green business

Going Green at Wal-Mart?

jchatraw — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:17:52 -0400

If you're in the business world, you've undoubtedly seen a memo passed around your office regarding some green initiative. You may only know about an effort to recycle paper or save energy, but the truth of the matter is businesses are looking deep within to discover ways they can contribute to solving America's energy dependency problem ... and increase their bottom line at the same time.

As I've experienced this in my own business, I've also grappled with what it means to shop at stores I have judged as not very eco-friendly. One such company was Wal-Mart. I emphasize was because Wal-Mart is actually doing something that truly contributes to the green to go green, even if it is driven by profit. With Wal-Mart, you take what you can get. It even spurred me to temporarily cease my personal boycott of the giant retailer.

Daniel Esty and Andrew Winston explore this topic and many others in their book Green to Gold. It's a must-read for those interested in staying on the cutting edge of business for the future. Here's what they had to say about giant corporations, particularly Wal-Mart, making the shift to green:

"Bentonville, Arkansas: In a speech to shareholders, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott lays out his definition of “Twenty First Century Leadership.” At the core of his new manifesto are commitments to improve the company’s environmental performance. Wal-Mart will cut energy use by 30 percent, aim to use 100 percent renewable energy (from sources like wind farms and solar panels), and double the fuel efficiency of its massive shipping fleet. In total, the company will invest $500 million annually in these energy programs. Moreover, in a move with potentially seismic ripples, Wal-Mart will “ask” suppliers to create more environmentally friendly products: some of the fish Wal-Mart sells will have to come from sustainable fisheries, and the clothing suppliers will use materials like organic cotton. “We believe that these initiatives will make us a more competitive and innovative company,” Scott emphasizes. …

"What’s going on? Why are the world’s biggest, toughest, most profit-seeking companies talking about the environment now? Simply put, because they have to. The forces coming to bear on companies are real and growing. Almost without exception, industry groups are facing an unavoidable new array of environmentally driven issues. Like any revolution, this new “Green Wave” presents an unprecedented challenge to business as usual."

Another Way to Recycle (or Sell) Your Electronics

jplatt — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:10:03 -0400

Even though I have written about ways to recycle your old electronics several times, I still have a few old devices gathering dust here on my desk. So when an electronics recycling website called Second Rotation relaunched as Gazelle this Monday, I took notice.

Gazelle works remarkably simply. You type in the type of device you want to get rid of, Gazelle asks if what condition it is in and if you have all of the accessories and manuals, and then it makes you an offer to buy the device from you.

I tried it out, and quickly found that my old Palm Z22 will earn me $10. Gazelle will send me a postage-paid box to ship the device to them, and they'll take care of it from there. Personal data will be wiped clean, and the device will be resold on the secondary market, meaning it gets put to use rather than being destroyed. Remember the old mantra of "reduce, reuse, recycle"? Well, they're embracing it all the way.

Gazelle won't buy every device you have sitting around, but even if they won't take it for cash, they will still offer to recycle your devices responsibly.

Individuals aren't the only ones who can take advantage of Gazelle. Businesses, schools and organizations can sell devices in bulk, which can be a good fund-raiser for any local non-profits.

Oh, you can also choose to donate your earnings rather than take cash directly. For my ten bucks, that works just fine.

Greener Business Cards a Click Away

jplatt — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0400

If you're an artist, photographer or crafter, Moo.com now offers a new way to order business cards -- using your own designs -- on recycled paper.

Like all of Moo's printing products, you can upload your own images or let Moo import them from sites like Flickr, Etsy or Facebook. Cards can be created with a few simple clicks, and an order of 50 cards can either all contain the same image or 50 different images, whichever you'd like.

Fifty cards for $21.99 isn't the cheapest business card alternative out there, but Moo products are unique and they look great. They're sure to grab attention for any business that needs a good, visual edge.

Plus, other business card sites (like VistaPrint) don't offer recycled paper, so if you're looking for a greener business card alternative better than pushing a few weak-looking cards out of your inkjet printer, this could be the way to go.

Eliminating Capitalism?

jkraft — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:16:42 -0400

Archaeologists from the future might think that the most valuable product from contemporary society is our garbage. The Egyptians and Incans horded gold in royal tombs, and we horde our plastic refuse in giant landfills! But what if we could literally turn our garbage into gold? What if we could create products, services and energy from the stuff we discard? 16 billion tons of annual waste in America could be put to work for us and for the earth.

Terracycle makes products out of garbage. Everything you can imagine—from old fax machines to soda bottles to moldy orange peels are re-blended, re-fashioned and made into home, garden and office goods.

Their first, and flagship product is Terracycle Plant Food™-- . a nutritious fertilizer. It’s made entirely from organic waste materials fed to worms. When the worms chow down, their, for lack of a better term, poo is then boiled, bubbled and treated to make a rich plant super-fuel. It’s packaged in soda bottles taken from schools and offices around the country—a perfect re-use. Instead of melting down and recycling the plastic bottles, they simply adapted their filling machines to accommodate multiple sized bottles. Terracycle is the only company in the US to do this, but they won’t be the last. Re-using old containers makes economic sense and extends the life of the original plastic. Since its inception in 2001, the company has been profitable, probably because they have cut out an entire side of the typical business balance sheet—no raw materials expense.

Along with plant pots made of the plastic from old electronics, school backpacks made of used juice-paks and trash cans made from crushed computers, Terracycle co-founders Co-founders Tom Szaky and Jon Beyer are developing a fire log made from 100% waste byproduct. In the production of bio-diesel, a lot of unutilized glycerin is collected, and it’s a fantastically combustible material that doesn’t produce particulate matter or other pollutants when it burns. Combined with wood chips and shredded milk cartons, and wrapped in old newspapers—this garbage will light up the night, producing 2-3 times more heat than traditional firewood.

PC Power Management Tools Save Companies Money and Energy

jplatt — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Ah, the power of the PC -- or should I say the power consumption of the PC?

The average PC uses somewhere in the range of 600kw hours of electricity per year -- more if it is left on 24/7, an error that all too many computer users make.

If just one computer uses that much energy, imagine the cost of an entire network of computers. A business could have a dozen, a hundred, a thousand or ten thousand PCs on-site. And boy do they have a combined impact on an organization's electricity bill.

Wondering what to do about this? Smart companies are installing programs that can help manage and control PC power usage throughout their networks. NightWatchman from 1E and Surveyor from Verdiem seem to be two of the most popular. Each program lets companies set building-wide policies that send PCs into standby mode when they are not being used and turn all PCs on and off at certain times of the day. Unsaved data is saved before shutdowns, so users never have anything to worry about.

1E says companies using its product can save $50 per PC per year which dramatically saving greenhouse gases. Verdiem says its product can save $20-$60 per PC per year. Both companies say their programs pay for themselves in a matter of months.

By the way, individual users don't need to wait for corporate policy to take control of their PC's power usage. You can easily change several simple settings in Windows which could cut your PC power usage as much as 50%. A great article at PC World tells you how.

Give these solutions a try. We'll all breathe just a little bit easier.

5 Green Reasons to Telecommute

jplatt — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:01:09 -0400

Back when I worked in an office, I often used to spend an hour every day driving to work, after which I would sit alone in my cubicle for eight hours before turning around and driving an hour back home.

Working from home hasn't changed much for me -- I still spend eight hours a day in front of a computer, and I rarely interact with anyone face-to-face, but my commute is now a ten-foot walk, I am more relaxed, and my work has improved.

In other words, I'm a happy worker, and my employers get the benefit of my happiness -- all of which comes from not having to commute.

