eco-officiency blog » Green Business

Recommended Product, CompoKeeper, and Indoor Composter

eco-officiency — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:00:22 +0000

CompoKeeper is an indoor compost container that meets the objections many have about storing food waste inside homes or office buildings. The design includes a clamshell mechanism that creates an airtight seal in the compostable liner with it’s easy to use hand lever or foot pedal so odors can’t get out and pests can’t get in. When the bag is full the easy-grab tray assists one in removing a full, flimsy bag and carrying it out to the appropriate outdoor storage area. The CompoKeeper is made in Boulder, Colorado in three sizes and only available through online. There is also a coupon for $150 offered by the Boulder County Conservation Center is offering to businesses who sign up for a recycling or composting service.

Sustainability Planning Resources: State, City and Local Communities

eco-officiency — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:00:21 +0000

Sustainable Communities

A non profit organization helping to promote local communities to become more sustainable.

City of Portland

The Business Center of Portland has a simple and short sustainability plan example available. Portland has been rated as one of the greenest cities in America.

EPA for State and Local Governments

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a specific site of resources geared for all state and local governments to deal with climate change, energy efficiency, pesticides, pollution, transportation, waste and water. It also has a list of the local organizations that the EPA deals with that can be useful to local governments.

How to Make a Community Green

This free downloadable guide published by the U.S. EPA offers instructions on how local governments can create a sustainable plan.

Environmental Council of the States

This is a non- profit association of state environmental leaders. It provides a networking forum and resources for environmental and sustainability professionals within local state and city governments.

GreenPrint Denver

The local Denver, Colorado city sustainability program providing resources to its residents and local businesses. Here is a link to the City of Denver Climate Action Plan.

Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI)

A membership organization for all local governments who want to be more sustainable in their communities. The site offers tools, trainings, resources and network to local examples.

Sustainability Planning Resources: U.S. Government

eco-officiency — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 05:00:39 +0000

U.S. Government Sustainability Plans

As mandated by the Obama administration, each agency had to submit a sustainability plan on the Executive Order 13514. Each agencies sustainability plans can be accessed via the White House link.

GSA Strategically Sustainable

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has their own site on the initiatives that GSA is doing in regards to green building, green procurement, telework, waste management, sustainable travel and alternative fuel vehicles. GSA also commissioned a Sustainable Facilities tool that is free that helps to identify and prioritize cost effective green building strategies, both for federal and private buildings.

EPA Federal Government

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a page of resources dedicated for federal agencies and promoting sustainability and the environment.

Environment Canada

The Canadian government also has a terrific site on initiatives, plans, resources, publications on their national sustainability initiatives in Canada.

Sustainability Planning Resources: Understanding Systems Thinking

eco-officiency — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:00:25 +0000

Systems thinking is one of those skills that seems to be missing from sustainability planning; partially because it is not widely taught nor discussed in business education. It is important with any business planning to understand systems thinking, leverage points and the cause and effect of all activities and possible initiatives, before implementation. Below are some good resources for systems thinking information.

Donella Meadows

One of the premier experts on systems thinking is Donella Meadows. A former Pew Scholar in Conservation and Environment she wrote an excellent article entitled “Places to Intervene in a System” which describes systems thinking as it relates to sustainability practices. Her book, Thinking in Systems is also an easy read to understand the basics.

The AtKisson Group

Alan AtKisson, a well regarded author and sustainability consultant based in Sweden, is well versed in systems thinking. His book and course, ISIS Accelerator is a process to help organizations use systems thinking to develop sustainability plans.

Pegasus Communications

Pegasus Communications is an organization that provides tools and resources for systems thinking and organizational learning. They have an annual conference every year on systems thinking and also publish books on the topic.

Learning for Sustainability

This site offers a realm of sustainability resources. In particular, they have a special page on systems thinking with links to various articles on systems thinking and practices.

Sustainability Planning Resources: Business

eco-officiency — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 05:00:54 +0000

Below are some good resources for businesses on sustainability planning.

The Step by Step Guide to Sustainability Planning

This book authored by Marsha Willard and Darcy Hitchcock discusses how to do sustainability planning in a simple and straightforward manner. It offers some great tools for assessments, reporting and developing metrics.

