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	<title>The goodMix &#187; Etc</title>
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		<title>True Green</title>
		<link>http://thegoodmix.com/true-green/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:53:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Janet Pomeroy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Etc]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[EcoGirl Patricia Dines helps NorthBay biz readers see beyond enticing green façades to uncover the products and approaches that support true environmental change.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Ftrue-green%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Ftrue-green%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Note: This was the August cover story for the North Bay Business Times written by Patricia Dines. You can download the <a href="http://www.patriciadines.info/a_NBbGreenwashing10.html">entire PDF of the edition at the author&#8217;s site</a>: or read it online at the <a href="http://www.northbaybiz.com/General_Articles/General_Articles/True_Green.php">North Bay Business Journal</a>.</p>
<p>by Patricia Dines<br />
August 2010<br />
NorthBay Biz Magazine<br />
Moving beyond greenwashing to create authentic eco-success.</p>
<p>EcoGirl Patricia Dines helps NorthBay biz readers see beyond enticing green façades to uncover the products and approaches that support true environmental change.</p>
<p>Everywhere we turn, it seems we’re bombarded with ads for green  products, services, political candidates, ballot measures and more. How  on earth can we identify the ones we want to support while dodging the  greenwashers—those coated only with a superficial green veneer to coax  us out of our hard-earned money and votes? More important, how do we  accurately describe our own company’s level of green without overstating  it and risking the wrath of the green-savvy marketplace?</p>
<p>These concerns quickly lead to one vital but daunting question: What  does “green” actually mean? Sure, we all have a sense that it implies  walking lightly on the earth. But when we look for specifics, we hear a  baffling variety of passionately stated opinions and definitions,  ranging from simple actions that seem too small to make a difference to  impossible standards that surely few could meet.</p>
<p>So, to help clear up the confusion, we decided to distill what you need  to know to steer around the greenwashing hazards and take actions that  meaningfully contribute to the eco-changes our culture so urgently needs  to make.<br />
Recognizing greenwashing’s various forms<em><strong><br />
</strong></em></p>
<p>It’s not just our imagination that green claims have increased. A study by <a href="http://www.terrachoice.com/" target="_blank">TerraChoice Environmental Marketing</a> found that eco-ads almost tripled between 2006 and 2008, and the  average number of green-labeled products per store nearly doubled  between 2007 and 2008.</p>
<p>This increased attention reflects the good news of people’s growing  desire to “do the right thing.” According to a 2007 survey by the <a href="http://www.nmisolutions.com/" target="_blank">Natural Marketing Institute</a> (NMI), 58 percent of Americans are more likely to buy products and  services from a company that’s mindful of its impact on the environment  and society than from one that isn’t. This is a compelling reason for  companies to mention green among their products’ benefits.</p>
<p>However, while this trend gives the environmental good guys  long-deserved attention for their positive offerings, it also attracts  the wannabes who hop on the bandwagon solely for its marketing  advantages.</p>
<p>Janet Pomeroy, founder and president of San Francisco’s green marketing firm <a href="http://www.thegoodmix.com/" target="_blank">The goodMix</a>,  says, “Some companies assume they can just throw a green sticker on  anything and say, ‘I’m green’—with no proof, no certification, no one to  check them on it.”</p>
<p>For instance, Pomeroy remembers a Chevy Tahoe TV ad that she felt “was  complete greenwashing. I mean, just because the SUV can drive around in  the mountains doesn’t mean it’s green,” she observes with a laugh.</p>
<p>Some of greenwashing’s various faces are described in TerraChoice’s 2009 report “<a href="http://www.sinsofgreenwashing.org/" target="_blank">The Seven Sins of Greenwashing</a>.”  Transgressions identified include: being vague, making irrelevant  claims, emphasizing one eco-aspect of a product while ignoring much more  harmful ones, presenting false or misleading certification, and overtly  lying about the facts.</p>
<p>Other ways that companies can greenwash, notes the nonprofit <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/" target="_blank">Greenpeace</a> (<a href="http://www.stopgreenwash.org/" target="_blank">www.stopgreenwash.org</a>),  are by portraying baby steps as giant strides, exaggerating an  environmental achievement to deflect attention from its environmental  problems, bragging about court-ordered actions as if they were voluntary  expressions of corporate values, and touting a green image while  company lobbyists work tirelessly in Washington, D.C., “to gut  environmental protections.”</p>
<p>For more specific greenwashing examples, Pomeroy suggests perusing <a href="http://www.greenwashingindex.com/" target="_blank">www.greenwashingindex.com</a>.</p>
<p>The costs of greenwashing<br />
The result of this frequent dissonance between green image and reality,  according to NMI’s 2007 report, is that 70 percent of American consumers  think companies aren’t always genuine when claiming to help the  environment and society. This increased skepticism can dilute the value  of the word “green,” undermining its usefulness for identifying  effective eco-actions, and decreasing public participation in  earth-healing activities.</p>
<p>False claims can also inaccurately persuade customers that they’ve made a  contribution when their action actually had little effect. Plus, it  makes it harder to identify the authentic offerings, penalizing rather  than rewarding those who are doing it right.</p>
<p>Even worse, all this green noise and misinformation can undermine the  environmental movement’s momentum at a time when it’s essential that we  all participate in constructive and meaningful ways. Thus, Pomeroy  observes, “our culture becomes less receptive, more cynical, more likely  to think this is all environmental hooey and not believe things like  climate change—which is not what we need right now.”</p>
<p>Greenwashing also often harms the company making the claims. Pomeroy  cautions that the threat of being labeled a greenwasher “is a really big  deal,” especially in this era of social media. “You’re going to lose  credibility and, consequently, market share.” Other risks include  diminished employee satisfaction and retention rates, and even legal  trouble.</p>
<p>On the flip side of the equation, Pomeroy notices the marketplace  confusion can make some companies reluctant to mention their green  features, “because they don’t want people to say, ‘Oh, you didn’t raise  the bar high enough.’”</p>
<div>
<h3>Buying green wisely</h3>
<p>The first place we usually face greenwashing is when we’re purchasing  products and services, so here are some essential tips for being a smart  green consumer, both individually and as a business.</p>
