Sustainability performance 2025

/0 Comments/in /by

So how did my life impact sustainability during the last year? I would rate my performance as again improved, and again insufficient. On the plus side, many advances – In the last 12 months, I have not flown on an airplane. The last time I could say this was in perhaps 1982 when I was still in university. Lots of working remotely, lots of train travel. I would say that my automobile usage is down also: based on gasoline purchases, about 10%. The biggest impact in direct emissions is likely a change from 2 cycle lawn equipment to electric. Those little weedwackers spew an emission stream that is much much worse than automobiles. My consumerism level also continues to decline, a few clothing purchases, but higher quality more durable items and informed decisions about local vs. “container shipped” product purchases. On the home heating front, installation of a high-efficient fireplace insert has resulted in a dramatic reduction in both wood consumption (burning) and heating oil use. Also multiple “reusage” of things is something I continue to do.

On the negative side, I am still playing golf, which is a net environmental negative. And while I am using the car “less” relative to the past years, the automobile is a machine that really hurts the planet – especially as there are so very many of them.

One of my concerns is that I have some hypocrisy here; there is an unattributed Greek proverb: “First secure an independent income, then practice virtue”. I am older, my career is well established and I have a broad global network of people I have long-term relationships with. I think a younger person, just starting their professional career may need to travel and see people and things in-person to be successful and have an impact. But, I can only control what I do…

So generally, what do I think of humankind’s sustainability potential? Marginally improved as compared to a year ago. My general outlook remains quite negative – consumerism (read human greed) is causing us to use the earth’s resources much faster than they can be replaced, and as a society, our thinking and planning remain very short term; future generations are unimportant to us. Plus, our historical tendency to war over limited resources remains in force. The one improvement I do see is in population. The human population growth rate continues to decline https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/population-growth-rates . My opinion is that we will need to get to a population of about 5 billion people to live sustainably long term, but the critical factor is what is/are those lives? Certainly not “private jetting” to Burning Man cause someone cool will be there… I suggest reading the work of Joel Cohen, particularly ” How many people can the Earth support?” available on ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353942585_How_many_people_can_the_Earth_support.

I will try to do better.

10th Anniversary Educate the Educators – Austin

/in /by

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Austin Texas Educate the Educators program. Details on the EtE program can be found on the website of the International Geosynthetics Society – https://www.geosyntheticssociety.org/educate-the-educators-program/. I express my thanks, admiration and appreciation to those who created this event and produced the framework for all of the events that followed. We made something wonderful.

Ramsey to speak on Geosynthetics Sustainability at Delft University

/in /by

In conjunction with an IGS Foundation Board of Trustees meeting I will be speaking at a symposium at Delft University in the Netherlands on May 14, 2024. My topic is ” Sustainable use of geosynthetics in landfill and hydraulic applications world-wide”. I am honored by the invitation and hope that this will help to move geosynthetics and the civil engineering industry to more rapidly embrace and fully utilize geosynthetics and the life cycle analysis tools that are available to move towards meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development goals https://sdgs.un.org/goals . We need to get there and at a much faster rate than we are moving now…

12th International Congress on Geosynthetics – Rome

/in /by

In September, I attended the 12th International Congress on Geosynthetics, the flagship event of the International Geosynthetics Society. In addition to presenting a paper – “White Polyethylene Geomembrane: Forensic and Laboratory Evidence for Superior Durability” , co-authored with Adam Maskal of Solmax, I received an IGS Service Award, recognizing my contributions to the IGS.

It was also a very active event for the IGS Foundation – a video I produced recognizing the Foundation’s continuing donor is linked on the IGS Foundation https://theigsfoundation.com/ website and a second video announced the launch of the IGS Sustainability Calculator – an initiative I completed in my role as the IGS’s Sustainability committee co-chair. The video and other details can be found here: https://www.geosyntheticssociety.org/sustainability/calculator/ .

It was good to see many old friends and colleagues, including many from China, who sent a large delegation. Other activities included the Diversity initiative breakfast, a Foundation donors meeting and many other events.

Ramsey was to deliver Ethics lecture

/in /by

I was scheduled to deliver my sixth ethics lecture and discussion at an FGI webinar in June. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled as I refused to accept edits to my presentation….well, shit!

Convicted? No, I was never convicted….

Ramsey 2023 Lectures

/in /by

In th first half of 2023, I delivered lectures at the USA Geosynthetics Kansas City event and a Keynote lecture at the IGS Morocco chapter event held in Marrakesh. Both focused on barrier materials and advanced usage techniques. The Morocco event was held immediately following an Educate the Educators event held to instruct 21 Moroccan professors on how to add geosynthetic content to their universities curriculum.

Flight CO2 emissions were offset with the appropriate donations, but I continue to worry that this is not a sufficient balance and encourage more video conferencing and less physical travel. I realize that there is less impact via video than by “being there” but environmentally it may be “worth it”.

