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According to Wikipedia “A business is sustainable if it has adapted its practices for the use of renewable resources and holds itself accountable for the environmental and human rights impacts of its activities. This includes businesses that operate in a socially responsible manner and protect the environment.”
When I look at how this applies to Beehive initially of course I look at how we respect the materials that we use daily – paper, ink cartridges, cans, boxes, rubber bands - and encourage everyone who is a part of Beehive to do their utmost to recycle and conserve by providing a ways and means to do so. We have very little waste as compared with traditional retail establishments. Our goods are not shipped from overseas factories in thousands of plastic bags and tons of boxes, with the majority of our products being made locally and brought to the store as needed by the designer we eliminate a lot of waste.
But for me, it’s the larger perspective that provides me with the most interesting and hopeful aspect of sustainability when applied to the Beehive concept. It’s the connections between individual and community and region that makes our business truly sustainable and exciting. It’s what makes me get up each morning and keep fighting to establish beehive into a thriving business (despite the odds). The connection between designer-producer, customer, and community in our business model is about as sustainable as it gets. It fosters development of small businesses within a locality, it fosters community pride, participation and interaction, it cuts down on waste and energy consumption, and at the same time it brings beautiful, unique and very competitive products to the market. How amazing to bring this sustainable concept to cities, towns, and communities all across America. For Beehive this kind of growth not only is sustainable but I believe is actually is a benefit to citizens. That's very exciting and dare I say revolutionary.
My hope for our culture is that this model is applied to more than just the retail industry. I think that as we become more and more global, which in my opinion isn’t in itself a bad thing, we should also redevelop the local roots that made this country so interesting. Right now I feel we are out of balance (in more ways than one), we’ve tipped too far to the global. Our shops, restaurants, culture are scarily homogenous – the same everywhere. It is my hope that over the next decade we see a shift back to basics, towards thoughtful consumption, towards thriving unique and individual communities. We haven't completely lost it yet...but to achieve this we will need government both locally and nationally to support and foster small, community based business AND consumers who realize that their purchasing power CAN and DOES shape the world they live in!
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Any of you out there conducting business without a computer? I would imagine there are not too many out there. Computers have become vital instruments for businesses and are usually the first purchase made. Google helps us research, email helps us communicate, accounting software helps us keep track of our precious dollars, and most industries have online presense via websites. My computer is my business partner, my friend, and I do what I can to take good care of her.
As an aspiring sustainable business, the plan is to use her as long as I can. Sure there is the urge to buy the latest and greatest technology out there, but that may not be the best for my business financially and it doesn't comply with my goal to minimize waste. Of course computers do get old and stop working, and of course there are situations where it just doesn't do what you want it to do to be efficient with your time, which for business is money.
So what do you do with your old computer? Throw it away? No....you can actually recycle it, completely!
Here are some ideas:
(1) If it is still functioning, consider donating it to a local charity. There are always folks out there that can refurbish and re-use any old computers. Think schools, community centers, retirement homes, shelters. You can check your local listings.
(2) Give it away for free on www.freecycle.com. List your item(s) for free for local pick-up.
(3) Sell it to help cover the cost of a new computer. You can advertise for free on www.craisglist.org.
(4) Recycle it! Virtually every component of your computer can be recycled. Take it to a recycler that specializes in technology recycling. This is super important!!!! Computers and most electronics contain toxic waste, also known as e-waste. When disposed of improperly, e-waste can leech harmful toxins into our air and ground water. These come from the harsh metals and chemicals found in batteries and CRT monitors (cathode ray tubing which emits electromagnetic fields), for example. There are companies that exist in USA that can re-use and recycle every component, even grind up circuit boards into a re-usable powder. The problem is they are few and far between, leaving many well-intentioned recycling businesses with loads of collected e-waste. So do your part and obtain certification that whoever is taking your electronics for recycling is actually recycling the components safely and properly. Also, advocate for more comprehensive recycling programs locally and nationally.
FYI- because comprehensive e-waste recycling is so limited here in the states, some recycling businesses are shipping our waste to be dumped overseas, sometimes in rural poor communities in China. This is an outrageous practice, so I do urge all you small businesses out there to be active and support recycling our own waste here in the states.
For other creative ideas to give life to your old computer, check out www.verdantcomputing.com. The founder Carl Foner sells eco-friendly computing equipment and shares how you can re-use your computer, like turning it into a DVR!!!
Happy business and take care of your computer!
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What exactly does it mean to be a green business? Well the color green has been associated to anything clean, pure, and environmentally friendly. To me the color green conjures up peaceful images of clear blue skies, crisp ocean waters, children playing in flower-filled meadows. Business doesn't have to ruin these images or deplete our earth's resources. Running a green business means you minimize your overall impact to our environment, not just in the products and services your provide your customers, but in almost every aspect of your business activities. Not only does it make sense environmentally, it can make perfect sense economically. It has become increasingly challenging to be a viable business entity in our current economic climate- rising fuel costs and the tenuous status of our banking structure have emphasized the importance of going green and being as creative as we can to make the most of our dollar. That dollar is precious!
When I started Sweet T Baby a few years ago, it was my intention to be as eco-friendly as possible from the start, to be as kind to our earth as I wanted my products to be for my customers. Not only did this mean producing American-made organic cotton products and working with local contractors to lower my carbon footrpint, but it also meant sourcing many of my office supplies and materials with high recycled content and recylability as possible. It's not only how it's made but where it can go after it's use- the more we can increase its lifecycle, the better. These practices not only support my local economy but support fellow businesses with similar goals and objectives of minimizing our environmental impact on our one earth. Put all these efforts and practices together, that's a lot less toxic junk we are putting in our air, water, soil and landfills!!!
