The True "Best Friends Forever"

Photos by Zahra Khan

The City’s Journey to Sustainability

Story by Cassandra Dergins

Going green is no easy task, but it is more important than ever before. The fight for sustainability has been in full force over the past couple of years as the climate change crisis has become a priority. Aside from cleaning up major toxic sites, Gainesville has made plenty of efforts toward becoming eco-friendly. Sustainability hasn’t just become the newest craze; these green practices have been around for half a century.

From zero-waste grocery stores to the citywide ban of plastic straws, Gainesville has made incredible efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. It has come far from its not so environmentally friendly history.

Despite being home to dozens of natural parks and preserves, the city doesn’t have the cleanest record when it comes to the environment. Since the early 1900s, Gainesville has been home to the Cabott/Koppers Superfund Site. This 140-acre plot of polluted soil and water contains hazardous toxins that have been linked to severe health problems like cancer and birth defects. The land is so hazardous that it has been marked by the Environmental Protection Agency as a national priority, as it requires a long-term response plan to make the site safe for the people and the planet.

According to the official Environmental Protection Agency website, “All remedial construction activities are scheduled to be completed at the Koppers side of the site by the end of 2021.” The cleanup has been a long, drawn-out process for the local community, but the city and the Environmental Protection Agency have been working to mitigate their effects on the environment.

42 The Origins Issue Established in 1951, Ward’s Supermarket opened up as a small stand before relocating to its current permanent store in 1991. The family-owned business promotes a zero-waste shopping experience to promote a more sustainable way of living. By using reusable bags, glass jars, pillowcases and more, this environmentally conscious store takes every measure to ensure that shoppers’ negative impacts on the environment will be at a minimum.

Grocery stores aren’t the only ones going green. Life Unplastic, located in the Thornebrook Village Shopping Center, is a retail store that promotes a low-waste lifestyle. It offers everything from recycled toilet paper to dog and cat treats for your furry friends.

With plastic-free shopping rising in popularity, Joy Hughes, Life Unplastic owner hopes to see stores like hers operate in every city. “I think people are really waking up to the facts about plastic and plastic production, especially singleuse disposables and packaging,” Hughes said. “It's toxic, persistent and it's truly crept into all facets of our lives.”

Other local retailers such as Redefined Goods, Lion’s Den Creative and Naturesdye specialize in repurposed fashion

“It's toxic, persistent and it's truly crept into all facets of our lives.”

and accessories. In the battle against fast fashion, shoppers have flocked to thrift stores and resale shops for their attire.

According to a report done by GlobalData and thredUP, an online clothing resale site, the resale market has grown 21 times faster than the new apparel market in the last three years.

These trends are good news for Gainesville’s vintage shops. In the past few decades, thrift shops and vintage markets have popped up all around town in another effort to promote a more sustainable lifestyle.

The popular vintage clothing store, Flashbacks, has been around since 1986. The store started gaining much more traction on the 20th anniversary of Earth Day and has seen an increase in demand since.

When the store first opened, so little waste was produced that they didn’t even need a trash service. Steve Nichtberger, the store owner, said he stood by the phrase: “We create nothing, we destroy nothing, we give away a few bags along the way.”

Secondhand shopping has become increasingly destigmatized as shoppers have put more effort into partaking in sustainable shopping. “Thrifting has gone from being a sideshow to being a standard accepted form of commerce,” said Nichtberger.

Not all of the city’s steps toward reducing its carbon footprint have been retail-based. Aside from the mass influx of sustainable shopping, the city of Gainesville has taken its own stand to support the environment.

If you’ve ordered a drink in Gainesville in the last year, you’re probably well aware of the plastic straw ban, implemented in 2020. Now your drinks are enjoyed with paper, cardboard, reusable and even bamboo straws.

But the infamous straw ban wasn’t the only ordinance put into place.

In 2002, the Green Building Program was established, promoting more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly residential construction processes and buildings. If the Florida Green Home Certification Standards are met, then reductions in builder’s permit fees and other monetary incentives are awarded.

This program encouraged Gainesville builders and residents to adopt energy-efficient practices into their homes like installing insulated windows and energyefficient appliances. In a study done by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, homes that utilized this program used about 8% more than comparable Gainesville residences. “If the 38,709 new single-family homes constructed in Florida in 2008 had been built under green building standards adopted by ordinances like the Gainesville Green Building Program and achieved the same percentage savings as these case study homes, then 84,617,874 lbs. of CO2e per year could have been avoided,” the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services stated.

The University of Florida has also taken strides in becoming more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Just three years ago the university made the addition of its 75th Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building, Weil Hall. UF requires all new buildings to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications, making it a frontrunner in the nation’s top LEED certified universities.

The school has also implemented plenty of other green practices for students and staff. The Office of Sustainability has provided incoming students with resources such as a sustainable move-in guide and both undergraduate and graduate courses that focus on sustainability. Refillable water bottle stations are located throughout campus as well as compost and recycling bins.

UF’s dining halls have even become more sustainable with locally grown food, vegan and vegetarian options and foam-free packaging.

With efforts made by the university, local boutiques and grocery stores, Gainesville has become much greener over the years. With so much natural beauty throughout the city, it’s hard not to care about the environment. Gainesville has come a long way from its plastic straws and inefficient buildings, but the real question is: What will the city do next?

The Origins Issue 43

THINGS

Neighbors and Innovators

Story by Molly Chepenik

When someone thinks of Gainesville, a few common images come to mind: Spanish moss, football, alligators, swamps and, of course, Gatorade. Not many people immediately think of Gainesville as a place for innovation, but over the years, the city’s thinkers and creators have made developments that have left their marks globally.

Gatorade is the sports drink so many know and love. The global popularity of Gatorade makes it one of Gainesville’s most impactful innovations.

Gatorade was invented by Dr. James Robert Cade in 1965 to keep the Florida Gators hydrated during football games. It became a roaring success. Now, PepsiCo Inc. owns the sports beverage and sells about $5 billion worth each year, according to the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention. The museum, located in downtown Gainesville, was opened to the public in 2018 to tell the story of Gatorade, encourage creativity and highlight other revolutionary ideas in the community.

But beyond the thirst-quenching beverage, Gainesville is home to many inventors, thinkers and trailblazers who are working to leave their mark and better the community, the country and the world with new products.

A few places in Gainesville where one can find technological developments are UF Innovate, Exactech, Infotech and North Florida Regional Medical Center.

UF Innovate

UF Innovate is the umbrella organization for many budding businesses in Gainesville. This organization helps innovators by providing them with university resources like grants and connecting them to entrepreneurs and investors.

“Companies come to UF Innovate because it is the gateway to UF resources, student talent and faculty superstars,” said Mark Long, UF Innovate’s director of incubation services.

According to the UF Innovate website, over 7,900 jobs have been created through startups within the organization.

There is a physical space that houses UF Innovate companies called The Hub, located at 747 SW Second Ave.

SATLANTIS is a company there that focuses on space technology. In May 2020, the company successfully built a camera that is now attached to the International Space Station. There are plans in motion with NASA to send another camera there in the near future.

The Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) is one of UF Innovate’s anchor clients. The LPRC has done groundbreaking work combating theft and loss in retail. Through over 300 research projects, LPRC has developed technologies to secure goods and alert employees of crime.

Another noteworthy company that is now an alum of UF Innovate is RTI Surgical. This company is

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