CSR Minute: UL Laboratories Certifies LG Electronics; GRIHA’s First National Conference and Exhibition on Green Building in New Delhi

Corporate Social Responsibility News: UL Laboratories Certifies LG Electronics; GRIHA’s First National Conference and Exhibition on Green Building in New Delhi

Top Provider of Custom and Standard Chef Wear Just Went Green | 3BL Media

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) December 28, 2009 – Green Business League has certified Culinary Classics as an authentically Green Company because of their Green clothing line and Green Practices.  This company has been around for many years and is a family owned uniform company providing uniform apparel for chefs, waiters, bus boys, and more. Your staff can look forward to wearing made-to-order uniforms which complement female, long, short, and plus sizing from XS-7X. They require no minimums, as well as offering complementary design consultation. They are located out of the Chicago, IL area where they make garment from start to finish ensuring the highest quality and the uniforms from there can be delivered anywhere in the country.

Culinary Classics stimulates restaurant and kitchen environments all over the country by providing custom solutions of unique styles and flavors for each location. By combining outstanding customer service, enthusiastic consultation, and a product line of the highest quality, comfort and style, the Culinary Classics brand becomes exactly what you want to wear.

Just as the best recipes benefit from the highest quality ingredients, the perfect combination of flavors and the most stunning presentation, so does their uniforms. At Culinary Classics you can create the perfect visual representation of your character and style because every order is made to order. You choose your product, fabric, size, pockets, buttons–everything. Let your customers know from their first glance what kind of enterprise yours is through the design of your uniform.

Because they make our products after you have placed your order, they have the ability to produce clothing that is exactly what you want. The four step process located under the “Build Your Own” link clearly outlines how to create a customized order. In the “Build Your Own” process you have the option of designing your own fabrics, colors, and styles to make your perfect coat that reflects you or your company all by the click of a mouse. You can also just call one of our sales representatives and they will be more then will to help you through the process.           

Culinary Classics also offers a catalog, which you can receive for free through the mail, our online store gives you the option of selecting winning combinations of some of our more popular products. Every order is still made to order, except the few in-stock items they keep on our shelves, but they do offer the option of purchasing some of our favorite creations online.

When customers ask us for our best chef coat, they make sure to explain that each chef has their own best chef coat. It depends on what you need; it depends on what you like. Here are some descriptions of our classic fabrics, each with their own characteristics. If you would like to get a swatch sent to you, or you have questions about what’s right for you, just ask!

Culinary Classics has a new and 100% Organic Cotton is 6.5 oz, USDA certified and available in White. Organic cotton is grown and processed without the use of pesticides and other chemicals which pollute the earth and our environment. One of the more exotic styles in the Premium Egyptian Cotton which is one of the most luxurious fabrics, premium Egyptian cotton has an incredibly soft feel. Lightweight and breathable, this 100% cotton fabric is truly a mark of elegance. Also, the cotton / rayon blend has a smooth and silky feel and touch. Try these fabrics for your next uniform involving shirts, hats, pants and ties.

Visit the Culinary Classic homepage to see more types of uniforms and what fabrics they use.  At their website you can build your own uniform or contact someone if you are interested.  Take a look around their website and I gaurantee you will like what you see.  The Green Business League is proud to certify Culinary Classic because they are dedicated company that wants to help the environment and make the best quality uniforms available.

Get Your Green Business Noticed on a Free Online Green Directory

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) December 9, 2009 – The Green Business League is now unveiling their new Green Business Directory.  This directory will have your companies information listed on the Green Business League website with a link back to your home page.  This is not only a great way to get online advertisement for your company but it is also free.  Thousands of people visit the Green Business Directory website every day and now the Green Business League is offering to put your website on their directory for free.

The Green Business Directory will give your company excellent online exposure to individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations, eco-friendly organizations, government affiliated programs, other green companies, and much more.  If you have a Green Company that wants to be promoted online, then be associated with the Green Business League which is a nationally recognized authority. Having your companies name on this directory will give your company more clients because businesses looking for green products and services visit our website first for the most recent and trustworthy information.

The Green Business Directory is unlike other online directory because our website gets viewed by business professionals every day looking for Green companies products and services near them.  Other directories are not as popular or have a well known name associated to them.  If you are tired of not getting noticed online for being a quality Green Company the let the Green Business Directory give your business some credibility and brand recognition.