<p>Learn the definitions of the most common eco-words to  understand what they do and don’t mean. Recognize that some words, such  as “organic,” have strong legal definitions, while others, such as  “green” and “sustainable,” have no definition in law and thus mean  different things to different people. Additionally, the credibility of  private certifiers varies widely. Identify the criteria and standards  that are most important to you and your industry. A great source for  understanding eco-labels is <a href="http://www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels" target="_blank">www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels</a>.</p>
<p>Recognize that no company or product in our modern world is completely ecological,  because our culture is so complex and interwoven. Instead, items are  just more or less green, based on specific measures. Pomeroy muses,  “It’s more accurate to be called a ‘greener’ company than a green  company, since any large use of resources has an impact on the  environment.”</p>
<p>Choose products and services that articulate, and offer evidence for, specific green criteria. Ken Kurtzig, founder and CEO of Marin’s <a href="http://www.ireuse.com/" target="_blank">iReuse</a>,  a sustainability consulting firm, says, “It’s a business’  responsibility to be honest and accurate in its green claims. But when a  company makes vague statements like, ‘We’re super green,’ then we, as  consumers, need to demand more details—ask them why they’re ‘super-green.’”</p>
<p>Look below the surface. Don’t just accept unsupported  vagaries such as a nature scene on a label or the word “earth” in a  brand name. Avoid offerings that don’t clarify specifics, and choose  those that best inform you of their meaningful details.</p>
<p>Go beyond buying replacement green products to greening your activities. For example, you might start by buying recycled paper towels, but later  choose to be even more earth-nurturing by shifting from disposable to  reusable towels, thus reducing the related production and disposal  impacts. Similarly, while it’s great to seek green features if you’re  already building a new office or buying a new company car, the greener  choice is usually to improve the efficiency of an existing building or  reduce the miles traveled in your current vehicle, thus more fully  leveraging the eco-costs that have already been paid.</p>
<h3>Authentically marketing your company</h3>
<p>The other crucial time for businesses to sidestep greenwashing is in  their own marketing. Certainly, there are potential advantages to  joining the green trend, including matching competitors’ offerings,  attracting new customers and expanding into new markets.</p>
<p>However, to reap those benefits and avoid greenwashing’s pitfalls, it’s  vital to be authentic and transparent when talking about green features.  Tell the truth and make specific, meaningful, honest claims. Then back  them up with facts and evidence, including third-party certification  when possible. Most important, walk your talk throughout your company.  Don’t just have green be something you say; have it be something you do.</p>
<h3>Your key steps to a truly greener company</h3>
<p>Create a clear statement of your company’s green mission,  even if it’s just for internal use. This helps you clarify your  motivations, inspire your staff and keep your bearings among the many  theories and action options you’ll find.</p>
<p>Determine your priority criteria and current status on each one. There’s a wide range of ways a company can be green, so identify your  own greatest environmental impacts first and then prioritize your  sustainability-related projects based on the greatest environmental,  financial and social impact. Kurtzig recommends starting with your  business’ biggest impacts: “Don’t waste your time on a bunch of stuff  that won’t contribute significantly to your overall impact.”  Prioritizing helps increase your odds of early success, which is  essential for receiving continued support for your project.</p>
<p>Most businesses, especially smaller ones, can often identify their  largest impacts simply by brainstorming with a whiteboard and a copy of  their budget, he advises. Medium and large businesses probably need a  more organized program, perhaps with assistance from a sustainability  consultant.</p>
<p>Kurtzig also emphasizes the importance of simultaneously assessing  environmental, financial and social impacts. Using this “triple bottom  line” helps ensure your actions provide a net positive benefit for both  your organization and the community. For example, he says, companies  often want to start greening by putting solar on their roofs, expecting  it to save money and be attractive to customers. However, Kurtzig  demonstrates that improving building efficiency should come first, for  both financial and ecological reasons. (See “<a href="http://www.northbaybiz.com/Special_Features/Green_Scene/Solar_Isnt_the_Answer.php">Solar Isn’t the Answer</a>,” Green Scene, June 2010.)</p>
<p>Gather essential information from experts and stakeholders. A wide variety of resources is available to assist you in creating and  implementing your plan, including financial incentive programs to help  with funding. Also talk with your employees, customers, investors, board  and so forth, about what you’re considering, and invite their input.  This will help you understand their values and priorities, receive  helpful ideas, refine your approach and create a sense of inclusion in  your final plans.</p>
<p>Set specific targets and create structures for meeting them. Integrate your eco-objectives into your current organizational goals  and structures. Designate a person or group as responsible for leading  the project. Explore ways to involve employees, such as through  cross-departmental green teams, employee education programs and annual  performance reviews. Consider getting third-party certification from a  reputable program to increase credibility while simplifying logistics  and marketing. Also confirm that your legislative activities are  consistent with your claims.</p>
<p>As you produce meaningful results, convey the specifics in your public communications. Be sure that your ads, packaging, websites, menus and such avoid vague  green terms and instead describe the specific criteria you meet and  their particular benefits to the earth. Consider which aspects will be  most compelling for your target audience. Understand eco-word  definitions to use them accurately. Learn the laws regarding green  claims by reviewing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Green Guides at <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/grnrule/guides980427.htm" target="_blank">www.ftc.gov/bcp/grnrule/guides980427.htm</a>.  Teach employees how to talk about green features appropriately, so they  don’t misrepresent your organization and damage your credibility.  Educate customers about what your claims mean to help them appreciate  your efforts.</p>
<p>Build on your success. Green is not a static end-state,  but an ongoing process of improvement. Continue setting goals and  tracking results. Look for ways to encourage green values throughout  your company’s culture. Aim to be committed, not perfect, learning from  your experiences and having fun along the way. Pomeroy finds that, once  folks start making even simple changes, they want to keep doing more  “because it feels good and they start getting excited about it.”</p>
<h3>Progressing from green beginner to pioneering leader</h3>
<p>While each business has its own green style and journey, many companies  start by trimming energy and water use and reducing waste, observes  Kurtzig, because these usually also cut costs. Other areas first  targeted might include high travel expenses (by finding less-intensive  alternatives), high paper use (by shifting to a computer-based document  sharing system), and toxic materials use (to lower the risks to workers  and relieve regulatory burdens).</p>
