Weekly News Roundup from the Sustainability Sector
On August 11, 2011 Kana Hotel Group in Tupelo, MS proudly announced their decision to join the growing ranks of Green Hotels. Their Hampton Inn and Suites Tupelo/Barnes Crossing location will have its grand opening later this month. The site incorporates a long list of eco-friendly and energy management systems.The property includes LED lighting with censor controls, tankless water heaters, an ozone laundry system, heat and exhaust air recovery systems, reflective roofing, as well as dual flush toilets, faucets, showerheads and aerators.
The next day, August 12, 2011, another Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites Miami Brickell-Downtown in Miami, FL declared that they have obtained their LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification. There will be many green elements utilized at this property, among them; energy management systems, accommodations for recharging electric cars, xeriscaping as well as a 36,000 gallon cistern to collect rainwater, dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets, a reuse program for linens and towels, as well as an ozone laundry system.
Also on August 12, 2011: the first New York hotel to attain Silver EarthCheck Certification is The Pierre, a Taj Hotel. Taj Hotel Resorts and Palaces, while maintaining high-quality luxury, is also dedicated to Green Hotels. This lodging will offer organic mattresses, energy-efficient windows and will recycle 100 percent of their glass, paper and plastic. They also pledge to use products that are sustainable in biodegradable containers and to use 85 percent of their food from organic, locally-obtained sources.Taj Hotels will also be striving to institute more sustainability in the future. They are currently researching the use of biodegradable chemicals, electricity that uses natural gas and they plan to create an herb garden.
Joel Miller and Cori Benefiel, owners of Ravine, a restaurant in Oxford, MS recently received the Oxford/Lafayette County University of Mississippi Sustainable Business award, although they say they’ve been living and operating sustainably for several years. They were pleased to accept the award in hopes that it will highlight eco-friendly businesses, especially in the restaurant/hospitality industry and show that Green Hotels have tangible benefits that also improve the bottom line. They have a real passion for green living and it seems they actually ‘think’ green’. Never just a fad with the owners of Ravine, their mission was clear from the beginning, starting with an existing structure, a former Bed & Breakfast. As they renovated they salvaged, recycled and reused everything they could. They even bought recycled kitchen equipment. And they have made their residence upstairs, above the restaurant.
Besides growing organic vegetables for food as well as flowers to decorate with and composting vegetable waste matter to feed the plants, they also hang bird and bat houses around the property for natural mosquito control. Anything they don’t grow is sourced locally and any surplus is donated somewhere in the nearby area: food scraps for farmers to feed livestock, excess menu items to churches and local charities. Ravine is associated and involved with several area charities. Joel and Cori even drive to Memphis to recycle their glass, since Oxford doesn’t have a facility for glass recycling.
Besides the fact that eco-friendly restaurants and organic gardening are great for the environment, research shows that these practices also cut down on business operating costs and quite often the benefits even increase with time. Sustainable Conservation and Zero Waste Alliance, as well as Cornell School of Hotel Administration have done extensive studies that prove this and that are available at their websites.
Back to School the Green Way
Today’s parents and kids seem to live on an unsteady edge, torn between wanting everything fast and easy to fit our high speed lifestyles, but also want to go green and make our world a better place. Sometimes, green is a challenge as we need to drive our gas guzzling mini vans from soccer practice to school then home, or when we want to just grab a fast food burger in the middle of our fast paced day. But there are certain errands that simply need to be done, and doing them with just a little green finesse does not add much time at all. One of those tasks is shopping for school supplies.
What to Buy? Of course, the specifics of your child’s list will vary from school to school, and grade to grade. But for most of your basic school supplies you are likely to find a green option. Following are a few suggestions for specific items you can “green” in your child’s school day:
Lunch boxes: Sure, a classic paper bag may be recyclable, but reusable is even more eco-friendly! Send your child off in style with a reusable lunch bag. There are a variety of great lunch box choices in your local Target, Kmart or Wal-mart, and of course online with Amazon. One great new option is the Pack-It lunch box, available online, which has built in cold packs allowing you to safely send your child off to school with lunch meats and other perishable items for their snacks and lunch.
