Would the "Green-ness" of a Company's Supply Chain Influence Your Purchasing Decisions?

Software Advice, a free online resource that reviews wholesale distribution software, is hosting a survey that asks readers the following question: would the "green-ness" of a company's supply chain influence your purchasing decisions? The survey accompanies an article that profiles five multi-national companies and their efforts to improve the eco-friendliness of their distribution processes. While familiar greening methods like renewable energy use are often present in their announcements, these five companies have also gone a step further to distinguish themselves as trend-setters in the movement toward greener businesses.


For example, IBM and Walmart are using their considerable influence to encourage suppliers to behave in a more environmentally friendly manner. When contracts with two of the biggest companies in the world are at stake, suppliers might be more inclined to improve their practices. Meanwhile, Patagonia has sent a roving team of investigators on a mission to find out just how green the company's suppliers are. These reports are available to everyone on YouTube, and this kind of widespread transparency may discourage suppliers from harming the environment unnecessarily.

To get the full details on these and other companies, you can read the original article here. While you're there, be sure to participate in the survey and let everyone know what you think about these issues.

Electrical Contractors Need Green Skills for Future

Guest post by Houston Neal

We are nearing a renaissance of electrical contracting. Software Advice, a website that reviews electrical estimating software, thinks the electrician will soon transition into an "energy contractor" to meet demand of the growing green construction market. This growth is being fueled by increased adoption of green and renewable energy technologies among homeowners and corporations.


Who will be there to retrofit these buildings? Electrical contractors will play a major role in these upgrades. However, they'll need to "green" their skill set in order to take advantage of opportunities.

To get started, electricians must gain the skills and knowledge to take on green projects. Both the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) offer education programs for green electrical work. Second, they should get versed on electric- and energy-related LEED credits. LEED projects are growing just as fast as the rest of the green construction market, so this is one of the areas where electricians will be able to "cash in."

To read more, visit: The Coming Renaissance of Electrical Contracting.

Obama White House Seeking LEED Certification

According to National Geographic's Green Guide, the Obama White House seeks to be the greenest White House in history.

To do this, the White House is currently pursuing LEED certification. Changes planned or currently underway are in the areas of procurement (considering toxicity and life cycle in purchases, using biodegradable cleaners, low VOC paints and sealers, and recycled content products and equipment), energy efficiency (lighting, power, heating, cooling, computerized energy management systems, occupancy sensors), water conservation (low-flow fixtures), and a reduced waste stream (increased recycling).

Onion News Network Takes on Taco Bell

Ready for a chuckle? Check out this video from Onion News Network, entitled "Taco Bell's New Green Menu Takes No Ingredients From Nature."



Taco Bell's New Green Menu Takes No Ingredients From Nature

100 Months to Act on Climate Change

Prince Charles warned businesses that we only have 100 months to act on climate change before the damage becomes irreversible. Prince Charles' speech to business leaders is intended to spur businesses to action in addressing climate change and in implementing climate mitagation strategies. Furthermore, the Prince argued that "green" is good for business. The speech comes in anticipation of the G20 summit to be held in London next month and is an effort to put the environment at the top of the political agenda.

Another Green Super Bowl

For the second year, the Super Bowl will be a green event. Last year's Super Bowl was the first to be powered by renewable energy. This year's green features include:

• Increased recycling efforts, including leftover prepared food to be donated to local charities and churches. In addition, building materials, decoration, office equipment and supplies used to prepare for the game will be donated to nonprofits.




• Renewable energy will be purchased which is estimated to prevent more than 313,000 pounds of CO2 emissions.




• 2,700 trees to be planted to help offset emissions.

Is Your Company's Website Carbon Neutral?

An often overlooked component of a green or sustainable business is the website. If your company intends to communicate its commitment to green or sustainable business practices, then consider a carbon neutral web host provider.

A carbon neutral web host provider invests in renewable energy , renewable energy credits, or carbon offsets for the amount of energy consumed in hosting websites for its customers. The customer (your business) can then proudly display a carbon neutral badge on the company website.

