environmental health, and the economic fortunes of the State. All of these crises have roots in the materials we purchase and the energy we use.

Michigan’s climate plan lays out a pathway for Michigan to reach 100% carbon neutrality by 2050 to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis, create good-paying jobs, and build a healthier and more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Michigan for all Michiganders.

Michigan will not reach that climate goal without a focus on sustainable purchasing. On average, 70% of climate emissions are in the products governments purchase every day including making products and transporting, using, and disposing of them. Michigan also can’t reach climate goals without focusing on plastics reduction. Plastics are a large and growing use of fossil fuels, so the State can’t just focus on reducing fossil fuels used to make energy. The State also needs to focus on reducing fossil fuel use to make new plastics. Sustainable purchasing also offers one of the most powerful ways to address the plastics crisis.

By adopting policies to prioritize the purchase of products that protect health and the environment, we can help address some of the most difficult and intractable environmental and social problems. Buying products that reduce energy use, do not contain toxic chemicals, are made under safe, sustainable, and fair conditions, can be reused, and don’t deplete resources and ecosystems helps build a more resilient future for all. Buying local, sustainable, fairly produced goods and services also supports Michigan’s economy and prosperity.

The State has already recognized that the products and services it buys have inherent environmental and economic impacts and that it should make procurement decisions that embody, promote, and encourage the state’s commitment to being environmentally, socially, and fiscally responsible. For example, Michigan was one of the first states in the country to adopt a strong purchasing policy to eliminate PFAS, “Reducing State Purchases of Products Containing Intentionally Added PFAS.” For information on state PFAS policy, please see the SAFER PFAS Guide. The State should extend that commitment and adopt a strong policy to reduce other pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable purchasing.

Voters want legislators to take action!

In a national poll taken by NRDC, voters clearly signaled their interest in action on plastics, one of the big product categories purchased by states. In order to address this concern, a strong statewide sustainable purchasing policy is necessary.

Cities, institutions, and states are taking action

Cities and states across the country and the world are implementing successful sustainable purchasing policies and commitments that accelerate the purchase of products that are less toxic and less fossil fuel intensive, while still performing equally well and often saving money, particularly when energy and waste disposal requirements are considered. Michigan should join them.

• Cities like Lansing and Ann Arbor and institutions like the University of Michigan have passed comprehensive sustainable purchasing policies and applied them to major contracts that offer a good roadmap for the state. They demonstrate that sustainable purchasing is not only possible, but necessary to address critical environmental and social issues and save taxpayer dollars.
• States like New York, Minnesota, Maryland, California, and many others have strong sustainable purchasing policies that have been demonstrated to save money, protect health, and preserve the environment.

Benefits of taking action

In addition to saving money, sustainable purchasing is a powerful tool for all kinds of benefits including:

• Supporting healthy communities and workforces
• Ensuring the safety of Michigan's land, air, and water
• Spurring economic development and creating good-paying jobs
• Protecting and improving the health of Michiganders
• Positioning Michigan as a leader in climate action and sustainability
• Protecting our natural resources and wildlife
• Addressing environmental injustices
• Reducing liability and risk
• Supporting the mission and values of the state
• Modeling best practices
• Supporting local businesses
• Demanding safer products to help drive the market toward more innovation and safer materials for the future

Solutions

Michigan should adopt proposed legislation to use the purchasing power of the State of Michigan to promote health, protect communities, advance equity, localize supply chains, support economic development, save money, address the climate, plastics, chemicals, and biodiversity crises, provide a model for local units of government, and preserve Michigan’s natural resources.

What should the legislation do?

The legislation should put existing Michigan executive actions related to sustainable procurement in statute, and strengthen others to mirror best practice. The legislation should support the State of Michigan’s goal to minimize negative impacts on human health and the environment while supporting a vibrant community and economy. In addition, it should set preferences for desirable sustainability attributes when procuring goods and services. It also should establish policies and procedures for acquiring, developing, maintaining, and using specifications for goods and services that align with the State’s goals. The legislation should provide incentives to communities with sustainable purchasing policies when competing for state grant funds.

