Heart of Green

Plug-ins, Pinots and Progress

I am thrilled to be co-hosting an eco-event for Plug In America this summer. You have heard of the 3 R's. Well, this is the 3 P's. You are cordially invited to Plug-ins, Pinots and Progress at the magnificent Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside. We will toast to accelerating the EV movement, enjoy organic hors d'oeuvres and wine, and experience cool plug-in cars.

Plug-ins, Pinots and Progress Party

When:
Sunday, August 9, 2009
4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Where:
Thomas Fogarty Winery
19501 Skyline Blvd, Woodside, CA
www.fogartywinery.com

Host Committee: 
Sherry Boschert , John Balbach, Joan Blades, Julie Blunden, Dale Djerassi, Andy Frank, Tom Gage, Bill Green, Lisa Gelfand, Marc Geller, Steve Kirsch, Michelle Kirsch, Felix Kramer, L. Hunter Lovins, Richard Lowenthal, Michael Martella, Laura Marion, Chris Paine, Chelsea Sexton, Jessica Switzer, Jeanne Trombly, Peter Walbridge, Nadine Weil

Invitation & RSVP:
Reserve your spot here:  Plug-ins, Pinots and Progress

About Plug In America:
Plug In America is driving the clean vehicle movement towards widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles recharged by clean, domestic energy. Let’s support a regenerative plant through green cars because we all want to get 100 mpg while going 80 mph and looking eco-good.  
www.pluginamerica.org

If you can't wait for the plug-ins to hit the showrooms, visit Luscious Garage and have your hybrid tricked out with advanced eco-features. In other words, pimp your Prius.

Heart of Green is a proud supporter of this event. I hope to see you at the party where you can have your plug-in car and your pinot too.

Fashion Show in the Redwoods

I have always said that my dream event is an eco-fashion show in a forest.  Thanks to the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, my dream is coming true!  

 

Join us for their Green Gala on Sunday afternoon June 28, 2009 featuring a runway fashion show of top Bay Area sustainable fashion in the stunning Redwood Grove Amphitheatre. The eco-fashion designers Mr. Larkin and Ocelot Clothing will rock the house. Stroll through the lush botanical garden, enjoy organic delights, sip on biodynamic wines from Quivira Vineyards and take in the beautiful sights and sounds. Heart of Green is proud to be a sponsor, and all proceeds benefit the Botanical Garden’s living collections. It will truly be a dream green day.

Reserve your bench under the trees at UC Botanical Green Gala Party

Change Starts at Home

This week Heart of Green and our favorite leading man, Kermit the Frog, are being featured on the wonderful new web site Change Starts at Home started by Laura Rose. It is so true. Little changes at home add up to a lot and can lead to so much more.

Change Starts at Home published Heart of Green's How To Go Green Guide which tries to clear up that age-old question:  is it easy being green or not?  I wrote the first rendition for Earth Day in 2007 and continue to update it as more exciting choices become available. Kermit is one happy frog these days because it is getting easier to live the glamorous green life every day. Just wait until next year! 

See Change Starts at Home for more helpful advice about money and life.

Best of Trash Into Treasure

A sold-out crowd of over 500 gathered at the Lincart Gallery in San Francisco for the opening of the SMART Art - Trash Into Treasure Exhibition.

A project of David de Rothschild's daring Adventure Ecology, the competition invited artists to show how discarded items can be transformed into works of art.  Judging by the dazzling winners, the competition succeeded. One person’s trash is another’s person masterpiece.

These were not your average rusty backyard junk sculptures. The winning art works blended style with sustainability, mind-bending creativity with regenerative design, and ultimately, trash with beauty.

Pictured here, the purple Crown Royal Gown by Colleen Miezejeski is designed from all-reclaimed fabric.  Looking like eco-royalty, here she is gazing peacefully through the winning "Certain is Nothing Now" installation made from layers of junk mail collected by the artist Julia Goodman.

Speaking of junk mail, ForestEthics was on hand to help people get off junk mail lists. See their Do Not Mail web page for insider tips and the chance to sign the petition to create a national Do Not Mail registry, which would save an awesome 100 million trees per year.

Marie Antoinette

This crowd favorite Tim Dey's Ghost of Versailles is made from used bubble wrap, proving that you can have your eco-fashion-cake and eat it too.

Circuit Runway Necklace

This necklace by Christine Dhein is so handsome you would never guess it is made from reincarnated circuit boards.

Grass

Eco-artist Harriete Estel Berma took first place with her spectacular lawn sculpture made from 32,400 individual blades of colorful recycled steel containers. The video of her making the piece is a must-watch and a hilarious commentary on American lawns.

