What’s Good and What’s Next: The Future of Sustainable Materials

Paul Bogart of the Healthy Building Network’s Pharos Project joins Jameson Detweiler, CEO of GreenKonnect.com and Sasha King, Co-founder and Director of Product Research and Development at epOxyGreen on a webinar entitled What’s Good and What’s Next: The Future of Sustainable Materials. Hosted by Kevin O’Donnell, Founder of the Thread Collaborative, this panel discussion is available for viewing and listening at http://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/6788.
 

The Pharos Project, a project of the Healthy Building Network, connects you to a network of building professionals and manufacturers committed to transparency as a core value on the path to sustainability. Pharos is not a certification or label, it is information: the critical health and environmental data about the manufacture, use, and end of life of building materials specified and used every day.  All delivered in an easy to use web based tool. For more information go to www.pharosproject.net  www.healthybuilding.net

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Fashion Takes Action presents The CSR Strategy for Apparel Series

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) April 23, 2010 – Fashion Takes Action (FTA) presents The CSR Strategy for Apparel Series on Friday, May 14th, hosted at the MaRS Discovery District, Toronto.

Topic: Designing Easy & Rewarding Employee Volunteer Programs -  facilitated by Chris Jarvis

Business of all shapes and sizes are eagerly getting into employee volunteering programs. Most often, team building through social and environmental responsibility is the motivation; however, even with best intentions, not every strategy is successful.

In morning and afternoon sessions, Chris Jarvis of Realized Worth, will guide you and your colleagues through the obstacles of employee volunteering and demonstrate, through case studies and action planning, how to turn them to your advantage for an easy and rewarding strategy.

Session 1: Creating Outstanding Volunteer Experiences (9:00 – 12:00)

Session 2: Bad, Better & Best: The Basics of Employee Volunteering (1:00 – 4:00)

Enroll now! Early bird rates until April 30th

About Chris Jarvis:

Chris Jarvis is the Senior Consultant for Realized Worth located in Toronto, Canada. His expertise is in designing and implementing Employee Volunteer Programs. Over the past 20 years, Chris has worked alongside NPO’s across North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia utilizing a model that elevates volunteerism from a task-oriented activity to a transformative experience.

About Fashion Takes Action:

We envision a future fashion industry that has sustainability stitched in to every garment, shoe and accessory, from fibre to finish. We empower our members and the industry-at-large with the tools, ideas and community to create prosperity through positive social and environmental change.

This is worked out through the values of social and environmental integrity, profitable and innovative business practices, transparent operations and communications and good design. FTA strives to help our members save time and make money, all the while strengthening their triple bottom line: people, planet, profit.

Click here NOW to register

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Strategy for Success: Sustainability Plan for Small Business

Many businesses address sustainability in an ad-hoc manner, doing a couple of things here and there – such as replacing light bulbs or “trying” to reduce energy consumption.  Although the intention is aligned with eco awareness, these actions are not necessarily impactful or strategic in building business sustainability.

 A strategic approach will help your small business to achieve the best results for your business and will ensure that the approach ties in with your overall business objectives.

 As a professional consultant in the role of introducing sustainability concepts to businesses, I advise clients of the strategy components and success components to a successful sustainability plan. 

 Strategy components:

• Begin by identifying the pressures that are driving your business to become more sustainable.
• Set a vision
• Define objectives
• Establish Current Position
• Analyze Gaps
• Develop Strategies
• Design and Action plan
• Implementation
• Monitor and Review
• Continue to innovate and improve

 
Success components:

• Top down and all inclusive: Leadership and at all levels in the business, everyone needs to be on board
• Encourage stakeholder engagement
• Link environmental, social and economic responsibility core subjects to all business processes
• Educate and bring eco awareness through ongoing training
• Rewrite process and procedures to reflect your sustainability initiatives
• Create a mutually beneficial relationship with your suppliers and customers

Having a strategic approach to bridging the gap from your current state of business to that of an environmental/ sustainable business will help you achieve the best results.  Additionally, it will ensure that the approach ties in with your overall business objectives.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