<p>Once a company has some traction on these elements, the next stage for  many is to expand beyond their onsite operations to assess and reduce  the lifecycle impacts of their business—from the first extraction of  each material they use to their own products’ final fate. Through this  exploration, companies can encourage positive change in their suppliers,  more fully use the resources embedded in their products and reduce  total waste.</p>
<p>The third stage that some businesses get to in their greening process is  even more exciting: They start seeing their mission and operations  through green eyes and, from this, deeply rethink and restructure how  their company serves customers, workers, the planet and the bottom line.</p>
<h3>Inspiring examples</h3>
<p>The classic example of this visionary corporate rethinking is the Atlanta-based carpetmaker <a href="http://www.interfaceglobal.com/" target="_blank">Interface, Inc</a>.  In 1994, founder and Chairman Ray Anderson was being prodded by  customers to offer eco-options, so he read Paul Hawken’s seminal book, <a href="http://www.paulhawken.com/paulhawken_frameset.html" target="_blank">The Ecology of Commerce</a>.  He experienced what he calls a “spear in the chest” moment, realizing  both the significant harm that businesses do to the planet, and the  necessity and opportunity for companies to lead us in a new direction.</p>
<p>So he challenged his staff to start creating ways to shift the company  from harming the earth to restoring it. By comprehensively redesigning  the company’s operations and products across the board, Interface has  since cut its fossil fuel use 45 percent, trimmed greenhouse gas tonnage  82 percent and reduced water use in its carpet tile business by 75  percent. It’s diverted 148 million pounds of carpet from landfills and  obtains 27 percent of its energy from renewable sources, with a target  of 100 percent. The company’s next goal is eliminating all of its  negative eco-impacts by 2020.</p>
<p>Interface’s efforts have been financially beneficial as well. Through  its eco-improvements and innovative new products, the company has saved  more than $336 million since 1995—and doubled its profits. Fortune magazine named this now $1 billion corporation one of the “Most Admired  Companies in America.” In 2009, Interface was again voted by  eco-experts as the company with the highest commitment to  sustainability. Anderson concludes that being green “doesn’t cost, it  pays”—in customer loyalty, employee enthusiasm and cold hard cash.</p>
<p>Another pioneering eco-leader, says Pomeroy, is <a href="http://www.earthfriendlymoving.com/greenbox" target="_blank">Rent a Green Box</a> in Southern California. This “zero-waste, cradle-to-cradle” company  turns waste plastic from landfills into reusable moving boxes that are  designed to last for 400 uses, compared to the one or two uses we get  from cardboard moving boxes. The company rents its boxes to individuals  and businesses by the week, delivering them in trucks that run on “waste  vegetable oil and biofuel.” It also offers innovative recycled packing  materials.</p>
<p>The company’s website describes its service as “cheaper, faster and  easier” than using cardboard boxes, because its containers are stronger,  more durable, easier to grab and stack, and don’t need to be taped.  When a box wears out, the company grinds it up to make a new one. Rent a  Green Box reports its business is “growing like a green weed.” It’s  actively seeking franchisees in other regions.</p>
<p>These examples show the excitement and bottom line results that a deep  green vision can bring. They also demonstrate the importance of “getting  it right” in other areas of your business, including developing a smart  strategy, knowing and serving your market, offering quality products  and customer service, constructively engaging employees and keeping your  finances stable.</p>
<h3>Creating a greener future</h3>
</div>
<div>
<p>Pomeroy believes that “every company has a chance to be leading  this in some way.” She also feels it’s crucial for businesses to do  that, “because some of the biggest problems we have right now have to do  with our environmental situation. I mean, if we don’t have the  resources, we’re not going to be making anything. If we have  polluted air, we’re not going to be able to live. If we don’t have an  environment, we’re not going to have businesses. And if we don’t support  environmental initiatives and legislation, we’re going to live in a  very different world. It’s coming down to survival issues.”</p>
<p>Her conclusion is that, “you have to step up and say, ‘I have a company  that’s going to change the way we relate to the environment, and here’s  how we’re going to do it.’ And you have to be honest about it, create  the benchmarks and be authentic about where you are in the journey. That’s leadership.”</p>
<p>Companies that make this bold choice are doing more than making money,  creating business opportunities, serving customers and contributing to a  better future. They’re also helping shape our evolving collaborative  understanding of what green really means.</p>
</div>
<h2>Resources</h2>
<p>•  The <a href="http://www.greenbiz.ca.gov/" target="_blank">Bay Area Green Business Program</a> provides free eco-checklists as well as the option of official recognition.</p>
<p>• The <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Green-Business-Guide/Glenn-Bachman/e/9781601630483" target="_blank">Green Business Guide</a>,  by Glenn Bachman (2009), walks readers through the specific steps for  greening a company. “A one-stop resource for businesses of all shapes  and sizes to implement eco-friendly policies, programs and practices.”</p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.ecobooks.com/books/ecommerc.htm" target="_blank">The Ecology of Commerce</a>, by Paul Hawken (1993), has inspired many with its profound vision of an ecologically sustainable economy.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.natcap.org/" target="_blank">Natural Capitalism</a>,  by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins (1999), describes  what capitalism can look like when natural and human resources are  valued equally with money.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bcorporation.net/" target="_blank">B corporation</a> is a new kind of corporate structure designed to encourage success in  the triple bottom line of financial, ecological and social criteria.</p>
<p>Patricia Dines has been a professional writer and public speaker for  25 years, and has specialized in environmental topics for the past 15  years. She consults with businesses, is the author of the syndicated  “Ask EcoGirl” column, and has written a wide variety of helpful  eco-books, newsletters, articles and more. For more information, see <a href="http://www.patriciadines.info/" target="_blank">www.patriciadines.info</a> or call (707) 829-2999.</p>
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		<title>Finding New Life (and Profit) in Doomed Trees</title>
		<link>http://thegoodmix.com/finding-new-life-and-profit-in-doomed-trees/</link>
		<comments>http://thegoodmix.com/finding-new-life-and-profit-in-doomed-trees/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:21:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Janet Pomeroy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Etc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegoodmix.com/?p=507</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This story ran on the front page of the Business Section of the NY Times. I was interviewed in the article, and found it a great read.