A keyword search of the Internet will find numerous carbon neutral web host providers. Here is a small sampling:

A2 Hosting

Acorn Host

Affordable Internet Services Online (AISO)

DreamHost

Go Green Hosting

Graymatter

Rackspace

Solar Energy Host

Think Host

Web Hosting Buzz

Payless ShoeSource Announces First-Ever Affordable Green Footwear Line

Payless ShoeSource Announces First-Ever Affordable Green Footwear Line

New Brand Shows Retailer's Passion to Democratize Green; Retailer Also Signs Agreement with Summer Rayne Oakes to Serve as Eco Consultant to Help Drive Innovation

TOPEKA, Kan., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Payless ShoeSource announced today plans to launch the first-ever affordable green footwear line due in stores early next year and that it has signed an agreement with Summer Rayne Oakes, Discovery Network's Planet Green fashion and beauty expert and author of Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty (Chronicle Books, February 2009), to serve as the green footwear brand's Eco Consultant.

The new brand is a key part of Payless' mission and strategy to democratize fashion, design and new ideas in footwear and accessories and to position Payless as a "House of Brands" retailer, offering well-recognized, fresh new brands -- all at a great price.

The forthcoming line will include on-trend, fashionable footwear and accessory products that are also green through the use of sustainable and eco-friendly materials such as organic cottons and linen, natural hemp and recycled outsoles, as well as the use of eco-smart packaging. The line will be seasonally refreshed offering the latest trends; the new brand will launch initially for women, expanding to include kids' and men's styles in the future. The "green" shoes will be available at prices, on average, of under $30 a pair early next year in about 500 stores with select styles appearing in 1,000 stores, as well as generally available on Payless.com(R).

"The sustainability movement is pervasive today and is touching so many elements of consumers' daily lives and they are interested in more and more green product options being available to them," said Matt Rubel, CEO of Collective Brands, Inc., the parent company of Payless ShoeSource. "But green items are often expensive and inaccessible to so many. With our mission to democratize the latest ideas in footwear and accessories, we are in the best position and proud to bring forward a green footwear line that is affordable and accessible to all.

Our alliance with Summer Rayne Oakes is important to this new brand initiative. Summer Rayne is a trend-setting expert in Eco Fashion, and she will help us launch our new green brand, as well as assist us in driving innovation with fresh, new eco-smart ideas for this brand going forward."

The new line is unique not only as the first-ever affordable green footwear, but also because it will stress fashion first, while being eco-smart.

"When Payless approached me to partner with them on what would be their first-ever affordable green line of footwear, it was an offer I couldn't refuse," said Oakes. "It's high time a stylish line of shoes can be both environmentally friendly and reasonably priced. Payless is at the forefront of a significant movement bridging fashion, environmental awareness and accessibility -- an undertaking I am proud to be a part of."

The contract between Payless and Oakes is a multi-year arrangement. Oakes will be involved in seasonal line reviews focusing on materials use and aesthetics for the product, packaging, and in-store materials, as well as participate in other marketing activities for the brand. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. Payless said it expects to launch the new brand name closer to when the shoes are available in stores next year.

About Payless & Collective Brands

Payless ShoeSource, Inc., a unit of Collective Brands, Inc., is the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere and is dedicated to democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories and inspiring fun, fashion possibilities for the family at a great value. As of the end of second quarter 2008, the company operated more than 4,500 stores. In addition, customers can buy shoes over the Internet through Payless.com(R) at http://www.payless.com/.

Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its more than 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands American Eagle(TM), Airwalk(R), Dexter(R), Champion(R) and designer collections Abaete for Payless, Lela Rose for Payless and alice + olivia for Payless, among others; Stride Rite, focused on lifestyle and athletic branded footwear and high-quality children's footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite(R), Keds(R), Sperry Top-Sider(R), Robeez(R), and Saucony(R), among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk(R), Vision Street Wear(R), Sims(R), Lamar(R) and LTD(R), World Snowboarding Championships(TM), Sugarboards(R), Carve(R), genetic(R), Dukes(TM), Rage(R), Ultra-Wheels(R), and Skate Attack(R) brands. Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at http://www.collectivebrands.com/.