2022 Sustainability review – Boyd Ramsey

/in , /by

At the end of 2022, I feel compelled to spend some time and words on my personal sustainability progress this year.  A bit of good news is that this topic tends to be in the forefront of my thoughts and my conscious decision making, at least more so than in the past years.  I still have not applied specific metrics – this is a fault, but I’m not certain how large of one. 

From my (admittedly likely incorrect) perspective, I have improved a bit.  Not enough, but a bit.  Automobile usage is down considerably, which I consider to be one of my largest opportunities for impact.  My consumer choices continue to reflect my desire to improve sustainability – generally less and less of those items that are just indefensible.  No more fruit from South America, disposable plastic sacks, etc. etc.  I think I have improved in the area of re-use.  There are many items that now serve three or four functions before finally ending up in the recycling bins and my volume of plain household waste is down significantly.  I have failed in personal composting – with my volumes and type of organic waste, it just did not work.  I am hopeful for a community composting program and participated in a site selection meeting to support it, but it has not been realized as yet.  All of my airline voyages (only 3 big trips this year, so less…) have been offset by charitable / CO2 balancing contributions, but I don’t feel that has a big impact.

On the positive side, I remain proud of my work and my industries movement towards greater sustainability and less environmentally unfriendly behaviors.  More policy publications by client companies and a general increase in the industry recognition of the importance of this area.  However, there is clearly more work to do.  ‘

I remain plagued by what is described in one of my book recommendations as “Prognostic Myopia“.  (If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal: What Animal Intelligence Reveals About Human Stupidity, chapter 7, by Justin Gregg.)  I know and realize that individual actions and behaviors are not sustainable, yet I do them anyway…. Sigh, I suppose if we humans did exactly what we were supposed to all the time, we would be very boring. 

In any case, better this year than last and I will continue my efforts.

Ramsey Australia travel and GeoANZ #1

/in /by

I was very pleased to be in Australia for 2 months this year in June and July. The initial focus of my trip was my participation in GEOANZ #1, which was held in Brisbane. It was a very good event. In addition to the strong technical content, it was wonderful to see colleagues in person again and share conversation, meals, experiences and discussions. In addition to technical content on the longer lifespan of white geomembranes, Preston Kendall and I carried the banner for the IGS Sustainability Committee, making certain that all the participants were aware of the IGS Policy and the work the IGS is doing in this critical area. This was followed by regulator. customer and client visits throughout Australia including site visits and presentations on PFAS containment options and techniques. On the fun side, I was finally able to visit the Australian Great Barrier Reef – a lifelong goal that had been missed during my prior visits to Australia.

Ramsey assumes IGS Sustainability Chair, publishes cover article – Geosynthetics Magazine

/in , /by

The first week of April 2022 was a busy time on the sustainability topic with two important events. An article, authored by Boyd Ramsey was the cover article of the April issue of Geosynthetics Magazine – an IFAI/GMA publication. The article is linked here: https://geosyntheticsmagazine.com/2022/04/01/geosynthetics-and-sustainability/ The article summarizes the geosynthetics industries positions, with interviews with several industry notables and a call to our industry to continue to improve. Geosynthetics are well positioned as sustainable materials, they provide benefits that are not only economic, but sustainable in all key regards: energy savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, durability and total [life-span] analysis. They also deliver sustainable outcomes for communities through water preservation, prevention of coastal erosion, avoidance of pollution and more resilient infrastructure. As manufacturers, our industry needs to further improve – environmetnal and sustainability statements and goals, operational and environmental impact improvements all are independent of the benefits of the materials themselves.

Further to this effort, I have accepted a position as co-chairman of the IGS Sustainability committee along with my esteemed colleague, Preston Kendall. I look forward to working with Preston and the other committee members who are working hard to support and defend our industry on this front. Geosynthetics have an extremely positive environmental and sustainable impact, we need to further communicate and support the contributions of our products.

Additional information can be found on the IGS webpage – https://www.geosyntheticssociety.org/sustainability/

Ramsey to travel (!) to Australia

/in /by

Ladies and Gentlemen, Australian and NZ friends and colleagues,

I will consult for food….well, actually for money, but I promise to use the money to buy food! Assuming declining covid and open borders, I will be coming to Australia for a long visit, June 1 to July 15. I already have a plane ticket.

The primary purpose is to attend the IGS Australasian chapters conference event, GeoANZ #1 (link https://www.acigs.org/events/geoanz-1-advances-geosynthetics), in Brisbane June 7-9th, I would encourage you to attend. But in addition to that I offer geomembrane and geosynthetics expertise on a more specific basis. I am available for educational presentations, updates on the latest activities in geosynthetics and site visits. I can help you solve and understand your geosynthetic issues and problems.

My website is listed below, in case you wish to learn more about me. I would love to hear from you and look forward to seeing you’all in person and meeting people again!

Best regards, wear the masks and be safe.