Business Network News

September 28, 2006

CABN Members Lead on Solutions to Climate Change

While much of Corporate America has been dragging its feet on solutions to climate change, green businesses are setting the bar high. Across all sectors of the green economy, Co-op America Business Members show they can succeed in business while still minimizing their environmental costs and reducing their emissions of global warming gases.

For example, Stonyfield Farm installed the largest solar installation in New Hampshire in 2005, when they added a 50-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system to their organic yogurt manufacturing facility. New Belgium Brewing Company became the first wind-powered brewery in the US in 1998 when the employees voted to use their bonus pool to finance the electricity conversion, and in 2005 New Society Publishing became the first North American publishing company to become carbon neutral by contributing to an organization that plants trees to curb global warming. My Organic Market, in Washington, DC area, has been purchasing 100 percent wind energy since 2005. A partnership between Organic Bouquet and The Climate Trust has launched Truck Stop Electrification Program to retrofit 275 truck stops with electrical outlets to reduce diesel fuel usage at truck stops.

The Paper Mill is running their operations on 100 percent wind power and Ecoprint, the first east coast printer to run on wind power (a decade ago) has now launched its new ‘carbon neutral’ logo that can be placed on any print job.

Many of these businesses will be exhibiting and speaking at Green Festivals and Green Business Conference about their work.

To learn more: The fall Co-op America Quarterly will profile more green-business climate successes

Honest Tea Promotes Fair Trade Month

Honest Tea, the organic bottled tea producer, is supporting Fair Trade month by donating five cents of every bottle of its Fair Trade Certified™ tea sold during September and October.

The proceeds will help purchase HP computer equipment for a computer center on the Makaibari tea estate in Darjeeling, India. The estate, one of the oldest in the world, was one of the first to receive its Fair Trade Certification.

“This promotion will not only bring technology to the workers and their families living on this estate; it will create consumer awareness about Fair Trade certification,” said Seth Goldman, president of Honest Tea .

Seth will be speaking at the Washington DC Green Festival on their support of community projects in education, healthcare, and housing for their supplier communities.

 

CABN Members on the Today Show

Dagoba Organic Chocolate, Sambazon, Guayakí Yerba Mate, and Noni Juice collaborated on a segment of the Today Show that aired in August promoting their latest chocolate, acai, mate, and juice products.

“With more than 6 million viewers, the Today Show helped show that high quality food products, social responsibility, and ecological sustainability are a natural, winning combination,” said Dagoba founder Frederick Schilling. “All of us believe in sharing the rewards of our work equally – offering exquisite taste to consumers, equitable wages for producers, and a better future for our shared environment.”

You can visit with these businesses at the Power Foods Pavilion at the Green Festivals and hear them speak at the Green Business Conference about their work.

Fun and Healthy Green Step from a CABN Member

Julie Mullin of the Fiberactive Quilt Company sent her story to us: “My latest step in making my home and business carbon neutral is to make my exercise bike into a generator. I bought an old bike for $20, put it onto a mag trainer, the bicycle tire turns a motor which charges a battery, the battery is connected to an inverter, into which I can plug whatever I want. I have the bike in my office, and I now run my computer on calories instead of coal. The planet and I are getting healthy at the same time, and boy does it feel good.”

 

Searching for Sustainable Alternatives to Trade Show Exhibits?

Byerley & Paff offers a full-service, sustainable trade show exhibits and marketing materials for the upcoming Green Festivals and other shows. Get a professional trade show appearance that is socially and environmentally responsible.

Featuring booth construction from recyled, reclaimed wood; responsible graphics and photography; and eco-friendly printing from EcoWood, Promotional Products Solutions, Mollet Photo and GreenerPrinter.

Learn more »
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Table of Contents

CABN Members Lead on Solutions to Climate Change

Honest Tea Promotes Fair Trade Month

CABN Members on the Today Show

Fun for Green Step from CABN member

Searching for sustainable alternatives to tradeshow exhibits?