Earth Profit
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November 18, 2008
- Indesit Taps Waste Materials to Make Greener Washing Machines
The U.K. manufacturer of household appliances has taken the first steps toward making its machinery out of recycled materials.
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source: (GreenBiz.com Green Business News) - Longer Sustainability Reports Win Awards, Carbon-Intense Companies Report Less
Few companies define important environmental terms and heavy carbon-emitting companies put out smaller reports, according to a study of corporate reports.
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source: (GreenBiz.com Green Business News) - Sony Earns Top Grade for TV Recycling
The nonprofit Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETBC) for the first time scored major TV manufacturers for their recycling efforts, including commitment, volume of goods taken and public policy stance. The group assigned Sony the top grade -- a B- -- followed by Samsung, LG and Wal-Mart, each of whom earned C marks.
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source: (GreenBiz.com Green Business News) - Sustainable Business Strategies in a Recession
<span style="font-size: 12pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">Maybe the title should instead read “How to Fail at ‘Greening’ Your Business”. Often times companies seem to approach “green” or eco-friendly as just another product attribute that can simply be added to packaging or website to reach the “green” consumer segment. In the rush to be eco-friendly, and due to the typical structure of many organizations, the marketing team will take the lead of the greening effort and, in the interest of time & energy, they’ll create a brilliant plan to communicate “green” to a target consumer group, but no internal alignment. <span style="font-size: 12pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">The sustainability and marketing strategies of a typical entrepreneur are often times based on the same model - the shotgun approach. Typically, entrepreneurs start to think about marketing after at least 6 months of hitting the pavement, and then sustainability appears as part of a new “marketing plan” or is seen as some kind of charitable giving / community relations campaign. Sustainable business is neither part of a marketing campaign nor a community relations effort. Neither is it about shifting revenue, but rather how revenue is generated.
- 9 Ways To Eliminate Direct Mail Waste
Direct mail marketing is that in inherently inefficient. 44% of all direct mail is thrown in the trash without ever being opened and that which is opened only yields an average of a 2.77% response. So, if you want to get 1,000 customers to respond to your direct mail piece, you have to mail, on average, 36,101 pieces of mail. Multiply that by millions of customers and millions of companies and you can see the problem. A March 2008 Aberdeen Group study found that direct mail waste reduction is an area where “environmental concerns and shareholder interests coincide.” But you may already know this. They also found that 40% of companies said direct mail waste reduction was one of the top two areas being focused on for improving eco-friendly business practices.
The goal is to achieve the greatest precision with the lowest number of pieces mailed, but there a lot of other benefits. You can save money and enhance customer satisfaction which will in turn improves customer loyalty, purchase behavior and profitability. Here’s 9 ways:
#1: Maintain good list hygiene. Updating your mailing list to remove unwanted, duplicate and undeliverable addresses regularly and thoroughly is a cheap, quick and effective way to reduce waste. There are several ways to verify mailing lists and all outside list mangers are able to perform this function or you can buy your own address verification software. You will mail fewer pieces and, under some circumstances, lower your mailing rates. Consider offering incentives (such as the offer of a discount on their next purchase) for notification of duplicate mailings and incorrect addresses.
- Outsourcing - the end of knowledge economy as we know it
Outsourcing – end of knowledge economy as we know it.
James McPherson, founder of Pasadena Now, a boutique website based out of Pasadena redefined the concept of outsourcing when his home based web magazine outsourced a portion of reporting and editing to a couple of editors in India.
The concept was so unheard of and radical that the journalism and academic world quickly took a note of it calling the move unethical and disservice to the community. Several publications and media outlets, including NPR, Newsweek, LA Times did their separate stories quoting various experts questioning the scalability of the business model, often questioning the quality of work.
That was last June. Today, large publications like Miami Herald and Orange County Register have started outsourcing parts of their editorial to companies in India. And the concept is becoming quite popular. It is yet to be seen how this process will scale up and if it will help salvage the publications as their subscription is facing a sharp decline.