The legislation should also:

• Empower State staff to be innovative and demonstrate leadership by incorporating progressive and best-practice environmental specifications, strategies, and practices in procurement decisions;
• Encourage vendors and contractors to promote products and services that are most suited to the State’s environmental, social, and fiscally responsible principles and encourage the development of environmentally preferable products and services;
• Complement existing State ordinances and policies; and
• Communicate the State’s commitment to sustainable procurement by modeling the best product and service choices to other local units of government, other states, and the private sector.

Anticipated outcomes of sustainable procurement legislation:

• Reduced occupational health hazards for State staff
• Reduced exposure of State residents and visitors to toxic chemicals
• Protected and improved air and water quality for Michigan residents and visitors
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and resource consumption, and associated cost savings
• Reduced landfill waste and associated costs and liabilities
• Reduced use of toxic chemicals and associated costs and liabilities
• Alignment of State purchasing and use of materials, products, and services with the State’s fiscal, equity, environmental, climate change, toxics reduction, community, and performance goals

The following directives would be codified:

• Reducing State Purchases of Products Containing Intentionally Added PFAS
• Executive Directive No. 2021-8, October 27, 2021
• MI Healthy Climate Plan, April 2022
• The Management and Budget Act:
  • Purchase of recycled paper; phase-in period; directives; label; records; definitions.
  • Wood or paper products from sustainably managed forests or procurement systems.
• State Procurements For Minority Owned And Woman Owned Businesses Act 428 of 1980

The policy would also:

• Create an Office of Sustainable Procurement jointly funded by EGLE, MEDC, and MDHSS; use third party certifications where applicable; and favor products manufactured by companies that take financial and/or physical responsibility for collecting, recycling, reusing, or otherwise safely disposing of their products and packaging at the end of their useful life.
• Offer potential opportunities for sustainable municipal procurement contracts to be bundled with state contracts.

Environmental factors to be considered in product and service acquisitions include:

• Pollutant releases and toxicants, especially Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics (PBTs), other chemicals of concern, air emissions, and water pollution; Transparency and full disclosure of ingredients and product details; Waste generation and minimization; Greenhouse gas emissions; Recyclability and recycled content; Energy consumption, energy and fuel efficiency, and use of renewable energy; Depletion of natural resources; Potential impact on human health and the environment; Impacts on biodiversity; Manufactured locally and/or locally sourced; Life cycle impacts and costs considered, including impacts on worker health and and safety and community impacts; Total cost of ownership or ‘value for money procurement’ instituted; Product durability, reusability and long-term performance considered; environmental performance of vendors.

By Crystal Zanders

This Plastic Free July, Ann Arbor’s More Life, Less Stuff campaign is raising awareness about how our clothing habits and consumption contribute to plastic pollution in our local waterways – a literal river of microplastics making its way into our wildlife and bodies. The More Life, Less Stuff campaign is a partnership of the City of Ann Arbor and the Ecology Center. Learn more at a2morelife.com.

A few summers ago, my friends and I went tubing in the Huron River. It was my first time tubing, and to say I was concerned would be an understatement. I was terrified. I worried that the current would take me away because I am not a strong swimmer. I imagined an elaborate helicopter rescue saving me from careening over a waterfall. I knew there were fish in the water, and I imagined accidentally ingesting some fish poop and being infected by a rare fish-poop virus. I was sure that my friends were leading me into near-certain death, but courageously, as I mentally planned my funeral, I put on my big-girl bathing suit and a life jacket and spent an idyllic afternoon floating down the river. Looking back, I thought I understood the dangers of the Huron River, when I never even saw the danger floating beside me.

The Huron River — and every other river — is filled with plastic. Most bacteria don't eat plastic the way they eat natural materials to break them down. So, plastic doesn't decompose the way other materials do.  It just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces over time, the smallest of which are called microplastics and nanoplastics. Because so much of our world is composed of plastic, microplastics and nanoplastics are everywhere. They are in the water, the air, and our bodies.

To learn more, I sat down with Ecology Center Senior Scientist Gillian Miller, Ph.D and asked some questions about this invisible threat flowing freely through our waterways.

How do microplastics get in the water?

One of the most significant contributors of microplastics to waterways is laundry.  Remember the bathing suit from my tubing adventure? According to the tag, it is 82% nylon and 18% spandex. Both materials are different kinds of plastic. Many of our clothes are made of plastic.  Each time we wash clothes, they break down a little bit. Fibers from those clothes are washed into the water.  

