CSR Minute: USDA + Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Join Up;U of WI Business Students Organize Their Cafeteria

Corporate Social Responsibility News: USDA + Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Join Up; U of WI Business Students Organize Their Cafeteria

My 2010 Prediction: Sustainability Communication Will Vastly Improve | 3BL Media

A few years ago, the trend predictions were that consumers and businesses would start to go “green.” How true it was! Today, “green” has morphed into “sustainability,” and that concept is by no means a short term trend, but a much longer termmovement.  Because of that, many brands (but still not enough) are now 1) starting to integrate sustainability into all their practices and processes, and/or 2) starting to mention their sustainable ways more in their marketing, communications and consumer education efforts.  So, as 2010 begins, I predict that communication about corporate sustainability steps and new practices will vastly improve – because they HAVE to.  Today’s more environmentally and socially aware consumer is looking for evidence of, and hoping to connect on, shared values with today’s brands.

“Yeah, yeah..” you say, “I get it, already, and my brand will get there eventually.”  But, here’s the twist that should motivate a hesitant brand to take the communication of sustainability more seriously right now: women’s ways of buying are a sustainable consumer’s way of buying.  That said, learning to communicate the great stuff your brand is up to on that front should not be a whole new adventure.  Instead, remember to add things to your 2010 marketing to-do list:

- Be guided and inspired by the consumers you serve.  They are likely more eco-aware and socially responsible than you’ve given them credit for, and would love to tell you all about it.

- Learn to speak the same language they do when they talk about sustainable living and buying.  Industry lingo or exciting numbers will not persuade the average consumer about your commitment to helping them live more sustainably, so communicate with  (For instance, do energy star numbers mean the same to consumers as they do to those in the appliance industry, or is there a better way to present such benefits to the average buyer?)

- Don’t ever think of them as one homogeneous blob of “green consumers,” but dial way into what drives them, their values and passions, specifically, to buy what you sell.  A sustainabilitymovement demands such an investment.

- Realize there is no ” hard sell” for sustainable practices and products.  Your company is “in” sustainability for the long haul and so are consumers.  By taking on sustainability, your brand is choosing to take a more human, generations long, look at what you do and why.  A neon sign will not communicate that long haul as well as will the subtler signs like funding community programs, phasing in of ever more environmentally responsible processes, and providing well for employees, among other things (take a gander at Timberland, Seventh Generation or Interface if you need examples of comprehensive, sustainable and socially responsible operations).

***

So, yes, 2010 will begin with many green consumer predictions and trendspottings.  We all saw that coming.  As a recently Edelman Consumer Study showed: Americans, too, overwhelmingly indicate they are willing to change consumption habits to make the world a better place to live (85%) and are looking to companies and brands to make it easier for them to make a difference (65%).

The question now is how you respond to the emerging values and expectations of this new consumer…and how smart you are about communicating your sustainable practices.  Women, and men, await.

Andrea writes exclusively for her blog, LearnedonWomen, and appears regularly on Vermont Public Radio.

via 3blmedia.com

Recycled SUVs, Save Lives | 3BL Media

The Car Part Incubator

Well shut my mouth! At a recent Global Health Initiative forum, Dr. Jonathan Rosen – and his team of doctors, engineers and designers – announced that SUVs may actually be good for something after all…Saving the lives of millions of newborns!

The Car Part Incubator, the brain-child of Rosen and others at the Center for Integration Of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT) uses readily available auto parts to manufacture incubators for use in developing nations.

The statistics on infant mortality are staggering. Nearly 4 million newborns die each year, 98% of those in third world countries. With the help of recycled auto parts, such as the Toyota 4×4, junk becomes a precious resource. And at about $1500.00, the Car Part Incubator costs just a fraction of a traditional incubator.

CIMIT is a non-profit consortium of Boston teaching hospitals and engineering schools, trying to foster cooperation among world-class experts in medicine, science, engineering, industry and government, to improve patient care around the world.

CIMIT is using its Global Health Initiative to try to make things better for those in developing countries and other low-income settings. Training and education are a part of the plan, but innovative technologies like the Car Part Incubator will certainly go a long way to helping developing countries, well… develop –– and the next generation survive and thrive.

You can support the Global Health Initiative on their Facebook Causes Page.

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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Colorado Rocky Mountain School – Balancing Intellect with a Moral Scope | 3BL Media

Head of School letter for December 2009

It is a common theme in independent school education that intellect must be balanced by a moral scope. I have always believed that Colorado Rocky Mountain School does an amazing job of preparing its students for college and later life by giving them a solid foundation in both areas. However, a recent dinner with an alumnus during my travels through Asia helped me to see it even better from a student’s perspective.

