The “Real” Meaning of Earth Day
April 4, 2011 | Posted in: Uncategorized | 0 Comments
Earth Day 2011 – April 22nd – is quickly approaching. Since the very first Earth Day forty-some years ago, this one day each year has provided an opportunity for companies to hold environmentally-focused celebrations, to launch new programs, to encourage employee participation in service projects. Admittedly, this day just like so many other days, has tended to become commercialized, perhaps sometimes to the point that it becomes a turn-off, especially to those who tend to be skeptical about “green” in the first place.
The reality is that we should be thinking about our environmental impact year-round, not just for a single day. This isn’t to say that we all will identify with being a “greenie.” In fact, many of the world’s most successful companies recognize environmental impact as an integral part of their business operations, but they don’t really think of themselves as being “green.” Environmental sustainability is practical, really practical, for business, and the environment is just one part of the triple bottom line, “people, planet and profit” that defines true sustainability.
So, back to Earth Day 2011. This day is an opportunity for businesses to empower employees through education, training, creativity and connectedness. Employees who feel connected and valued contribute, both as employees and citizens. Earth Day also provides an annual opportunity to reassess the authenticity and impact of current environmental sustainability initiatives, to establish new goals and evaluate the past year’s achievements. Celebrate the day as a stepping stone to the year to come. Happy Earth Day 2011!
During Earth Month 2011, consider making contributions to your favorite nonprofit environmental organizations. Waste Wise helps businesses save money through environmental sustainability. Your contributions are appreciated to help us continue our mission of servicing businesses throughout Minnesota.
Donate to the Waste Wise program today!
U.S. Recycling….and a Slow Boat to China
February 28, 2011 | Posted in: green business, recycling, resource conservation, sustainability, waste reduction | 0 Comments
In working with a variety of businesses and organizations, we often get questions – and subsequent comments – about whether a particular recyclable material is going to be sent to China. And just to clarify, the questions are not generally asked with the hope that China will be a recipient of our recyclable commodities. And oftentimes, the answer is “quite possibly,” but of course always dependent on what type of recyclable material we’re talking about.
“American-made” is a long-held ideal…..thus, it is the catalyst for many of the conversations about where our recyclables end up. And the topic has seemed to come up frequently in recent years with the recession having such a significant effect on businesses and jobs. The catch is that we are also living in a much more global marketplace; we are not on an island of isolated production and consumption. Recycling has, for the first time, has now become an integral part of the U.S. economy and therefore sees all of the impacts that affect the rest of global trade and industry. It is often forgotten that those recyclable materials that we ship to China – and other countries – comes back to us in the form of “stuff” that supports our culture of consumption. In other words, we’re buying the stuff and so the cycle continues.
Authentic Green
February 1, 2011 | Posted in: Uncategorized | 0 Comments
Green. Ten years ago this was just a color associated with nature, Kermit the Frog, and an integral part of a rainbow. The word didn’t mean very much alone. Now, the word “green,” in and of itself, has a powerful (and often misleading) implication of being environmentally friendly. This could be a product, a service, a company or even a person.
Sustainability – people, planet and profit – is an integral part of business operations. As a result, “green” products and services have saturated the marketplace. As business and consumers have recognized the benefits of sustainability in general (it’s not all about the environment) many companies have moved to consider environmental impact into their purchasing procedures. But where to begin? Why is authenticity important? And how can purchasing green negatively affect a company?
There are many shades of green. Environmental purchasing policies generally place priority on green products that perform equally or better than their non-green counterparts. It is crucial – as a business and consumer – to make educated. Consider these factors when selecting green products and services, and choose the shade of green that meets your goals.
Cost: Why does green cost more and are you spending more on a product that doesn’t have any positive environmental impact? There are many products that have green features but aren’t even marketed as such…..and they don’t cost more.
Where and how is it made? Here’s the simplified reality: China is buying a lot of our stuff and recycling it into new stuff. We buy that stuff, which continues the cycle. Buying local can be important for many reasons such as decreased transportation impacts and supporting local jobs.
But the reality is that we live in a global marketplace and generally speaking, the majority of our purchases have multiple components that come from multiple places.
What is your goal? Global impact, addressing a bigger picture such as greenhouse gases? Looking at one factor, such as post-consumer recycled content? Packaging? Chemicals – health impact and/or environmental impact? Disposal – the reality of whether a product can actually be recycled? And into what?
