Nominate our Book as a "Must Read"

Dear Readers: We need your help!  Triple Pundit is asking readers to nominate and vote on a list of of "must read" books on sustainable business.  Please nominate our book, "Sustainable Business: An Executive's Primer" as a "must read."  Next week, readers will be asked to vote on the books that were nominated.  Thank you for your support!

February 2010 Webinars Related to Sustainability & Green Business

Looking for a great learning opportunity without spending a lot of money?  Check out these upcoming webinars.  Remember, save the emissions...do it online!

Energy and Environmental Management Across the Global Enterprise (Feb. 2)

Beyond Grades: The College Sustainability Webinar Series: CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY (Feb. 3)

SFI and FSC - Key Similarities and Differences (Feb. 4)

Green Job Market in Pinellas County FL (Feb. 4)

Federal GHG Reporting for Colleges and Universities (Feb. 10)

Greening Your Nonprofit's IT (Feb. 10)

Positioning for Green - Chain of Custody (Feb. 11)

Greener Transportation: How are campuses greening their transportation systems and tracking their emissions? (Feb. 11)

SFI Labels & Claims (Feb. 16)

Pinellas County FL Green Business Partnership (Feb. 17)

Beyond Grades: The College Sustainability Webinar Series: FOOD & RECYCLING (Feb. 17)

Introduction to the New SFI 2010-2014 Standard (Feb. 18)

SFI and Bioenergy (Feb. 25)

Positioning for Green - Sourcing & Selling Certified Wood (Feb. 25)

Students Join Us As Guest Bloggers

You may notice lots of guest posts over the next 4 months.  Students in the Sustainable Business Practices course at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will be sharing their wisdom with us this semester.  Students have been invited to blog about issues related to sustainable business practices and to also contribute to our ongoing Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week feature.  We look forward to learning from the young bright minds of our future business leaders!

Our Top Stories of 2009

Thank you to all our readers for another wonderful year.  In case you missed it the first time around, check out our top stories of 2009 (based upon number of hits):

1. Sustainability Conferences for 2009
2. Starbucks - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week
3. Online Business Degrees in Sustainability
4. Best Business Programs in Sustainability
5. Top Ten Greenwashing Companies
6. Coca-Cola Company Introduces Innovative Bottle Made From Renewable, Recyclable, Plant-Based Plastic
7. Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week
8. Free College Course: Introduction to Sustainable Engineering
9. A TOMS Shoes Offer for My Friends
10. Green Merchant Alliance - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Business & Climate Change: A Blog Action Day Message

Nearly 10 years ago, Harvard Business Review published What Every Executive Needs to Know About Global Warming (Packard & Reinhardt, 2000).  The article continues to be relevant today and should be read by all managers and executives.

The authors encouraged businesses to look at climate change in terms of risks and opportunities.  Companies whose assets are affected by weather, such as insurance, real estate, agriculture, and tourism, were warned to plan for the consequences of climate change.  And all businesses, regardless of industry, were encouraged to prepare for anticipated regulations to curtail practices believed to be contributing factors to climate change; new opportunities may arise for a variety of companies and industries as a result of these changes.  The authors also advised companies to be honest and transparent with stakeholders and to be public about their intiatives toward climate change mitigation.  Lastly, they stated that there are "no excuses for inaction" in managing the business risks and opportunities associated with climate change.  The authors concluded by stating that thinking through the complexities of how climate change will impact the business is a test of management acumen; some executives are meeting this challenge head-on while others are not--and shareholders should ask why.

If your business is ready to plan for climate change, then I recommend A Three-Pronged Approach to Corporate Climate Strategy (Business for Social Responsibility, 2006).  In order for the world to decrease global emissions by the recommended 70%, companies need to think in terms of zero emissions as they plan their climate change strategies.  In a nutshell, it is recommended that companies analyze their value chains to identify opportunities to become more energy efficient, to invest in carbon emission offsets, and to invest in renewable energy.

Don't forget to participate in your local 350 Climate Action Rally on Saturday, October 24.  The Little Rock, AR event will be held at MacArthur Park from 2-5pm.  Hosted by Audubon Arkansas, 1 Sky, Sierra Club, and Village Commons, the event will feature local musicians, speakers and educational booths with presentations by State Representative Kathy Webb, Sierra Club, and Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church.