Sandwich bags: Forget the disposable zipper bags or those cheap plastic baggies with the fold-over tops that let your little one’s sandwich get hard. Go green by investing – that is right, investing – in a reusable sandwich bag. These little bags (or, they also come in hard plastic) keep your child’s sandwich safe and fresh, without creating trash. Choose one that is dishwasher safe and you will know it is durable.
Pencils and pens: Yep, despite the computer revolution your little tyke’s still need some good old pencils and pens to get them through a day at school. Today there are a variety of eco-friendly options available, often including pencils made from recycled materials. You can usually buy these right in your neighborhood store. Biodegradable pens look like plastic, but they are actually made from corn products which will break down over time after disposal.
Adhesive paste: Also known as “glue” there are a variety of pastes that are not just non-toxic, they are actually all natural. Apparently, potato starch makes a great adhesive, fit for paper or fabric. Look for it at a green store near you or online.
Where to Shop? The Ultimate Green Store is a great online source for all your green supplies. From lunch boxes to pencils, backpacks to erasers, they have everything your kid needs to get their thinking caps working and their backsides on the bus. During back to school they often offer free shipping, allowing you to shop green, save your own green and even be green by leaving your car parked in the driveway.
Green Irene is another online retailer that offers a variety of supplies to help school be more green. This online retailer is a particularly great option for lunch boxes and reusable sandwich bags, helping eliminate the waste too often associated with the brown bag school lunch.
The Grass Roots Store online also carries a wide array of Earth friendly products. Among their school supplies are biodegradable pens that will break down within one year after they are thrown away.
Office Depot and Staples are physical office supply stores that may surprise you with their selection of school supplies as well as their selection of green school supplies. Among the standouts are recycled pens with biodegradable ink and recycled paper.
Send them Off Right With just a little extra paying attention you can send your kid off to school in eco-friendly style. The variety’s of earth friendly school supplies are so numerous that little extra work will be required on your part. Simply take advantage of what is out there, shopping online or in store but taking a moment to look around and choose the eco-friendly options.
The Technology Behind Timberland Bionic Canvas
Shoes are not always the first thing you think about when you think green or environment. First,shoes are rarely the color green, but more to the point they are rarely made with recycling or energy efficiency in mind. Many shoes use animal products and petroleum products, with no concern for eco-friendliness or conservation of materials. But now Timberland has developed a new canvas shoe which is groundbreaking in its materials – Bionic canvas.
The Technology Behind Bionic Canvas: The technology behind Bionic canvas is exciting, unique and very new. This canvas is woven from unique, strong, patented fibers that combine the best of renewable,natural resources with recycled products. The basic magic behind Bionic canvas is the thread. First, Timberland researchers created a unique, durable yet pliable Bionic thread, and then used that to weave Bionic canvas.
Bionic canvas is made out of thread that is woven in a double helixstructure; this is a method of weaving layers of thread. The thread used to weave Bionic canvas starts with a durable PET core. PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate. It does not sound too green, does it? Well, it can be. PET is a type of food grade, inexpensive, lightweight, shatter resistant plastic, but it is also recyclable, bearing the “1” level recycle label. The PET used in Bionic canvas has already been recycled, meaning that no new petroleum is used to create this canvas thread.
For Bionic thread, this PET core is then wrapped in thin threads of recycled plastic. Finally, this package of recycled plastic is wrapped in an organic cotton which is grown without pesticides or fertilizer. Once woven into the shoe canvas, Bionic canvas is twice as strong as traditional shoe canvas and is 30% stronger than other canvas. This makes the Timberland Bionic canvas shoe one of the most durable shoes on the market, perfect for work or hard working play.
The Style of Bionic Canvas: With Timberland design and Bionic canvas durability, a great shoe has been born. Timberland uses this new, durable fabric to create a variety of shoe styles and types for both men and women, suitable for both work and play.
Functional design was the ideal behind this new Bionic canvas.Timberland has met their goal of functional design in a way that embraces organic and recycled products to create new, necessary footwear. Among the most popular styles that Timberland has designed with Bionic canvas are the following:
- Earthkeeper Cupsole 2.0 Canvas Deck Chukka: This shoe,designed for men, features Bionic canvas on top, treated with water proofing technology. To round out a strong, durable and eco-friendly shoe the soles are made of green rubber, a type of environmentally friendly, recycled rubber. This is a perfect shoe,ready for tough work in any climate or environment, from a day on the construction site to a weekend hiking in the mountains.