Here are five green-tech reasons why any business should consider letting its employees telecommute at least a few days a week, if not all of the time:

1. Having employees work in remote locations cuts a business's on-site electricity needs. (Sure, the cost is passed on to the employee, but they're spending less on gas, and don't have huge infrastructure costs -- such as air conditioning and garbage disposal -- so it should more than even out.)

2. Working remotely encourages the growth and usage of online videoconferencing technologies, which efficiently allow people to meet without first having to travel half-way around the world. This saves both money and greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Traffic drives people crazy. Literally. According to a recent study, commuting takes a terrible toll on an employee's psychic health. Keep your employees healthy, happy and more productive by letting them work from home.

4. Companies can reduce their real-estate needs when employees telecommute. Sun saved $387 million over the last 6 years through its Open Work program, under which more than half of its work force telecommutes at least part-time. (Read more about Sun's Open Work Concept and its incredible results here.)

5. Some states offer incentives to companies or their employees to reduce air pollution. For example, Oregon offers employers tax credits for initiating transportation and telework projects, and employees can earn vouchers good at local stores for every 45 days they log using alternative transportation methods.

Now, not every employee can telecommute. Anyone who's actually needed on-site (nurses, construction workers, and a thousand others) won't be able to benefit from working from home. But there's still a solution: flex-time. When 90% of the populace works 9-5, we get traffic and rush hours and extra pollution. But if we shifted some jobs to 6-2 or 12-8, a lot of that traffic and pollution would go away. Something to think about...

Learn How Wal-Mart is Greening its Truck Fleet

jplatt — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Wal-Mart loves to go green if it will save the company green. The company has made several recent moves to reduce its environmental footprint while saving costs, and according to a recent Reuters article, Wal-Mart's trucking fleet leeds the way in these efforts.

Here's what they've done so far:

1. Trucks now carry less fuel. This keeps weight down, which makes the trucks more efficient.

2. They're using fuel-efficient tires. You can't go wrong there. (You can read more about fuel-efficient tires here.)

3. Wal-Mart has added controls that allow drivers to turn off cab engines while still keeping refrigeration systems running -- a major energy-saver. (Shorepower's Electrified Parking Spaces are another technology that helps cut down on use of diesel fuel when a vehicle is parked.)

In addition, Wal-Mart is looking to reduce the amount of packaging on its products by 5% over the next five years. Less packaging equals less weight and also means more product can fit in a truck, reducing the number of trucks needed.

All told, Wal-Mart expects these changes to save the company billions of dollars over the next five years alone.

And that, my friends, is a lot of green.

On the Go? Charge Your Devices with a Solar-Powered Briefcase

jplatt — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Road warriors, are you always looking for a wall outlet to charge your cell phone, GPS, MP3 player or PDA? Well seek no further, my friends, because the outlet you need could soon be hanging from your shoulder.

The new Juice Bag ProFolio from Reware is the latest in a growing line of solar-powered bags that you can use to charge your portable devices. The ProFolio is about the same size as the briefcase you've got now, but it comes with a nice one-foot-square array of solar panels that add just half a pound of weight to what you're already carrying.

That extra weight can take some pressure off of you and make it easier to charge your devices on the go. Just plug your devices into the bag when you're in the car, on the plane, or in a meeting, and they'll be fully charged in 2-4 hours.

Sadly, the ProFolio doesn't pack enough juice (pun intended) to charge a laptop, although it is big enough to carry one. Maybe the next generation of bags will do better.

But until then, the ProFolio could be a flexible and affordable alternative for charging your devices. It's just $299 right now, although that introductory price will soon jump to $399.99.

Oh, BTW, the ProFolio is made out of recycled materials. Just in case that little bit of green information helps you make your buying decision.

Paperless Banking is Good for your Green

jkraft — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:26:52 -0400

I was an early adopter of online payment services, so I’m excited that more and more people are switching over to paperless billing for their banking statements, credit card payments and utility bills. Back in 2000, I decided to try an online back and I’ve never looked back. The convenience and ease with which I can check my balance, reduce clutter and safeguard my accounts were my chief reasons for going paperless. But of course it turns out that e-banking is also much greener than regular banking.