Many party-goers took turns riding Ocean Beach surfer Kathleen Egan's Plastic Wave, made entirely from plastic bottles collected from her friends. Watch this great video here of Kathleen and her surfing community making the wave. The best picture of the night goes to New Leaf Paper founder Jeff Mendelsohn seen here surfing inside the sea of plastic.

  

Event chair Heidi Quante wore a striking short black dress designed by Drew Kleiner made out of reclaimed bicycle tires. Here she is below with Lincart gallery co-owner Holly Fouladi, who is wearing an eye-catching necklace by Judith Selby Lang. Eco-adventurer David de Rothschild announced the winners and said that he was impressed by the outpouring of time and creativity these artists brought to the cause – naming specifically Grass and Scott Oliver’s found Chair turned Hetch Hetchy Valley. 

 

I was thrilled to serve on the Host Committee for the opening because I believe that re-imagining trash is one of the most important things we can do. What if there were no trash?  What if we viewed everything as having some purpose?  In nature, everything has its place and its value. Don't miss artist Tim Gaudreau who photographed everything he threw out for 365 days. The resulting art exhibit must be seen to be believed. As the ultimate example of turning trash into treasure, Back To Earth’s Ari Derfel saved his trash for a year, received a flood of media attention, and is now the subject of a highly-anticipated work of art by Kuros Zahedi called Finding Away.

Visit the Lincart Gallery online and offline and see the works of art until June 25, 2009.  You will never look at trash the same way again.

Photos by Drew Altizer

Celebrities rally to save Peru's Amazon

This week Hollywood celebrities lead by Q’orianka Kilcher gathered in front of the Consulate General of Peru in Los Angeles to protest an urgent environmental and human rights situation in the Peruvian Amazon. They marched, they danced, and they urged the media to break its silence because what happens in Peru shouldn’t stay in Peru. 

So just what is happening in Peru?  The Peruvian government under President Alan Garcia is auctioning off the indigenous peoples’ lands to oil, mining and logging corporations without their consent. Peru has already opened 75% of its Amazon territory to oil exploration. In the last month, Garcia has signed contracts for 15 more oil concessions in the Amazon.

The protests are on. Over 50,000 local people are conducting peaceful demonstrations in Peru to defend their rights and protect the environment. The President has since sent in the military. The situation has turned violent. Innocent people are being killed. It is tragic because the people are just defending their home and the rainforest, which benefits all of us.

President Garcia's decrees make it easier to transfer indigenous peoples' land rights to international corporations. They also set the stage for the privatization of water. We all know what will happen if this is allowed. The corporations will exploit the natural resources, destroy the rainforest and the community, and then move on.

The celebrities supporting this cause include Q’orianka Kilcher, Alex Meraz, Colin Farrell, Jesse Garcia (Quinceañera), Woody Harrelson, and Esai Morales.

The Peruvian people are fighting for a cleaner world and for their home in the Amazon - the lungs of the planet - for future generations. We all know that 20% of greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation. The rainforest is essential to life on Earth. However, the Peruvian government seems to be taking a big step backwards by selling out to the oil and logging companies and even resorting to violence to do so. This will lead to the irreversible destruction of virgin rainforest and increase global warming. This shows the true cost of oil. This is going backwards at a time when the world is moving forwards to a clean energy future.

The indigenous peoples in Peru are heroes of the planet. Their courage to fight for their homeland and for the rainforest is awe-inspiring and needs our support.

Read the excellent blog of Q’orianka Kilcher about the situation. Watch the YouTube video of the Hollywood protest this week. Sign the petition. Take part and spread the word. Let’s stand up for our people and our planet.

Update:  The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues released a statement on June 2 calling on the Peruvian Government to:

• Immediately suspend the state of siege against indigenous communities and organizations,
• To avoid any action, such as military intervention, that could increase the conflict,
• To abide by its national and international obligations regarding the protection of all human rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples and human rights defenders.

Read the full statement here and please let them know you support it. To save the indigenous people and the Amazon forests in Peru from takeover, it is going to take a united global village.

Update:  The news has gone viral, and the public is outraged. Today June 8, 2009, there are two Emergency Demonstrations of Solidarity and Protest - one at the Peruvian Embassy in Washington, D.C. at 12:30 pm EST and another at the Consulate General of Peru in Los Angeles at 3:30 pm PST. Join one if you can. We are rooting for you, Peru.

Q'orianka Kilcher is preparing to go to Peru this week. Heart of Green wishes her a safe, successful and did we mention safe journey. May good green karma be with you. Thank you for being so courageous on behalf of all of us and the planet! 

