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!

Starbucks - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Guest Post by Amila Barakovic

Starbucks Corporation (Seattle WA) is the leading roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in North America and has become a truly global brand. At Starbucks, the company is committed to environmentally, socially and economically responsible leadership in all aspects of the business. The company’s commitment to being a deeply responsible company that contributes positively to communities and the environment is one of the six guiding principles of the company’s mission statement.

The company’s vision is to serve high-quality ethically traded coffee and to promote responsible growing practices for a better future of farmers and a more stable climate. The company’s goal is to provide 100% ethically grown and traded coffee by 2015. Many years ago, Starbucks started working with Conservation International to encourage farmers to use sustainable farming practices. Starbucks also created “Shared Planet,” an online social network to advance the company's commitment to do business in ways that are good for the earth and good for each other.

Starbucks is focused on shrinking its environmental footprint through energy and water conservation, recycling and green construction. Seventy percent of its stores recycle, stores give away used coffee grounds for composting, stores are committed to using 25% less energy, water and other resources, and the company plans to double its green energy purchases. The company has switched to paper cups and has saved approximately 200,000 trees. One of the company’s goals is to develop cups that create no waste after they are used.

The Starbucks Foundation supports literacy, education and youth leadership in communities with stores and makes social investments in countries where the company purchases coffee, tea, and cocoa. Through the Foundation, the company sells Ethos Water to support the Ethos Water Fund which provides water, sanitation and hygiene education programs in emerging economies.

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!

Sustainability Conferences for 2009 - Mark Your Calendars!

Each month we list upcoming webinars on sustainability-related topics. However, there are still plenty of face-to-face conferences on a variety of topics of interest to the sustainable business. Here are a few conferences to mark in your 2009 calendar.

2009 State of Green Business Forum (Feb. 2, San Francisco CA)

UK Anti-Corruption Summit (Feb. 2-4, London UK)

Jerome Ringo: Environmental Evangelist (Feb. 8, Little Rock AR, contact: ARMFSA[at]hotmail.com)

Green Investments Summit (Feb. 9-10, Hong Kong)

Jerome Ringo of the Apollo Alliance Speaks on Green Jobs (Feb. 9-10, Little Rock AR, contact: 501-372-6092)

Climate Change Summit 2009 (Feb. 17-18, London UK)

Doing Good & Doing Well (Feb. 27-28, Barcelona Spain)

FT Sustainable Business, Responsible Investing (March 2, New York NY)

Green Festival (March 28-29, Seattle WA)

Wall Street Green Trading Summit (April 1-2, New York NY)

Carbon TradeEx America (April 7-8, Washington DC)

FORTUNE Brainstorm: Green (April 20-22, Laguna Niguel CA)

Green Supply Chain Summit (April 21-22, London UK)

Green Festival (May 2-3, Denver CO)

Responsible Business Summit (May 11-12, London UK)

Global Anti-Corruption Summit (May 14-15, Washington DC)

Green Festival (May 16-17, Chicago IL)

Greener by Design 2009: Greener Products for Leaner Times (May 19-20, San Francisco CA)

The Future of Anti-Corruption Law and Enforcement in Europe (May 27-28, London UK)

Global Corporate Responsibility Reporting Summit (June 11-12, Brussels Belgium)

Green Festival (Oct. 10-11, Washington DC)

Net Impact North American Conference (Nov. 13-14, New York NY)

Green Business Conference (Nov. 11-12, San Francisco CA)

Green Festival (Nov. 13-15, San Francisco CA)

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!

Galactic Pizza - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Galactic Pizza (Minneapolis MN) makes excellent pizza from local and organic ingredients. But it's not the mouth watering pizza that makes Galactic Pizza our Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week. The company emphasizes environmental and social responsibility in its operations. Just take a look at this long list of sustainability initiatives (from their website):

• When conditions allow, our food is delivered to your door using 100% electric vehicles.
• All of the power purchased to run our restaurant is renewable wind energy.
• All of our mozzarella cheese comes from independent family farmers who humanely raise grass fed cows not treated with rGBH growth hormones or antibiotics.
• We have incorporated a number of organic items into the menu.
• We have the Second Harvest Heartland pizza, where $1 is donated to this hunger relief organization every time the pizza is ordered.
• We strive to use packaging that is either made from recycled materials, or is 100% biodegradable.
• We incorporate hemp products into each menu category, and print our menu on hemp paper. Hemp is not only good for you, it is also very good for the Earth.
• In season, we try to purchase all of our produce from farms here in Minnesota or in nearby Wisconsin.
• We have an in depth waste reduction program utilizing composting for food waste and recycling whenever possible.
• 5% of our pre-tax profits are donated to charity.

Galactic Pizza has been featured by MSNBC, CNNMoney/Fortune, and Discovery's Planet Green, to name just a few. Galactic Pizza was founded by Pete Bonahoom.

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!