About Summer Rayne Oakes

Summer Rayne Oakes is a model-activist and spokesperson, resident expert, and youngest board of advisors for Planet Green, Discovery Network's new eco- lifestyle channel. The Cornell University graduate and environmental scholar has received media accolades including Vanity Fair naming her a Global Citizen, Outside naming her one of the Top Environmental Activists, Cosmopolitan naming her Fun, Fearless Female of 2007, and CNN's Nicole Lapin nominating her as a "Young Person Who Rocks." Through her work as a consultant Summer Rayne advises companies and organizations, and works on sustainable development and environmental programs in the U.S. and abroad. In February 2009, she'll release her first book, Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty published by Chronicle Books.

SOURCE Payless ShoeSource, Inc.

/CONTACT: Mardi Larson, +1-612-928-0202, mardi@mardilarson.com, for Payless/
2007 Collective Brands Inc. ® All rights reserved.

Dunkin' Donuts' First Green Store

Dunkin' Donuts has announced the opening of its first LEED-certified store in St. Petersburg, Florida. The store is built with energy-efficiency in mind and expects to reduce heating and cooling costs by 40%. The store was also built with water-efficient features.

The new Dunkin' Donuts will use trays for in-store orders to eliminate the use of paper bags, coffee will be served in paper cups instead of styrofoam, will encourage customers to bring their own reusable mug, and will use green cleaning products. In addition, the store will recycle and donate leftover food to food banks. The new green store also has special parking for hybrids and carpoolers.

Now if only the donuts were calorie-free!

Green Jobs Now: A National Day of Action Sept. 27

Since September 27 is upon us, I would like to reprint one of our earlier posts.

Saturday, September 27 will be Green Jobs Now: A National Day of Action. Now is the time to begin planning your event. From their website:

On Saturday, September 27, we're launching a national mobilization to say, "I'm ready for the green economy." We are ready to tackle the climate crisis by building a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.

Green Jobs Now is a National Day of Action that will empower everyday people to stage hundreds of grassroots events throughout the country. We will have a special
focus on low-income communities, communities of color and indigenous people. This will send a message to our leaders that, when it comes to creating green jobs for a more sustainable economy, PEOPLE ARE READY!

Visit the website to organize an event or to find an event in your area.

The Green Jobs Now Day of Action is a non-profit, non-partisan initiative of Green For All, 1Sky, the We Campaign and several partners.

You can view our own Green Jobs event at Green Jobs Now.

Democrats Planning Green Convention

The Democratic Convention will be held August 25-28 in Denver CO. The convention hired its first-ever Director of Greening, Andrea Robinson, to ensure this would be "the most sustainable political convention in modern American history."

According to the Wall Street Journal, some of Robinson's sustainability initiatives include:

• Reuse, recycle or compost at least 85% of all waste generated during the convention (and a "trash brigade" to make sure it happens)


• Celebratory balloons will hopefully be biodegradable (although early tests show they aren't degrading in a compost heap)


• Hired an Official Carbon Adviser, who will measure the greenhouse-gas emissions of every placard, every plane trip, every appetizer prepared and every coffee cup tossed


• No fried food and at least 70% of ingredients should be organic or grown locally


• At least 50% fresh fruits and vegetables in each meal


• Compostable utensils


• Biofuel made from (Coors Brewing Co.) beer waste to power the convention's fleet of flex-fuel vehicles


• Fanny packs made in the USA of undyed, organic fabric


• Banners made from canvas or corn-based bioplastics and recycled afterwards into handbags


• 1000 bicycles for free use provided by Humana and Bikes Belong


• The stage is built with salvaged plywood and other recycled or reused materials


• The podium is finished with eco-friendly paints and soy-based sealants


• Solar and wind energy will be used to partly power the event


• All signs and placards made from post-consumer recycled or biodegradable materials and recycled afterwards


• 160 miles of cable laid for the convention will be recycled afterwards


• Lightbulbs have been replaced with energy-efficient models


• Water spigots have been retrofitted with water-saving models


• Water filling stations will be installed to refill empty water bottles

The Silver Lining of Tough Economic Times

While sustainability is enjoying a surge of popularity, questions have arisen about whether economic conditions would thwart the "green" movement and cause corporations to abandon green initiatives. It appears the rather quick rise of oil and food prices and the subsequent rise in costs for corporations (and for individuals alike) have helped the sustainability movement continue its growth.