The story is available here, online at The NYTimes.com
By LAWRENCE W. CHEEK
SEATTLE
THE wooden kitchen bar in the suburban home of Richard and Donna Majer has a canyonlike crack ripping [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Ffinding-new-life-and-profit-in-doomed-trees%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Ffinding-new-life-and-profit-in-doomed-trees%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p><em>This story ran on the front page of the Business Section of the NY Times. I was interviewed in the article, and found it a great read.<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/business/energy-environment/08sustain.html?ref=business&amp;pagewanted=all" target="_blank">The story is available here, online at The NYTimes.com</a></em></p>
<p>By LAWRENCE W. CHEEK</p>
<p>SEATTLE</p>
<p>THE wooden kitchen bar in the suburban home of Richard and Donna Majer has a canyonlike crack ripping right down its middle, which is exactly  what the couple cherish most about it. It’s not just furniture — it’s a  story, complete with a moral.</p>
<p>“As I spend time with it, I see the beauty of the hard life the tree  had,” Mrs. Majer says. “And it helps me find the beauty in my own life’s  scars.”</p>
<p>The crack occurred three years ago in a storm that mortally wounded the  towering oak in the Majers’s backyard. It was a family member; Mr. Majer  had planted it with his father 53 years earlier. Devastated, the Majers  consulted an arborist, who said yes, it had to come down, but that  there were a couple of guys in Seattle they should talk to.</p>
<p>The guys were Seth Meyer and John Wells. The pair harvest local urban  trees doomed by development, disease or storm damage, and turn them into  custom furniture, each piece a distinct botanical narrative.</p>
<p>Their business, started four years ago, bears all the markers that would  seem to point toward collapse and extinction in a recessionary economy.  It’s founded on idealism and emotion. It’s riddled with huge and  unavoidable inefficiencies. And it tenders a high-end product that asks  buyers to take risks and have faith.</p>
<p>Yet the company, <a title="Company’s Web site." href="http://www.meyerwells.com/">Meyer Wells</a>,  has thrived. It’s been profitable from the start, Mr. Wells says, and  revenue has grown annually; it reached $850,000 last year, and the  business partners say they’re on track to top $1 million this year.  There are now nine employees, and the furniture commissions have blown  well beyond suburban kitchens to high-visibility clients like <a title="More information about Starbucks Corp" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/starbucks_corporation/index.html?inline=nyt-org">Starbucks</a> and the <a title="More articles about University of Washington" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/university_of_washington/index.html?inline=nyt-org">University of Washington</a>.</p>
<p>“I think our idealism is meeting with the demand to make buildings greener,” Mr. Wells says.</p>
<p>Michael Verchot, director of the <a title="Center’s Web site." href="http://www.foster.washington.edu/centers/bedc/Pages/bedc.aspx">Business and Economic Development Center</a> at the University of Washington, says his research backs up that  theory. “We’ve conducted two small-business surveys in Washington State  in the past four months, and we’re seeing that companies that have a  green product are the ones that are increasing sales,” he says. “I can’t  speak to the whole country, but our surveys here are telling us that  green will be here forever. It’s a permanent shift.”</p>
<p>The Northwest has become one of the strongest markets for nurturing  innovative, sustainable businesses, says Alan Durning, executive  director of the <a title="Institute’s Web site." href="http://www.sightline.org/">Sightline Institute</a>,   a nonprofit research group here. “In the mental geography of the  American mind, the Northwest stands for nature,” he says. “It attracts  and retains folks who have a strong affinity for our natural heritage.”</p>
<p>A heart of green is no guarantee of success, of course, even in Seattle.  Such enterprises can be as fleeting as ripples on a pond — and Mr.  Durning says they often fail for the same reasons others do: they race  too far ahead of the market or fail to control costs. It’s especially  challenging for green businesses to figure out what environmental values  consumers want, and what they will pay extra for, he says.</p>
<p>Janet Pomeroy, board president of the San Francisco-based <a title="Group’s Web site." href="http://greenchamberofcommerce.net/">Green Chamber of Commerce</a>, says the green businesses that do well nationally are those that have an authentic story to sell.</p>
<p>Meyer Wells had those elements from the start. It understood Seattle’s  environmental gestalt, and had a product that could spin its own story.  Although custom furniture builders are as abundant as mushrooms in the  Pacific Northwest, Meyer Wells staked out a distinct territory: the big  slab, furniture that could bring indoors the raw power of the  environment rather than a builder’s vision.</p>
<p>Mr. Wells says the company also saw trajectories in culture and business  worldwide — particularly the locavore and slow-food movements — that  suggested the time was ripe for their venture. “We’re starting a  slow-wood movement,” he says.</p>
<p>In line with typically idealistic sustainable businesses, they’re trying  the whole bouillabaisse of green values, from using nontoxic,  water-based wood finishes to offering better-than-average employee  benefits. “For a small company, they work hard to make us comfortable,”  says Keiku Toutonghi, its one-woman finishing operation. “This is the  first place I’ve gotten health benefits and paid vacations.”</p>
<p>Its business model does not depend on tree lovers’ anguished calls, but  increasingly on networks with other businesses and design professionals.  Tutta Bella, a high-end pizzeria chain, asked Meyer Wells to build a  30-foot-long chef’s table from a century-old city park elm that had  split in a windstorm. The table helps the restaurant establish its  brand, the owner, Joe Fugere, says. “It fits our culture of  sustainability and authenticity,” he says.</p>
<p>Despite the increasingly ambitious restaurant and boardroom tables — the  latter ironically encrusted with electronic connectivity under the  rustic slabs — Mr. Meyer and Mr. Wells seem not to have snipped the  emotional roots that led them into the business: a love of raw wood. Mr.  Majer recalls the day Mr. Meyer came out to assess their doomed oak.  “It’s hard to explain,” he says, “but we knew that Seth could see the  soul of that tree.”</p>
<p>MEYER WELLS works out of an 8,000-square-foot, high-ceiling building  four miles north of downtown that once housed a Navy swimming pool.</p>
<p>Soft northern light floods in through clerestory windows; bare cedar  boughs hang from the open ceiling trusses to cleanse any lingering  negative energy from the lumber that enters and the furniture that  leaves — a Native American belief that Mr. Wells embraces. A stunning  indoor alley is formed by towering slabs of hardwoods the partners have  salvaged: oak, walnut, black locust, bigleaf and silver maples, cherry  and madrona.</p>
