Can “sacrifice zones” create positive change? I think so. First, what is a sacrifice zone?  It is “a geographic area that has been impaired by environmental damage or economic disenchantment.”  Think of the southern part of Lake Michigan, where for years the steel industry dumped effluent into the lake, hence a sacrifice zone, justified because of jobs. Think of the Port Arthur Texas region on the Louisiana Gulf Coast, where for years the oil and chemical industries generated noxious emissions causing untold health issues for thousands. Think of Willowbrook, IL, home of Sterigenics, manufacturer of ETO, ethylene oxide. Finally, after years of debate and countless cases of cancer in the communities surrounding Sterigenics, ETO has been classified as a carcinogen. What about the Deepwater Horizon explosion that destroyed the beaches and coastline of the Gulf Coast for miles and miles? Another sacrifice zone.  And the grounding of the oil tanker in Alaska, the Exxon Valdez!

But all is not doom and gloom, if we do something, if we make changes. Almost all of the above examples of sacrifice zones have brought change. We can restore the Gulf Coast.  We can clean up Lake Michigan. We can force Sterigenics to shut down. We can, and have, cleaned up the oil spill in Alaska, and we have prosecuted the drunk skipper of the tanker. British Petroleum (BP) did accept responsibility for the explosion of Deepwater Horizon and has spent billions in restoration work. In that case, one of the subcontractors, Halliburton, was found guilty of gross negligence and agreed to donate $55 million to the US National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Sadly, does it take a catastrophe to bring change? Maybe there’s a silver lining!  Which leads me to the change advocated by Heather Tallis.

Heather is Nature Conservancy’s lead scientist for strategic innovation. She thinks we have a “last chance” for a more sustainable future.  She has a plan to get us to 2050 in which both nature and 10 billion people can thrive.  And, I have to tell you, UPM, the third largest paper company in the world, and also known as the “biofuels” company, is on the same page as Heather.  They have created a breakthrough technology using Naphtha, the byproduct generated in the pulping process, to make cellulose based polypropylene and a non-fossil based “renewable” adhesive.  This is really a heady scientific development. Back to Heather’s strategic innovation.

Heather believes there are two scenarios for us to consider, “business as usual” or “change to more sustainable methods.” Business as usual means we deplete energy, water and fish.  Take a look at how she charts business as usual:

Her more sustainable scenario looks like this:

Heather’s “better chart” requires a commitment by everyone in the world, always a problem, as you know.  Her sustainable scenario requires that countries meet the target of protecting 17% of each econoregion (ask Brazil if they are ready!) as set by the Conservation in Biological Diversity. Heather wants to first ramp up clean energy. How long have I written about this? Second, she believes we need to grow basic food using less land and less water. And, third, Heather advocates that we must stop over fishing. I agree with all three. However, trying to galvanize change in a variety of economic and political environments will be incredibly difficult. Pakistan and India argue about territory.  China and America are at odds. The Middle East has so many different agendas. Europe is trying but is burdened with individuality. The Scandinavian countries are committed, but do they have global power?  Canada, Australia and New Zealand are committed. And, Africa, that massive geography, with 52 different countries – where is the balance and harmony there? So Heather, God bless you, I’m on board, but we have an uphill battle to bring the kind of change you are advocating.  (If any of you want her entire thesis, I can forward).

As I conclude “Calvin” messages for this year, I’d like to share a lesson of change from nature:

In 1995, 14 wolves were released in Yellowstone National Park. No one expected the miracle that the wolves would bring. It started with the wolves hunting deer.  This led to a rapidly decreasing deer population.  The wolves’ presence also made the deer avoid parts in the park where they were an easy prey.  Thanks to the deer’s absence, these parts started to regenerate forests of aspen and willow trees started to flourish.  That’s when things really started to happen. With the trees and bushes came more berries and bugs. As soon as that happened, bird species started moving in and with the increasing population another species was attracted, the beaver, previously extinct in the region came back, and the dams they built provided habitats for otters, muskrats and reptiles.

The wolves also killed coyotes. As a result, the population of rabbits and mice grew, which meant more hawks, red foxes, badgers and weasels in the park. Even the population of bald eagles and ravens rose.  But here’s where it gets really interesting.  The wolves changed the behavior of rivers, and with more balance between predator and prey came the possibility of other species to thrive.  There was less erosion because of increased vegetation. And the river banks were stabilized.  The channels narrowed. More pools formed. And the rivers stayed more fixed in their course. So, the wolves not only transformed the great ecosystem of Yellowstone, they also changed the park’s physical geography.

Here’s the point: change can occur!

Heather is right, to survive we must change. And, so must our industry if it too wants to survive.  We have solutions.  All we need to do is make the commitment to change.  Heather, UPM, and all the others that are trying to change sacrifice zones, may every one of you continue to strive for improvement in 2020.  Let’s all change for the better.

Another Letter from the Earth.


Calvin Frost is chairman of Channeled Resources Group, headquartered in Chicago, the parent company of Maratech International and GMC Coating. His email address is
[email protected].