Links:

Ecorazzi article with Heart of Green

Q'orianka's acceptance speech at Young Hollywood Awards

Heart of Green Most Popular

People ask me which are the most popular posts on Heart of Green. The drum roll please. As selected by your clicks and searches, here are the Most Popular Articles on Heart of Green since 2006:

1. Are Starbucks Cups Recyclable?   (the short answer is no)

2. FSC vs. SFI Forests

3. Paper, Plastic or Planet?   (on plastic vs. paper bags)

4. How To Go Green featuring Kermit the Frog

5. Are Tetra Paks Recyclable? 

6. Eco-Fashion 

These results surprised me too. Where are the Leonardo DiCaprio posts?  Isn't he hot anymore?  But seriously, your feedback is encouraging me to write more investigative articles. I love digging in and getting to the bottom of issues that affect us all. Thank you for being part of the Heart of Green community - and please stay tuned for more!

Weaving The World Together

What is combining the earth, women, micro-credit and cleantech with amazing results? 

The Women's Earth Alliance, a spectacular global organization that connects and supports environmental leaders. For instance, they are helping African women gain clean water technology and Indian women launch sustainable agriculture in their communities. Join us at their gala appropriately titled Weaving The Worlds in San Francisco's gorgeous Presidio. Men are most welcome! 

Weaving The Worlds 3.0 Gala
The Next Generation of Connectivity

When:
Thursday June 4, 2009
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Where:
Golden Gate Club
Presidio of San Francisco

Featuring a cocktail reception, delicious seasonal organic dinner, live music, dancing, and notable guests including Paul Hawken.

Invitation & RSVP:  Weaving the Worlds Gala

For more inspiring women, please see the www.womensearthalliance.org

Le Clubbing for Le Congo

Recently over 250 fashionable eco-ladies and gents poured into Le Club on Nob Hill to support the Sowing Hope: EcoMom Congo Project. Due to current mining-related conflicts, the Congo has become a very dangerous place for women. The situation is urgent, and the crowd at Le Club rose to the occasion.

On board for this important cause are Robin Wright Penn, Rosario Dawson, Diane Lane, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Katie & Todd Traina and more.

Helge Hellberg of Marin Organic said, “When a woman is harmed on the other side of the world in the Congo, it affects us all.” You could have heard a pin drop. It is a moment that will not soon be forgotten.

My friend Kimberly Pinkson is the founder of the EcoMom Alliance, a wonderful group that helps women sustain themselves, sustain their families and sustain the Earth.

I was happy to serve on the host committee for the party. Since I am not technically an eco-mom and don’t have little ones to take care of directly at the moment, I view the entire planet as my family – and my responsibility!  Learn more about the Congo situation and the vibrant EcoMom club.

See all the party photos on the site of Drew Altizer.

Smart Art Reception

They say that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Well, in this case, one person’s trash is another person’s masterpiece. You are invited to the Opening Reception of the SMART Art Trash Into Treasure Exhibit & Competition on May 28, 2009 at 6:00 pm at the Lincart Gallery. Enjoy delicious organic cocktails and appetizers, mingle with top eco-artists, and see how once-discarded items have been transformed into works of art.

SMART Art Trash Into Treasure Exhibit
Opening Reception & Awards

When:
Thursday, May, 28 2009
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Where:
Lincart Gallery
1632 Market Street, San Francisco
www.lincart.com

Featuring:
Complimentary organic wine, beer and gourmet appetizers. Live entertainment. The competition's finalists and their winning works of art.

Host Committee:
Hope Bryson, Yosh Han, Heidi Quante, Nadine Weil

Judges:
David de Rothschild, Paul Hawken, Annie Leonard, SFMOMA, YBCA, Artist in Residence Program at SF Recycle, Independent Film Channel, Current TV, Sundance Channel, and MTV International.

RSVP to heidi at smart art competition dot com

Special Thanks To:
Adventure Ecology, Sculpt the Future Foundation, Blick Art, Fat Tire, Flax Art & Design, Frey Vineyards, Bryan Ousdahl Awards, TCHO Chocolate, Urban Ore, Zuni Cafe, Rickshaw Bags, Whole Foods Market, Heart of Green.

For more smart art on the web, please visit www.smartartcompetition and for courageous eco-adventuring worldwide, please visit www.adventureecology.com

Plug-in Party at Google

I am thrilled to be co-hosting the GRID Alternatives Plug In To Grid party featuring none other than electric cars and plug-in hybrids at the famed Google Solar Carport. You are invited to join us for an exclusive afternoon event that will undoubtedly leave you charged up about the future of clean cars and solar energy for all.