<p>“People who buy furniture here are adventurers,” says Mr. Meyer. “They  see the tree and get to be part of the process. They have to have an  adventurous spirit, they have to be patient, and they have to trust.  There’s an element of risk.”</p>
<p>Those adventurers might be surprised to learn that Mr. Meyer, 40, is a  high-school dropout. He radiates a discerning obsession with the details  of design and the philosophy of craftsmanship. “Some people drop out of  school because they can’t cut it,” says Mr. Wells. “Others drop out  because school doesn’t cut it for them. That’s Seth.”</p>
<p>Mr. Meyer says he grew up in a house “with a lot of aesthetic awareness.”</p>
<p>“My stepfather was a furniture maker,” he adds. “There was always a lot  of discussion about beauty and craft.” Everything in the built  environment was up for critique. “We’d be driving along and someone  would say: ‘Look at the back end of that car. What a missed  opportunity!’ ”</p>
<p>Mr. Wells is 45, coolly cerebral and stuffed with education. Mr. Meyer  describes him as the optimistic force in the partnership, the one who  argues for the new tool or venture and sustains the faith that it all  will work out. He has a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of  Wooster in Ohio, and another in industrial design from the Rhode Island  School of Design. His résumé is also flocked with sawdust. In high  school he made a Chippendale desk that scored second in a statewide  shop-class competition in North Carolina.</p>
<p>Like Mr. Meyer, he once ran a one-man custom furniture shop. The two met  at a mutual friend’s dinner party, worked on a couple of projects  together, then decided to form a new company.</p>
<p>Now in production is a large dining table from two storm-felled red  elms. At this point, the slabs are propped against a wall, notes and  lines chalked on them. A notation beside a two-foot-long crack  specifies, “OPEN.” The crack will be cleaned up and stabilized, but not  filled or hidden. “I see a bird in it, maybe a heron,” Mr. Meyer says,  admiring its form. The slabs will be mated not with ruler-straight  joints, but with painstakingly curved cuts in line with the grain  patterns.</p>
<p>He suddenly becomes a tour guide to a whole geography embedded in the  wood — “islands” and “cathedrals” in the grain. “I’m looking to see how  the grain of one board flows into the next so that the composition feels  harmonious,” he says. “In every piece, I’m looking for some kind of  rhythm and balance. It’s an intuitive process, not something with a set  of rules I could ever write down.”</p>
<p>If there’s one rule in the shop, it’s this: Respect the tree’s narrative  — including the chapters about its hard urban life. Mr. Meyer once  found a steel snippet embedded in a beautiful cherry slab, perhaps a  remnant of a nail used to hammer a “lost cat” sign to the tree. He left  it in place, a piece of the story.</p>
<p>Nearly all of their pieces feature the trendy “live edge” — an edge of  the slab left unmilled to celebrate the topography of the tree trunk.  The technique today can be accused of being a cliché, but nature still  provides a universe of forms and textures to admire. Some edges seem to  ripple with geologic strata; some display miniature badlands of canyons  and ridges. The Meyer Wells philosophy is to impose as little human  design as possible.</p>
<p>The timber rolls in through motley channels. Some local arborists are  plugged in and know when to call. One day, Mr. Meyer was driving near a  Seattle lot that was to be the site of a new apartment building. A  sprawling bigleaf maple arrested him.</p>
<p>“I had to make several calls, but I finally got to the demolition  contractor,” Mr. Meyer recalls. “He said, ‘Oh yeah, we’re just going to  take it to the dump.’ ” As usual, Meyer Wells took the timber for  nothing, but the cost of trucking it to the company’s yard is typically  $500 for an urban tree salvage.</p>
<p>Although the designs are minimalist, the costs add up — for drying,  milling, design, joining the component pieces and finishing. <a title="More articles about coffee." href="http://www.nytimes.com/info/coffee/?inline=nyt-classifier">Coffee</a> and dining tables mostly range from $3,000 to $10,000, while runwaylike conference tables can easily hit $20,000.</p>
<p>Mr. Wells says they essentially use a cost-plus pricing model, but  because each piece — and each tree’s constellation of problems — is  different, “sometimes we do well at the pricing, and sometimes we  don’t.”</p>
<p>“But it all seems to average out,” he adds, “and we’re getting better at it.”</p>
<p>Where Mr. Meyer still loves to ponder the expressive possibilities of a  crack in a slab, Mr. Wells now seems propelled more by the big-ticket  issue of sustainability. “I really believe a designer can make better  choices, and that can influence people and move us in a direction that’s  more sustainable,” he says. “That’s what I’ve chosen to do, and I think  it’s what’s made us a successful business.”</p>
<p>SUSTAINABLE furniture isn’t recession-proof. The company’s residential  business shrank in the last two years, but increases in corporate  commissions more than made up the difference, Mr. Wells said. Now the  residential orders are wrenching back up, and Mr. Wells remains a dogged  optimist.</p>
<p>“People buy what they believe is right for them to buy,” he says. “If  there are options available that fit better with their values, they will  buy those options.”</p>
<p>The business’s current challenge is in remaining faithful to its roots.  Ms. Pomeroy of the Green Chamber of Commerce notes that one of the  universal hazards for green businesses is trying too hard to uphold all  their ideals while the gritty realities of everyday economics gnaw away  at them. Sometimes, she says, they fail to understand that fully  incorporating their values would mean changing the world’s economic  systems.</p>
<p>In fact, Meyer Wells is trying to save increasingly large chunks of the  world. Early this year, it started a subsidiary venture, <a title="Green Tree Mill’s Web site." href="http://www.greentreemill.com/page4/page4.html">Green Tree Mill</a>,  that will extend its reach into Puget Sound’s surrounding forests,  harvesting and milling trees that the larger sawmills don’t want.  Instead of being turned directly into custom furniture, this lumber will  be marketed directly to builders.</p>
<p>“I have sleepless nights,” Mr. Wells acknowledges. “The mill is pushing  us to a new level of risk, with a potentially higher level of reward.”</p>
<p>Mr. Meyer seems to crave equilibrium more than growth, and longs for  more time to put his hands on a fallen tree and massage its natural  beauty.</p>
<p>“We’re faced with the not unsatisfying challenge of injecting efficiency  into an essentially creative process,” he says. “From the classic  viewpoint of American business, it’s probably a fool’s errand. But hey,  so far we’re making it work.”</p>
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		<title>There Are no Such Thing as Words</title>
		<link>http://thegoodmix.com/there-are-no-such-thing-as-words/</link>