Immaculate Baking Company - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Immaculate Baking Company (Hendersonville NC) bakes delicious gourmet all natural and organic baked cookies and organic ready-to-bake cookie dough. The company philosophy is "Bake well, be creative, have fun and give back."

What makes Immaculate Baking Company sustainable and responsible? Immaculate Baking Company works hard to maximize its social impact by baking "Cookies With a Cause." The company created the Folk Artist's Foundation to provide support and exposure for folk artists. Folk art also adorns all cookie packaging. In addition, the company created Soul Food Fund "artreach" programs to reach kids both young and old to help them creatively express themselves. As an aside, the company holds the distinction of baking the World's Biggest Cookie in 2003; 102 feet wide and over 40,000 pounds.

Immaculate Baking Company was started in 1995 by Scott Blackwell.

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!

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!

SunNight Solar - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

SunNight Solar (Houston TX) is a company focused on the triple bottom line that makes solar-powered flashlights. The lights are rugged and durable and suited for harsh conditions in which no light is available. The lights use a low-environmental impact battery and can be used for either task lighting or room lighting. The solar-powered lights offer an alternative to kerosene, wood, and other forms of lighting used in developing countries.

SunNight Solar is home to the extremely popular BoGo Light program. For each flashlight purchased, the company donates one flashlight to a nonprofit for distribution in a developing country and gives them $1 per flashlight to offset importation and distribution costs.

Lights for Good is a fund-raising partnership with nonprofit organizations.

WarLights allows you to purchase a flashlight for distribution to American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Three new giving programs are being developed: Save Our Sisters (which will donate lights to women's groups and collectives in developing countries), Village Lights, and Need It/Take It.

Mark Bent started SunNight Solar in 2005.

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!

Asha Imports - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Asha Imports (Harrison AR) sells Fair Trade environmentally-friendly items imported from India. The line of products includes bags (from recycled material and/or plastics), saris, and accessories.

While Fair Trade ensures that producers are paid fair wages for their work, Asha Imports goes one step further in making a real impact in the lives of producers. Asha Imports partners with others in Calcultta India to offer women in the sex trade an opportunity to leave this lifestyle and instead gain meaningful employment by making jute bags to be distributed through the company. Through additional partnerships, Asha Imports seeks to purchase products from organizations or businesses that employ individuals from slum areas who are seeking to improve their lives.

Asha Imports is a member of the Co-op America Business Network and is a member of the Fair Trade Federation. The company was founded in 2006 by Dylan and Molly Fila.

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!

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!

IceStone - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

IceStone (Brooklyn NY) manufactures surfaces made from recycled glass and concrete. The durable surfaces can be used for countertops, window sills, indoor or outdoor flooring, shower walls, and more. But beyond the beautiful products, what does IceStone do to be a sustainable and responsible company?

By recycling glass and concrete, IceStone saves hundreds of tons of glass from landfills each year. The products are cradle to cradle certified and are manufactured in a day-lit factory. The factory has a cool, low-emissions manufacturing process. IceStone is working to become carbon-neutral, purchases renewable energy credits, and strives to reduce energy usage. The company is working toward water reduction goals and over 80% of the company's waste is recycled, recovered or composted. IceStone is implementing a grey-water recycling system. All petroleum-based machine lubricants have been replaced with soy-based lubricants. Additionally, IceStone conducts environmental education programs for employees.

IceStone’s mission also provides living-wages, health benefits, education programs and life-skill training to employees, including free English as a Second Language classes, all of which are tracked in the social audit with third-party verification. IceStone’s donation program provides free or discounted material to projects that share similar social and environmental goals, with Habitat for Humanity receiving annual donations. The company also partners with community, nonprofit, academic, industrial assistance and local social services groups to promote green-collar job creation, sustainable business practices, and the development of the green building industry.

Within the supply chain, IceStone encourages suppliers to improve sustainability standards. IceStone’s glass and mother-of-pearl are recycled from post-industrial and post-consumer sources. IceStone advocates for stronger glass recycling programs in New York in order to create an infrastructure that allows the commercial re-use of regional waste glass. The company buys cement regionally and advocates for the greening of the cement industry. IceStone continuously conducts product research to seek the most eco-friendly and local materials as possible.

Visit IceStone's website for a list of 10 things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.

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!

VerTerra - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

VerTerra (New York City NY) is a manufacturer of disposable dinnerware. Plates, bowls, and cups are made from 100% renewable and compostable plant matter and water. According to the website,

We start by collecting fallen leaves from plantations without cutting down any trees. Normally, these leaves would be burned on the side of the road. Instead, they are brought to our factory, sprayed with high pressure water, steamed and UV sterilized. We recapture over 80% of the water we use. No chemicals, lacquers, glues, bonding agents or anything toxic are ever used. The entire process uses only a fraction of the energy used in recycling.

The products are durable, will naturally biodegrade in 2 months, and can be used in the microwave, oven, and refrigerator.

Items are made in South Asia by VerTerra’s own employees where employees receive fair wages in safe working conditions and are provided access to healthcare.

VerTerra was founded by Michael Dwork.

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!

