Responsible Sourcing

The responsible sourcing imperative intends to support the use of sustainable materials and products. Ever since the tornado struck Upper Dublin Township, we have been wanting to restore the damaged materials and bring life to them. This imperative is beneficial because it allows the materials used for the project to be efficient for the environment. We will reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the environment by using materials that were already produced instead of using new materials that would contribute more waste. Producing less waste, will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, prevent pollution, and limit the need to use natural resources.

Deforestation is a huge contributor to climate change and when the carbon stored up from the trees gets released, it turns into carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide sits in our environment, trapping heat which raises the global temperature of the earth. This is the reason that ice caps are melting and ocean levels are rising. We will not add to the problem by using excess materials, but also comparably, we will offset carbon emissions from the many trees we plant. Our imperative requires 80% of the wood to be FSC certified/salvaged, and the other 20% must be from low-risk sources. The FSC certification ensures that the wood comes from responsibly managed forests. This criterion is met because we are reusing the trees that were brought down from the tornado. By reclaiming the wood, we are reducing landfill waste and also allowing for more carbon dioxide absorption, as we are saving the need to cut down more trees. The Hive must also contain 14 declared label products and at least 1 product that is certified from the Living Product Challenge. Currently, we are unsure whether or not this is necessary, as we are not creating a building. Most of the products are meant to be used indoors, not outdoors.