Sustainability & Green Business Webinars - September 2009

Now that the kids are back in school, this is the perfect time for you to sign up for a webinar and brush up on your sustainability knowledge or learn something new. Here is a list of upcoming webinars for the month of September. Remember, save the emissions...do it online!

Scoring Suppliers on Sustainability (Sept. 1)
Office Greening 101 (Sept. 2)
How to Write a Sustainability Report (Sept. 3)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: A Webinar for Small Businesses and Nonprofits (Sept. 9)
Creating an Effective Plan for Your Company's Sustainability Efforts (Sept. 9)
Guide to Green Purchasing (Sept. 9)
Profiting from Power Savings (Sept. 10)
LEED Success Strategies: Indoor Air Quality, CO2 Monitoring, & LEED (Sept. 10)
How to Engage Your Community (Sept. 10)
Greening the Clinic: An Introduction to Green Health Care in Primary Care Settings (Sept. 16)
Carbon Offsetting 101 (Sept. 16)
Practice Greenhealth Greening Operations: Healthy Environments - Eliminating DEHP and PVC from the NICU (Sept. 18)

Green & Sustainable Business Webinars for August 2009

From a quick review of the Internet, here are the green and sustainable business webinars we've found for August 2009. Remember, save the emissions...do it online!

How to Create a Paperless Office (Aug. 1)
Office Greening 101 (Aug. 5)
Introduction to Renewable Energy Credits & Carbon Offsets (Aug. 5)
How to "Green" Your Business Travel (Aug 6)
LEED for Neighborhood Development: A Tool to Retrofit the Suburbs (Aug. 6)
Guide to Green Purchasing (Aug. 12)
Communicating Your Sustainability Initiatives (Aug. 12)
How to "Green" Your Meetings (Aug. 13)
LEED and the Urban Heat Island Effect (Aug. 13)
Introduction to GHG Inventories (Aug. 18)
Green Your Event (Aug. 19)
Carbon Offsetting 101 (Aug. 19)
How Green is My Building?: Tools for Measuring the Total ROI of Sustainability (Aug. 19)
How to Develop an Eco-Purchasing System (Aug. 20)
Green Power & LEED Projects (Aug. 26)
SSC Green Auditor Certification (Aug. 26)
How to Create "Green" Benefits (Aug. 27)

Sustainability & Green Business Webinars - April 2009

Sustainable business and green business webinars for April 2009 include:

Reduce Costs While on the Road to Sustainability - Measure, Manage and Reduce the Environmental Costs of your Buildings (April 2)
Cut Costs and Carbon with Your Real Estate Assets (April 8)
Green Energy eForum (April 8)
Meeting Tenant Demands for LEED (April 8)
Comprehensive Approaches to Stormwater Management for Higher Education (April 14)
Understanding Sustainable Dining Options for Higher Education (April 15)
Office Greening 101 (April 15)
Greening Your Office Operations (April 16)
Local Food Networks: Food Localization as a Sustainability Strategy (April 21)
Sustainability Careers for MBAs (April 21)
Sustainability Consulting 101 (April 21)
LEED Case Study: Challenges and Opportunities in Negotiating a Green Transaction (April 22)
A Guide to Green Purchasing (April 22)
Carbon Offsetting (April 29)

Save the emissions...do it online!

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.

Sustainability & Green Business Webinars for March 2009

Mark you calendar for the following sustainability and green business webinars being offered in March 2009. Remember to save the emissions...do it online!

Telling Your Story: Making the Most of Your Greenhouse Gas Reductions and Sustainability Efforts (Mar. 3)
How to Green Your IT (Mar. 4)
How to Write a Sustainability Report (Mar. 5)
LEED for Retail in Action: Case Studies from Early Adopters (Mar. 5)
Creating Climate Action Plans (Mar. 10)
Office Greening 101 (Mar. 11)
How to Engage Your Community (Mar. 12)
96 Hour Sustainability (Mar. 17)
Green Collar Jobs: Sustainable Work in a Low Carbon World (Mar. 17)
Green Purchasing (Mar. 18)
Green Building Incentives 2009: Where & How to Get Them (Mar. 19)
LEED Volume Certification for Retailers (Mar. 19)
Sustainability: Utilizing Standards and Best Practices to Create an Effective Sustainability Strategy (Mar. 24)
LEED 101: Certification & Market Overview for Brokers (Mar. 25)
Carbon Offsetting (Mar. 25)
Sustainability Careers for MBAs (Mar. 26)
Sustainability Consulting 101 (Mar. 31)
Students: Need the Numbers to Back up Your Great Ideas? (Mar. 31)

Green Merchant Alliance - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Green Merchant Alliance (Aspen CO) is a Merchant Services Provider. So how did a credit card processing company make our Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week?