Research from Acre Resources states that "green collar jobs" have increased by 20% in the past year, despite concerns over the economy and many predict the growth in the green jobs sector and related industries will continue. Some even predict "explosive growth" in the green jobs sector over the coming years and the lack of enough skilled green collar workers could be a problem. In fact, some community colleges that are currently offering programs to train wind turbine technicians sometimes see students leave to accept job offers before finishing the program.

Other signs that sustainability is continuing its growth? There has been a nationwide increase in clean tech investments and increase in sales of fuel-efficient automobiles. Additionally, some areas have seen increased bicycle usage, increased sales at farmer's markets, increased public transportation usage, increased carpooling and ride sharing, increased sewing machine sales, a growth in green housing, a growth in the number of urban gardens and home gardens, and increased organic acreage usage and production. And in an interesting twist, rising food prices may slow the production of cocaine.

Additionally, a recent study by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media and the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies concludes that the "economy won't slow down green consumers." This is good news indeed.

Sustainability Webinars for August 2008

Here is a list of sustainability-related webinars (from a variety of sources) offered during the month of August 2008. As always, be sure to visit our site for the most up-to-date listings as well as listings of archived on-demand webinars (in the right sidebar). Save the emissions...do it online!

Ten Steps to Getting Started with Practice Greenhealth (Aug. 1)

Green Cleaning and Infection Control (Aug. 7)

Design and Construction Series: Greening Specifications for Health Care (Aug. 8)

Behind the Logos: Environmental Certifications and the Printing Process (August 12)

Case Studies: Energy & Atmosphere and Indoor Environmental Quality (Aug. 13)

Greening Your Office 101 (August 13)

The Carbon Reduction Workshop: 200 Profitable Ways to Reduce Your Organization's Carbon Footprint (Aug. 19-21)

Green Means Business (Aug. 20)

Sustainability Careers for MBAs (Aug. 20)

How to Communicate Your Green Commitments (August 20)

Green Purchasing (August 20)

Case Studies: Procurement, Waste Management & Green Cleaning (Aug. 27)

Carbon Offsetting (August 27)

Training Course: Become a Certified SSC Green Auditor (Aug. 27-29)

The Greening of Religion

St. Joan of Arc Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota composts at the Parish and at the on-site school, the church recycles, uses compostable dinnerware, hosts a Sustainable Fair Trade Market, and educates members on sustainability-related topics.

At All Souls Interfaith Gathering of Shelburne, Vermont, the new facility was built with locally harvested wood, bamboo flooring, compact fluorescent lights, and a furnace that will heat the facility using grass, corn or wood pellets. Programs often contain an environmental message and community members are invited to talk about their passion for the planet.

These examples are representative of a larger movement within religion and places of worship to address environmental issues. While this movement is not new to religion, it is becoming more mainstream and green buildings for synagogues, churches, and mosques are growing in popularity.

To help organized religious groups in the U.S., The Regeneration Project and the Interfaith Power and Light Campaign seek to mobilize "a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation." San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral will be installing photovoltaic panels through their work with the California chapter of the program. Check their website to find (or start) a program in your state that will help congregations of all denominations.

At least two denominations have made a concerted effort to encourage all their member churches to pursue environmental measures. One denomination is the Unitarian Universalist Church which sponsors "The Green Sanctuary" program. The program congregations and individual members to live a sustainable life in a way that nurtures life, builds relationships, and rejects material consumption as a way to measure happiness. The website lists the congregations in The Green Sanctuary program.

One of the Green Sanctuary churches is the Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, Pennsylvania. The church is run on wind energy, recycles paper and batteries, sells shade-grown coffee, and composts to fertilize the children's garden. The church also encourages members purchase and install compact flourescent bulbs and proceeds from the sales help buy bulbs for low-income communities.

Another denomination promoting environmentalism is The National Council of Churches of Christ which sponsors the Eco-Justice Program. The program works with member Protestant and Orthodox denominations to protect and restore God's Creation. One example is the Church of the Savior, United Church of Christ, in Knoxville, Tennessee which has a compost bin, uses mugs instead of styrofoam, and purchases green power. And the Congregational United Church of Chrish in Greensboro, North Carolina recently held a tire clinic to check tire pressure on members' cars. There are many other examples of member churches' environmental efforts. You can search their website for locations.