The TERMS and CONDITIONS are very simple.  You need only CONNECT to the Green Business League networking program and commit to a program that will introduce Green and Sustainable Practices to your daily operation.  Your involvement in a genuine program of Green compliance is very important as the business world becomes more concerned about Green certification.

There are more than 300 Certified Green Consultants nationwide.  As we form a national Green Business Directory, our consultants are networking Green businesses locally.  You will be invited to attend the local Green Business Networking events that are planning semi-annually or locally in your area.  As a CONNECTED Green Business, you will be on the preferred invited list.  During these events, you will be able to make very important business connections to other Green businesses in your community.

We reserve the right to remove any listing that is contrary what we consider to be Green Practices and Ethics, and your listing will continue for one year without charge.  To insure the existence of a business and that there is at least a basic commitment to a Green program, one of our Certified Green Consultants will contact you in the next 30-60 days.  There is no obligation, and you should get to know this person since they are capable of helping your business grow through their business connections.

To get your free listing on the Green Business Directory visit the Green Business League website.  You will be taken to a page that explains the Free Connection program of the Green Business League.  Obviously, it is our hope that your business will move from Connection to Compliance and Certification as a Green business.  This offer has no hidden charges nor does our program have any products to sell.  Green Business League is a nationally-recognized Green business program of education, guidance, and certification.  We feel that the days of greenwashing will soon fall under public criticism and only an authentic Green Business Certification, such as offered by the Green Business League, will be the accepted standard.

Green Consultanting Is One Of The Most Lucrative Jobs

Earning the right to be a Certified Green Consultant does not come from a simple desire to make a difference.  The Green revolution has many pieces but few people that can put the whole puzzle together.  As a Certified Green Consultant, you will learn a holistic approach to the Green challenges that we all face.  This three day training program is not for those who are not merely curious, but for those who are serious about making a difference in their community.

Our program continues for a full year of support and continuing education to round out all that you should know about working with homes, schools, businesses, and organizations in your community.  The environmental challenge is a universal problem that requires universal participation.  With the Green Business League program, everyone can adopt Green Practices that are worth points toward a nationally-recognized certification.

This is not a LEED program focused only on building owners.  Green Practices can be applied to every situation, and no one is exempt.  We look at the daily operational issues of indoor air quality, energy, waste, the paperless office, sustainable practices, Green Supply Chain, and dozen of other issues that people practice every day.

The problem is that most people want a better world, but they do not want to change anything to get there.  We are still in the early stages of the environmental revolution, but this is an inevitable and powerful movement that must be addressed at every level of society.  To be honest, groups like TerraPass have discovered that 96% of all Green products exaggerate their claims and frankly Greenwash.  Greenwashing is the popular method of environmental conformity, and this is because people simply do not have enough information or help to install an Authentically Green program.

The opportunity is real but it is still in the early stages of development.  Those who establish themselves as leaders in this market will see many doors open up.  This will require more than passion.  Success will depend on great information, a proactive spirit, and a clear plan that businesses can easily adopt.

There are three parts to our training program.  The fist is the Pre-Class material that is sent to each student once they enroll in one of our classes.  This is for orientation and to provoke your thinking.  The three-day Live Class is a fast-paced presentation of general and crucial subjects that will make you “knowledgeable” on nearly every environmental topic.  Finally, you will participate in a year long training and support program designed to round out your education.

The final day of the live class is how to market your business as a Green consultant.  This is something missing is nearly any educational program.  The “How To” part is very important, and your success is very important to more than the Green Business League.  Every consultant is, frankly, an agent of change in their community.  Learning to the Green Go-to Person in your community will not happen because you are well educated,but from the fact that you press this information into a real program of community Greening.

As a Certified Green Consultant, you are head and shoulder above the self-appointed Green advisers.  Too often, Green advisers are narrow applications like: energy consultants, carbon credit promoters, sustainability counselors, solar power installers, or ISO quality control programmers.  None of these have the whole program although they make it sound like they do.  Our certification introduces the student to all the areas of environmental concern.  Therefore, your certification is very well-rounded and robust.  This is a federal trademark, and a national program that presently has strong recognition.