Green Merchant Alliance supports clean renewable energy, public education, and conservation initiatives. When your business signs up with Green Merchant Alliance for credit card transaction processing, Green Merchant Alliance will use 15% of its profit towards the purchase of wind farm renewable energy certificates (REC). Each REC prevents the release of 1392 pounds of carbon dioxide. Companies are also free to purchase additional RECs in order to offset additional emissions.

The company's website features a carbon calculator, tips for reducing your carbon footprint, and daily tips directly from National Geographic's Green Guide. In addition, the website features educational information, such as "Global Warming 101" and "What is Renewable Energy?".

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week is a weekly behind-the-scenes look at what businesses are doing to be more sustainable and responsible in their operations.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week: If they can do it, so can you!

Caracalla - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Caracalla (Little Rock AR) is a salon and day spa with an aggressive recycling program that extends beyond the typical recycling of waste. Some of the unique ways in which Caracalla supports the reduce, reuse, recycle mantra are to buy reclaimed items for retail sale (such as mittens and hats made from old discarded sweaters), they sell vintage items, they recycle cut hair by sending it to Matter of Trust to be woven into hair mats capable of absorbing chemical oil spills, and they recycle worn pantyhose/stockings with Matter of Trust for the same purpose. In addition, the company purchases and sells recycled items, such as paper, bags, office supplies, toilet tissue, hand towels, pet toys, and even biodegradeable bags for picking up dog waste. The salon is decorated with reclaimed and vintage items and uses or sells eco-friendly products, such as homemade herbal wraps (no packaging waste!), bamboo hairbrushes, hemp bags, natural hair and body products, soy candles in recycled glass jars, efficient lighting, and reusable coffee mugs.

Caracalla supports the local economy by purchasing from local and organic suppliers, particularly other sustainable or green businesses, and buys in bulk to reduce packaging waste. The company also supports the local community through charitable donations and by offering free haircuts to customers who are donating hair to charity.

Caracalla was opened in 1997 by Ella Hunt.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week is a weekly behind-the-scenes look at what businesses are doing to be more sustainable and responsible in their operations.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week: If they can do it, so can you!

Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery (New York NY) is an eco-friendly bakery like no other. A creation of The City Bakery, there are two Birdbath locations in Greenwich Village. Pastries are baked at the east location and transported via bicycle rickshaw to the west location. Pastries, of course, are made from local and organic ingredients. But how does Birdbath incorporate sustainability into its business practices and operations?

At Birdbath, the walls are made of wheat, cups made of corn, and countertops made of 100% recycled paper. The bakery was constructed with water-based stains and sealers and used non-toxic paints inside and out. The bakery chose recycled or reclaimed materials for the floors, front door, tin roof, and light fixtures and uses energy-efficient lightbulbs. Birdbath composts, recycles, and is solar-powered. The bakery also offers a 25% discount to those arriving by bicycle or skateboard. And staff wear custom-made jackets made from linen, hemp, and vintage clothing.

Maury Rubin opened The City Bakery in 1990 and his first Birdbath bakery in 2006.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week is a weekly behind-the-scenes look at what businesses are doing to be more sustainable and responsible in their operations.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week: If they can do it, so can you!

Habana Outpost - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Habana Outpost (Brooklyn New York) is a one-of-a-kind restaurant experience that begins with the outdoor food truck (a restored U.S. postal service truck)--that's right, there's no indoor kitchen at this restaurant! Habana Outpost is solar-powered, has both indoor and outdoor seating, uses compostable biodegradable plates, cups, and utensils, has tables made from recycled materials, has a rainwater collection system to water plants and flush toilets, runs a human-powered bicycle-propelled juice blender, and composts and recycles waste.

In addition to these restaurant features, Habana Outpost serves as a community gathering place offering weekly movie nights and a host of other activities. For example, the Kid's Corner offers ecological activities and an "alternative heroes" coloring book (about real-life heroes!). The restaurant hosts a weekend market of local vendors and weekly fashion shows for local designers. They host an annual Earth Day Expo of informative and interactive displays on sustainability and have a gallery display of local artist's works.