Whatever the consequences might be, one thing is for certain, the stereotypical definition of outsourcing – often tied to sending technology and call center work to India and the Philippines - will change drastically, opening doors for innovative entrepreneurs to leverage on newer outsourcing business models. Not only the process of this nature will save you money, but the chances are that you will be able to recruit a higher caliber workforce – of course, i.e. if you choose to do some homework. BTW, one of the reporters MacPherson used was a graduate of UC Berkley school of Journalism.
As I have written in my other chapters, as knowledge economy spreads in other parts of the world, new world order of knowledge workers will enable a win win situation for both the companies who outsource and the new knowledge workforce at the other end. This is a perfect time for entrepreneurs to leverage on this window of opportunity and emerging business model.
If you choose not to be a trailblazer like MacPherson or/and your need is not as unique or as complex, there are still places where you can go to for smaller outsourcing tasks. There is this company eLance.com, the company specializes on fulfilling small outsourcing tasks – ranging from creating a personal blog for few hundred dollars to helping you redesign your house for few thousand dollars. For most simple tasks, the site’s streamlined process will help you fulfill the task for about 10 to 12 bucks an hour.
Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite
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source: (4 entrepreneur)
November 17, 2008
- North Face Installs Solar Power System
Tomorrow, The North Face’s 800,000-square-foot Visalia Distribution Center is dedicating a ground-mounted solar energy system that will power 25-30 percent of the facility’s energy needs.
The system (announced in August) is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 1,300 metric tons annually. The credits will be sold separately.
The system was designed, engineered and installed by Suntech [...]- 3 days
source: (Environmental Leader) - EU Proposes Tire Efficiency Performance Stickers
The European Commission is proposing (PDF) a labeling scheme aimed at influencing consumers to buy more energy efficient and better performing tires. The scheme is proposed to enter into effect by the end of 2012.
The labeling scheme will allow consumers to compare tires by using a system which grades the tires on fuel efficiency, wet [...]- 3 days
source: (Environmental Leader) - How ICT Can Reduce Carbon Footprints And Enable Sustainable Growth
A BT-sponsored e-forum on sustainability from Gartner’s 2008 ITexpo in Cannes, France. Panelists including Luis Alvarez, President EMEA & Latin America, BTGS, highlighted real-world examples of how ICT can reduce organizations carbon footprint while enabling sustainable growth and providing new business opportunities.
See additional parts of this video: 2, 3, 4.- 3 days
source: (Environmental Leader) - Anheuser-Busch Cuts Landfill-bound Materials By 2,400 Tons
Anheuser-Busch has reduced the weight of material it contributes to landfills from its U.S. breweries by nearly 22 percent, or about 2,400 tons, in 2008 compared to the same time frame last year.
The company says it has reduced aluminum can weight by more than 40 percent since the 1970s.
In July, the company announced it will [...]- 3 days
source: (Environmental Leader) - U.S. Army Releases First Sustainability Report - Big Move To LEED Standards
The U.S. Army released a 2007 Sustainability Report (PDF) and reported that in FY 2007, 301 of new Army military construction projects, or 78 percent of projects, were designed to LEED standards. The Army also reported an 8.4 percent reduction in energy use intensity in facilities from FY 2004.
From FY 2004 to FY 2007, the [...]- 3 days
source: (Environmental Leader) - Brita Agrees To Recycle Filter Cartridges
Take Back the Filter Campaign says Brita brand manager Drew McGowan alerted them that Brita will be taking back and recycling pitcher filters beginning January 2009.
In June, the campaign started a petition to urge Clorox to redesign its Brita filter cartridges so that the plastic housing can be refilled, rather than discarded, each time the [...]- 3 days
source: (Environmental Leader) - Former Clinton Administration Experts Fill Obama’s Environment Committee
A variety of experts from former Clinton administration environmental leaders to people from transition co-chairman John Podesta’s think tank top the list of Barack Obama’s advisory committee on the environment and natural resources, Politico reports.