GRID Alternatives presents
Plug In To Grid Party

When:
Sunday, May 31, 2009
1 pm - 4 pm

Where:
Google’s Solar-Powered Carport
Mountain View, CA

Featuring:

• Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails
• EVs, plug-in hybrid conversions, and scooters
• Sports cars like the Tesla Roadster
• Ride and drives
• Prototypes by Stanford and PG&E
• Silent auction
• Remarks by industry experts
• Mingling with the who’s who of solar energy and clean cars

RSVP Required:
Space is limited. Reserve your ticket online or by calling:
www.gridalternatives.org/plugin
Tracie Troxler at (510) 652-4730 x316

All proceeds benefit the nonprofit GRID Alternatives and their work to bring solar energy to low income families.

Host Committee:
Robyn Beavers, Hill Blackett III, Karen Decker, Loretta Gallegos, Mardina Graham, Kent Halliburton, Emilie Hung, Joseph Karp, Shuja Keen, Ron Lloyd, Ric Lucien, Gillian Moxey, Anthony Ravitz, Nadine Weil

Special Thanks To:
Google, 3Prong Power, Electric Motorsport, Ethical Approach Electric Vehicle Center, Green Wheelin Scooters, Green Vehicles, CalCars, Lloyd Wise Motors, Make Mine Electric, New Belgium Brewery, Pacific Coast Motors, PG&E, Parducci Wine Cellars, Tesla Motors, Stanford Solar Car Project, Heart of Green

Google & Clean Cars:
Kudos are due to Google for their long-time support of clean cars, including giving employees an incentive to purchase hybrids, installing EV chargers at their campuses early on, and launching the RechargeIt program to further plug-in vehicle research.

About GRID Alternatives:
Since 2004, GRID Alternatives has been bringing solar electric systems to low-income families throughout Northern and Southern California. They have also trained over 2,030 community volunteers and job trainees on solar electric installation and provided them with opportunities to gain hands-on experience with real-world solar projects. www.gridalternatives.org

Back in the Day in Detroit:
In 1996, I went to General Motors to work on the EV1 electric vehicle. It was an awesome experience that taught me much about advanced technology vehicles and how drivers view electric vehicles. GM ended up awarding me the Global Intern of the Year Award. You could say that the experience brought out my inner eco-geek.

My dream green car is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that I can charge up via solar panels. Now that would be living off the sun in a futuristic way. Allow me to go fast and far on battery power alone. No token battery assisting please. Enable me to sell stored power from my car battery back to my local utility too - Vehicle To Grid or V2G this is called.

I view the plug-in as a wonderful bridge car, a bridge from the world of gas-powered to electric-powered transportation. For most trips around town, you could scoot on pure electric power. Then, when you would need to drive to Vegas suddenly, you could flip to the internal combustion engine. This is the best of both worlds.  My experience at GM showed me that you have to offer this drive-to-Vegas-ability, even if a consumer is never going to use it. Range matters, especially if a car is going to cost at or above the market price of a similar non-EV model.

You also have to give consumers the ability to charge up the car anywhere, not just at fancy rapid EV-charging stations that sound good at press conferences. A household plug has to work as well. Extra extension cords would be nice. Any new garage should be built with sockets near every parking spot. This will help us avoid the infrastructure chicken-and-egg. Make sure the car has 4 seats plus trunk space, emphasize the rapid acceleration due to instantaneous torque (an unrestricted EV can beat a Ferrari any day), and provide a government tax incentive for purchasing one – and we will be well on our way to whirling around town.

Of course, the car has to look darn good, and it is all about the batteries ultimately. Battery technology will determine the future of EVs, and I am still holding out hope for a cost-effective, lithium-based, large-scale automotive battery. Weight and drag also matter. To get the best range performance for our batteries, we need sexy aerodynamic cars made from high-strength, lightweight materials.

On the upcoming clean car front, two vehicles I am particularly excited about are the Mini-E EV and the Aptera 2e. The third generation 2010 Prius model is rumored to have both an Eco Mode that reduces acceleration (less fun) and an EV mode that allows drivers to go up to 25 mph via the battery electric motor alone. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE also has 111 teams registered from 25 states and 11 countries, all competing to exceed 100 MPGe and win a $10 million prize.

In five years, we should be able to buy a plug-in version of every car on the market today. This just makes sense. Raising average American fuel economy standards to 35 mpg by 2020 is nice, but let’s make and drive plug-in models that get 100 mpg each. See the cool real-world results of Google’s RechargeIt test drives here. 93.5 mpg is the average high to date. China is already requiring fuel economy standards of 43 mpg in 2009.

Modular production at car companies would be a partial panacea for current ills. Build cars from a consolidated number of global platforms and be able to swap out body styles and propulsion systems, such as battery electric motors, plug-in hybrid technology, and more. This would enable consumer choice and economics of scale, which are critical to economically-viable automobile manufacturers. To generate funds, small car companies can have aggressive technology licensing plans in place to sell their cleantech to the big car companies who need it the most.