Habana Outpost is one of three Habana restaurants in New York City. The company operates Habana Works, Inc., a nonprofit offering free sustainability-related workshops through various programs such as Habana Labs and Urban Studio Brooklyn. Habana Labs is dedicated to researching, developing, applying and teaching the best technology related to ecology and sustainable energy. The most recent Habana Labs project is the Offgrid Outlet, a motorized, sun-following solar panel. Another program of Habana Works is the Urban Studio Brooklyn, an architectural design/build program which recently launched the Fishmobile, a human-powered mobile fishing clinic/wetlab.

Habana Outpost was opened in 2005 by Sean Meenan owner of Manhattan's Cafe Habana and Habana To Go; the company of restaurants was started in 1998. Watch one of their many videos here.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week is a weekly behind-the-scenes look at what businesses are doing to be more sustainable and responsible in their operations.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week: If they can do it, so can you!

Sustainable & Responsible Businesses - 2008 Recap

Each week we highlight a "Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week." We want to give you a broad picture of for-profit companies pursuing positive economic, environmental, and social impacts. Fortunately, the list is growing of companies that are models for success and of companies leading change in this new era of sustainable business.

If you are not familiar with these companies, read our posts and visit their websites! We look forward to highlighting more Sustainable & Responsible Businesses of the Week in the upcoming year and we hope you'll pledge to make your business more sustainable in 2009. "Because sustainable business is good business!"

To recap from 2008, here are our picks for Sustainable & Responsible Businesses of the Week:


Alaffia/Agbanga Karite

Asha Imports

baabaaZuZu

Better World Club

BetterWorld Telecom

Brilliant Earth

Boutique Mix

Burgerville

Clean Air Lawn Care

Clean Green Collision

Durango McKinley Paper Company

Earth Tones

ECO Car Wash

Fair Trade Sports

FIO360

Frog's Leap Winery

Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa

Galactic Pizza

Greyston Bakery

Great Lakes Brewing Company

Green Microgym

Greenway Maid

Higher Grounds Trading Company

Hopworks Urban Brewery

IceStone

Immaculate Baking Company

Indigenous Designs

Izzy's Ice Cream

Juice Peddler

LJ Urban

Massanelli's Cleaners

Mom's Best Naturals

Natural Fusion Hair Studio

Newman's Own

Palm Theater

Pinehurst Inn

Pizza Fusion

sweetriot

SunNight Solar

Tropical Salvage

VerTerra

White Bear Racquet & Swim Club

White Dog Cafe

Zambezi Organic Forest Honey

Happy Holidays from your friends at Sustainable Business Design Consulting.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week: If they can do it, so can you!

Hopworks Urban Brewery - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland OR) is a brewpup offering organic beer and restaurant menu items made from local ingredients. But it's what goes on behind the scenes that makes Hopworks Urban Brewery our Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week.

Hopworks Urban Brewery refers to itself as an Eco-Brewpub and touts everything from composting to rain barrels to being powered by 100% renewable energy. No one tells it better than Hopworks Urban Brewery's own website:

Sustainable Points-No LEED green washing, just the facts G

Brewery

1. Biodiesel fired brew kettle using HUB fryer oil


2. Waste pizza oven heat captured to heat brewing water


3. Organic barley malt


4. Zero VOC epoxy floor coating with walnut shell broadcast for texture


5. Cool-Fit pre-insulated glycol pipe-most energy efficient pipe available


6. T8 fluorescent lights-cool running and energy efficient


7. Flow meter on brewing water to minimize waste


8. Organic spent grain used by local cattle rancher


9. Biodiesel fired delivery truck


10. Wort heat exchanger hot water recovered for subsequent brew


11. Walk in cooler compressor remote operated on cool roof


12. Tasting room bar base constructed from recycled material
    
    

Building

1. Building professionally deconstructed- all useable material recovered and sorted


2. 1/3 all framing material used recovered from deconstruction
   


3. Ceiling blasted with corn cob instead of sand-eliminates risk of silicosis for blasters


4. Booths constructed entirely from ceiling joists


5. Finish trim constructed from recovered trim


6. Vault finished with recovered ship-lap sheathing


7. Bar base constructed from recovered framing, office paneling, and ceiling joists


8. Bar foot rail made of old boiler pipe


9. Tables recovered from restaurant remodel


10. Low and zero VOC finishes


11. Reflective membrane roof w/3" rigid insulation-74% UV radiation reflected, no heat island, significantly lower operating environment temp for mech equipment on roof