This past fall during my trip to Tokyo, I had the pleasure of meeting Taro Tomisawa, a recent alumnus who currently works for a Japanese foundation. Taro was my guide that evening; not only through an unfamiliar cuisine but also in sharing what he felt was the unique educational gift that Colorado Rocky Mountain School had given him. As we savored our way through an assortment of dishes that required an explanation and an eating strategy, Taro surprised me with an impressive insight about CRMS. He told me that he has come to strongly believe that performing community service is one of the most important values that our school has to share with the world. He came to this conclusion after realizing that during his time here his sense of service became habitual and that since graduating from CRMS five years ago and attending Colorado College, he has found it challenging to find the opportunities to do more to improve the communities in which he has lived and worked.

As the Head of School, I have the unique opportunity of seeing first-hand the impact our program has on people. Alumni often tell me about the difference the CRMS experience has meant in their lives and the importance of the unique opportunities that were available to them. On occasion some alumni will reflect on the depth and breadth of our program and how they wish that they had been more involved and taken advantage of what was offered here. Others have lamented that, in retrospect, four years was simply not enough time. Most alumni ask that we never get rid of the household job and work crew programs, because they taught them skills that they would later need. Few, however, have framed it in the way that Taro did for me that evening in Tokyo. His assessment that CRMS is unique in that it inculcates the value of service through the entire program is something that we probably take for granted, because it is a part of our daily lives and culture.

In our most recent alumni newsletter, we highlight some wonderful programs that are a part of the school community as a result of the passion and interest of student leaders: Operation Smile, FaceAIDS, Soles 4 Souls, and Random Acts of Kindness. All of these student-initiated clubs do a wonderful job of getting us to think beyond ourselves. They hold true to the spirit of progressive education that seeks to create involved, knowledgeable, and skilled citizens.

Preparation for college begins with a strong academic foundation, but knowledge without an applied sense of value and purpose has a limited scope. This combination of knowledge and values is something that as educators we all believe in, but it is what Taro helped me to see in a different light that evening. My conversation with Taro has since had me thinking about this sense of service on a more day-to- day level, the very spirit of service from which these clubs and programs originate. For Taro it was simply a way of life, a habit, and a way of seeing the world. The value of service became so integral to Taro’s life that he views it as the most important aspect of his CRMS experience.

Creating students who view service as a key part of their lives, so much so that they must seek it out to feel satisfied and complete, is ultimately what we are striving for. As we move into the second semester, it is important to remind ourselves that some of the mundane aspects of our lives (i.e. household jobs, work crews, cleaning the dormitories and rooms, and random acts of kindness) are really wonderful opportunities that if taken with an open mind will forge a life-long belief. This awareness was recently manifested in a student’s noticing and acting upon a need that resulted in a group effort to provide a disabled neighbor with some new winter clothing. It is in the team spirit that was generated from hard-working soccer players and a school that supports them. It was in the way that the school finished the first semester strong with final exams, an exceptional art show, a band concert, and a climbing competition.

We look forward to having your students back on campus next week and to continuing this legacy of education and service.

Have a wonderful, healthy, and happy New Year.

Best wishes,

Jeff Leahy

jleahy@crms.org
Head of School

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Top 5 Reasons Why Cast Iron Is The Greenest Choice For Non-Stick Cooking | 3BL Media

Cast Iron Is The Greenest Choice For Non-Stick Cooking

When I was a bride, my Granny gave me two of her cast iron skillets. A tiny, 6 inch one for making cornbread for two; and a 12 inch skillet for everything else. She told me all I’d ever need to be a good cook was those two skillets, a sauce pan, a stock pot and a casserole dish. And in a pinch, she said, I didn’t really even need the casserole.

Cast iron has been around for hundreds of years. Before fancy teflon cookware was even a notion, cast iron was the standard for good cooks everywhere. Dependable, that’s what cast iron is. It will last for centuries if properly cared for, and it has a natural non-stick surface that’s eco-friendly. You can bake a pan of cornbread, scramble some eggs, make your favorite vegetarian black bean chili or sear a perfect steak. Cast iron cookware is the definition of all-purpose.

If you don’t already have a cast iron skillet, here are a few reasons to go to your nearest resale shop or garage sale and begin looking for one. You won’t regret it.

Top 5 Reasons Why Cast Iron Cookware Is So Green…

Cast iron is naturally non-stick. Properly seasoned (see below) nothing will stick to it. Cast iron eliminates the need for the costly, toxic chemicals used to create the non-stick surfaces in modern cookware.

