Sustainable Olympics? Hog(green)wash
The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics & Paralympics have been under intense scrutiny, not due to questionable medals or poor refereeing, but for sustainability. Great Britain has been a vocal force among other parties, stating that Vancouver did not do enough in terms of sustainability. They promise that their upcoming Summer Olympics will be the most sustainable games yet. Is all of this just a public relations stunt or was Vancouver actually trying to make an effort during difficult economic times?
According to the Vancouver Olympics Committee, sustainability was a key consideration in the design and planning of the Olympics. You can actually follow their efforts via the Sustainability Reports they have consistently published. As the first Games to formally include this as not only a concern, but translate it into tangible action, their efforts are notable. The organizers of the Games have a portion of the Vancouver 2010 site dedicated to sustainability, including a sustainability star program for companies and/or organizations, as well as videos and tips on how to be eco-friendly while at the Olympics. Do the medals look a little funny this year? They are actually made from electronic waste, not too shabby if you ask me.
The Sustainability Stars program focuses on three key areas:
- Economic Benefit
- Environmental Stewardship & Impact
- Social Inclusion & Responsibility
Organizations’ efforts must include at least 2 of the 3 focal areas, produce a measurable outcome, and relate to the 2010 Winter Games. The submittals were then judged by a jury of government partners, corporate sponsors, external experts, and VANOC representatives.
Coke, who is working to become carbon neutral, was one of the company’s highlighted. Their efforts included new coolers and vending machines that reduced emissions by 5,600 metric tons, compostable food containers, recycling centers, and team uniforms made from recycled plastic. Their goal is to divert 95% of all waste from landfills, an incredibly high and difficult goal to achieve at a large-scale event with varied levels of eco-awareness. Although you may not drink Coke or agree with their global supply chain, the reduced impact on the environment through these actions is measurable and exciting.
Perhaps my favorite eco-effort of the games is the Power Smart Village by BC Hydro. They have a human-powered dance floor and an expression wall that looks like spray paint, but is actually transmitted through infrared technology. They also host a Home of the Future series that highlights futuristic eco-inventions. As a power company, their most significant contribution has been the reduction in energy used and the increase in renewable energy sources. It is estimated that these games will emit 1/10th of the CO2 emissions from power generation than previous Winter Games. This will make it the lowest CO2 Games contributor in modern history.
With large-scale design and accountability efforts such as these, it’s difficult to criticize their efforts. The Olympics and Paralympics require an extensive built-environment and land manipulation to take place. This along with the influx in population make it difficult to create a No Impact Games. If we are able to take what we have learned from Vancouver’s efforts and multiply them in the Games to come, eco-smart design will become the center of the Olympics and it will hopefully spread to our athletic facilities worldwide.
The Olympics and Paralympics truly are natural homes for sustainability. The Games are about Countries coming together and competing for the honor of being a true Olympian. If we can take this competitive, yet team-oriented mindset and apply it to our innovation efforts imagine the future Games. The Vancouver Games are not an example of large-scale greenwashing, they are developing the foundation for long-term change toward eco-friendly games. Hopefully Great Britain rises well to the challenge they have set up for themselves. We can all look forward to a healthy competition for winning the “green Games” title into the future.
Marcal Giveaway Winner
The winner for the Marcal paper product giveaway Michael. He will receive a prize package of Marcal paper products including toilet paper, paper towels, napkins and more. Even if you didn’t win, be sure to check out all of Marcal paper products to find where you can buy their products in a store near you.
Thanks to everybody that participated in this contest. If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for my Email and RSS Subscription service to get all the latest articles, contests and news on my blog.
Recycle. Reuse. Rewoof.
Eleven years ago Alex Fisher and his then business partner had a vision for a new dog toy that was strong, buoyant and environmentally friendly. The result? Planet Dog’s wildly popular Orbee-Tuff Ball (you know the one, it’s the rubber ball shaped like the earth). In addition to selling this and other products on a national level, Planet Dog opened its own flagship store in Portland, Maine in 1997. Twelve years later, Planet Dog (www.planetdog.com) is making its mark on the pet industry not only for its wide selection of pet products, but also because of the company’s environmentally and socially conscious business model.