State firms helped pave path for U.S. sustainability growth
January 25, 2011 | Posted in: sustainability | 0 Comments
Chris Farrell’s commentary in the Star Tribune on sustainability made excellent points (“The government takes a pass, and businesses point the way,” Jan. 16).
But as I read it, I kept thinking: What about all the businesses right here in Minnesota that have been embracing sustainability for the past two decades?
Farrell referenced the recent efforts of the Wal-Marts and General Electrics of the world, but fails to mention the hundreds of Minnesota companies that have been reducing waste, maximizing recycling, conserving natural resources and saving energy long before “green business” became a buzz phrase.
These companies include Marvin Windows, Arctic Cat, Summit Brewery, Pearson Candy, Andersen Windows and Ruttger’s Sugar Lake Lodge. They’ve all been members of Minnesota Waste Wise since 1994.
Year after year, they’ve been pushing the envelope on sustainability efforts. They’ve long understood that these initiatives not only help protect the Minnesota environment we cherish but can add significantly to the bottom line.
Farrell also referenced alliances among governments, nonprofits and business that are now being formed. Minnesota Waste Wise was created in 1994 as a voluntary partnership between the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance.
The former, via Waste Wise, has been working closely with other nonprofits, government entities, energy utilities and local business associations ever since. Farrell was spot-on in his analysis that more businesses are now embracing sustainability as a core strategy.
Let’s also recognize the great work the Minnesota business community has been doing for nearly two decades to lead the way.
Should Small Businesses Care About Sustainability?
January 5, 2011 | Posted in: green business, sustainability | 0 Comments
A valid question in today’s time-strapped-cash-strapped business climate. It’s all too easy to write off new initiatives—such as sustainability—during an economic recession; and when most employees are already asked to do more than humanly possible in a 40 hour week. But sustainability should not be overlooked, even by small businesses. The pressures on disclosing environmental performance by customers, governments and even employees will continue to escalate. Large businesses are already feeling the heat, which has been trickling down the supply chain. Just look at Wal-Mart and its demands on vendors (many of them small businesses).
Beyond the reasons small businesses will have to address sustainability, there are many reasons why they should do so voluntarily. And ahead of the curve (if it’s not too late already). Sustainability commitments can yield more, and new, business. Sustainability can save on your bottom-line. And add to your top-line through innovation – an area where small businesses often excel. And sustainability, believe it or not, attracts and retains talented employees. Something all businesses are looking for these days.
So the short answer – absolutely. Read on: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/small-business/sustainability/index.html
Is it Recyclable?
December 30, 2010 | Posted in: recycling | 0 Comments
Recycle, recyclable, recycled-content. We see it everywhere, but what is recycling really?
According to Merriam-Webster, “recycle” means “to process (as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use.” This definition is a great start, but there is a lot more to recycling than meets the eye.
Many businesses we work with have ongoing challenges with recycling. Common questions and comments we get when working with businesses and organizations include: “Why can’t it be recycled?” I recycle this at home, why can’t I at work? “It says on the bottom that it is recyclable, or it said in the catalogue that it’s recyclable so I put it in my recycling bin.” and “Is my waste hauler really recycling or is it just being land filled?
Let’s first start with the term “recyclable.” Yes, in theory many items we purchase could be labeled “recyclable.” But what makes something recyclable? First, a market must be present for that item to be recycled. In other words, the powder coat waste ABC Manufacturing produces is recyclable but are there places to ACTUALLY RECYCLE IT? The answer greatly depends on the area of the country, as well as what products are made with the recyclable material. Another great example is reusable poly shopping bags, which are often marketed as 100% recyclable. However, I do not know of any places that are currently accepting these bags – particularly from consumers – for recycling. And it may be too early in the Reusable Bag Revolution to really determine the impacts of these bags, especially since most people’s bags are not at the end of their lives yet.
We can also look at the production side of recycling. Many businesses, especially manufacturers, already recycle their waste internally. This is a practical business move that saves money on raw materials. Some of these businesses may also produce products with post-consumer recycled content. This is a key part of recycling – supporting recycling markets by purchasing recycled products. If no one wants to buy the products, there is no market for them.
A third factor that ties into the recycling picture is downcycling, which is the process of using recycled materials to materials of lesser quality (structurally speaking). Certain products containing recycled content are no longer recyclable due to the quality of the building blocks of that material. Plastics are a great example of this, as they face many challenges due to downcycling.