		<comments>http://thegoodmix.com/there-are-no-such-thing-as-words/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 May 2010 05:32:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Janet Pomeroy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Corporate Sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Etc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegoodmix.com/?p=486</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This great presentation tip from my  Eloqui Communications &#038; Presentations Training made me think about what enviro professionals can incorporate into their next talk:]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fthere-are-no-such-thing-as-words%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fthere-are-no-such-thing-as-words%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>This great presentation tip from my  Eloqui Communications &amp; Presentations Training made me think about what enviro professionals can incorporate into their next talk:</p>
<blockquote><p>In the cerebral cortex, there is no such thing as &#8216;words&#8217;. The brain sees words as tiny pictures that it has to translate.</p>
<p>When information is presented orally, audiences remember only 10% if tested 72 hours later. Retention goes up 65% when a picture is added. Amazingly, we can remember more than 2,500 pictures with 90% accuracy after several days, with only a 10 second exposure. Some images remain in memory decades later. Researchers named this potent phenomenon PSE, or Pictorial Superiority Effect. So, in a presentation, use visuals paired with your most vital information to make your content memorable. (This is why graphics or images in PowerPoint are far superior to text.) Better still, speak in visual snapshots, to deliver information in a way that is suited to the hardwiring of the brain.</p></blockquote>
<p>So, I think about the images over the last decade, of all the PowerPoints and big screens, not so big screens, in auditoriums, on walls. And the best image I have come across, by far, is Ray Anderson&#8217;s journey in climbing what he calls &#8220;mount sustainability&#8221;</p>
<p>The graphic is an icon and symbol for Interface to meet their zero-waste goals. <a href="http://www.interfaceglobal.com/Sustainability/Our-Journey/7-Fronts-of-Sustainability.aspx" target="_blank">Here is their more recent adaption to this illustration, </a>below:</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-493" href="http://thegoodmix.com/there-are-no-such-thing-as-words/mountsustainability/"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-493" title="MountSustainability" src="http://thegoodmix.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/MountSustainability-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
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		<title>Toxins &amp; Trade Shows: What Can We Do Better?</title>
		<link>http://thegoodmix.com/toxins-trade-shows-what-can-we-do-better/</link>
		<comments>http://thegoodmix.com/toxins-trade-shows-what-can-we-do-better/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 03:09:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Janet Pomeroy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Etc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegoodmix.com/?p=496</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The business magician responsible for Magnet Productions, an innovative trade show production company is onto greener ideas. Attendees wouldn't think the big swaths of carpet rolled on to thousands of feet of cavernous cement-floor  being suspect, but this trade show staple, designed to "comfort" the soles of exhibitors and attendees, leaves everyone breathless. Here is the recent post on his blog, "Hey Newman":]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Ftoxins-trade-shows-what-can-we-do-better%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Ftoxins-trade-shows-what-can-we-do-better%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>The business magician responsible for<a href="http://www.magnetproductions.com/blog/" target="_blank"> Magnet Productions</a>, an innovative trade show production company is onto greener ideas. Attendees wouldn&#8217;t think the big swaths of carpet rolled on to thousands of feet of cavernous cement-floor  being suspect, but this trade show staple, designed to &#8220;comfort&#8221; the soles of exhibitors and attendees, leaves everyone breathless. Here is the recent post on his blog, &#8220;Hey Newman&#8221;:</p>
<p><strong><em>Hey Newman, We exhibit at about four trade shows a year,  and   I’ve yet to do one that didn’t give me a headache. And I mean that    literally.  Is it the noise? Dehydration? I know you’re not a doctor,    but what do you think? </em></strong><strong><em>–Ann in San  Francisco</em></strong></p>
<p>As part of our ongoing dialogue with the <a href="../" target="_blank">green marketing experts</a> at The  Good Mix,  we’d like  to turn our attention this week to the incredible  toxicity  of trade  show carpeting. You can smell it when you walk onto  the trade  show  floor. Some people have allergic reactions. It emanates  from the   backing materials and carpets themselves. Breathing in the  fumes for   three days is bad enough for trade show attendees — and for  those of  us  who make a living on trade show floors it’s an even bigger  issue.   Inhaling VOC (volatile organic compounds) can absolutely give you  a   headache.  But far more seriously, those VOC’s have been linked to    asthma and cancer. And when that carpeting ends up in landfills, it    becomes an environmental problem that affects us all. Trade shows should    be about the fun of dynamic presentations and the excitement of new    products; it should be about the “atmosphere” of the event … not the <em>actual    atmosphere. </em></p>
<p>The good news is the trade show floor is an  environment that’s   controllable. It’s temporal (built and shut down) as  opposed to the   L.A. freeway. We can change the materials at these  events. We can even   change the trade show culture, and with it the  “default” materials and   products used.</p>
<p>There are companies that  create carpet squares made from 100%   recycled materials, lowering the  amount of carpet that ends up in   landfills releasing toxins into the  air. There are low- and no-VOC   paints for booths. There are plenty of  alternatives to using vinyl,   which is one of the greatest toxic  offenders in the industry (and most   industries).</p>
<p>Management  companies pride themselves on giving out presentation   awards such as  “Top New Product.” What if they created incentives for   their exhibitors  buying booth space along with a “Top Green Exhibitor”   award? What if the  following year that exhibitor got a discount on   booth space or better  yet, preferred exhibit space in a prime location   for having the greenest  booth, most sustainable giveaways and smallest   carbon footprint?</p>
<p>There  are ways to have a friendlier trade show environment <em>and </em>incentivize    the process to keep all parties happy. It will just take a few good    ideas and a lot of commitment.</p>
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		<title>Dirty Air, Dirty Money</title>
		<link>http://thegoodmix.com/dirty-air-dirty-money/</link>