I look forward to the day when I can drive my plug-in vehicle around the San Francisco Bay Area. In the meantime, come to the GRID Alternatives party on May 31 at Google and experience the best of breed in action. Don’t forget your G-force-suit just in case an EV shows off and goes 0 – 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.

For related posts, please see Clean Cars - Heart of Green

Stewart+Brown Trunk Show

You are invited to the first ever Stewart+Brown Eco-Chic Trunk Show in San Francisco on Friday May 8 at the Eco Citizen Boutique from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm located at 1488 Vallejo Street at Polk in San Francisco.

Meet the pioneering organic eco-fashion designers Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, ogle their colorful Stewart+Brown Spring and Summer styles, get a sneak peak at their ecofabulous Fall 2009 Autumn Collection, and enjoy delicious libations courtesy of Organic Vintners (don’t miss their new Prosecco) and Blue Angel Vodka. Proceeds benefit the like totally awesome Teens For Safe Cosmetics and Teens Turning Green.

Eco-fashion has been one of my passions since starting Heart of Green.  In 2005, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to co-chair the Catwalk on the Wild Side Eco-Fashion Show for U.N. World Environment Day. Seeing 1,000 people in the audience pumped up about the imminent fashion show is a moment I will never forget. In less than 48 hours, we had gone from 100 ticket sales to 1,000. And they were all here to see eco-chic fashion?  No doubt that the flowing cocktails and DJ Donovan’s thumping bass were helping. Still, that was it. I was hooked on eco-fashion for life.

Opportunity Knocks Party

On St. Patrick's Day this year while the leprecons were out and about, local thought leaders celebrated all things green at the Opportunity Knocks party thrown by ecofabulous, Opportunity Green and Heart of Green.

Hosted by Zem Joaquin, Nadine Weil, Karen Solomon and Mike Flynn at a private penthouse in the SOMA, the party brought together over 150 innovators in the sustainable industry, including San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Cameron Sinclair of Architecture for Humanity, architect Michelle Kaufmann, Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster, Mark Dwight of Rickshaw Bagworks, Josiah Raison Cain of Design Ecology, and leaders from Eco Citizen, Sungevity, Organic Bouquet, SunPower, Current TV Green, Inhabitat, O Organics, X PRIZE, and Google Green.

The crowd nibbled on organic foods from Mixt Greens and Le Colonial, enjoyed clover cupcakes from the new Peace Love & Cupcakes, and got special tastings from 479 Popcorn, TCHO chocolate, and popchips. The very popular VeeV acai spirit cocktails were in the house, and guests were treated to Casa Barranca organic wine, Bionade, and LIVE Energy Drinks. The new company from Lauren Gropper - Repurpose Now - launched their hip compostable cups for parties. The requested attire was "green dress to impress" and the crowd did not disappoint with many vintage outfits, green bow ties, and eco-fashion ensembles on display.

One of the highlights of the evening was the Green Wish Board on which guests wrote their personal wishes for the planet.  The wish voted most inspiring was that of Katy Saeger of Neighbor Agency who said, “I wish that green becomes the rule, not the luxury.”  The first runner up was submitted by Joann Lee at Esurance who wrote, “I hope that that the economy, instead of hindering green advances, makes each of us more creative and efficient in the approaches taken to create a sustainable world.” 

At the party, I learned that EcoTimber has been rocking good wood for over 15 years. Led by Lewis Buchner, EcoTimber has enabled forest conservation by selling sustainably-harvested wood flooring since 1992.  EcoTimber works closely with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and produces products free of toxins for healthy indoor air quality. Thanks to their FSC-certified factory, 172,000 acres of forest were just saved in Bolivia. Now that is a green business making a difference.

Opportunity Green is a must-attend conference, and the only conference I missed last year. I won't make that mistake again. Opportunity Green is not only a convergence of innovators driving today's green economy, it is also hip and fun. The summit aims to inspire a collaborative culture of new and unconventional thinking that pushes change in unexpected ways.  It will take place this November 7-8, 2009 at UCLA and will again be a 2-day chance to immerse oneself in the thought-leadership of sustainability. www.opportunitygreen.com 

See all of the festive party photos by Drew Altizer, and let's hear it for the Irish who have been celebrating green since before the 17th century!

Wangari Maathai - Tree Planter Extraordinaire

This Earth Day, I was thrilled to be able to meet a woman with a legendary heart of green:  Wangari Maathai, the founder of the Green Belt Movement and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Picture Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wangari Maathai and Shaklee CEO Roger Barnett all standing together. It was quite a sight to behold. The joining of three worlds - government, nonprofit and business - for a brighter future.