12. Air conditioner economizers


13. 93% efficient gas furnaces, 4 residential furnaces provide zone heating more efficiently than commercial gas packs


14. Insulated, low-E window and door upgrade


15. Skylights provide natural light to mezzanine


16. Hot water recirculation provides hot water on demand-no wasted line purge


17. Low flow toilets- 1.28 GPF


18. Hand dryers eliminate paper waste- fastest, most energy efficient dryers available


19. Plentiful covered and uncovered bike parking


20. Bike repair stand at front door
    
    

Parking and Landscape

1. 6000 sqft Eco-paver west parking lot- rain water remains on-site


2. Native species used exclusively for landscaping


3. South Parking lot features 5000 gallon retention/settling pond


4. Rain barrel captures roof run off- used for irrigation, general wash down, and future greenhouse


5. South retaining wall constructed of recycled basement slab

Kitchen

1. Organic Made from scratch Roma Tomato Sauce


2. Use of Shepherd's Grain "Food Alliance Certified" flour for our pizza dough & other bread items (pretzels, foccacia bread)


3. Organic Milk


4. Organic field greens, romaine & various seasonal vegetables


5. Dressings made from scratch, less packaging


6. 100 % post consumer waste


7. 100% recycled dinner napkins


8. Waste recycling programs that strive for zero waste


9. Recycling food waste for animal feed & composting


10. Organic coffee from Stumptown "Holler Mtn"


11. All to go material 100% post consumer 100% recycled material


12. Compostable plastic to go cups (corn based)

Hopworks Urban Brewery was founded by Christian Ettinger in 2008.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week is a weekly behind-the-scenes look at what businesses are doing to be more sustainable and responsible in their operations.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week: If they can do it, so can you!

How To Become a Sustainable Business

How does a business become a sustainable business? First, keep in mind that there is no easy one-step approach to becoming sustainable; sustainability is a continuous process that requires critical self-analysis, honesty, innovation, and risk. That is, before beginning this journey toward sustainability, a business should be prepared to be self-reflective, critical, and honest about all its operations and associated impacts and a business should be ready to take risks and be innovative, moving beyond its comfort zone and business as usual.

Second, consider that sustainability encompasses the operations of the entire business: every process, every activity, and every function. A business will not be able to implement one or a few changes and proclaim that the business has now achieved sustainability. A business should be prepared to apply the aforementioned critical self-analysis, honesty, innovation, and risk across all processes, all activities, and every function of the business. Sustainability is a company-wide change in mindsets, views, and practices related to how the business operates.

Lastly, realize that sustainability incorporates a triple bottom line in evaluating company performance: the environmental, social, and economic impact of the business (also referred to as planet, people, and profit). Since pursuit of this triple bottom line is central to sustainability, it requires further explanation.

Environmental Impact

The efforts that a business makes to reduce its environmental impact is equated with the term "going green." Since "green" initiatives can often be translated into financial terms (cost, return on investment, savings), this is often the first step a business will pursue in beginning the sustainability journey. Among some of the commonly implemented activities here are creating company "green teams" to explore and champion ways to become more environmentally-friendly, recycling and reducing waste, using recycled products, changing to compact flourescent lightbulbs, implementing energy-saving activities, pursuing LEED certification, and implementing ISO 14001 standards. Check out our list of FREE Ways to Begin Greening Your Business.

Social Impact

The efforts that a business makes to increase its social impact often refer to the impact of company policies, procedures, practices, and operations on employees, on those employed by its suppliers, and on communities, cultures, and society. A business should critically evaluate the impact of its own practices and policies on employees. A business should also demand transparency from suppliers to understand where all supplies were generated and the conditions under which they were produced. Common activities include the use of Free Trade products (such as coffee in the break room), avoiding products that may have been made with child or forced labor (check out Co-op America's 9 Cool Ways to Avoid Sweatshops), contributions to solving social problems, implementing SA8000 standards, providing fair and safe working conditions, living wages, insurance and other benefits, and a work-life balance.

Economic Impact

The efforts that a business makes to maximize its economic impact often refer to the economic impact the business has on communities or societies within which it operates. This does not refer to the "profit" the company shows on financial statements, but rather refers how the community or society "profits" from the presence of the business, which in turn will result in continued profitability for the company. That is, economic impact refers to the continued prosperity of the business due to the economic benefit it provides to the community or society. Common activities include the payment of fair and living wages, providing positive impacts on the local economy and on local economic development (job creation, tax dollars, property values), and assessing the stress or relief created for local public service systems as a result of the business' operations.

