Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit

Plot to Stop AB32 Thickens, Gets Complicated

2010-03-13T18:05:30Z

You might want to start taking notes on the effort in California to shelve the state’s landmark emissions control legislation, the Global Warming Solutions Act (aka AB32). It’s getting interesting. First off, the Sacramento Bee reports that papers filed today in Sacramento identify Scott Folwarkow, Valero’s director of government affairs in California, and [...]

Metrus Energy: Efficiency With No Up Front Costs?

2010-03-12T16:55:02Z

As the economy as a whole remains mired in a sleepy lull, there are sectors that are red hot. According to GreenBiz.com’s State of Green Business Report, several green industries are creating jobs, growing, and shrugging off worldwide economic slowdowns. Among these are green building and energy efficiency. Metrus Energy, a San Francisco startup, has positioned [...]

Many Hospitals Now Safely Reuse ‘Single Use’ Medical Devices

2010-03-12T17:10:38Z

Health care is the second largest contributor to waste production in the United States. (The food industry holds the dubious distinction of being the first largest contributor.) So, it’s significant that more than 25 percent of U.S. hospitals now reprocess medical devices as a way to decrease waste –and cut costs. But, does the phrase “reprocessed [...]

Four Ways to Get Your Company Ready for Earth Day

2010-03-12T17:59:00Z

Earth Day is only six weeks away (April 22nd). Are you ready? While we all know that a commitment to sustainability goes beyond going green one day a year, Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to remind employees of your commitment, highlight programs and accomplishments and launch a new campaign. Pick Something Tangible and Visible While greening your [...]

The Story of Stuff Team Takes on Bottled Water

2010-03-12T17:20:34Z

For anyone trying to explain what sustainability is to a semi-curious relative or a completely out of touch co-worker, there could hardly be a better place to start than Annie Leonard’s twenty minute web video The Story of Stuff. The video features Leonard standing in front of an animated white board on which clever [...]

More Solar Panels for San Jose Schools

2010-03-13T17:13:50Z

San Jose extended its commitment to renewable energy this week, with a ground breaking ceremony for a 3.7 MW solar project to be built at six school sites in the East Side Union High School District. The ceremony took place at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, and was attended by district, government [...]

Who Will Clean Up: Method or Clorox?

2010-03-12T17:26:22Z

The competition between Method and Clorox for the title as the top “green” household cleaning products company is heating up. Packaging its household cleaners in eye-catching and often clear bottles, Method saw its sales top US $200 million in 2009. But Clorox has surged ahead: after starting its line of environmentally-friendly cleaners, Green Works, in [...]

Saul’s Deli Bridges the Gap Between Traditional and Sustainable

2010-03-11T17:54:58Z

Et tu, Saul’s Deli? I’ve somehow always managed to compartmentalize comfort food and sustainable/healthy food. The latter is what I eat on a regular basis—quinoa from the organic grocery, locally grown kale from the farmers’ market—that’s my regular diet. But sometimes I want to break away from all that healthiness and enjoy a greasy, meaty Rueben. And maybe, [...]

AB32: Report Forecasts Job Losses, But Governor Says Hogwash

2010-03-11T16:01:34Z

A report from California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office concludes that implementation of Assembly Bill 32, or AB32, would result in near-term job losses. But Governor Schwarzenegger isn’t buying it. AB32, or the Global Warming Solutions Act, was passed in 2006 and calls for reducing California’s emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020. But an opposition [...]

Finding Ideal Clients Through Networking – Tips For Small Green Businesses

2010-03-11T17:52:38Z

As a marketing tool, networking is a great outlet for making “ideal” connections for small businesses. What’s an ideal connection? Perhaps an analogy will help elucidate the term. You’ve probably heard the following saying: Give a man a fish and you’ve fed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you’ve fed him for [...]

Genomics, Next Gen Fuel Cells, Water: Parting thoughts from ECO:nomics

2010-03-11T14:57:18Z

The Wall Street Journal’s third annual ECO:nomics conference: Creating Environmental Capital wrapped up last week and I’m pleased to report that it delivered on the promise of frank, highly strategic, executive-level discussions. The conference will return next year; here’s hoping that we have some new energy and carbon legislation in place by then and that [...]

The Toxies Awards Recognize Worst Chemicals of the Year

2010-03-11T15:00:27Z

Millions of people around the world tuned in to last weekend’s Academy Award show, bringing another Hollywood award season to a close. While nabbing an Oscar or Emmy is considered an honor, another lesser known red carpet event took place last weekend where winning an award is not recommended. The Toxies were held at the Egyptian Theater [...]

Global Trade’s Dirty Secret: Outsourced Emissions

2010-03-12T03:37:57Z

The Carnegie Institution of Science released a new study this week finding that one-third of the carbon dioxide emissions developed countries release into the atmosphere result from goods and services produced outside their borders. The report’s details are troubling: Carnegie’s researchers estimate that 2.5 tons of CO2 per person are consumed in the United States but are [...]

The Chasing Arrows Recycling Logo – The Biggest Greenwash Label of Them All?

2010-03-11T15:06:30Z

In recent years, after the initial honeymoon of broader consumer interest in all things green, it’s now settled squarely in the space of “prove it to me.” Yet proving something’s greenness, sustainability, fair trade status, organic certification, carbon footprint has resulted in a dust storm of competing certifications, labels, very few of which are gaining [...]