Wangari Maathai was on hand to plant the one millionth tree at the beautiful Shaklee headquarters.  It was the capstone of Shaklee's A Million Trees, A Million Dreams campaign started just 3 years ago. Wangari, the Governor, and Roger Barnett all rolled up their sleeves, picked up a shovel, and planted the triumphant tree. The Governor talked about his bodybuilding days and how he used to rely on Shaklee nutritional products. Now we know. "What you are doing here is extraordinary," he said. "One million trees would fill Disneyland 18 times over. I don't know how I figured that out." He also rallied support for top green businesses like Shaklee as a vital engine of growth for the economy of California.

 

Wangari plants the 1 millionth tree with a little help from her friends Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Shaklee CEO Roger Barnett 
[photo by Photo Retouch Design]

Shaklee has an impressive history as a green company. Founded in 1956, Shaklee helped to invent eco-entrepreurship by introducing nontoxic, biodegradable cleaners and creating a social marketing model with 750,000 members. In 2000, Shaklee became the first Climate Neutral company to offset all of its greenhouse gas emissions. I can also testify that their eco-friendly cleaning products really work. No "greenwashing" here. It must be that 50+ years of experience. Shaklee is now launching a new program to give one million people an opportunity to become Eco-Entrepreneurs.

Dr. Wangari Maathai is a force of nature. Her Green Belt Movement has planted more than 45 million trees in Kenya to date. It began in 1977 with a simple idea: nourish the land and sustain the people by planting trees. Africa is being deforested, with devastating affects on the water supply, the soil, and the people's quality of life. "By starting with the simple step of digging a hole and planting a tree, we plant the seeds of change for ourselves and for future generations." Her movement inspired the United Nations to launch the Billion Trees Campaign with Wangari's help.

See the brand new The Challenge for Africa book by Wangari Maathai. As she says, let's plant trees and let's also save the trees and the forests that we have left. Let's plant a tree and save a tree. One of the easiest ways to save a tree is to use recycled paper for everything. Let's bring sexy treehugging back. No granola, I promise. Visit www.greenbeltmovement.org

Return To The Wild

Before seeing Mofilms' brilliant new movie Return To The Wild: A Modern Tale of Wolf and Man, I must say that I was not fully on top of wolf current events. I am now. What happens when you re-introduce gray wolves into the Northern Rockies for the first time?  Excitement, friction, love, hate, compassion, conspiracy.

This balanced masterpiece of a film does an excellent job showing both sides and the vast open space of compromises available in a fast-moving 27 minutes. In one memorable scene, a rancher says in a thick accent with a twinkle in his eye, "If the wolves are now bringing in $35 million in eco-tourism revenue per year, then why now kick back a small percentage of that into wolf management?"  It is hard to argue with such logic. 

You can currently watch or download the Return To The Wild film on Mofilms complimentary. If you like the film, please consider supporting these passionate, dedicated and talented filmmakers. They are the real deal and have a huge heart of green. Don't miss their other award-winning films Justicia Now and Freedom Fuels.

For an excellent look at where we are with wolves (the political situation is changing rapidly!), see Defenders of Wildlife and NRDC's BioGems Wolves and take action to help save the Yellowstone wolves.  www.mofilms.org

Happy Earth Day

Heart of Green wishes you a Happy Earth Day!  Just like every day is Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, every day is Earth Day, but today we take a special moment to celebrate our planet and give thanks. In honor of Earth Day, I wanted to share with you a few things that inspire me on a daily basis.

Redwood Forests

The trees first showed me that all life on Earth is interconnected and for that I am grateful.

Chambered Nautilus

The stunning chambered nautilus is one of my great loves. It is over 400 million years old and embodies the golden ratio of 1.618.

Butterflies

 

I am inspired by the butterfly’s ability to transform itself from a caterpillar into a cocoon and then emerge as a beautiful flying creature.

The forests, the oceans, the butterflies and bees.  They do more for us than we even know. We could not survive without them. In 2009, I am committed to helping save the forests, restore the oceans, and create habitat for butterflies and bees.

As the famous song from The Sound of Music goes, these are a few of my favorite things. I would love to know what inspires you.  If you have a moment, check out the new group founded by Julia Butterfly Hill called What’s Your Tree that helps people discover their passions in life and others who share them.  

Today I will be attending the San Francisco Mayor’s Earth Day Breakfast and then the planting of Shaklee’s One Millionth Tree with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai.  As Wangari says, “When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and the seeds of hope. We also secure the future for our children.”  Planting 1 million trees in 3 years - what an incredible achievement by Shaklee. Next up will be the Kiehl's launch of their new Limited Edition Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion in partnership with Adrian Grenier, Erykah Badu and Kelly Slater, with a whopping 100% of the proceeds going to the Waterkeeper Alliance. I will be finishing the day at the ecofabulous goldiehome party at the Spring store. Please stop by and I hope you have a nice Earth Day!