So how can your business become a sustainable busines? To begin your journey, pick one thing, one process, one activity, or one department. Be prepared to apply critical self-analysis and be honest in identifying the associated environmental, social, and/or economic impact of current business practices, processes, and operations. Begin by measuring the current impact, set goals and timelines for improvement, and then track and measure those improvements and results. Don't be afraid to experiment and learn what other companies are doing. Listen to employees, suppliers, customers, and others, including critics.

As your company begins its sustainability journey, remember that changes will impact operations company-wide. Therefore, sustainability education is important for employees, suppliers, and customers alike, as is communication of progress toward sustainability goals. It is also important not to overstate claims or accomplishments (referred to as "greenwashing"). Yet another word of caution is to remember that sustainability is three-pronged, while "green" is becoming mainstream, sustainability requires that you not overlook the other areas of impact (social and economic impacts).

As a company begins to build a track record of changes and successes, continue bringing more processes, activities, and departments into the fold until the entire organization is focused on the triple-bottom line of sustainability. There is no end to this journey, it is a continuous process.

Newman's Own: A Tribute - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

In honor of Paul Newman, this week's Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week will be devoted to Newman's Own, a pioneer in natural organic products and corporate philanthropy.

Newman's Own, Inc. (Westport CT) was founded in 1982 by Paul Newman and A.E. Hotchner. The company offers over 150 varieties of all-natural foods and beverages. The company donates all profits and royalties after taxes for educational and charitable purposes. To date, Newman's Own has generated over $250 million in proceeds to thousands of charities worldwide. Particularly close to his heart were the Hole in the Wall Camps, now the leading global family of camps for children with life-threatening illnesses, which Paul Newman started over 20 years ago.

Today, Newman’s Own is a thriving company with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week is a weekly behind-the-scenes look at what businesses are doing to be more sustainable and responsible in their operations.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week: If they can do it, so can you!

October 2008 Sustainability Webinars

Following is a list of upcoming sustainability-related webinars for the month of October 2008.

Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Methods and Best Practices (Oct. 1)
Elements of Green Leases (Oct. 1)
Ten Steps to Getting Started with Practice Greenhealth (Oct. 3)
Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhood Projects (Oct. 7)
Go Green From the Inside Out: Developing a Corporate Environment Program (Oct. 7)
An Eco-Design Overview (Oct. 8)
Going Paperless and the Environmental Impact of Architectural Practices (Oct. 14)
Energy Efficiency for Your Business: The Low-Hanging Fruit (Oct. 14)
Greening Your Office (Oct. 15)
Writing a Greenhouse Gas Action Plan (Oct. 15)
Energy Efficiency in County Buildings: Southeast Region (Oct. 16)
Linking Renewables and Demand Response (Oct. 21)
Green Purchasing (Oct. 22)
Sustainability Consulting 101 (Oct. 22)
Green Power Markets and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiatives (Oct. 23)
Energy Use in Hospitals (Oct. 24)
Financial Mechanisms for Campus Sustainability (Oct. 29)
Carbon Offsetting (Oct. 29)
Biofuels: What They Mean for County Fleets (Oct. 29)

Save the emissions...do it online!

Massanelli's Cleaners - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Massanelli's Cleaners (Jonesboro AR) offers dry-cleaning and fire/water recovery and restoration services.

Massanelli's Cleaners utilizes a completely perc-free, environmentally friendly cleaning process, non-toxic, odorless cleaning process that has been thoroughly tested by the Environmental Protection Agency and causes neither short nor long term health risks. Cleaning agents are 100% biodegradable and earth-friendly and the perchloroethylene-free (perc-free) cleaning process is gentle not only on your clothing and textiles but on the environment as well.

In an effort to further reduce Massanelli's Cleaners' carbon footprint, the company has joined the CarbonFree Small business program. The company has been recognized for environmental stewardship and is an official sponsor of the upcoming Green Jobs event to be held at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Massanelli's Cleaners supports numerous charitable organizations and has a strong philanthropy program.

Massanelli's Cleaners began in 1948 and is currently owned and operated by Len and Sandie Yun - Pipkin.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week is a weekly behind-the-scenes look at what businesses are doing to be more sustainable and responsible in their operations.

Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week: If they can do it, so can you!