- City Adventure Split Cupsole Leather and Fabric Ox: For the urban man, Timberland has designed the City Adventure shoe. Bionic canvas blended with suede makes this shoe extra durable. Lined with a moisture wicking material, these shoes keep sweat away from the skin keeping you dry and comfortable. The foot bed is made of an anti-fatigue material and the sole is made of Gripstick rubber to last on those long treks through the city or the park.
- Earthkeepers Vintera Chukka: Designed for women only, this shoe has an earthy look inspired by vintage travel luggage. The shoe is designed with a combination of Bionic canvas and burnished leather, which wears beautifully giving them an even more interesting look the longer you own them. The PET liner offers climate control and breathability, while the removable sole lining provides all day comfort. The flexible rubber soles are light weight and provide maximum traction.
- Earthkeepers Vintera Oxford. Another women-only design, the oxford is casual yet stylish. This shoe is lightweight, flexible and durable. The lining is breathable and eco-friendly. Beautiful and durable, this is a perfect shoe for daily wear.
The Top 10 Green Irene Eco-Friendly Products
Green Irene is an exciting website which provides both a source of information on green and eco-friendly products and a place to purchase them at a reasonable cost. The experts at Green Irene know their products and they know the earth! Green Irene makes many of their own products and they are available to answer questions and help you, your home or your business go green! Following is a discussion of the top 10 green items that the GBB suggests from GreenIrene, so that you can take the pain out of going green.
Keeping Your Home Safe
Going green at home is an important part of keeping your family safe and well. Consider these environmentally friendly products for the home:
1) Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Laundry Detergent: Few people realize how not eco-friendly most laundry detergent is. Full of harsh chemicals and even toxins, most commercial laundry detergent is not good for your family or the environment. Enter Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Laundry Detergent, available through Green Irene. This detergent is hard working, but also safe and gentle on your clothes, your family and the environment.
2) Rayovac Hybrid Battery Charger: Using rechargeable batteries is one of the easiest, most cost effective things your family can do to go green. Perfect for any home electronic or gadget, recycled batteries are inexpensive and easy to use.
3) Kill-A-Watt EZ Deluxe model: This is a nifty little gadget that can save you money and make your house more green by telling you how much electricity your various home appliances are using. Simply plug this into the outlet, then plug in any appliance and a read-out tells you how much power the appliance is using. You’ll be shocked at how much energy some gadgets use even when turned off!
4) Green Irene Microfiber All-Purpose Cloth: Simple, yet effective, these little clothes are perfect for wiping down surfaces or cleaning up spills. Soft and absorbent, they can keep a fortune in paper towels out of the dump.
Keeping Your Workplace Economical and Green. With today’s emphasis on sustainable business practices, going green has gone full force intothe work place. Keep your office green with the following eco-friendly products:
5) Green Irene LED Light Bulbs: LED light bulbs are the newest fashion in building lighting.Using energy efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs) these lights last longer than traditional bulbs or CFLs and consume less energy.
6) Green Irene Biodegradable Table Wear: Make even break time and work parties more environmentally friendly by using natural, biodegradable cups made from corn and sugarcane in your company break room or picnic.
7)Instant Off Water Saver: This easily installed unit can save up to10,000 gallons of water a year by shutting off the water when not in-use. Simply screw it in as a replacement of the existing aerator and your company is saving money.
8)Recycling Receptacles: Available in a variety of sizes and styles,these simple plastic bins help to encourage recycling in the workplace, reducing trash and helping the environment. Try the 30 gallon Smiley Recycling Receptacle for a user-friendly, fun option.
Green Irene has a variety of products to help you stay green on the go. Whether you need a giftor want to make even your exercise more green by avoiding water bottles, this website has youranswer. Consider these products to make you green on the go:
9) Green Irene Gift Bags: Whether buying a gift for a birthday, holiday graduation or just to say “Be green,” Green Irene has a variety of amazing, environmentally friendly gift bags to choose from. One of the neatest is their “Drop the Bottle Gift Bag.” They fill a beautiful blue, reusable nylon bag with everything a person needs to stay water bottle free for an entire year! Included in this kit are a water filter, two reusable resin bottles, and two stainless steel bottles.