Dr. Miller explained what happens next: "Everything that goes down the drain in our homes gets treated at the wastewater treatment plant, and the liquid portion is discharged to rivers and waterways. The treatment doesn't remove all microplastics, so some get discharged that way directly into our waterways." With each load, a small amount of plastic goes into the water system and makes its way into larger bodies of water, including the Huron River.  

Why are microplastics a problem for our health? 

Microplastics have been found in nearly every organ and part of the body and in bodily fluids like blood, urine, and breast milk. Although we are just beginning to understand their effects, evidence already suggests harm.

Patients who had micro or nanoplastics in the plaques in their arteries were more likely to have a heart attack or stroke or die from any cause over a three-year follow-up period. These tiny plastic particles can also carry other hazardous chemicals with them, exacerbating harmful effects. They can harm the brain because the smallest particles can pass the blood-brain barrier, possibly increasing the risk of developing Parkinsons or Alzheimer's. In the lungs and other parts of the body, they can also cause inflammation. 

Microplastics are also dangerous to animals. According to Dr. Miller, microplastics "look like food to a lot of wild animals, including birds, turtles, and all kinds of fish." If they eat enough plastic instead of food, they could die. 

How can we help keep microplastics out of our waterways?

As individuals, the first thing we could do is buy less clothing. The more plastic clothes we buy, the more plastic clothes are produced. The more plastic clothes are produced, the more they break down into our air and waterways and eventually end up in landfills. The longer you can wear the clothes you have, the better for the environment.

If you need some clothing you don't already have, consider buying from thrift stores or other secondhand retailers or joining your local Buy Nothing group*. However, if and when you do buy clothing, Dr. Miller suggests you try to buy high-quality clothing that lasts a long time. When asked about materials, she said, "Natural materials in general are going to be better: wool and hemp and cotton," encouraging us to buy organic if that is within our budget. The issues around pesticide use in non-organic cotton production could warrant its own dedicated story. 

Also, we can do less laundry. For example, I wash my bathing suit every time I wear it, but I don't have to wash my jeans with the same frequency. The less often we wash our clothes, the less plastic we put into the water system. Also, the longer the clothes last. It has the added benefit of saving time and money. Win-win.

The longer you wear your clothes, the more value you get from them. That bathing suit was about $25 in 2014. If I have used it once per year for the last ten years, then I have used it ten times, making my cost per use $2.50. If I can keep it for another five years, that would bring my cost per use down to $1.66. The longer we use items, the more bang we get for our bucks. Higher quality clothes tend to last longer, often making them cheaper per use than cheap clothes that you may only be able to wear a few times before they become damaged. 

When clothes wear out, we can repurpose them. Growing up, we dusted using single socks, saving money by using what we already had rather than buying expensive dusters. My brother used to clean his car with soft, old t-shirts to ensure he wouldn't scratch the paint. These creative uses for our old items helped save money while protecting the environment and keeping our old clothing out of landfills.

We're ready to take the No New Clothes challenge. Are you?

Video 3 (Micro Plastics & Clothes) from Marcus Thomas on Vimeo.

And Don’t Forget to Vote!

According to Dr. Miller, the most important thing we can do is vote. She said, "Individual people cannot shop their way out of the microplastics problem. There have to be political solutions at the government level to these pollution and environmental destruction issues." Dr. Miller encourages us to let our representatives know that we care about environmental policy and that protecting our families and our world from microplastics is essential to us. 

As I think back to that day tubing on the river, I remember being awed by how beautiful it was to watch the water sparkle in the sunshine and feel connected to the community and the wildlife it sustains. Water is life, and keeping our waterways healthy is our responsibility.

*Stay tuned for our next story for the More Life, Less Stuff campaign about our local Sharing Economy and Buy Nothing groups!

Non-partisan groups thank lawmakers for including clean energy law implementation, funding for clean transportation, energy efficiency in state budget

LANSING, Mich. – A coalition of nonpartisan Michigan groups is thanking the Michigan Legislature for making critical investments to protect our air, land and water for the future of our state by passing the 2025 state budget, while urging them to provide more funding in these areas.