PCI-Media Impact Celebrates Earth Week

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) April 23, 2010 – Margaret Mead once said “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” 

On this 40th Anniversary of Earth Week, it is fitting such an observation about community action continues to be central to making real global change. PCI-Media Impact’s programs, inspired by these very words, bring together community leaders and broadcasters in an effort to improve HEALTH, protect the ENVIRONMENT, promote HUMAN RIGHTS and bring SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT using creative media to inspire community ACTION. Our programs throughout the developing world, work on a range of health and environmental issues, including the social benefits of separating waste, recycling, improving waste management, water conservation, mismanagement of solid waste and fighting against climate change.
 
We are entering our 25th year and we urge you to check out our programs at http://mediaimpact.org/
 
Michael Castlen, Executive Director
(212) 687-3366
777 United Nations Plaza, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10017
www.mediaimpact.org

PCI6246

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

The Sustainability Link to the Local Community

As a sustainability consultant, I often remind clients of the value of working with local communities to deliver benefits to both the company and the local groups who engage with the business.  Business sustainability includes recognition that a company and the community in which it operates are closely and strategically linked.

In a report by Forum for the Future, the authors discuss the hallmarks of business sustainability leaders.  In the area of community relations, the report discusses some key business distinctions.

•    Community activities have strong links to the core business, its brands and its products/services.

•    The business measures the outcomes, rather than just inputs, of its community activities.

•    A clear strategy at group level provides the framework for initiatives carried out at the local level through partnership with community groups, local businesses, regulators etc.

•    Measures are in place to ensure initiatives add value both to the community and to the business.

•    Initiatives are delivered via mixed investments of time, finance, knowledge and skills.

Leading businesses are being more strategic about community affairs, by aligning their activities to the core business. These businesses are creating alignment by:

•    Meeting commitments to the local community
•    Delivering on social business targets
•    Building local trust
•    Improving stakeholder relations
•    Developing a skilled local supplier base

At Taiga Company, we work with clients to recognize the value of engaging in the local community.  We encourage sustainable businesses to engage with the community as a key stakeholder and align community activities with business strategies.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Green living: How to Shop Green

Have you noticed how “Green” is everywhere?  Enter a grocery store, and there are “green” products next to traditional ones.  Billboards on the highways promoting “green” homes.  How do you know which products truly embrace sustainability concepts versus traditional products with a marketing makeover? 

 For those on the path of living a sustainable lifestyle, there’s power in leveraging purchases to support credible and sustainable businesses.   As a personal consultant, I offer a few suggestions to make the distinction. 
 

• Research before you buy.  For larger more infrequent items, set aside time to research your options.  Evaluate products on the full lifecycle.  How much energy was used in producing the product?   What is the energy consumption of your intended use?  How it will be discarded later? Compare products with eco awareness in mind.
• Look for eco-labels.  An eco-label is a logo indicating a product or company that has met an environmentally preferable standard. 
• Buy local and buy in bulk.  Supporting local businesses eliminates the need for products to be transported far distances.  
• Buy organic.  Purchasing merchandise certified with organic labeling is another way to bring eco awareness to your lifestyle.   Buying organic means less pesticides in our ground water and better health for your family.
• Buy Fair Trade.  Buying Fair Trade helps to end abuses such as child and slave labor.
• Buy products from sustainable sources like bamboo.  Purchase products not tested on animals, made from renewable sources and packaged with recyclable and minimal packaging. 
• Electronic purchases: Consider buying “Pre-Owned” goods.  Purchasing previously owned products is a great way to implement the sustainability concept of recycling.  Ebay and Craig’s list are two good sources.  Also ask your electronics store about recycling options for older models. 
• Get product information and updates via email and the internet instead of paper and direct mail.
• Speak up!  Manufacturers are listening! Use social media to connect with business to communicate your preferences and experiences.  Consumers are the biggest drivers of sustainability changes.

Access to information has put the consumer in the driver’s seat.  Use that information to identify credible sustainable businesses and support sustainable products through your purchasing power.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily