Share and Spare Networks January 27, 2008

You (as a company but also as an individual) are interested in Sustainable Development at the national and international level but you don’t really know where to start? One of the main principles to keep in mind is that Sustainable Development can only be efficient if knowledge is shared and spared all over the world. That’s why those who have already been involved in this progressive movement have created different networks to help each other.

We will mention some initiatives that may be of interest. Of course, there are plenty of sharing/sparing networks so this is just a starting point. Speaking of starting points, check out the Commons - A Worldwide Sustainability Resource Inventory. It is an inventory of websites dealing with Sustainable Development and a good starting point when you are searching for information all over the world about subjects related to eco-friendly practices.

Now, let’s devote some time to explaining the main ideas of this “sharing and sparing” concept. There are three phrases that sum it up:

1. Best Practices
2. Free Intellectual Property (connected to another term which is “Public domain”)
3. Collaboration

 

 

Companies and individuals taking part in these networks work in “collaboration” and share “best practices” or new technologies on a free intellectual property basis to reach a common goal: a greener way of life or a more sustainable way to do business for the benefit of the planet. The purpose of these networks is to mobilize people and make their efforts valuable and efficient worldwide (since Sustainable Development is, after all, a global issue which requires global efforts).

Eco-Patents is a project which follows the above principles. It aims at creating a platform to share technologies and practices among individuals and companies. The patents will be identified in a searchable Website hosted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The idea was launched by IBM during its Global Innovation Outlook conference and then extended to the world community. This project is in progress and needs your contribution, so feel free to contact them to help out.

GreenBiz Leaders is another interesting platform which features examples companies that have successfully incorporated environmental stewardship with their business. Per the site, the initiatives in the database have been recognized by a credible third-party organization or government agency. These organizations meet predetermined environmental criteria or have achieved recognition for their environmental achievements.

Adaptive Environments offers a great opportunity to open our eyes to issues connected to the social branch of Sustainable Development. This field is often forgotten, as the “environment” is generally the most debated subject, hiding this other side of the battle. This is a “Human centered design” project which provides ideas to take care about people in a more sustainable way (those “practices” come from businesses, companies and individuals’ initiatives) – this is not a platform kind of site but it presents “practices” that can be implemented by other businesses.

The ITDP focuses on sharing experiences all over the world related to Transportation and Development. They describe their own projects (hence, again, it is not exactly a “sharing network” kind of website), projects that can provide ideas to help adapt transportation to eco-friendly principles. The projects are implemented in different countries around the world, demonstrating that each of us, in our very diversity, can contribute to a more sustainable way of life which will benefit he whole planet.

Of course this is not an exhaustive list but it gives you some ideas of what is out there and what you can participate in! The more we share, the more efficient our actions will be. This will help us move forward instead of duplicating efforts or reinventing the wheel, if you’ll pardon the cliche.

Signs: Learn to effectively convey your environmental message in the office January 20, 2008

You’ve organized a ‘Green Team’ at your office. You’ve even had a few meetings, agreed to use post-consumer recycled paper, improve the recycling program and recycling rate, change out the bulbs, and ask everyone to bring in mugs instead of those icky Styrofoam cups. Next: you’d like to get others on board, and to communicate what you’re doing. But how to do that? There are many ways to approach this, including going paperless though emails and e-newsletters. But sometimes, paper must be involved.

One great way to get your message across is through signs and posters in the workplace. Prompts such as signs can function as a both an educational tool to support green behavior or as a simply reminder to those individuals with good intentions but human forgetfulness. This is not as easy as you might think! If you thought there wasn’t an art to effective sign-design, then think again. When creating a sign, keep the following tips in mind:

Look:

• Make it noticeable, interesting and engaging — having a catchy saying will help people remember the event/action
• Use bright colors and fun designs
• Make it personal and interactive (i.e. make it relevant to your organization!)
• Use simple text or graphics

Content:

• Images are still worth a thousand words: show pictures of the waste or potential savings and link them to familiar items or local landmarks
• Promote positive action rather than discouraging negative behavior — highlight changes that have been made and individuals that have made them
• Show quantifiable results from the actions already taken
• Tell people how to get involved or get more information

Lastly, don’t forget to place the sign(s) as close (temporally and spatially) to where the desired action will take place. Good luck, be creative and be influential with your green signage!

Take Care of your Skin but Don’t Skim the Environment January 11, 2008

“One must suffer to be beautiful.” This is one of those little sentences that you use when you are trying to brush the tangles out of your hair. But to what extent must we suffer? And… is the planet supposed to suffer too? Oddly enough we don’t use this sentence as much when it deals with applying our usual and apparently “innocent” cosmetics on our skin. Perhaps it’s because we are not aware of the potential damages they can cause.