Eco-easy clean up. All cast iron cookware requires for clean up is hot water and a stiff brush, so you avoid any harmful chemicals in detergent or solvents.

Cast iron can take the heat. It can withstand much hotter temperatures and will distribute the heat more evenly than traditional cookware. And since it holds heat well, you can use less energy to cook. Plus it’s perfect for outdoor cooking. Just remember that cast iron gets hot. so use an oven mitt when handling a hot pan.

It’s a great upcycling opportunity. Don’t ever worry about buying a cast iron skillet or other cast iron cooking vessel—like a dutch oven—from a resale shop or garage sale. Even if it looks rusty and dirty, it can be cleaned and re-seasoned and continue on cooking, forever.

It’s good for you. Cast iron cookware leaches small amounts of iron into food, so you get a little extra iron each time you use it.  Almost anyone, especially women in their child bearing years, will benefit from this.

How To Properly Season Cast Iron Cookware

First, wash your cast iron cookware. This is the only time you will need soap to clean it, but you want to be sure you remove any dust or dirt. If you have a brand new cast iron piece, you will need to do this to remove the wax coating that is on it to keep it from rusting until it’s seasoned. 

Coat your piece in some type of oil. Cast iron has a porous surface. The seasoning process will fill and smooth the surface to make it non-stick. Some type of oil is used to facilitate this process. I use Crisco vegetable shortening. Traditionalists would use lard. You can use plain old cooking oil, too, but you will get better results with Crisco. You want to coat the entire cooking surface with the shortening.  Don’t glob it on, but every nook and cranny should have a nice, medium layer of shortening. Use about as much as you would use to coat a cake pan for baking.

Bake it in the oven. Next, you just pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and put your cast iron pan in for an hour or so.  After heating, turn off the oven and let it cool completely while still in the oven. Then it’s ready to go!

Heating the cookware creates the oxidation that prevents rust and makes the surface non-stick. Some cast iron users advocate heating the pan slightly before applying the Crisco to ensure that the pan is completely dry and to open the pores of the pan before seasoning. Not a bad idea, but remember cast iron gets HOT.  Use oven mitts. 

Newly seasoned cast iron will take on a dark brown coating. After long use, it will become glossy black. The non-stick properties of the pan will increase with time and use, so use your cast iron often. Remember, seasoning is a process. Even though cast iron can be used immediately after the first seasoning, your cookware will get better and better over time.

How do I re-season a used cast iron piece? If you buy a cast iron piece second hand, the process is still basically the same to re-season it, with one exception. First wash it in hot soapy water, as above. Then I put it in my oven on the highest setting (or on the self-cleaning setting if you have one) and let it bake for a few hours without any oil or shortening. This will remove any rust and the old seasoning. Let it cool, then follow the steps above to re-season.

Caring For Your Cast Iron Cookware

After each use, clean your piece with very hot water and scrub with a stiff brush to remove any particles left behind.  Don’t use soap, it will remove the seasoning.  After you scrub the pan, give it a light coating with some Crisco or vegetable oil and store it in the oven.  Why?  Because the oven will have less moisture, this will help keep your cast iron from ever rusting.  Plus, each time you use your oven is an opportunity to further season your pan.  Even if you take your cast iron pan out while using your oven, give it a light coating of shortening before putting it back in the warm oven.  Especially if it’s a new piece, this will help develop the seasoning further.

I have treasured those skillets Granny gave me, and I’ve added to my collection over the years.  A dutch oven in 1989 and a griddle just last year.  At a garage sale in Los Angeles about 15 years ago, I bought a giant, deep skillet that turned out to be called a Texas skillet.  (An omen, I guess since I live in Texas now. )  I love my cast iron cookware.  I’m guessing you will, too.

For Sebrina’s favorite Cast Iron Skillet Thanksgiving recipes – including her cornbread – CLICK HERE NOW!

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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Blue Jean Baby | 3BL Media

Blue Jean Baby

OK, so I will never admit it, but I’m a little bit country. I can’t help it. I grew up in Houston, TX. And it’s doesn’t surprise me that 90% of my pants consist of blue jeans. But, this time, instead of giving my old jeans to a thrift store, I decided to try something a little different. Take a look…my own personalized pair of blue jean heels.

This is so easy to do and you don’t need to buy anything. All you need is an old pair of jeans that you never wear, or maybe you’re planning on giving away, a pair of heels that need restoring, some scissors that are capable of cutting through jeans, and some glue. (Spray adhesive worked best for me.)