As a Certified Green Consultant, you will be able to offer your professional services to assist homes, schools, and businesses on how to install Green Practices into their daily operation.  At 100 points of accumulated Green Practices, the business will qualify as Green Certified Business with the Green Business League.

While there are other certifications cropping up on the Internet each month, none offer the credibility of the Green Business League.   We proudly say that our certification is “Earned, not Bought,” and that says a lot about our level of commitment.  This is not a program that can be cheated or abused.

Only a Certified Green Consultant can offer what we offer. We know that hundreds of knock off certification will crop up on the Internet and clandestine groups who hope to grab a piece of this growing market. Businesses that earn the GBL Green business certification represent the best Green businesses in America. This is a certification that is earned, and one that can be proudly promoted to a public that is willing to patronize an Authentically Green business.

via 3blmedia.com

 

Why do B Corps matter? Annual report will explain, inspire, motivate entrepreneurs to build a new economy NOW

B Lab, the nonprofit that certifies B Corporations (“B” is for benefit), will publish the first B Corporation Annual Report in collaboration with Sustainable Industries, the business source for leaders of the New Economy. The report will include a summary of B Lab’s progress to date in building a new sector of the economy through the growing community of certified B Corps, creation of a new corporate form, and a new rating system for impact investors.

In a time when many are looking for concrete, market-based solutions to systemic problems made plain by the financial meltdown, the B Corp community has grown 80 percent in the past year and thousands of businesses, large institutional investors and policy makers at every level of government have adopted the performance and legal standards outlined by the B Rating System.

Two characteristics distinguish B Corporations:

• B Corporations’ legal structure expands corporate accountability to consider employees, community and environment, not just shareholders, helping them to grow and raise money while maintaining mission
• The transparent, comprehensive B Corporation performance standards empower consumers to support businesses that align with their values, investors to drive capital to higher impact investments, and governments and multinational corporations to implement sustainable procurement policies. Today, there are 220 B Corporations in 28 states representing 54 industries

“This report will explain why B Corps matter and why now is the time to address fundamental, systemic problems with systemic solutions that go beyond window dressing and pleas for more regulation,” said Jay Coen Gilbert, one of the three founders of B Lab. “We hope readers will walk away inspired by the impact B Corporations are having and better equipped to forge their own path to build a new, more inclusive and sustainable new economy in which businesses serve society as well as shareholders.”

The B Corp Annual Report includes:

• Summary data on community growth, diversity and impact comparing B Corps and non-B Corps
• Profiles of B Corps achieving high impact in each area assessed by the B Impact Rating System (Employee, Environment, Community, Consumer). B Corps profiled include: Seventh Generation, IceStone, Cardinal Resources, ShoreBank, SABEResPODER, Indigenous Designs, Sustainable Harvest, Greyston Bakery, Dansko, King Arthur Flour, Method, Plum Organics
• A directory of 205 Certified B Corps arranged by industry, and profiles of innovations that can be used as a resource for journalists covering social entrepreneurship, and business owners and entrepreneurs interested in learning more about running a purpose-driven company

The B Corporation Annual Report will be mailed to subscribers of Sustainable Industries magazine with the November issue and will be available on newsstands in mid October. Limited advance copies of the B Corporation Annual Report are available to select journalists. To secure a copy, please contact Anna Ghosh at Anna@Strauscom.com.

B Lab is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a new sector of the economy that harnesses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. This sector will be comprised of a new type of corporation—the B Corporation – which creates economic opportunity, builds strong communities and preserves a healthy environment.  B Corps meet higher standards of accountability, transparency, and social and environmental performance.  As of September 2009, there are over 220 certified B Corporations from over 50 industries with more than $1 billion in revenues and $7 billion in assets under management.

B Lab’s objective is to help B Corps become legally recognized by the states, tax preferred by the IRS, and valued by employees, investors, and consumers.   B Lab also re-purposes the standards used to certify B Corps to help investors make high impact investments and governments implement policies to support sustainable business.

via 3blmedia.com

Posted via web from 3BL Media’s Posterous

Eco Consulting Field Exploding, Says Prominent Environmental Education Firm

The Eco Consulting field is exploding, and the next generation of Eco Consultants are seeking new avenues for becoming quickly trained in this green profession, according to the San Diego-based Eco Institution, a leading environmental education firm.