According to Catherine Frost, Brand and Product Champion for Planet Dog, the Orbee-Tuff products “put us on the map.” Still a best seller, Orbee-Tuff toys are made from melted rubber pellets and produce no waste. This is because all of the left over rubber material is then recycled into another line of dog toys, RecycleBALLS, which display the words “Recycle. Reuse. Rewoof.” on them, and RecycleBONES, both of which are made from 100% recycled materials. Even the toys themselves can be recycled. To encourage pet owners to recycle their Orbee toys, Planet Dog has recently launched a program in the store, where customers can bring in old pet toys and drop them off in a mail box that serves as a recycling bin. The old toys are then transported to company factories in Sanford, Maine and Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and are then melted and reused to make new ones. Another product, the Shammy towel, is also made from 100% recycled materials (derived from wood chips) and are made to dry quickly so that they do not require electric drying.
In addition to dog toys, Planet Dog sells pet food, treats, collars, leashes, and basically anything else a family dog might need. All of the dog food and treats carried in the Planet Dog store are all-natural and several are organic. Many dog owners look for less processed food for their dogs, says Ken Hahn, Store Manager, because, “It’s healthy. There’s a lot of evidence that feeding your dog a less processed diet is better…” The store is stocked with products made by local vendors in Maine and New England, including farmers who produce all-natural and or organic ingredients.
Planet Dog also encourages its employees and others to use green practices whenever possible. According to Ken Hahn, the store now has a no-idling policy for deliveries. Employees are encouraged to use recycling bins for their own as well as the store’s waste. Planet Dog also has a no bottled water policy and they have installed water filters onto their faucets as an alternative. Employees are asked to bring their own reusable bottles to fill throughout the day. At the company headquarters, also in Portland, there is even a composting station for employees to use if they choose to. Planet Dog has an incentive program for employees who choose hybrid vehicles, by offering to reimburse each employee up to 50% of the excise tax due on the cars.
The store and headquarters use dimmer switches to conserve electricity and are also in the process of converting to energy efficient lighting. They do not use toxic cleaners that contain bleach or other harsh chemicals. Another green innovation has been the use of a virtual trade show rather than traveling to another location, to promote Planet Dog’s products. With a virtual trade show, a company can showcase its products online, which can save companies money as well as reducing the amount of fuel that is consumed then emitted into the air.
Planet Dog is also very active within the community, supporting charitable causes such as pet adoption and they are a sponsor for The Bayside Trail. The Bayside Trail is a new neighborhood trail in Portland that conserves open space for walking and recreational purposes. Additionally, a portion of the company’s sales are directed to The Planet Dog Foundation (www.planetdogfoundation.org), an accredited charity that supports service dogs who assist humans in valuable and life-saving ways. According to Catherine Frost, the company refers to its efforts to be socially responsible as “romping the romp” instead of “walking the walk” and is part of the company’s overall mission.
DoSomething.org Presents ‘Increase Your Green’
Do you or your kids want to make a difference in schools? Well, here is your chance. HP and DoSomething.org are teaming up to bring to you a national campaign called Increase Your Green. This program is urging all students, parents, teachers to take action and reduce the environmental impact of their schools. In the process, your school could win $5,000 and some HP laptops that have green technologies. Nick Cannon is the spokesperson for this campaign. Lets here what he has to say about Increase Your Green:
Though I am not a huge fan of Nick Cannon, it’s really great to see these organizations trying to connect with our kids to get the word out about going green. Their site provides some great idea sin which schools can go green, ranging from greening up events to saving energy in our schools. A few I mention here on my site are saving computer energy and using natural cleaners
How to Submit a Project?
To enter this contest:
- Setup a project around a school.
- Submit a proposal to the site I mentioned above.
- Submit more details about the final project by April 22nd.
I think regardless of who wins this contest, all schools need to take measure to make sure they are going green. It’s important to get our kids involved learning about ways they can not only make their schools more green, but also in their daily lives.
Toothbrush Tips
Brush up with “eco” toothbrushes. They clean one of the most susceptible parts of our body everyday, and are typically changed every 4-6 weeks.
Despite being a small disposable consumer product, toothbrushes can pile up with an estimated 50 million pounds being discarded yearly in the US alone. These toothbrushes each target different waste streams and resources, so feel free to choose based on style, your mouth’s sensitivities, or their differing environmental “un”impacts.