PayItGreen is a coalition of financial services companies including Citibank, Bank of America and Capital One, that advocates paperless billing and online banking for the aggregate environmental impact. So say you go paperless—you’re only saving a couple dozen sheets of paper in one year, right? So what’s the big deal?

According to Dove Consulting, 19 billion bills, totaling 533 million pounds of paper were delivered to American households in 2006. Delivery required nearly 235 million gallons of fossil fuels and created more than 1.3 million tons of CO2 emissions. There are also uncalculated costs to our waterways from all of this deforestation and pollution. So if we could reduce these numbers even just by 20%, we’d have a significant positive effect on the environment!

And if you add to that the time you save by carrying out online transactions, (2.5 minutes per bill!) the money you save on postage, and the benefits of more immediate access to your account (less fraud and identity theft)—paying it green is good for everyone’s—even Mother Nature’s accounts.

Turn Green into Gold

ecoperks — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:31:12 -0400

The new EcoPerks experience (www.EcoPerks.com) officially launches in Beta today offering simple ways to live a more carbon neutral lifestyle while earning EcoPoints to be used toward valuable rewards. This exciting online platform is a unique blend of cause, commerce, content, community and carbon offset tools tied to the most generous rewards program on the Internet. EcoPerks.com has an unmatched range of products, information and functionality designed to promote carbon neutral living.

Today, there are more than 1.3 billion loyalty program participants in the United States. “EcoPerks.com is different. Earning and redeeming points means helping our planet,” states Donna Boesky Mastropasqua, CEO of EcoPerks. “We’ve created a currency that has the potential to do so many positive things for our members and the environment,” she continued. Mastropasqua, a customer loyalty expert and founder of Perks.com, has developed rewards programs for a diverse list of companies including Citigroup and American Express.

EcoPerks gives members a variety of ways to quickly earn large quantities of rewards by shopping from among more than 500 major retailers, purchasing eco-products and certified carbon offsets, taking surveys, sharing eco-tips or participating in their online community. The company matches rewards from all purchases, directing the cash value toward projects that protect the environment, reduce emissions and support renewable energy solutions.

“As the EcoPerks community grows, we will add more ways to earn and redeem EcoPoints giving members an even greater opportunity to live greener and combat climate change,” says Mastropasqua.

SAVE THE PLANET - GET THE PERKS

For every EcoPoint members earn they can potentially receive a minimum of double rewards – one for the member – the other for the planet. The points for the planet are automatically directed toward a variety of impact projects that re-wild damaged ecosystems and support renewable energy solutions that cut greenhouse gas emissions. “With virtually every click of the mouse, members can be confident they are doing something positive for the planet,” said Mastropasqua.

The rest of the points can be used to offset the members’ own carbon footprint and to redeem in the amazing EcoPerks rewards catalogue. One of the most unique and exciting programs of its kind, the selection of rewards includes cool green products, thrilling eco-travel opportunities, VIP tickets to concerts, sporting events and movie premiers, once-in-a-lifetime celebrity encounters, and other exclusive experiences.

EcoPerks also provides members with an easy way to calculate and offset their carbon footprint. Members earn EcoPoints for filling out simple questionnaires and purchasing carbon offsets directly from a list of projects using points or cash. EcoPerks.com’s offset projects are developed, monitored and verified by award-winning Sterling Planet (www.SterlingPlanet.com), one of the world’s most trusted providers of emissions solutions.

EcoPerks.com is also a premiere information resource with the latest eco-news, information and tips for greener living. Members of the Eco-Perks.com community can participate in special features aimed at expanding the eco-conversation. “We want to empower consumers to make better choices,” said Mastropasqua. “There are regular people out there who have simple, workable solutions we all can use to make a real difference.” says Mastropasqua.

Membership on the site is free and is required to earn rewards points. New members earn 100 EcoPoints just for signing up.