The need to recycle is universal, spanning across country borders and over oceans. So too is the movement of populations, and, therefore, the spread of languages around the world.

Europe is one of the most idiomatically diverse regions in the world. The European Union, for instance, has 23 official languages, and is adding more all the time.* Because of the close proximity of countries whose citizens speak different languages, in any European nation there are bound to be huge minorities of people who don’t speak the country’s official dialect.

Despite the mixture of languages, all people should be able to use a country’s recycling system, right? Throughout Europe, nations employ different methods to make the instructions on recycling bins comprehensible to a multilingual society.

Some countries, like Italy, label their bins in the languages most commonly spoken in the area. This method is popular in nations where there are only a few predominate idioms.

Italian bin labeled in Italian and English.

Simply labeling bins in multiple languages becomes a problem, however, when a country’s population consists of people who speak many different idioms. Therefore, in an effort to make recycling bins comprehensible to people of varying dialects, countries often use images in addition to words.

Both words and images are used on English recycling bins.

While many countries prefer to have some written language on their recycling bins, using images is widely recognized as the easiest method to get information across to heterogeneous societies. For this reason, some countries do away with words all together and rely completely on pictures to label their bins.

This recycling bin at a French Airport uses only images.

At Three Squares Inc., we, too, pay close attention to how we label our recycling, compost, and landfill bins at events. While our signs use language to describe what should go in the respective bins, they also include pictures of what can and cannot be thrown away in them. These images not only help people visualize what they should put in what bin, but they also assure that all people, no matter their favored language, are able to effectively do their part to conserve resources and contribute to sustainability initiatives worldwide!

The effects of climate change will be felt by all people, so shouldn’t everyone have the ability to protect the environment and reduce waste? People in every country use goods made of materials that can, and should, be reused. By making recycling accessible to everyone, we can collectively make a positive impact on our planet and decrease our reliance on nonrenewable resources.

*Source Cited:

http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/languages-of-europe/index_en.htm

Some people may pay more attention to what they eat than others, but in reality, who isn’t a foodie? All people rely on food to sustain themselves and help them get the nutrients to power their bodies. It is the very thing that gives us life and health. Not to mention, a lot of it is delicious and fun to eat! So, why shouldn’t we pay close attention to what food we consume and fuel ourselves with?

At TSI, we are very aware of the importance of food – and we show our great appreciation for it by snacking throughout the day! At any given time, you could bet that somebody in our office is eating something.

As a college student, I see a lot of unhealthy eating, especially when people snack. My friends constantly munch on everything from French fries to sugary candy all day long, and then wonder why they feel sluggish and sick later in the day. While we definitely understand the need to eat throughout the day, at TSI we realize that we only get out as much as we put in our bodies. Therefore, we try to bring mostly healthy and locally produced foods to snack on at work.

Some of our favorite nutritious treats to share with the office are peach apricot fruit bars and salted pumpkin seeds, both from Sprouts Farmers Market. We also enjoy brewing a pot of fair trade organic coffee every morning!

Salted Pumpkin Seeds.

While most of the food we bring in ends up being shared by everyone in the office, all of us have our own individual foods that especially tingle our taste buds!

Jaime has an appetite for locally grown, unique foods. Her snacks of choice include akan spiced almonds from the local Playa Vista Farmer’s Market and organic dried persimmons from the Whole Foods in Venice!

Dried Persimmons.

Jenna’s taste buds favor foods from south of the border. She loves digging into tortilla chips and guacamole made fresh from California avocados! To spice things up, she sometimes substitutes guacamole with locally produced salsa!

Chips and Guacamole.

Carolina prefers the simplicity of basic but delicious foods. She’s often caught munching on raw California almonds and organic banana chips! When she’s feeling a little daring, she’ll bring in a California Minneola tangelo (a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine)!

Minneola Tangelos.

When I’m in the mood to snack, I often crave something sweet. To satisfy my sweet tooth, I normally choose to eat fruity treats! Some of my favorites are organic Fiji apples and organic and raw Synergy juices!

Fiji Apples.

No matter what we’re eating, there is always a plethora of healthy food to be found in the TSI office, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

While the Three Squares Inc. staff primarily focus on providing environmental consulting for other companies, the firm’s president, Jaime Nack, always tries to incorporate education into our jobs. Last week, for instance, she scheduled a visit to the Union Pacific’s (UP) Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) in Long Beach so we could learn about their transportation system and sustainability program. We left our office in Santa Monica and headed down to Long Beach to tour the facility with Andy Perez, the Director of Port Affairs and Corporate Relations.

As soon as we arrived at Mr. Perez’s office and saw the view from his window overlooking the rail-yard, we were all struck by the vastness of the site and the quantity of containers passing through the area. Mr. Perez soon explained to us that the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are the biggest in the nation and have a significant portion of the U.S.’s international goods pass through them. Not only are they responsible for unloading cargo ships, but they are also in charge of transporting goods to their final destinations, whether in California or across the country.

View of ICTF.