		<comments>http://thegoodmix.com/dirty-air-dirty-money/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:41:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Janet Pomeroy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Etc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegoodmix.com/?p=425</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On the evening that Health Care Reform passed, it&#8217;s relevant to see how the cost and consequences of poor health have wrecked havoc on our system. If we are going to have real reform, it has to be across industries, governments, and the entire health care system. Health is as much as a social responsibility [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fdirty-air-dirty-money%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fdirty-air-dirty-money%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>On the evening that Health Care Reform passed, it&#8217;s relevant to see how the cost and consequences of poor health have wrecked havoc on our system. If we are going to have real reform, it has to be across industries, governments, and the entire health care system. Health is as much as a social responsibility as it is freedom from disease.</p>
<p>Now more than ever, the business of health and environmental improvement is inextricably linked to the <em>business</em> of business. (greener state =  more greenbacks)</p>
<p>What are unhealthy conditions costing us?</p>
<p>Between 2005 and 2007, poor air quality in California caused more than $193 million in hospital-based medical care according to the <a href="http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9501/index1.html" target="_blank">RAND Corporation.</a></p>
<p><em>&#8220;Failing to meet federal clean air standards caused nearly 30,000  hospital admissions and ER visits throughout California over 2005–2007.  Nearly three-quarters of these events were attributable to high ambient  levels of fine particulate matter.&#8221; </em></p>
<p>That means as people sought help for problems such as asthma and pneumonia &#8211; conditions and diseases that are caused by the airborne nasties that contribute to climate change.</p>
<p>Buildings, cars, agriculture is also involves public insurers:<em> &#8220;Overall, Medicare and Medi-Cal (Medicaid in California) paid for  about  two-thirds of the estimated ER visits and hospital admissions.&#8221;<br />
</em></p>
<p>Now there&#8217;s a statistic that can make a federal budget bloated. &#8220;Medicare spent an  estimated $104 million on hospital care because California failed to  meet federal clean air standards during 2005–2007. Medi-Cal spent about  $28 million. Private health insurers spent about $56 million.&#8221;</p>
<p>Benefits for business:</p>
<ul>
<li>You have to breath to work. Dirty air means missed days of work; more hardship and for families, children&#8230;and business.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Happy, healthy, motivated workforce.</li>
<li>More tourists, better PR campaign for &#8220;Visit California&#8221; campaign.</li>
<li>Large Green Jobs workforce (of every collar)</li>
<li>Drive clean energy innovation which would increase jobs, develop technology and ensure our seat in the global marketplace.</li>
<li>Savings before regulations. End-of-pipe methods, which capture pollution that  has already been created and remove it from the air. (This was a benefit found after the Clean Air Act went into effect).</li>
</ul>
<p>It wasn&#8217;t long ago that we signed the Clean Air Act into law.</p>
<p>Is clean air good for business? Health and welfare of our citizens?<br />
Comments always appreciated!</p>
<p>Other Sources:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/02/california-jobs-initiative-ab32/" target="_blank">Triple Pundit</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/clean-air-act.html#" target="_blank">Inc Online</a></p>
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		<title>I feel so Lucky When I look In Those Green Eyes</title>
		<link>http://thegoodmix.com/i-feel-so-lucky-when-i-look-in-those-green-eyes/</link>
		<comments>http://thegoodmix.com/i-feel-so-lucky-when-i-look-in-those-green-eyes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:42:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Janet Pomeroy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Etc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegoodmix.com/?p=386</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you target customers, it helps to know if they’re “dark green”, “light green” or “basic brown” in their attitudes, but, with so many green issues, products, and labels out there, it may be more relevant to your branding and communications to understand their personal green interests and behaviors, not necessarily their labels.
Check out this [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fi-feel-so-lucky-when-i-look-in-those-green-eyes%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fi-feel-so-lucky-when-i-look-in-those-green-eyes%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>When you target customers, it helps to know if they’re “dark green”, “light green” or “basic brown” in their attitudes, but, with so many green issues, products, and labels out there, it may be more relevant to your branding and communications to understand their personal green interests and behaviors, not necessarily their labels.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenmarketing.com/blog/comments/a-smart-new-way-to-segment-green-consumers/" target="_blank">Check out this post by Jacquie Ottman</a>, one of  the thought leaders in green marketing. She has great focus on categorizing green targets.</p>
<p>Green consumers are also <em>citizens.</em> Although it&#8217;s cool marketing-speak to address those who purchase as those who consume, but nothing speaks to your prospects and customers (there I go!) than treating them as if they are important and they matter.</p>
<p>What matters to me, as an urban green-leaning Boomer, is that I also enjoy &#8220;guilty pleasures&#8221; like: &#8220;Burn Notice&#8221;,&#8221;24&#8243; and French Chardonnay. I recycle, live in a small flat with two others, use public transportation and ride my bike. But I am not a vegetarian and I don&#8217;t follow the activities of PETA or Green Peace. I consume a vast amount of media, and the most appealing to me are the campaigns that are well-designed. That means stories that show beauty, transparency, clarity and humor are particularly high on my radar.</p>
<p>I might remember a new organization through my association with <a href="http://www.greenchamber.net" target="_blank">The Green Chamber of Commerce,</a> but I might also like to try a healthy beauty product that I saw a commercial for on FOX, during a &#8220;24&#8243; commercial break.</p>
<p>Sometimes, it IS the message, and not necessarily the media. I am aspiring to wave the green flag, but I also am very much a typical American 40-something.</p>
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		<title>Who will Save the Earth? No one.</title>
		<link>http://thegoodmix.com/who-will-save-the-earth-no-one/</link>
		<comments>http://thegoodmix.com/who-will-save-the-earth-no-one/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:42:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Janet Pomeroy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Etc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegoodmix.com/?p=341</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[

Who will save book publishing? What will save the newspapers?