For links to position statements on climate change from other denominations, click here.

For those interested in helping your place of worship begin the green journey, Church Solutions magazine explains how green relates to religion, why green is important, and offers tips on greening existing and new building projects. Or contact The Regeneration Project.

FREE Ways to Begin Greening Your Business

I recently told one of my students that I work to help businesses become more sustainable or "green." His response was, "that costs money, doesn't it?" My response, "not necessarily." This made me think about the little things businesses can do that are environmentally-friendly, won't cost a penny, and will save the business some money.

So here are some tips for the business that wants to start the journey toward "green" but doesn't have the funds to implement big changes. All the tips below are free to implement (Oh Yes! It's FREE) but have one thing in common: change what you currently do.

1. Office paper - switch from 100% virgin fiber paper products to recycled paper products. For example, we recently compared a business' current office and copier paper purchases to recycled office and copier paper. “The final combination of paper choices recommended to the client represented a 10% cost savings, 13% fewer carbon dioxide emissions, and 35% fewer trees when compared to their previous product.” Other recycled paper products to consider are file folders, hanging file folders, notebook pads, binders, calendars, posters, envelopes, business cards, letterhead, forms, self-stick notes, and anything else made from paper! Savings: cost reductions, carbon dioxide emissions reductions (carbon dioxide emissions contribute to climate change), and fewer trees used.


2. Hand towels - switch from 100% virgin fiber hand towels to recycled content hand towels. In a recent comparison for a client, we were able to identify 100% recycled hand towels that represented a 2% cost savings over their current product. Savings: cost reductions, carbon dioxide emissions reductions, and fewer trees used.


3. Toilet tissue - switch from 100% virgin fiber bath tissue to recycled content bath tissue. In a recent comparison for a client, we were able to identify 100% recycled bath tissue that represented a 46% savings over their current product. Savings: cost reductions, carbon dioxide emissions reductions, and fewer trees used.


4. Napkins - switch from 100% virgin fiber napkins to recycled content napkins. In a recent comparison for a client, we were able to identify 100% recycled napkins that represented a 10% cost savings over their current product. Savings: cost reductions, carbon dioxide emissions reductions, and fewer trees used.


5. Facial Tissue - switch from 100% virgin fiber napkins to recycled content napkins. In a recent comparison for a client, we were able to identify 100% recycled napkins that represented a 4% cost savings over their current product. Savings: cost reductions, carbon dioxide emissions reductions, and fewer trees used.


6. Lighting - turn off lights when not in use and when replacing, use more energy-efficient lighting, such as compact flourscent bulbs or LED lighting. Savings: can help reduce energy bills.


7. Electronics and office equipment - turn off when not in use and when purchasing, make sure it is Energy Star certified. Dispose of old electronics through a recycling program (most cities will take old electronics for recycling). Old office electronics, furniture, and equipment can also go to donation programs through public schools, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, or other worthy causes (see our blog post list of places to donate your e-waste). Savings: can help reduce energy bills, can reduce the amount of waste you pay to have removed, and will keep dangerous chemicals out of landfills.


8. Recycling - Check with your city sanitation department (or check Earth911's search engine) to see what can be recycled and where it can be recycled. Common items for recycling include aluminum cans, glass, paper, plastic (including plastic bags), cardboard, styrofoam packaging (styrofoam food containers are not often recycled), electronics, cooking oil or grease, printer and ink jet cartridges, and many other items. Savings: can reduce the amount of waste you pay to have removed.


9. Employee coffee mugs or drink cups - encourage employees to bring reusable coffee mugs or drink cups (and plates and utensils) rather than using disposables. Savings: can reduce the number of disposable items you purchase and can reduce the amount of waste you pay to have removed.


10. Office supplies - use recyclable and/or refillable items, such as printer cartridges, pens, CD and DVD disks, batteries, and other products. Savings: can help reduce the amount of office items needing replaced and can reduce the amount of waste you pay to have removed.