Boutique Mix - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Boutique Mix (Washington DC) is a fashion boutique offering "An International Ethnik Chik Kollection" of unique items from around the world. Boutique Mix sources natural organic handmade items following Fair Trade principles and non-handmade items that are organic and use low-impact dyes and processes. Boutique Mix also offers its own line of Miatta-MiMi jewelry and gift baskets using beads and other accessories collected around the world.

Five percent of all Boutique Mix profits go towards rebuilding Sierra Leone by providing school supplies and other neccessities to needy children, and sponsoring children around the world through Plan USA, Children International and The Christian Children's Fund.

Boutique Mix's 2008 Pledge Campaign raises money and supplies for schools and children in Sierra Leone. The campaign seeks to rebuild Sierra Leone and impoverished Africa, one innocent child at a time. Just sending pens, pencils, notebooks, crayons or whatever you can afford for one child makes a difference!!! Boutique Mix will use the money to buy school supplies/uniforms for children at a deserving school(s). The 2008 Pledge Campaign ends November 30, 2008 and there is still time to contribute!

Boutique Mix is also sponsoring a 24 month calendar for 2009-2010 as part of the fund-raising campaign. The calendar is part of the 2009 campaign to raise money to create a scholarship fund for one deserving student at the University of Sierra Leone, and to help revamp the University Library. Part of this money will also be used to donate to Kiva for microloan funding.

Boutique Mix was founded in 2004, and is the creation of MiMi Dabo.

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!

FIO360 - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

FIO360 (Atlanta GA) is the nation's first eco-early care and learning boutique. The building is the first childcare center to be LEED-certified and has floors that emit radiant heat and are made from virgin rubber plants, paint that is zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds), and solar tubes for lighting.

The center uses organic furnishings, such as imported organic rugs, organic wooden toys, no PVC plastic products, and organic mattresses free of formaldehyde and other chemicals. Children are served organic and hormone-free meals using local fresh ingredients are created by the center's chef. The center also uses non-toxic personal care products on children and environmentally-friendly cleaning products throughout the building.

The curriculum is holistic, promotes multi-cultural awareness and learning, and, of course, environmental education. "Kids here open the day with an affirmation, take yoga lessons and recycling classes, eat meals like red pepper quiche and then round out the afternoon with a massage to help them sleep."

FIO360 opened in April 2008 and is the vision of Crissy Klaus.

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!

Natural Fusion Hair Studio - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Natural Fusion Hair Studio (Frederick MD) is an environmentally-friendly hair salon. Natural Fusion Hair Salon was founded by Earl Pindar and Kelly Chapin who combined "their expertise to open an environmentally-friendly hair salon in an effort to increase environmental awareness and do what (they) can in an industry that is not known for sustainability."

The Salon seeks to reduce energy and water usage throughout its operations, recycles, uses non-toxic environmentally-friendly cleaners,
refills bottles, uses only natural and organic hair and beauty products, and purchases from beauty supply companies with sustainable practices. In addition, the Salon gives back to the community and local charities.

Located in an historic house, when they remodeled they preserved the original wood floors and added linoleum floors where new flooring was needed. The cutting stations are 1920’s vanities and the Salon has utilized antiques whenever possible.

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!

Brilliant Earth - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Brilliant Earth (San Francisco CA) specializes in conflict-free diamond jewelry. The conflict-free diamonds are from Canadian mines that follow the country's environmental laws, the most rigorous in the world. Sapphires used in Brilliant Earth jewelry are sourced from Australia or Malawi following fair trade principles. When possible, gold and plantinum are reclaimed through recycled jewelry and industrial waste.

Brilliant Earth dedicates 5% of profits to the nonprofit organizations Green Diamonds and MedShare International to support African communities negatively affected by the diamond trade industry. Brilliant Earth was created by Beth Gerstein and Eric Grossberg.

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!

Burgerville - Sustainable & Responsible Business of the Week

Burgerville (Vancouver WA) serves up healthy fast food. No that's not an oxymoron! Burgerville is a chain of 39 Pacific Northwest quick-service restaurants offering seasonal organic, local, and healthy food.

"Burgers here are made from pastured vegetarian-fed and antibiotic-free beef. The eggs on our breakfast biscuits are from cage-free hens that have never been treated with antibiotics. Salads offer mixed greens topped with smoked salmon and Oregon hazelnuts. Even desserts and sides rely on seasonal, local ingredients—blackberry milkshakes are only available in season, as are the hand-prepared buttermilk-battered onion rings made from Walla Walla sweet onions grown in Washington and Oregon."

In addition, they use hormone-free milk and kid's meals come with safe and educational toys, such as biodegradable garden pots and vegetable seed packets.

Burgerville purchases 100% of their energy usage with wind power credits, they recycle used canola oil into biodiesel, and they offer affordable health-care to employees. They are working toward all 39 restaurants becoming fully recycling and composting.

Burgerville was founded in 1961 by George Propstra and is still family-owned as part of The Holland, Inc.

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!