It has been a beautiful and educational journey thus far and I am happy to share with you my green business practices.
I have created a quick checklist of 5 easy ways you can green your business today:
(1) Green Office Space: This is your physical space. The quality of your work space can greatly affect your mood and productivity. If you can organize and keep your space clean, you will feel good, energized, and ready to work. Working from home, if you can, is a great green option. I know my husband and I both have saved quite a bit of money on clothes, gas, and surprisingly food!
Use proper lighting- CFL's are widely accessible and come in a variety of wattages. These will save you quite a bit of money.
Keep your air fresh- Open your windows for fresh air, use an air purifier, or in my case, keep a fan on. My office is a dark cave and our windows don't open. So my ceiling fan helps maintain air circulation. When we reconfigured my work office, I was able to purchase low- VOC water-based paint from Sherman Williams for my walls. VOC, volatile organic compounds, are highly toxic and found in many home-improvement products. Low and No-VOC paints can now be found in most hardware and home-improvements shops.
(2) Green Office Supplies: Sadly there's not much available in terms of office equipment that is low-impact but more companies are increasing the wood and plastic recycled-contect of the products they do manufacture for the office space: work stations, rubber floor mats, desk organizers, even filing cabinets. I use 100% Post Consumer Waste copy paper for my ink-jet printer and re-use/recycle every piece of packaging material that comes into my office. File folders are also made of recycled content and are sturdy for durability and long life. Lights and power strips are turned off at the end of each work session to save on electricity and a bit of money too.
(3) Green Communication: I think it would be safe to say that I'm not the only one glued to my computer all day and all night long. It has become the main source of business communication for me. I encourage business contacts to email me over calling as I can save and archive my emails electronically a lot easier than I can save voice messages and my own hand-scribbled notes. I try not to print anything if I can help it to save on paper and ink. Even my invoices are filed away electronically for reference and tax purposes.
(4) Green Branding: Most businesses utilize paper for a variety of branding purposes, from the ubiquitous business card, personalized letterhead, and invoices to name a few. Apparel businesses like Sweet T Baby will have hangtags, price tags, and even packaging materials for shipping. Again, high post consumer waste content paper in a variety of weights can be found for all your business needs. I will often use the blank side of used copy paper for invoices and friendly correspondences with business contacts. Cereal boxes or any paperboard cardstock make great hangtags as well. Wherever possible use water-based inks for printing. For the most part, ink jet printer inks are water-based and less of a burden on the environment. Soy-inks and other vegetable-based inks have grown in popularity but do check with the printer for their source and how they dispose of their waste- which is often as important. I used Grass Roots Press for all my printing, usind soy-inks and recycled paper.
(5) Green Trash or Not: Like I mentioned above, where our materials go afterwards is just as important. All paper can be recycled- by a recycling center and by you. Upcycling is even more eco-friendly than immediately tossing your items into your recycling bin. Upcycling is reusing materials and giving them new life in new form. Turning envelopes into hangtags, copy paper into bills or shredded into packaging materials or even filler for your garden compost. Don't toss your empty ink cartridges- office supply stores offer rebates and will recycle them for you. Disks and other smaller 'technotrash' can be recycled. Even that soda you drink while you work can be recycled into new aluminum cans and the plastic ones are turned into fiber to make fleece and carpet! That yogurt you eat during your break comes in containers that are recycled into toothbrushes and food containers. Contact your local sanitation office for their recycling program and drop-off locations. Form a collective with local businesses to improve your recycling program and generate awareness for reducing waste.
I know first hand that going green can sometimes cost a bit more, but these extra costs are upfront and will actually save you time and money in the long run. It doesn't have to be done all at once. You are the best person to assess and evaluate where you can afford to make changes and when. Every little change can make a huge difference.
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Welcome to our fabulous new website and the new home of the beeblog. It's been a long haul and I want to thank all the peeps at ShopVisible for their effort, it turned out great! I'm so excited for this blog. Were going to keep it fresh and updated every few days. And the best part is you (and I) won't have to read me blathering on all the time. We have a whole new format and great talent who are going to contribute regularily.
First off, on Mondays we're going to talk...Entrepreneurship. On Wednesdays.... Sustainable living. And on Fridays....Peer to peer interviews, profiles and support. You'll get perspectives and insight from successful designers and a whole host of colorful characters.
Our regular contributors include... (you can read their profiles by clicking the contributor profile link!)
Petra Geiger, President and Founder of Beehive
Viviana Campbell, Owner of Beehive Co-op Atlanta
Malene Davis, Owner of Iram-Inal Designs
Kristina Hjelsand, Owner of Kitchen Communications
Erica Jong, Owner of Sweet T Baby
Amy McClure, Owner of Olaria Studio
Karen Meyers, Owner of Karen Meyers Handbags
Heather Swanepoel, Owner of Rinse Handmade Soap Co.
I think these guys will have alot to offer, they are passionate, informed and have been through alot of the highs & lows that we all know to be the entrepreneurial path! But they will strive to bring you interviews and perspectives from other professionals around the country as well. That being said...we also love guest bloggers so send me your idea and we'll go from there.
Happy reading and let me know what I can do to facilitate a dynamic and interesting forum that serves as a support network and connection for all of us to persevere along the road to a successful, creative business!
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Tags: BeeBlog, design entrepreneurship, local enconomies, Rinse Handmade Soap, Olaria Studio, Iram-Inal Design, Kitchen Communication, Sweet T Baby, Karen Meyers Handbags, sustainable business |
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Categories: Entrepreneurship, Designer Connection |
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