The state budget includes funding for the implementation of the state’s historic 100% clean energy standard, affordable energy and energy efficiency projects, clean mobility and transportation — but those investments are still only a fraction of what’s needed to protect Michiganders from rising costs while reducing pollution.

“The funding allocated for pre-weatherization, housing stock and homeowner affordability will help us make improvements to the quality, safety and affordability of Michigan’s existing attainable and low-income housing,” said Carlee Knott, energy and climate policy coordinator for the Michigan Environmental Council. “Much more funding is needed through a comprehensive whole-home approach so we can help ensure that our homes are free of pollutants, residents are staying cool in the summer and warm through the winter and homes are resilient to the effects of climate change. Energy efficient homes help save people money on utility bills and protect our air, land and water for generations to come.”

“With the transportation sector now the leading source of climate-changing emissions, Michigan’s 2025 budget makes some critical commitments to cleaner transportation options that will help us meet our state’s climate and pollution reduction goals and increase access to clean mobility for all Michiganders,” said Charles Griffith, climate and energy program director at the Ecology Center. “We’ve still got work to do if we want to be leaders in clean mobility, however, which will require consideration of new policy initiatives that set targets for clean vehicles and transportation emission reductions, and that raise new revenues to help support this critical transition.”

“We applaud the Michigan Legislature for their transformative investments in clean mobility,” said Jane McCurry, executive director of Clean Fuels Michigan. “These investments will not only advance the state’s transportation goals but also bolster Michigan’s position as a national leader in the clean mobility transition by developing our infrastructure, encouraging the deployment of cleaner vehicles and creating jobs in a rapidly growing sector.”

“We’re thrilled that Michigan is getting a statewide e-bike incentive program and so grateful to all the people who helped make it happen. E-bikes are the future. They’re a transformative, extremely popular form of affordable transportation with benefits for public health, climate goals and cleaner air. With this program, Michigan will join 10 other states that recognize their potential to make our streets less crowded and our commutes more joyful," said Matt Penniman, communications and advocacy director for the League of Michigan Bicyclists.

“While we appreciate the Legislature’s increased attention to transit this year, this budget falls far short of the transit operating funds Michigan needs,” said Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United. “Even as the Governor’s MI Healthy Climate Plan and Growing Michigan Together Council have called for significant investments in transit, these budget levels may result in cuts in transit service, especially in fragile rural communities. Our state must do better.”

“We applaud the Michigan Legislature for taking critical steps to further the state’s development of a thriving clean energy economy,” said Courtney Bourgoin, senior Midwest policy and advocacy manager at Evergreen Action. “These investments not only support the implementation of the state’s clean energy and energy efficiency goals, but will also create good-paying jobs, enhance the workforce with essential trainings and attract significant additional investment to Michigan. We must continue building on this progress to ensure that everyone in Michigan benefits from clean air, clean water, and affordable energy."

The coalition highlights the following allocations in the state budget:

Michigan’s 100% clean energy standard

• $156.2 million in federal Inflation Reduction Act funding for Solar for All, which supports solar programs for low-income households to increase residential solar installation, increase pollution abatement and improve grid reliability
• $7 million for implementation of the 2023 Clean Energy Jobs Act at the Michigan Public Service Commission
• $5 million for grants to businesses, nonprofit organizations and units of local and state government for planning, developing, designing, acquiring or constructing renewable energy and electrification infrastructure projects
• $5 million for Michigan’s nonprofit green bank (Michigan Saves)

Clean Buildings

• $33.4 million for housing stock and homeowner affordability, which can be used to build new construction, renovate current homes and complete energy efficiency improvements
• About $22 million for weatherization assistance with an additional $40 million in funds through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• $5 million for pre-weatherization projects, which will help protect our homes against the effects of climate change

Clean mobility and transportation

• $30 million to add EV charging stations and hydrogen fueling facilities around Michigan
• $1m for state fleet electric vehicle transition
• Increase of $30 million for local bus operating for a total of $247 million
• Increase of $14.5 million for rail operations and oversight for a total of $152 million
• $2.95 million for E-bike purchase incentives
• $2.5 million for the Economic and Worker Transition Office to aid Michiganders with the transition to electric vehicles and clean energy

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