Announcements

May 11, 2006

Stonyfield Farm Produces Internet Film on Climate Change

Stonyfield Farm has created a short Internet film entitled “Climate: A Crisis Averted,” that looks back from the year 2056 and recounts how ordinary citizens in 2006 take action to reverse climate change.

“It’s fiction,” says CEO Gary Hirshberg, “But it doesn’t need to be. We, each and every one of us, can make it happen.”

Hirshberg’s team has created a grassroots effort called Renew US, dedicated to reversing climate change.

See the film at www.renewus.org »

Calvert Goes Carbon-Neutral

On Earth Day, Calvert Group, the socially responsible mutual fund family announced they will begin offsetting its office carbon dioxide emissions. This year, Calvert will offset almost 1.5 million kWh of electric energy, by supporting renewable energy projects throughout the nation.

“Calvert is doing a lot to mitigate climate change through advocacy and dialogue with companies, our involvement with other investors on climate risk, and now through offsetting our own electricity footprint,” said Lily Donge, a Social Research Analyst at Calvert.

Visit calvert.com/climate.html for “Turning Up the Heat on Climate Change” »

Seventh Generation Wins Sustainability Award

Seventh Generation won this year’s CERES-ACCA Sustainability Reporting Award for their corporate report Widening the Lens.

Find out more at seventhgeneration.com »

Granum Inc. Founder Featured in Plenty Magazine

The April/May issue of Plenty magazine features Co-op America's Green Business Network™ member Granum’s owners Blake and Nancy Rankin sustainable house. The Rankin’s house receives 100 percent of its energy from wind and solar sources, and features recycled blue-jean insulation, recycled old-growth lumber stairwells and windowsills, and recycled kitchen tiles made from discarded airplane windshields.

“When I look at our product, it’s a personification of our core values and theway of living that Blake and I practice,” says Nancy of Granum Inc.’s signature product, Choice Organic Teas. “Just about everything we’ve done is a little ahead of the curve”

Read the full article at Choice Organic Teas Web site. »

Searching for Green Investors

Green Line Paper, Inc. a 14-year old green office supply distributor with $500K annual sales is looking to raise capital through an IPO or DPO.

Contact Steve Baker to learn more. »

Distributors Wanted

Reware, the Washington DC-based maker of Juice Bags, PowerPockets and SolarReady Batteries is searching for retailers and independent sales reps. Reware launched the award winning Juice Bags line of solar backpacks in 2005 which gives people the freedom to roam while staying plugged in. Retailers in the environmental; consumer electronics; camping/outdoor sports or fashion markets should apply.

Contact sales@rewarestore.com. »

BALLE Conference – June 8-10

Co-op America's Green Business Network™ Director, Denise Hamler will be among the featured speakers at the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) conference, June 8-10 in Burlington, VT.

In Memoriam

Our friend and member, Colleen Crosby, founder of Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Co. and activist in the fair trade movement died on April 30 after a lengthy illness.

For 28 years, Crosby ran the Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Co., with three stores across Santa Cruz County, CA and a national distribution. As a coffee lover graduating with a degree in economics, she and her partner and husband started a humble business roasting coffee in their apartment. The business prospered and Crosby became an early proponent of organically grown, fair trade coffee. In 2002, Crosby was invited to the Washington to testify on behalf of the coffee farmers before the House Subcommittee on International Relations, sharing her firsthand experiences on seeing how depressed coffee prices prompted massive unemployment, hunger and mass migrations into cities as people looked for work in the coffee countries.

Crosby became an advocate in a variety of movements, founding two non-profit organizations, International Women in Coffee Alliance and Ecafe Foundation to serve the underrepresented in the coffee-growing regions. She was also president of Santa Cruz Downtown Business Association and Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 2005.

To honor Colleen’s life and work donations are being accepted at ecafefoundation.org and womenincoffee.org

Green Books, Films, and Flowers Help Build the Green Economy

Your purchases of books, films, and flowers through three of Co-op America’s partners trigger donations to Co-op America’s green economy campaigns.

BooksWeLike.net—get books and more and a portion of your purchase will go to Co-op America.

Ironweed Film Club—get great independent films.

Organic Bouquet—and make sure to purchase the special Co-op America Bouquet!

CABN Members: Show Your Green Business Seal of Approval in 2006

Now it’s easier than ever to display your commitment to people and the planet.

The Seal of Approval is for use exclusively by Co-op America's Green Business Network™ members. “The seal is the perfect way to show the world that Co-op America businesses have made a commitment to people and the planet. Working together, green businesses across the country are changing the way people shop, save, and invest,” says CABN director Denise Hamler.

Let us know how you are using the seal »

See how one business is using the seal »