Estimates place the number of Eco Consultants in the United States currently at about 3,000—quite a steep number for a profession that’s less than three years old. But this total should double within the next 12 months, according to Kevin Hopkins, a former White House economist and author of the Eco Institution’s introductory Eco Consultant Certification Course.

“Homeowners and businesses in the United States and other developed countries have long been supportive of environmental initiatives, but have been frustrated by a lack of both knowledge and opportunities for living and operating in a more environmentally responsible fashion,” says Mr. Hopkins. “But thanks to the emerging Eco Consultant profession, local residents and business owners can begin to really make a difference—right in their own neighborhoods and communities.”

Saving Green by Living Green

That difference that they can make means more than just doing a “good deed” for the planet. It also can translate into saving money. Indeed, the Eco Institution emphasizes that, in the difficult economy that has battered the United States and others developed countries in recent years, consumers and small businesses are more interested than ever before in saving money wherever they can—and that planetary consciousness needs to follow suit.

“It’s easy for someone who is passionate about protecting the environment to say that cost doesn’t matter,” says Mr. Hopkins. “And in the larger sense, maybe it doesn’t. But environmental protection and planetary preservation depend on people’s actually taking action. And like it or not, most people today—no matter how committed to the environment they might be—simply don’t have the thousands of extra dollars required to purchase a new hybrid car or to line their rooftops with pricey solar panels.”

With that fact in mind, the Eco Institution focuses its training efforts on helping would-be Eco Consultants to demonstrate to their clients how “living green” and “saving green” go together. By undertaking simple, relatively inexpensive steps—from wiser usage of lighting, heating, cooling, and water to improved insulation and replacement of old appliances—some families can save up to $2,000 or more each year through the adoption of green-living practices, and many businesses can save much more. In addition, U.S. Federal tax credits for energy-efficient structural additions can save taxpayers up to an additional $1,500 in the coming tax year.

An Online Eco Consultant Training Course

Local consumers and business owners are increasingly turning to Eco Consultants for answers and recommendations in these and other green-living arenas—which is one reason why the Eco Consultant profession is expanding so fast. The profession is also among the most diverse of all of the emerging “green jobs” fields. Today, Eco Consultants range from architects and engineers to real estate agents and home inspectors, and also include a fair number of other business professionals, homemakers, and even college students. While their backgrounds may differ, however, the one commonality is that each Eco Consultant will have taken at least one course of study specific to Eco Consulting. The Eco Consultant Certification Course offered by the Eco Institution is one of a growing number of options for securing the needed training.

With a nod to busy professionals, the Eco Institution’s certification process has been designed for maximum flexibility and adaptability to the needs of individual Eco Consultant trainees. Employing the latest in web-based instructional technology, the Eco Consultant Certification Course is available online, and can be studied at the student’s own pace and on his or her own schedule. The 12-unit introductory course covers such substantive topics as energy conservation, water conservation, green transportation, and recycling, as well as such practical subjects as auditing a home or business, operating and marketing an Eco Consulting practice, and becoming a community environmental advocate. More advanced courses will cover environmental, energy-conservation, and engineering topics in even greater depth, and will help to prepare students to secure their globally recognized LEED certification.

Each of the introductory course’s 12 units also includes a detailed, easy-to-read text-based lesson, and is accompanied by a series of thought-provoking exercises as well as phone- and email-based access to a professional Eco Consulting Coach who will guide students through both the substantive and practical aspects of setting up and building their Eco Consulting practice. An optional but highly prized feature of the Eco Institution’s offerings is an information-rich “Startup Kit,” which includes dozens of professionally designed client handouts, worksheets, auditing guides, and marketing and promotional tools—most of which can be private-labeled with the Eco Consultant’s name and contact information. The Startup Kit also includes placards and posters that Eco Consultants can display at homes or businesses that they have audited, which document that these structures have been “green-certified.”

Signing up for the Eco Consultant Certification Course couldn’t be easier. Interested individuals should visit the Eco Institution web site at www.ecotraining.com.

For more information regarding this release, please contact Kevin Hopkins at media@ecoinstitution.com