What means &#8217;save&#8217;?
If by save you mean, &#8220;what will keep things just as they are?&#8221; then the answer is nothing will. It&#8217;s over.
Seth Godin&#8217;s recent blog post is extremely relevant to those who think the sustainability movement is about
saving the world. Who will be saving the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fwho-will-save-the-earth-no-one%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fwho-will-save-the-earth-no-one%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><h3><em><br />
</em></h3>
<p><em>Who will save book publishing? What will save the newspapers?</em></p>
<p><em>What means &#8217;save&#8217;?</em></p>
<p><em>If by save you mean, &#8220;what will keep things just as they are?&#8221; then the answer is </em><em>nothing will. It&#8217;s over.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sethgodin.com" target="_blank">Seth Godin&#8217;s </a>recent blog post is extremely relevant to those who think the sustainability movement is about<br />
saving the world. Who will be saving the planet from environmental destruction? Save cultures from disappearing? What does &#8217;sustainability&#8217; actually mean? If we sustain business as it is &#8211; even if it&#8217;s green -  then we will perish. Al Gore&#8217;s PowerPoint  in 3D.</p>
<p>Sustainability is about transformation. It&#8217;s about making business consider something other than one bottom line. Many are racing to develop metrics systems that, like alchemy, can measure carbon, water, and other factors, to come up with a green labeling system. It&#8217;s a step, but it&#8217;s still keeping our system in check.</p>
<p>Consultants Ed Quevedo &amp; Sarah Isabel Parriott of <a href="http://www.paladinlaw.com/">Paladin Law Group</a> are engaging with enterprise level corporations and cities to create a unique system of measuring that accounts for other factors &#8211; how many bike lanes a city may have, how many less sick days employees are using; how many cappuccino machines are there within a 200-foot radius? Things that matter. Factors that make a business add real value.</p>
<p>If we are going to make change, Ed &amp; Sarah remind us, we must be asking, is this business helping those it serves, is it treading lightly on the earth? What can a business do to regenerate instead of generate?</p>
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		<title>What do The Top 5 Social Capitalists Have in Common?</title>
		<link>http://thegoodmix.com/what-do-the-top-5-social-capitalists-have-in-common/</link>
		<comments>http://thegoodmix.com/what-do-the-top-5-social-capitalists-have-in-common/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:09:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Janet Pomeroy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Etc]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Fast Company just published &#8220;5 Social Capitalists Who Will Change the World in 2010.&#8221;  As this leading publication is always at the top of my In Box every morning, I am able to get my 20 minutes of innovation education delivered in the most digestible way possible (even before cappuccino).
Turns out Fast Company&#8217;s picks [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fwhat-do-the-top-5-social-capitalists-have-in-common%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2Fwhat-do-the-top-5-social-capitalists-have-in-common%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Fast Company just published &#8220;<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/article/top-5-social-capitalists-2010?partner=homepage_newsletter" target="_blank">5 Social Capitalists Who Will Change the World in 2010</a>.&#8221;  As this leading publication is always at the top of my In Box every morning, I am able to get my 20 minutes of innovation education delivered in the most digestible way possible (even before cappuccino).</p>
<p>Turns out Fast Company&#8217;s picks for companies doing amazing things in the world of socially-conscious business have similar strengths and weaknesses from a marketing perspective. Yes,  they&#8217;re all doing <em>great</em> work; and forging a new path to a new economy. Ultimately, these companies will succeed on the merits of their business models, and the lives they impact are the ultimate goal. But for a marketing &amp; branding geek, being handed a handful of sites to compare and contrast is F-U-N.</p>
<p>Most of the five website designs seem to reflect a sense of purpose; and have fairly decent designs. I don&#8217;t have to click around too  much to see they are legitimate businesses. Now, you may think this is a snarky comment, but if you email me, I can send you to websites that I have cross-referenced on <a href="http://www.snopes.com" target="_blank">Snopes </a>(and that&#8217;s AC &#8211; After Coffee)</p>
<p>Only two of five websites tell me in less than five seconds of landing, who they are and what they do in the world. Their value proposition &#8211; to the world &#8211; is clear.</p>
<p>As time goes on, I&#8217;d like to see more photos of people &#8211; their work in action &#8211; images that illustrates the impact of the work. Vittana.org does a great job of putting a face on the brand. One of their partners is the accomplished Frog Design &#8211; so I think they got some eerrr help.</p>
<p>I also think having the value proposition front and center is never a bad idea &#8211; these companies are introducing innovation in business and business model at the same time. As an investor, stakeholder, director, sponsor, prospect -  I&#8217;ll want to know what am I going to get out of partnering or becoming a customer. I&#8217;ll want to know how the company I am doing business with is growing, and feel confidence to tell a friend about you.</p>
<p>Word of mouth starts with word on the web.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s tough making a  website, designing a brand, and attracting new customers with multiple stakeholders and limited resourccs. I wish the best for these leaders and will support &amp; follow them in their progress.</p>
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		<title>&#039;5 Minute Eco&#039; with Ivan Storck</title>
		<link>http://thegoodmix.com/5-minute-eco-with-ivan-storck/</link>
		<comments>http://thegoodmix.com/5-minute-eco-with-ivan-storck/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:00:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The goodMix</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Etc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green host]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hosting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable websites]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thegoodmix.com/?p=206</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ivan Storck is founder and CEO of SustainableWebsites.com, one of the earliest web hosting companies to offer  wind hosted power.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2F5-minute-eco-with-ivan-storck%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegoodmix.com%2F5-minute-eco-with-ivan-storck%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Ivan Storck is founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.sustainablewebsites.com/" target="_blank">SustainableWebsites.com,</a> one of the earliest web hosting companies to offer  wind hosted power. Ivan joins us on <a href="http://radio.howyoueco.com">HowYouEco Radio</a>’s ‘5 Minute Eco to share his experience and inspirational philosophy.</p>
<h2>Listen</h2>
<p>More HowYouEco Radio: <a href="http://radio.howyoueco.com/">radio.howyoueco.com</a></p>
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