Our future vision is one of cradle-to-cradle, where “waste” is nonexistent because companies design products like nutrients cycling in a closed system. The components are continually broken down and built back up, over and over. Nature has a beautiful way of showing us that endless reuse has always been there, we just need to open our eyes to the possibilities. In the meantime, being aware of the products you are purchasing at work and at home can help to support recycling markets as we move into the future.
Greening your Holidays: Giving Gifts
November 24, 2010 | Posted in: green business, waste reduction | 0 Comments
The first thing that often comes to mind when thinking about green gifts is the waste generated from gift wrap and cards. This waste becomes particularly significant when realizing that much of the waste is not reused or recycled – if it is, indeed, recyclable. We’re often drawn to fancy, embellished cards and gift wraps. The problem with many of these items is that, although they are made from paper, they have foil and other decorations that prevent them from being recycled. How about reuse? This option is ideal but not the first thing that comes to mind when we’re excitedly ripping open gifts.
What about the gifts themselves? How many gifts do we give – and receive – that are never used? How often do we give gifts “for the sake of giving something?”
As you draw names for Secret Santa or shop for loved ones during this holiday season, consider the environmental impact of the gifts. Consider replacing your holiday work party and gift exchange with a company-wide service project that benefits the community. If your company receives cards from clients or customers, consider donating them to a local school or daycare to use for art projects. Or better yet, request that your clients opt to donate to a local charity rather than sending cards or gifts. Hold your work party at a local nursing home or soup kitchen. If you purchase gifts, buy useful items that are wrapped in reusable bags.
There are many ways we can green our environmental footprint during the holidays. Is the gift thoughtful? Was it made in an eco-friendly way, does it contain post-consumer recycled content or reused materials? Are there “greener” alternatives to this item? Is there something that could be repurposed or homemade instead of buying new? Can it be easily reused or recycled? And so on…
Give to the Max Day!
November 16, 2010 | Posted in: Uncategorized | 0 Comments
As I’m sure you’ve already heard – it’s Give to the Max Day in Minnesota. Generous folks across the country are donating to their favorite Minnesota non-profits through GiveMN.org (http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Minnesota-Waste-Wise-Foundation). GiveMN has been helping Minnesota non-profits raise money for several years. Last year, donations totaling over $14 million dollars poured into worthy causes across the state. Check out the Star Tribune article about Give to the Max Day: http://www.startribune.com/local/108044464.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUvckD8EQDUs.
Of course, we would love to have your financial support. Your donation would go directly into programs and resources to help businesses and organizations across Minnesota. And it’s tax deductible: http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Minnesota-Waste-Wise-Foundation. But if not Minnesota Waste Wise, then please consider donating to another non-profit or charity – we could all use a little help these days if you’re able. Thanks.
Waste Sorts
November 5, 2010 | Posted in: Uncategorized, waste reduction | 0 Comments
More and more companies are performing waste sorts. Fun stuff, right? Just what we all want to do – dig through our trash. So why are more and more businesses and organizations doing it? Knowledge is king.
Waste sorts are a great way to find out what you’re filling that dumpster with, and paying money to empty. Without the baseline knowledge it’s impossible to measure improvement.
Think of it this way: if you don’t know and understand what’s going into the products you manufacture then how can you improve on that product? Same thing with trash. Once you know the waste you’re creating then you can create a strategy to reduce or eliminate it. And potentially save your company substantial dough.
Trash. It’s no longer out-of-sight out-of-mind for competitive businesses. Oh, and LEED Certification requires it.
Corporate Environmental Sustainability Still Strong in Tough Times
July 27, 2010 | Posted in: energy efficiency, green business, recycling, resource conservation, sustainability, waste reduction | 1 Comment
Historically, environmental initiatives have taken a backseat during difficult economic times. Not this recession. Consumers are still demanding ‘green’. And, more importantly, companies large and small are realizing the economic benefits.
We live in a natural resource constrained world. Millions of people are entering the middle class as new, hungry consumers. With this higher demand for natural resources comes an increased cost, both financial and environmental. Innovation, resource efficiency, cradle-to-cradle, zero waste – these concepts and actions are leading businesses out of the recession and into the future.
Similar to the technology industry’s rapid advancements (rotary phone-to-cordless phone-to-iPhone; typewriter-to-word processor-to-iPad), businesses that rapidly and continuously invent solutions to our environmental issues and incorporate sustainability as an ongoing business model will lead the way in environmental protection and shareholder profits. This is why many top businesses are betting that this wave of environmental awareness and green innovation is here to stay – even in tough economic times. After all, a sustainable business also means a company that stays around for many years to come.