11. Printing & copying - For printing, begin by resetting the default font size on all computers to 10 or 11 and resetting the default margin to .8 or .9. By changing the default margin settings to 0.75" on University computers, Penn State found that they could save per year over $122,000 in paper costs, 45,142 reams of paper, 45 tons of waste, and 72 acres of forest. Use your computer and email program as your filing system rather than printing hard copies. Use a software program, such as Greenprint, that will alert you to wasted paper (such as printing a sheet with one or two lines). Learn to use online forms and PDF files. Next time you send out a printing job, select a green printing company. For copying, change the the default settings on the copy machine from one-sided to two-sided copies. Savings: can reduce the amount of paper you buy, can reduce the amount of waste you pay to have removed, and can reduce your company's carbon emissions.


12. Cleaning supplies - use green cleaning products or a green cleaning service. Savings: there may not be any financial savings here, but you are taking steps toward healthier indoor air quality and your cleaning methods will be releasing fewer toxins into the environment.


13. Website - switch to a "green" or "carbon neutral" web host provider. There are many web host providers available which are competitively priced. Savings: cost savings and reduced carbon emissions.


14. Promotional products - next time you purchase promotional products for your business, select those that are environmentally-friendly, are made from recycled material, can be recycled, or those that are all three of these, such as SIGG water bottles. Savings: there may not be any financial savings here, but you are taking steps toward being environmentally-friendly and communicating that message to your customers.


15. Green Team - establish a "green team" of employees who are interested in helping your business become more environmentally friendly. The Green Team's focus should be two-fold:

• identifying additional ways to make your business more environmentally-friendly and


• educating employees, customers, and suppliers on the importance of being environmentally-friendly as well as communicating the business' efforts and accomplishments in this arena.

Where do you find these products? You can begin by checking with your current supplier. If they don't carry the products, then check with other local vendors, with national suppliers, or online.

If you implement the suggestions above, you will have begun the journey toward "green" and will simultaneously save some green!

Green = One Earth, One People

The green movement has been described as an effort to re-create our entire economy to be low-carbon, conserve and preserve, reduce reliance on oil, become more healthy and environmentally-friendly, and become less toxic. This societal and economic rebuilding is expected to create a wave of new green-collar jobs. However, the "green" movement has been accused of lacking diversity.

There are many leaders seeking to widen the scope of the environmental movement and make it more inclusive. Although attempting to list all the environmental diversity leaders would be impossible, here is a small list of some names you should know:

Van Jones - lawyer, activist, and founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. He is considered the lead advocate of the green-collar jobs movement and green economic development for urban America. He is also a co-founder of Green for All, "a national organization dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to life people out of poverty." He is a regular contributor at Huffington Post.

Majora Carter - an Advisory member for Green for All, she is founder of Sustainable South Bronx, a "non-profit environmental justice solutions corporation" which runs the Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training (BEST) program, "one of the nation’s first urban green-collar job training and placement systems." Watch a 2006 presentation she gave or the more recent May 2008 interview with Tavis Smiley. Hear an April 2008 Tavis Smiley interview with both Majora Carter and Van Jones.

Charles Jordan - has an impressive list of "firsts" including the first African American Chairman of The Conservation Fund. Listen to his NPR interview and read the recommendations of Bonta & Jordan for diversifying the environmental movement.

Marcelo Bonta - shares the broad vision of diversifying the environmental movement to audiences around the U.S. He is the founder of the Young Environmental Professionals of Color and the Center for Diversity and the Environment in Portland.

Roger Rivera - Chair of the National Latino Coalition on Climate Change which works to ensure that Latinos have an integral voice in the national dialogue on climate change.

Sanjayan - Lead Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, he seeks to be a "role model of color in the conservation movement." Listen to his interview "Where are the Green Minorities?"

Organizations working toward green and environmental diversity that you should know:

EcoEquity - seeks to contribute to a just solution to the climate crisis by emphasizing the importance of equity principles in all aspects of the policy response, by producing political and economic analyses that highlight equity issues, and by developing practical proposals for equitable climate policies.

Keeping It Wild - seeks to bring together members of diverse conservation communities, with a special focus on the perspectives of African Americans and other people of color, and hosts the annual National African American Earth Day Summit.

The Apollo Alliance - a leading proponent of clean energy investment and green collar job creation in the new economy.

Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative - seeks to represent and empower U.S. communities of color, Indigenous peoples, and low-income people with a demand for climate justice.