Celebrate Earth Day with Global Green

Global Green has launched the Leonardo DiCaprio eBay auction with a chance to bid on exclusive items donated by DiCaprio in support of Global Green.  The ultimate prize is an eco-friendly experience with Leonardo himself consisting of a meet & greet and photo opportunity at the upcoming red carpet premiere of Leonardo DiCaprio's new film Shutter Island. 

The auction includes signed memorabilia such as DVDs and movie posters, plus the incredible  Antarctica: The Global Warning photography book signed by both Leonardo and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.  

"By bidding on these items at ebay.com/globalgreen, people will help Global Green combat climate change and pursue important environmental imperatives, such as greening our nation's schools, housing, cities and more," says Leonardo DiCaprio, Global Green USA board member.

The auction ends on Earth Day April 22, 2009 so get ready to bid green for green in the final hours! 

Don't miss the Virtual Flower Garden Campaign with Kelly Ripa in which Electrolux Appliances  is donating $1 to Global Green for every flower planted. Planting a virtual flower helps Global Green raise funds to create healthier, more energy-efficient green schools for children. Thousands of flowers have already been planted. Plant a virtual flower

Bookmark May 30 in Santa Monica when we will be celebrating the Global Green Millennium Awards. It is always an amazing night for the planet!

Been There Done That Eco-Fashion Show

Next Sunday evening April 26 starting at 7 pm, don't miss the Been There Done That Eco-Fashion Show benefiting Victory Gardens at Temple in San Francisco. Combining eco-fashion with victory gardens - now that is a first and worth supporting!

This event will feature head-turning recycled and sustainable fashions and every penny will go to supporting Victory Gardens+. The show is organized by bright light Zoe Fisher of Zoe Alexander Couture. I expect to see some gorgeous patriotic organic fashions on the runway. After all, green is the new red, white and blue. Did I mention that adult tickets are only $15? 

See also The Way We Wore auction on eBay starting April 22 for more out of the ordinary eco-fashion made from repurposed vintage clothing, all benefiting Earth Pledge's Future Fashion Initiative. Old is the new new!

Earth Day Party

This Wednesday April 22nd, you are invited to celebrate Earth Day in San Francisco with ecofabulous at a festive party commemorating the anniversary of the Spring store and the launch of goldiehome's new line of modern eco-conscious homewares. Enjoy VeeV acai spirit cocktails, organic goodies from Sellers Markets, and general eco-chic fun. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to Healthy Child Healthy World.

Ecofabulous Earth Day Party
April 22, 2009
5 pm - 8 pm
Spring Store
2162 Polk Street, San Francisco

Hope to see you there!  Please RSVP to rsvp at vie pr dot com

Clean Air Awards

Clean air is essential to our survival. That is why I am thrilled to be co-chairing the 19th Annual California Clean Air Awards this year on April 17, 2009 - the top award for air quality and climate protection in California. The awards are hosted by Breathe California, now in its 100th year fighting for lung health and clean air.

19th Annual
Clean Air Awards
2009 Focus:  Global Warming

WHEN:
Friday, April 17, 2009
11:30 am Awards Luncheon

WHERE:
Westin St. Francis
Alexandra's Room on 32nd Floor, San Francisco

CO-CHAIRS:
Nadine Weil, founder of Heart of Green, VP of ecofabulous
Rod Diridon, Mineta Transportation, father of Silicon Valley's modern transit system

HONORARY HOSTS:
Mayor Gavin Newsom, Senator Mark Leno, Steve Westly,
PG&E's Nancy McFadden, Assemblymember Jared Huffman, Carl Guardino, the Rev. Canon Sally Bingham

FEATURING:

• 19th Annual CA Clean Air Awards presented to 6 winners
• Keynote Speech by Congresswoman Jackie Speier
• Reception and Organic Luncheon
• Remarks by PG&E Green Czar Nancy McFadden
• Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger 
• Jack Broadbent, CEO, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
• Roberta Gonzales, CBS 5 News Weather Anchor
• VIPs from the business, government, and nonprofit communities

RSVP:
http://www.cleanairawards.org
(650) 994-5868

ABOUT BREATHE CALIFORNIA:
Since 1908 for over 100 years, Breathe California has advocated for clean air, fought against lung disease, and worked to advance public environmental health. Helping to stop global warming is a major priority for Breathe California because warmer temperatures caused by greenhouse gases lead to higher rates of asthma, respiratory illness, and lung disease. Breathe California currently runs education and advocacy programs in the areas of Clean Air Public Policy, Asthma Education & Management, Cigarette Smoking Cessation, Global Warming, and Improved Air Quality. 
www.cleanairawards.org

I won the Clean Air Award for Public Awareness in 2007 for Heart of Green. When giving my speech, I joked that I when I first received word, I thought I had won for calling in the most number of vehicles to 1-800-EXHAUST. This used to be my favorite pastime, and I still like to keep my hand in by chasing down cars with dirty tailpiples and reporting their license plates to www.800exhaust.org. 