While he explained to us the significance of the ports and UP in the maritime world, it wasn’t until Mr. Perez described the importance of the shipping industry itself in the U.S. that we could fully understand the scope of its productions. Many of our everyday products now come from other countries, and this trend is only becoming more popular as more and more manufacturers outsource their labor to other parts of the world. The maritime industry is responsible for transporting these international goods throughout the U.S. every day and providing Americans with everything from basic necessities to luxury accessories.

After discussing the basics about the maritime industry and its influence on the American economy, we moved to the topic of sustainability. While the environmental community often condemns the maritime industry for its historically wasteful practices, many fail to realize that companies in the industry, like UP, now employ many energy-saving tactics and are looking to further reduce their emissions.

One of the most basic and effective ways that UP reduces emissions is by using trains to transport goods long distances. Trains are 2-4 times more fuel efficient and have 3 times cleaner emissions than trucks, while just one double-stacked train equals up to 280 trucks. Furthermore, they are in the process of aquiring more fuel-efficient trains, with over 2,6000 new, greener trains having been added to the UP fleet since 2000.

A train fueling up before taking another trip.

Besides utilizing trains rather than trucks, UP has invested in many other energy-saving technologies in an effort reduce their emissions. For instance, they purchased a hybrid, zero-emission crane for moving containers. Although they currently only possess one energy-efficient crane, they are looking to buy more sustainable equipment. In addition, they employ various other emission-reduction strategies, such as enhancing their on-dock container transportation system and utilizing propane-powered cleaning trucks.

The TSI staff in front of a hybrid crane.

Apart from their current green practices, UP is in the process of approval to begin a multi-million dollar modernization project. This plan calls for new zero emissions cranes, a more efficient traffic pattern for trucks, high-tech gates that will reduce trucks’ idling time, and ultra-low emissions trains. If allowed, this undertaking is projected to effectively reduce the facility’s emissions by 74%.

When our briefing about UP’s current and future green initiatives was complete, Mr. Perez gave us a private tour of ICTF! We were able to drive around the lot and got close-up views of the crates, cranes, trucks, and trains. Seeing all of the machinery and systems first-hand was a very nice way to end our educational trip to Long Beach!

A row of crates waiting to be shipped.

Most people don’t plan out every detail about what they will be doing three months in advance, or even 3 weeks in advance. In fact, I don’t normally know what I will be doing 3 days ahead of time! However, at Three Squares Inc. it is our job to plan our events down to the last detail months before they actually occur.

Although the 2011 Women In Green Forum isn’t until the end of August, here at TSI we are already hard at work preparing for it. For months we have been getting ready for the event – booking speakers, picking the venue, creating an agenda, and much more!

Last week, some of the TSI staff took a trip to the Sheraton Delfina to tour the facility and familiarize ourselves with the location of the upcoming Forum. I had never been to the hotel before, and upon entering I was immediately enchanted by its unique charm! Despite its association with the internationally renowned Sheraton name, the Delfina boasts a boutique-like feel and chic style that gives it an intimate and fun atmosphere.

The Sheraton Delfina lobby.

When entering the penthouse ballroom where the general sessions will be held, my attention was drawn to its the large windows lining the walls. These give the room a very open atmosphere and offer stunning views of the Southern California ocean and mountains, evoking a greater appreciation of our beautiful world. Furthermore, the room has an elegant and formal ambiance, which will likely remind attendees of the Forum’s focus on business. What a perfect setting to discuss the sustainability industry!

Another highlight of the tour was our trip to the luxurious pool deck, where the Forum will host a reception for attendees. With cabanas and sofas lining the pool, the area has a beachy, relaxed vibe. While the area is now mostly filled with lounge chairs, for the reception there will be tables around the pool for dining, as well as an eco-shopping center that will feature local vendors selling a variety of green merchandise, including jewelry, clothing, home goods, and more. This beautiful, open space will surely encourage productive networking, learning, and shopping!

Carolina and I admiring the view of the pool.

I left the Sheraton Delfina very impressed and convinced that it will provide attendees of this year’s Women in Green Forum with a perfect venue for learning about environmental sustainability and fostering lasting relationships.

Now, it is back to work, where we will continue to plan, plan, plan!

The Three Squares Staff admire

another unique decoration.

For more information about the Women in Green Forum, click here.

To learn more about the Sheraton Delfina, click here.

My name is Ali and I am very excited to be the new intern for Three Squares Inc.! Because I will be posting regularly on this blog for the next couple of months, I think it is fitting to give a quick introduction of myself.

Though I am from Huntington Beach, California, I recently moved to Missouri (I know, I always get strange reactions to this) where I attend Washington University in St. Louis. Beginning my sophomore year in the fall, I will major in International and Area Studies and minor in Environmental Policy. In the past, I have worked on environmental sustainability projects focusing on recycling, reforestation, and organic gardening in Costa Rica and Paraguay, as well as various local programs helping with wetlands revitalization and water pollution testing concentrated in Newport, California and Catalina Island. While home for my summer break, I will be working at TSI’s main office in Los Angeles and, among other responsibilities, running this blog!

Throughout the course of my internship I will post updates about what we at TSI are working on as well as opportunities for you to get involved with the green movement. Stay tuned for some exciting events we have coming up!

For more info about the programs I worked with in Latin America, CLICK HERE.