The purpose of this article is not to list the harmful components present in some of the cosmetics that we can buy in every supermarket but to raise awareness about this not-so-well-known issue. To avoid using products that are damaging to your health, be informed! Indeed, it is important to note that the US Food and Drug Administration’s “legal authority over cosmetics is different from other products regulated by the agency, such as drugs, biologics, and medical devices. Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of color additives.” Moreover ,“manufacturers are not required to register their cosmetic establishments, file data on ingredients, or report cosmetic-related injuries to FDA.” Those two points aim at underlining the potential danger that cosmetics can represent since regulations are really limited (even if, of course, a list of prohibited components exists but it is restricted to very few of them).

Some European countries have certifications for cosmetics and personal care products– some examples include Germany’s BDIH certification and France’s Ecocert Cosmebio label. However, in the US, no real “eco-label” exists. Consequently, there is no authority to assure products’ safety. So, when you look at brands presenting themselves as “bio” or “fair” or “eco”, you need to know what they mean by those terms (nobody is there to check for you). If you order your products on the internet, take a look at their philosophy and, if they list ingredients, what those ingredients are; if you buy them in specialized shops, don’t be shy about asking for information. Also, check out Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group’s guide to cosmetics and personal care product labeling.

When choosing a product, make sure that is does not include petrochemical products, GMOs (genetically modified organisms) or animal raw materials. In addition, check that it has been produced through eco-friendly transformation processes (with a restricted use of synthesis components as well as colorants and perfume). Just as important is the company’s social and environmental impact. Here are some basic questions to ask when choosing a product:

• What are the working conditions of people producing the cosmetics? Is the company ethical? Does the company provide accessible information about their suppliers and how it treats its employees?
• How are products tested? Are they tested on animals? Choose “cruelty-free products”
• What is the company’s sustainability policy? Are the ingredients used eco-friendly? Is the packaging made from recycled materials and recyclable? Is it kept to a minimum?

Let’s Shop Together!

Remember: It is always preferable to buy products that are locally produced or manufactured. If you decide to shop online, think about transportation and its cost in terms of carbon footprint. Hence, when you order some products, try to buy more of them once (instead of reordering the same cosmetics) three or four times a year.

Your Lips: What’s about the Body Shop “Lip Gloss Bloom” ? This gloss is a fair and supporting-community-trade product. Body Shop works with Eudafano Women’s Cooperative based in Namibia. This permits to more than 500 women in rural communities “who have very few opportunities to earn money” to “benefit from fair trade”.

Your Hands: It’s cold out these days, take care of your hands with Lush (Fresh Handmade Cosmetics). Lush products don’t contain petroleum oil and the moisturizing ingredients come from plant.

Your Cheeks: Check out Aveda’s Petal Essence Cheek Color . This is a talc and mineral oil-free products packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled clamshell and paper sleeve.

Your Lashes: Take a look at this Natural Mascara by Earths Beauty. This “mascara with organic beeswax builds thick, luscious lashes without lab-created chemicals!”.

Your Face: A Daily Face Cleanser by GrateFulBody only made of botanicals (no synthetics). All is biologically and environmentally sustainable in that product!

For more information, take a look at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Green Guide’s list of eco-friendly products that have some certification.

 

Take care of yourself, take care of the planet too !

Is your city a “cool city”? Make it one in 2008! January 2, 2008

A little over two years ago, The Sierra Club launched the Cool Cities Campaign. The goal was to encourage mayors and other local leaders to take the initiative to implement measures that would reduce global warming pollution. For instance, some cities are committing to converting a percentage of their energy to renewable energy and other cities are switching to LED traffic lights and crosswalk signals. Seattle’s Mayor Greg Nickels, was instrumental in launching the U.S Mayors Climate Protection Agreement which pledged to reduce carbon dioxide pollution to 7% below the 1990 level by 2012. The Cool Cities Campaign is reaching out to other mayors who may not have signed on yet and also is encouraging individuals to initiate local energy solutions and to get their mayors involved.

Check to see if your community is already a Cool City here. If it is, you can find out what they have done so far. For instance, my county in New York has just achieved the 3^rd milestone of having the Mayor sign the U.S. Mayor’s Agreement. The next milestone will be to implement the proposed goals.

The Sierra Club Cool Cities website provides a wealth of information about how to get involved, the progress of other cities and any other information you may possibly need. Also take a look at the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities Campaign Activist Toolkit. It provides a checklist of the steps needed to organize a Cool Cities in your community. Each step is then described in detail and it even includes sample media materials and sample letters that can be sent to your mayor.

Make your city a “cool” one in 2008!