WE ACT for Environmental Justice - "a non-profit, community-based, environmental justice organization dedicated to building community power to fight environmental racism and improve environmental health, protection and policy in communities of color."

Black. Brown. Green. - seeks to integrate people of color and their needs and issues with the movement for environmental sustainability.

If we are to re-create our entire economy, let us learn from mistakes of the past and make this economic and societal re-creation an equal opportunity and inclusive effort. One earth, one people.

June 2008 Webinars on Sustainability

Upcoming sustainability-related webinars from a variety of companies:

Green City Webinar (May 21)
Virtual Energy Forum (June 10-11)
Greening Your Office 101 (June 11)
Top 10 Green Building Products of 2008 (June 18)
Green Purchasing (June 18)
Carbon Offsetting (June 25)

For a list of archived on-demand webinars, please visit our web site. You'll find them listed in the right sidebar.

Save the emissions - do it online!

Mighty Green Paper: Sustainable Business Design Does Carbon Consulting Right

Thanks to Olga Orda (Equo3 Strategies, a sustainability public relations, writing, and research firm) for the following great write-up at Green Options.

When companies make the shift to reduce the carbon footprint of their supply chain, paper is one of the first – but perhaps most overlooked – ways to shed those office carbon pounds.

But the carbon, environmental and cost savings benefits of switching from virgin paper to more sustainable paper didn’t escape Sustainable Business Design - a consulting firm that provides carbon footprint, greenhouse gas audits and “The Low Carb Corporate Diet” ™ service.

Nancy E. Landrum, Ph.D., of SBD demonstrated that a local, multi-site client who had not thought about paper purchasing as a way to “go green” experienced “immediate environmental and financial success in their quest for green” by simply making the change to recycled paper.

But how big of a success was it exactly?

“The final combination of paper choices recommended to the client represented a 10% cost savings, 13% fewer carbon dioxide emissions, and 35% fewer trees when compared to their previous product,” says Landrum.

And, if offering climate change and carbon strategies that work wasn’t enough, Landrum oversees a blog worth reading at http://www.sustainablebusinessdesign.blogspot.com/, check out the January 30 post for a list of useful webinars like “A Guide to Green Purchasing (Feb. 20)”. It’s like attending a green learning conference across the country minus the across country flight emissions – we are loving it.

Webinars on Sustainability

Upcoming webinars for the last half of February. Save the emissions...do it online!

Sustainability in Government (Feb. 19)

A Guide to Green Purchasing (Feb. 20)

Implementing a Green IT Program (Feb. 21)

Energy Rebates: Using EPAct Incentives to Reduce Energy Costs (Feb. 26)

Measure the Environmental Impact of Workplace Assets and Operations (Feb. 27)

Supply Chain Improvements that Save Money While Saving the Environment (Feb. 27)

Carbon Offsetting (Feb. 27)

Corporate Sustainability (Feb. 27)

Sustainability Careers for MBAs (Feb. 28)

For a full list of upcoming and archived (on demand) webinars, please visit our site.

More "Green" Terminology

As I sort through the many items in my news reader from the holidays, I've run across some new (to me) terminology. So if you would like to expand your green vernacular, here are some terms for you:

1. "carbon advantage" - Dave Douglas argues in Business Week that "We need companies to go beyond carbon neutrality to something I call "carbon advantage." You can create a carbon advantage for your company in two ways: First, you can use efficiency and resource reduction to provide a fundamental cost advantage in your operations and products. Second, you can use innovation in green products and services to offer customers a competitive advantage, thus differentiating your offerings." Read his full article here.


2. "greenmuting" - Bob Langert, VP of McDonald's, states that "many companies are reluctant to talk about their environmental efforts because they are concerned they will be met only with criticism. After all, true progress is so hard to define, and achieving perfection on the environmental front is impossible because there will always be ways to improve. But not talking about environmental efforts, or "greenmuting," can be a sin as well." He goes on to offer his list of "The Six Sins of Greenmuting."


3. "greenflation" - James Kanter of the International Herald Tribune argues (in response to SERT's campaign to legalize alcohol sales in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) that "in the wake of so much publicity, we (are) now undergoing a wave of “greenflation,” where the term “green” is used to justify almost everything and anything, as long as it can make the claim of lowering carbon." Read his full post here.