10) Lunch Skins Sandwich Size Bag: With Green Irene you can stop throwing away little plastic bags everyday by purchasing a reusable, and very adorable,lunch skin sandwich bag. These bags are just the right size to hold a single sandwich free from harm and air. They are reusable, machine washable, safe and very fun! Available in a variety of styles and colors, from flowers to sharks, these Velcro closing sandwich bags are perfect for any lunch on the run.
Going Green: Generating Employee Buy In
Going green? Almost as quickly as that particular phrase became a buzz word, it is becoming a business standard. It is no secret that green business’ draw in more clients, form deeper networking relationships with other green companies, and save a tremendous amount of money each year on things such as energy bills. Green ideas are both profitable and frugal; two concepts that often do not play well together. That is probably the main attraction between sustainability, and a companies bottom line. No longer is environmental consciousness for the former hippie, or the eco-athletically inclined. Business CEO’s alike are becoming vastly aware of the charming benefits of a green atmosphere, and the advantages are not difficult to see.
Beginning a green campaign is not always easy, from start-up costs– which are eventually offset by savings, innovative ideas, employee buy in, and the hardest part of all– a change in habits. Whether a company already has an action plan in place, or is still in the conceptual stage, their green dreams will never come to fruition lacking employee buy in. Without the team jumping on the wagon, efforts could be viewed as yet another way for a company to pinch pennies. Sharing heart and vision is key; here are some other tips to make it happen.
1. Begin with a Green Team: Nothing creates buy in more than owning the idea or concept. Select a few key employees from various departments, or even post a sign up, and allow them to dream up ideas on the who, what, where, why, and how of making their office green. I have also heard of companies launching “town meetings”, where they gather their teams and allow open discussion to proposed green changes, allow questions to be asked, and address any fears of the new and proposed policies.
2. Select a Charity: At a company I used to work for, we were approached by a local recycling program. Paper Retriever recycling noticed that our lot was ideal to place one of their receptacles, thus making it available to the community. The advantage to this was the pay back incentives. For use of our lot, Paper Retriever would cut us check based on the amount of paper collected in the bin each month. As employees, we selected a charity together, we placed small bins near copiers, in offices, in cubicles, and just about every reasonable place we could find. After all, making it convenient for employees to participate is key. Not only did our team quickly adapt to placing their papers in the recycling bins, but they began to bring papers from home. They made total lifestyle changes when it came to the way they disposed of trash. The paper recycling bin was our companies first green effort, and it launched a total green campaign and overhaul. Nearly everyone jumped in!
3. Make it Worth While– Cash is Key: We all like the idea of recognition for our efforts, and in the form of cash or gift cards, it is not hard to assume that the majority will jump in- both feet first. Incentives can vary from gift cards, lunches, late start mornings, to quarterly or annual bonuses. Be unique with who they are given to; give away incentives to employees who consistently turn off their lights and computers, shut their office doors to regulate temperatures, separate their office recyclables, come up with a new green idea, or use public transportation. People work for rewards, and greenness will quickly become part of your companies DNA.
4. Buy plants: Not only do they relax employees, create more oxygen in the air, and discharge negative ions from computers, they are also visual statements of the new green tempo. In pretty much every office setting there is at least one employee who gardens as a hobby. Set this employee in charge of caring for the plants, I am sure they would appreciate the desk break to tend the office greenery.
5. Educate: Once a quarter, yearly, for five minutes during the company meeting, it doesn’t really matter, just set aside some time every now and then to educate employees on why they are doing what they are doing. Understanding breeds responsibility, which in turn breeds action. Unity is inevitable when there is a common bond or goal. No longer is good pay and great benefits incentive enough to keep an employee. People long to feel like they are a part of something that is making a difference. I recently read in Time Magazine that one third of employees would prefer to work at a green company.
6. Make it Fun and not Dutiful: If going green is burdensome, then there will be no unity, and the vision will die. Incentives help generate excitement, openness to ideas, concepts and suggestions create buy in, and realistic expectations lighten the load.
