As someone who has worked as a sustainability advisor for several start-ups and companies, I thought this would be a perfect find. It's filled with a lot of knowledge but more for small businesses or individuals running their own company on a small scale. Definitely has a lot of great advice and information and we could all learn as much as possible about how to live a sustainable life whether you run a company or not!

A Fascinating read.
This is a thought-provoking book and shows why it's vital that more of us understand what a circular economy is and why we all need to play our part to adopt this system across the globe.
This is one business owners open and honest journey to learn more and find sustainable ways to ensure his business can adopt, change and survive in an anti-plastic world.
The author travels around the world talking to industry leaders, scholars and experts as he searches for solutions and alternative resources, materials and processes.
This non-fiction book is very relevant to all business owners. As well as sharing his learning the author's writing is motivational as he and his staff experiment and adopt new ways of working. They soon see quick wins, real business progress and customer encouragement as they embark on a more sustainable business model for the future.

This book is interesting, but it's definitely geared more towards small business owners and best practices, which just didn't fit the description for me. I was assuming this book would be more of a memoir/self discovery, but, instead, it's a road map for businesses. I just couldn't get on with this book because I didn't pick it up for a road map, so I think the description should align more with the actual contents of the book.

I have mixed thoughts about this book. On the one hand Trent is a plastic bag manufacturer and on the other he is writing about sustainability when single use plastic is a major cause of pollution .
I did enjoy his thoughts and time spent in nature and with his family.. He also is trying to reduce the impact of his business on the environment and seems like a good boss to have. and cares about the planet.
We are dedicated recyclers and try to reduce our use of plastics.
Education is the key to sustainability and Trent has educated himself to reduce impact of his business.
3.5 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

It’s not a long read, but there is a lot to digest with it.

The journey to a more sustainable life is not easy for anyone, but Trent Romer was determined to start that journey. However he had a bigger hurdle than most, he owns a plastic bag manufacturing company. Finding Sustainability is his story of the journey he took. There is a lot of educational aspects to the book, which Romer says is one critical need in order to make a sustainability shift.

I am an eco-nerd. I try to live as sustainably as I am able to, so I was instantly drawn to this book. And after reading it I am reassured in my efforts to take care of the earth as a whole and my immediate community.

The blurb for Finding Sustainability is exceptionally good. It starts with three questions that are of interest to many business owners. Then it adds a kicker which is about who you are and what you personally believe in.

The great thing about it is that it wraps a ‘how to’ book in a great narrative. Mr Romer took a step by step approach to researching the problems and solutions. Then he educated himself to do something about it. Then he describes the process in making changes in his organisation–these are all patterns for use by others.

At first I found his anecdotes (which start each chapter) a little homespun. He describes holidays in the wilderness, travels with his wife and family, the beauty of the world. As the book developed I realised they were illustrations of what Mr Romer wants to keep for future generations. Connecting his own experiences to the evidence of what we are doing to the planet makes a personal document. It becomes something most of us will relate to, even if we don’t run a business.

Mr Romer is not a professional writer, sometimes the phrasing or arrangement might be a little unusual. But it’s a very readable book. And it has led me to a question:

If people like Mr Romer want to sell more sustainable products (not damaging ones), he needs consumers to demand them. How can I do that?

Like Mr Romer, I want future generations to enjoy the planet. As a result of this book, I have an action plan. I will work out what plastic I am using, and how it fits within the categories Mr Romer describes. Then: how am I going to change from non-recyclable to something better?

Buy this book: act on it: save the planet.

While I have to agree with a previous reviewer that this would have probably worked a lot better in the form of a long feature article, I was quite intrigued to read a different point of view. Although as a direct contributor to the existence of single-use-plastic in the world, it is clear that the justifications for continued production would lean into a certain direction. Still, I appreciate that this book exists as an alternative view and to add a few more tones of grey in a sometimes very black-and-white discussion.

An interesting take on the current plastic pollution issue from an individual who is on the front line of the war.

While I have mixed feelings about this book, being an environmentalist book coming from a plastic bag manufacturer, it is good to see steps being made and options being created for customers to become more eco-conscious. While clearly the best option is to find a similarly durable material that is compostable or biodegradable, or simple due away with plastic bags like some countries have already successfully done. While some grocery stores do offer Zero waste bulk options in the United States, (these are more specialty and may be harder to find), there are a few other options that could be discussed to curb plastic usage.

One particular example that rather ground my gears, was the justification of bread wrapping, being more that a one-use type of plastic. While it does contain Marketing, Protection, and Facility origin, it still is a one use type of plastic, it may be "MULTI-PURPOSE" but is still most definitely a single-use plastic. That would be like justifying plastic sporks and saying that they are ok to use because they are both a spoon and a fork, even if its just for use in one meal.

While the author does bring up good points of environmental sustainability, it seems almost like a lost cause being a producer of the problem, and while teaching his company environmental literacy, and offering customers more 'Earth-Friendly' options, it feels like a book to clear ones own conscious. There are also a few points where God and Faith are mentioned about halfway through, with a couple of bible verses to match, and I almost put the book down then because I wasn't sure what direction it was going to take.

An interesting point of view. While years ago plastic was thought to be a game changer, how sad that they were right. The plastic waste in fields, waters, etc. is had to fathom how much is there. The author comes from a generational family that has been making plastic for decades. Now he wants to help change the environment. We try to use bags less and prefer cloth or paper, but at times plastic works best. However, trying to find ways to lessen the use and the waste is a good thing. I did like this book, but at times felt like he could have cut it down a bit or condensed a bit. A little repetitive at times and therefore skimmable. Otherwise, highly recommend. At least it makes a person think about the issue.

I feel like this is very middle of the road read for me. I would have liked this more in a condensed article I think. Definitely would have made for a great thesis. Lots of good perspective provided from the author but and bad structure in the book itself in my opinion. I am happy that publishers are not afraid to push these books and I am happy to have been able to read it and also happy these narratives are out there for the laymen to access. Hopefully we can get closer to finding a way to reign in plastics in our world through continued publication of works like this. I like the ideas Mr. Romer came up with in this book and expanding my perspective of the history of plastic. Interesting overall and would recommend to those trying to understand more about sustainability.

Learning about finding, living and understanding sustainability for the future growth of our planet.

Wow, it's a unique pov. I never really think of companies as small business with employees, I feel sort of bad about the plastic bad dilemma. I tried to give them up over 18 years ago. Then I adopted a cat. I was told, bt the waste department that I had to dispose of cat litter in PLASTIC BAGS tightly closed! So started my collecting the things from every friend and family member. I routinely toss out 6 filled bags a week, of cat litter , and my own trash (why buy trash bags,when these work as well?). I was just being conscience of the environment. Prior to my cats, I tried to avoid plastic bags at all costs, preferring reusable cloth or paper. Just before covid struck, plastic bags were being banned all over the place and I was panicking- how would I dispose of cat litter?!? Then covid struck and all bets were off. Plastic bags got a reprieve. Good and bad. There has to be a way to reign in plastics in our world. I like the ideas Mr. Romer came up with in this book. I also liked learning about the history of the
plastic bag. Who knew it was meant to be used over and over again to save the trees?! Interesting read from inside the industry.