Replaceable Head Toothbrush
The Fuchs Ekotec Replaceable Head Toouthbrush is an easy and inexpensive way to keep up on your dental hygiene, save money, and save resources. The head of the toothbrush has a blue line, like conventional brushes, that indicates when it is time to switch heads. You literally pop out the head of the toothbrush and then pop in a new one. Each brush comes with three extra heads and replacement packs come with four, so you can keep your costs low. The company also offers other toothbrushes with natural bristles and eco-friendly toothbrush styles. This is actually the toothbrush I use because it significantly reduces the amount of waste over the long-term and can be found locally (for me). Personally, I like this toothbrush, its great for everyday use and, so I would recommend it.
Recycled plastic Toothbrush
The toothbrush by Preserve is made in the US with 100% recycled #5 plastic and is actually recyclable through their Gimme 5 program. The curved handle and three levels of bristles are designed to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. Preserve has chosen #5 Plastic because it has not been found to have serious negative environmental impacts, such as off gassing and does not contain BPA. They are truly trying to stop the cradle to grave ideology of most product consumption and work toward a cradle to cradle approach, offering recycling for all of their products. They offer three different types of bristle strength: ultra soft, soft, and medium.
Wooden handle, Natural Bristles
The toothbrush made by Naturborsten is so natural you can compost it. This brush has natural bristles, meaning boar or badger hair, which they state can be harmlessly removed similar to sheering a sheep. The wooden handle is from sustainable wood, although I didn’t find any certifications like the Forest Stewardship Council. The wood is varnished with vegetable oil, keeping in line with its compost-friendly design. Even their packaging is sustainable with biodegradable plastic and cardboard. The only trick is finding company information and ordering the product, I found it on a few online shops but couldn’t track it further then being a German-based company. Just FYI in case you are working on localizing your supply chain.
Ionic Toothbrush
With electric toothbrushes being praised for their “new and improved” cleaning capabilities, this innovative Japanese toothbrush doesn’t even use toothpaste. The Soladey ionic toothbrush is an interesting addition to today’s mix of devices. The toothbrush’s handle has a titanium rod that is charged by indoor and outdoor lighting with negative ions. According to the company, these ions ‘blend with saliva to attract the positive ions (hydrogen) from the acid in the dental plaque of your teeth.’ The result is neutralized acid and disintegrated plaque, leaving your mouth clean. One note of caution, I don’t know anyone who has used this product, but have read the reviews of consumers online that are surprised that it works. So, for the curious, this may be an interesting long-term solution to teeth cleaning, although Titanium is not typically categorized as renewable nor abundant.
These aren’t the only options out there, so please share if you have any additional recommendations. And don’t forget used toothbrushes can be great cleaning brushes, art tools, and put to other innovative uses before they hit the trash can (or recycle bin and preferably the compost bin).
Save Money and Endangered Jaguars
Using Florida Crystals natural and organic sugar at home is a great way to support organic farming right here in the U.S. It is also a healthier alternative to traditional refined sugar. Florida Crystals’ sugar products are also manufactured using renewable energy sources and the company has been certified as CarbonFree by Carbonfund.org. Florida Crystals’ website (www.floridacrystals.com/) is a great place to visit to learn more about organic sugar farming and clean energy methods. There is also a recipe tab, where you can find and share recipes for sweet treats. My favorite part of the website is the video link that talks about the Jaguar Conservation Fund at the Palm Beach Zoo. Website visitors can choose to download a free coupon for sugar products up to .50. Consumers can then decide if they wish to redeem a coupon for the entire .50, or whether they wish to donate all or a part of the value of the coupon to the Jaguar Fund. It is worth a look to see the video of these beautiful, endangered animals.
Green Paints Top Consumer Reports List
In Consumer Report’s 2010 interior paint report, almost all of the top performers were also the lowest in VOCs. This is fairly surprising considering that many in previous years, many of the top performing paints were not all that environmentally friendly.
Bob Markovich, the senior home editor at Consumer Reports sums this new trend up nicely:
Paints have advanced in their ability to perform and be green
Some of the top performing paints include:
- Behr Premium Plus Ultra ($33/gallon)
- Kilz Casual Colors semigloss & low-luster ($22/gallon)
- Benjamin Moore Regal ($45/gallon)
The biggest thing that Consumer Report suggests is that paints should be chosen not by brand since some of the top brands did not perform that well. It’s also key to do your research and properly read the labels to make sure you are buying a paint that is in fact either low or zero VOC. I would suggest also checking out natural paints that perform just as well without dangerous ingredients and absolutely no VOCs.
