Often sustainability is so focused on technical solutions and scientific innovations that we lose sight of the heart of the matter. Isn’t it as important to communicate why we need to get to a more sustainable future as how we’re going to get there? Enter the importance of storytelling, an art that has lagged behind the technical advances of the sustainability movement. Without conveying a … More
Last week I featured part one of an interview with GreenBlue Board Member Janine James about the inspiring office concept of The Moderns. As they dreamed about what they wanted from their office, they went beyond thinking about the physical space to reimagining the potential of an office community. Part two of the interview focuses on how they’re trying to achieve this and encourage others … More
Creative Inspiration from The Moderns Although many of us are spending more hours at work than ever before, certain hallmarks of the office remain unchanged: fluorescent lights, dreaded cubicles, limited water cooler interactions, and the punch-in mentality of the expanding 9 to 5 schedule. How is it that as a culture we have spent so little time thinking about our physical workspace and work community … More
We’ve come a long way since nonprofit organizations only interacted with corporations to boycott them and corporations thought NGO was a four-letter word. While there continues to be a broad spectrum of nonprofit interaction with corporations—from more traditional consumer campaigns to a new era of strategic partnerships (and both ends of the spectrum important)—collaboration has become the norm. Nonprofits have realized they need to better … More
Some recycling humor to kick off your Wednesday, courtesy of the always entertaining The Oatmeal.
While many companies are making impressive strides in assessing and improving the sustainability of their operations, fewer companies are addressing sustainability from the viewpoint of consumption. It’s a risky business proposition to ask consumers to rethink consumption with a focus on quality instead of quantity. But I think the conversation is headed in that direction, and the companies that do that well will be the … More
As an organization that advises companies on how to lighten their environmental footprint, we recently had an interesting opportunity to turn the mirror on ourselves. What are we doing well in terms of own sustainability efforts, and, more importantly, what could we be doing better? The Charlottesville Area Better Business Challenge is a competition among local businesses to incorporate sustainable practices into their day-to-day operations. … More
Last week the EPA announced an update to its chemical reporting system under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Under the new rule, chemical manufacturers will have to supply more data about the chemicals they make and they will have to supply this information more frequently. You can read a good summary of the new rule in an article by EDF’s Richard Denison, aptly titled “US … More
During a recent conversation with a senior vice president at a well-known multinational corporation, he said something that made me question how we make the business case for sustainability. The problem with the sustainability movement, he said, is we promise companies a “win-win” situation. Do the right thing by making significant changes to your operations and you’ll cut costs or gain market share. Any money … More
In late 2009 after fifteen years in the New York Times newsroom, influential environmental reporter Andrew Revkin walked away to pursue a new focus: making information matter. After coming to the realization that journalism was no longer the best way to identify environmental solutions for an overstressed planet, Revkin decided to devote his time “to help make scientists and scientific institutions into better, more committed, more creative communicators.” More