Start by cutting your jeans into strips. It’s best if you cut out the exact same pattern for each shoe to keep them looking like they match. Make them as thick or as thin as you want. You’re the designer. I even added a strip of color that I cut from an old t-shirt.

Lay out all your materials and then simply layer the blue jean strips over each other one at a time.

I use two separate pairs of jeans to get the different shades of blue.

The back of the heels can be a little more difficult. You’ll need to plan out how you want this to look and cut the appropriate pattern so that it will properly curve around the back of the heel.

Done. That was too easy!

Got ideas for no cost, no waste, shoe makeovers? Let us know. Check out these other shoe makeovers from old train cushions.

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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‘09 was the year for GREEN to SHINE | 3BL Media

‘09 was the year for GREEN to SHINE

What a blast 2009 was. Traveling and meeting such fascinating and wonderful people. And such breakthroughs! Natural gas from landfills to run garbage trucks, solar power and green building breaking through to mainstream and learning about ocean pollution Let’s make a new year’s resolution together to recycle more and waste less. Let’s help with ocean pollution by keeping our recyclables out of them! Let’s enjoy 2010 together knowing we all can make a difference. Thanks to all we met along the way and cheers to their stories, jobs and efforts in making ‘09 the year for GREEN to SHINE.

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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CSR Minute: HSBC, Spandana, and MicroEnergy Credits Corp Join.

Corporate Social Responsibility News: HSBC, Spandana, and MicroEnergy Credits Corp Join Up; Control Risks Buys Social Risks, LLC, Launches Consulting Practice

Leonardo Academy Sustainability Sponsor for Green Energy & Building Expo | 3BL Media

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) Madison, WI – December 29, 2009 – Leonardo Academy is the Sustainability Sponsor for the February 19-20, 2010 Green Energy & Building Expo at the Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. Leonardo Academy’s President Michael Arny will be presenting an educational seminar, “Implementing LEED in Your New and Existing Buildings” on Friday, February 19 from 2-3 PM. Leonardo Academy will also be an exhibitor (Booth #411).

Register for this event.
Sign up for a booth or obtain more information. 
 
About Michael Arny, PE, MSME, LEED AP, President of Leonardo Academy
Michael Arny founded Leonardo Academy in 1997 and leads Leonardo Academy’s sustainability programs and consulting practice. Michael has worked on energy, environmental issues, and sustainability throughout his entire career. Michael was the chair of the LEED® for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) committee of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) from 2001-2005 when the USGBC’s LEED-EB rating system was being developed and first implemented.
 
About Leonardo Academy — Leonardo Academy is a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability and environmental stewardship. We approach sustainability as the creative merging of environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic prosperity that empowers doing well by doing good. We strive to make sustainability practical for everyone by utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to strategy development, implementation and education. Learn more about us at http://www.leonardoacademy.org/.

Cool Hydrogen Race Car that you can drive today! | 3BL Media

I love toys. I know what you’re thinking, I’m just a guy and all guys love toys. But here’s the other shoe – I hate cars. Oh I drive them, but I use them as a tool, not a plaything. And an expensive, balky, wasteful, polluting tool at that. But I found a car I love. A toy car.

It’s the H-Racer from Horizon Fuel Cell. It’s the smallest hydrogen fuel cell car in the world, and it comes with its own solar hydrogen filling station. That’s right; this neat little gizmo runs across the floor on hydrogen, which is produced right before your eyes by the solar fueling station. To create free hydrogen fuel at the flick of a switch, just add water to the station’s tank! Fueling is animated by a special blue light display. The station has a solar panel that produces electricity. It uses that electricity to “crack” water – good old H2O – into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen then fills the car’s onboard tank, where it runs the fuels cell, emitting only – H2O!

Water in, Water out.

This toy will never be out of fuel as long as the sun shines. You can choose between 2 models, with about a $20 price difference, the H-Racer and the H-Racer2.0, which has its own remote control steering. It also runs a little faster and longer than the original H-Racer. For the extra 20 bucks, it’s worth it.

This car is not only fun, but educational. You can learn a lot about solar, creating hydrogen fuel and fuel cells while you race around the living room floor. Get two and you can have races. You could set up a whole course, with bridges, rings of fire, death defying leaps through space – ok; I’m getting a little carried away. It’s a guy thing.

This is just my boyish racing fantasy – hydrogen is actually quite safe.

The H-Racer has won awards for Time Magazine and Business week for being such a cool idea. My only question is: Why can’t they make this thing bigger? How come it has to be a toy? Couldn’t they just make everything bigger on this car and let me drive it around town? Nissan? Ford? Audi? Anyone?

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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