7. Be Flexible, but Committed: This is absolutely a must. The very nature of change is enough to generate discord and frustration. It instantly pushes some people out. Although those voices are sometimes the loudest, they are almost never the majority. Be flexible in implementation, but committed tot he goal. Those who remain typically show higher productivity, and a stronger commitment to the company and to the vision.
8. Follow Through– Don’t Stop at the Vision: Casting the vision is not enough. Starting out is always the most difficult part, but do not let the vision fall flat. Revisit, reinvent, and restrategize until the flow becomes natural. Get advice by networking with other green companies, and do not give up.
9. Adapt Your Own Lifestyle: Employees need to see their upper management making changes too. Make some obvious changes in your own life that show that you are adapting to a green lifestyle as well. Recycle, talk about it, use plastic water bottles, a standard coffee cup, and anything you can think of to prove that this is important to you.
10. Post Visible Results: Show employees how much less energy was consumed from month to month, how much money was given to a specific charity, what changes have been made to their work environment, goals for the following month, and any other statistic to generate excitement. We love seeing what our efforts create, and we deserve to be excited over them. Going green changes the culture of a company, so let it be easy and exciting.
Making small changes over a period of time can soften the blow, and keep the vision at the forefront. It is worth while for companies, but be patient, employees will buy in, they just need a jumping off point.
Author: Jacob Martin Director of Marketing at US Water where we sell Green Products Like the Green Wave Salt-Free Water Softener.
Dining Out Green
Let’s face it; Americans love to eat out. Sure, we know that eating at home is less expensive, usually healthier and provides other benefits, but nothing says relaxation like an amazing meal cooked and served at a great restaurant. The good news is that eating out can actually be green, and today many food service establishments are embracing eco-friendliness by going green with their daily food preparations and sustainable business practices, helping you feel good about comfort food! Following is a brief list of just a few of the popular food service chains who are starting to go green.
Ruggles Green
Founded in 2008, Ruggles Green is a restaurant dedicated to eating green. Ruggles Green was created to cater to the casual yet discerning customer who likes their food organic, healthy, all natural and delicious – and perhaps with a bottle of amazing organic wine. Specializing in wood-fired organic pizza, and also boasting an amazing organic macaroni and cheese, this restaurant is currently limited to two locations in Houston, Texas, but is bound to be so well received that it will spread across the country.
Starbucks
When you think of green, visions of coffee filled paper cups are probably not the first thing to come to mind. But sometimes going green is about finding a better, more sustainable way to give the customer what they want and Starbucks is working to do just that. Starbucks has worked to minimize its waste by using recycled material in their cups, using less materials to make their cups, recycling one or more specific consumables in each store, and encouraging customers to use refillable cups rather than disposable. Starbucks also strives for responsible purchasing of their coffee and cocoa products. Finally, they are working on development of a series of new buildings all of which will seek LEED accreditation, indicating that they have been built with the environment in mind.
Jamba Juice : A huge fruit juice chain specializing in vitamin smoothies and all fruit drinks, Jamba Juice has always strived to make their products natural and delicious. Today, they are taking that commitment further by selling all natural Jamb Juice ingredients in Whole Foods Health Food Stores. In addition to promoting healthful ingredients and increasing their own use of organic products in their stores, in 2009 Jamba Juice announced a new effort to promote sustainable business by reducing waste, recycling, and implementing electricity reduction programs. They are also working with LEED to develop best practices of energy use for businesses across the country.
Berripop: Founded in Texas in 2007, Berripop has offered refreshing, natural non-fat yogurt desserts that are tasty and healthful. Berripop uses no artificial growth hormones in their yogurt and promises a high level of calcium and natural, active probiotic cultures, which aid digestion. With a motto like “Love your Body,” it has to be good.
McDonald’s: Green might not be the first thought you have when you think of this burger mogul, but McDonalds has been working on sustainable business practices for years. First they became involved in various green causes outside the restaurant, now they are moving into their own stores to reduce waste and recycle. In many markets, McDonalds uses their old cooking oil to create biodiesel which powers their own fleet vehicles. They strive to purchase their supplies near source to reduce shipping costs. In 2009, McDonalds opened their first green restaurant, which uses solar powered lights, renewable materials, drought tolerant plants and includes car chargers in the parking lot.