Five Winds: Steps to Improving Your Business Handbook

This is a free download by Five Winds International specifically developed for small to medium sized businesses. It has an assessment tool integrated with possible action steps.

Global Environment Management Initiative (GEMI)

Offers free online based web tools to help businesses with sustainability planning.

Unilever Sustainable Living Plan

Launched in 2011, Unilever has targeted some of the most aggressive targets in multiple areas for sustainability. Their plan is organized into three categories of Improving Health, Environmental Impact and Enhancing Livelihoods.

Environment Canada

The Canadian government has provided a host of online tools, research and white papers to encourage businesses to be more sustainable. These are free downloads.

The Sustainability Executive and Officer Role

eco-officiency — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:42 +0000

The role of sustainability executives, also known as corporate sustainability officers, has evolved over the last 6-10 years. Initially, many of these roles evolved out of need and whoever had interest in a company usually was dubbed the ‘sustainability expert’ within the company. Now that the sustainability profession has progressed, more experience has been created and there are higher degrees available in sustainability management the role has become more specialized and coveted than before.

A recurring questions is what do these professionals do? Although that can vary from company to company, here are some good resources to refer to about this role and all that it entails;

Corporate Sustainability Officers, eco-officiency
The Sustainability Professional: 2010 Competency Survey Report, International Society of Sustainability Professionals
the Five Myths About Sustainability Executives, Green Biz.com
Sample Job Description for a Sustainability Officer, Sustainable Cities Institute

Carbon Nation: A movie on Renewable Energy

eco-officiency — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:59 +0000

A movie that came out late 2010, Carbon Nation, discusses the role American can have in the renewable energy sector to reduce the carbon footprint. Whether you are believer in man induced global warming or not, it makes a compelling case for why renewable energy is a good move for the United States to invest in.

This non-partisan documentary provides compelling evidence that dealing with climate change can boost the economy, increase national & energy security and promote health and a clean environment.

The movie can be purchased via DVD or downloaded through all the various online movie retailers.

Other short videos and movies on renewabale energy that are also recommended;

National Geographic, Alternative Energy
Kilowatt Ours
History Channel, Modern Marvels Renewable Energy

e-waste: Recycle computer and electronics responsibly

eco-officiency — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:40 +0000

Many companies in the beginning of the New Year purchase new electronic equipment. It is important to discard e-waste appropriately by using e-waste vendors that are certified by the Basel Action Network e-Stewards program. This system of certification is an independent audit that ensures recyclers do not throw e-waste into landfills and to only send to developing countries that have responsible and safe means of destruction and disposal.

There was a responsible electronics recycling act (HR 2284/ S. 1270) that was introduced in Congress in June of 2011. This Act would prevent the export of non-functional or shredded electronic scrap to developing countries and make it illegal to dump electronics into the landfill. It has been passed down to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment but as of today, the status is unknown.

Two great videos on the issues of e-waste;

Story of Electronics: Produced by the same organization as the Story of Stuff. An easy 20 minute video on where electronics go once they have no use.
60 Minutes Wasteland: First aired in 2009 and again in 2010, this gripping and telling investigative reporting on e-waste issues in China.

Go to eco-officiency’s website to learn about recommended places to recycle or donate unwanted computers and electronics.

Small Businesses Profit from Sustainability

eco-officiency — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:00:18 +0000

A report published by multiple entities offers insight into how small businesses can profit from sustainability. Sustainability initiatives can be challenging when most small businesses don’t own their building or facilities nor manufacture their products. This report focuses on case studies from the United Kingdom, United States and Canada. It offers some best practices on sustainability that small businesses can employ immediately with little cost and high return.

Click here to download the free report, SME’s Set Their Sights on Sustainability.

Increasing Sustainability in the Hotel and Hospitality Industry

eco-officiency — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:21 +0000

A new web resource was launched to assist the hospitality and hotel industry in becoming more sustainable. The National Sustainable Lodging Network, is providing a framework of sharing resources and information within the hotel and lodging industry. You need to sign up to the network, which is free, in order to gain access to the information.

Another great resource is Green Lodging News which provides information on green products and services for the hotel industry along with general information on sustainability.