The team will be headed by David Hayes, former global chairman of the Environment, Land and Resources Department at Latham & [...]- 3 days
source: (Environmental Leader) - NBC Universal Launches ‘Green Week’
This week is “Green Week” at NBC Universal, where 150 hours of environment-themed programming will be broadcast on the company’s various TV channels and other properties. “The Office” will air an episode about the company considering recycled paper. Local NBC stations will also incorporate green-themed stories into their newscasts.
Subaru of America Inc. is the lead [...]- 3 days
source: (Environmental Leader) - EPA Ruling Delays Proposed Coal Plants, Recognizes CO2 As Pollutant
In response to a lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club over a proposed coal plant on a American Indian reservation in Utah, the Environmental Appeals Board blocked the EPA from issuing a permit to the plant. The ruling also said that “the EPA has no valid reason to refuse to regulate the CO2 emissions [...]- 3 days
source: (Environmental Leader) - Pseudo-Green
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In a recent New York Times’ article, “My Hybrid is Bigger than Your Hybrid,” the author discusses the 2009 Cadillac Escalade hybrid. Look at it, sitting there. A full three-tons of spacious vehicular decadence, featuring amenities such as heated and cooled leather seats, magnetic ride control, a side-mirror blind-spot warning system, power-deployed running boards. In a time of national economic crisis, this automobile ignores the flailing economy and entices the affluent…hip-hop mogul? Famous athlete? Turtle, from Entourage? I guess we should be thrilled that GM is embracing hybrid automobiles of all sizes and becoming more environmentally conscious. But let’s be honest, the driver of this hybrid S.U.V. is more concerned about the Cadillac crest than the lousy 20 mpg. fuel consumption and simply uses the HYBRID splashed across the door panel as a means of absolving any guilt.
source: (Ecotality Life) - Bad Economic News? Get Creative.
This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see ProfromaGreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.
It is becoming more and more obvious that an economic slowdown is coming.
As Ecopreneurists what does that mean to us? I think it means that we need to remember the entrepreneur part of our names as well as the Eco. Tough times are when fortunes are made. They are when more people are open to new ideas, because the old ideas no longer seem to work. Tough times are times to get creative.
Some ideas to make tough times work for you.
Money that is being spent will need to go farther as there may be less of it in your client’s or customer’s budgets. So add value by looking at the full spectrum of what you are selling. Can you offer more and make your client a better deal (i.e. you sell the stove, but what if you can sell the stove, the pots, the pans, and the power for the stove all together). By offering more you can lower your price on the complete bundle but you may make better, larger sales as you are solving more issues for the client).
Who is your competition? Take them to lunch, ask them some questions. Maybe you can serve your clients better if you team together. Or maybe your competition doesn’t have the fight for this coming slowdown and you can expand your business by taking over theirs.
Same idea one step removed. Who are your competitor’s sales leaders, their designers, their useful people? Take them to lunch. Are they scared for their jobs? Show them how they could benefit from being part of a stronger, better focused company. Fear is an amazing motivator, but it also locks people in place. If you can help someone better their position with a better job, now is the time to pitch it.
- Sustainability – Your Businesses Best Defense Against Recession
In these uncertain economic times, companies often gravitate towards budget cuts and to scale back sustainability or “green” programs because of the notion that they take away from the bottom-line.
In reality, this thinking is the exact opposite of what business leaders need to do. Sustainability may actually be the best defense against market volatility during [...]- 4 days
source: (Environmental Leader)
November 16, 2008
- OpenEco.org 2.0 Launched By Sun
Sun Microsystems has updated OpenEco.org, an online community that provides tools to help companies calculate, compare and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The site now tracks more emission sources and incorporates carbon accounting practices to provide a comprehensive view of carbon footprints and the ability to report GHG data using industry-standard metrics. Participants can now [...]
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source: (Environmental Leader) - UPS Moves To Paperless Sorting Labels
UPS is deploying a new combination scanner and paperless printing device from HP (the HP Handheld sp400 All-in-One) that will print millions of sorting labels directly on packages, reducing operational costs and cutting paper consumption.
UPS says that the device will save capital costs as well as costs for paper and ink and also increase the [...]- 4 days
source: (Environmental Leader)