To me this points to a very serious question:  how can others have the right to pollute the collective air?  I love to walk places instead of driving, but as a walker, I am frequently subjected to puffs of exhaust smoke and cigarette smoke and find myself holding my breath. In talking with others, I have found that I am not alone in this predicament. We all need clean air to survive and breathing in clean air, rather than dirty air, makes the day so much more enjoyable and healthier for all.

Update:

Congratulations to the 2009 winners of the Clean Air Awards:

• Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Carl Guardino for the Bay Area Climate Change Collaborative
• The Better World Group & The Diesel Rule Coalition
• San Jose State University and Genentech for their alternative transportation programs
• Shaklee for its carbon neutrality and A Million Trees-A Million Dreams program
• Cool The Earth and Carleen & Jeff Cullen for their in-school climate education programs
• Dr. Anthony Iton, Alameda County Public Health
• City of Berkeley for the Berkeley FIRST solar financing program
• Milpitas Unifed School District for installing 3.4 megawatts of solar power on 14 sites

See the impressive list of all past winners here, and as Congresswoman Jackie Speier says, "Don't forget to breathe!"

Hearts of Green in Nature

When I first began Heart of Green in 2004, I started noticing how many heart shapes occur naturally outdoors, such as clovers, ivy, pansies, autumn leaves, strawberries and more.  Here are some photos that illustrate this heart-filled green phenomenon.

 
White Bleeding Hearts

Big Green Leaf

Heart Rock

 
Pansies

Clovers

 
Swans in Love

Completing The Circle

I would like to open up a topic for discussion - Completing The Circle. In my travels, I am talking with many more people who are recycling paper and plastic. This is a hugely positive step.

A next step in living the green life can be to complete the circle. By this I mean, using products made out of recycled paper and recycled plastic. People are focusing on the recycling part - the out - and the next area of opportunity is to focus on the in. What are the products coming into our lives made of?  If the answer is recycled paper and recycled plastic with a high percentage of post-consumer content (actually recycled by consumers first), then we have completed the circle as nature would do!  If they are made of virgin paper for example, well, then we are more like a one way street.

Initiate the Circle:  Recycle Paper
Complete the Circle:  Use Products made of Recycled Paper

Initiate the Circle:  Recycle Plastic
Complete the Circle:  Use Products made of Recycled Plastic

Paper is a great place to start because there are so many fabulous and ecofabulous products made of recycled paper, such as Seventh Generation, New Leaf Paper, Good On Paper, Green Field Paper, Eco Paper, Safeway's new Bright Green Paper Towels, and Staples 100% Recycled bright copy & printing paper. With the exception of tree-free, all paper used to be a forest. Select the highest percentage of post-consumer content that you can find, and you will really be completing the circle. Maybe you will even see the paper you recycled last month in there somewhere.

A wonderful example of a company closing the circle is TerraCycle, a company that makes products entirely from garage or waste, such as reused soda bottles and other company's extras. Tom Szaky's leading-edge company is truly turning garage into gold.

Another great case is Rickshaw Bags made from recycled PET fabric. The founder Mark Dwight calls it Bottles To Bags. The bags are so handsome, you would never know it.

Completing the circle also makes good business sense because it can be less financially and resource intensive to use existing materials than it is to chop down a new forest or to blow the top off a mountain to mine for new minerals for example. Here is a secret:  for many companies, over 90% of their carbon footprint comes from the raw materials they use. Switching to making products out of recycled materials is the greenest thing they could do.

For instance, the new Reynolds Wrap 100% Recycled aluminum foil requires 80 - 95% less energy to make than traditional foil.

As Julia Butterfly Hill says, "It is not a circle until you close it."  Let's use and reuse what we have already have at our "disposal." Let's celebrate all of the amazing recycling that is taking place and turn our attention to the regenerative beauty of completing the circle.

Are Tetra Paks recyclable?

I try to compost on a weekly basis, but there is one thing that is putting a cramp in my going green style:  the Tetra Pak. 

Are Tetra Paks recyclable or compostable?  In general, the answer is no, Tetra Paks are not recyclable or compostable as is because they combine paper and plastic - and some even contain hidden metal.

Specifically, for the milk cartons with a round middle cap, you have to remove the plastic spout first to give them a shot at being compostable. I try various ways to cut the spouts out of the cartons. All of them are annoying and lead to many words in Italian.

(Of course you know already that any pure paper soiled with food like a napkin is composted, not recycled, because it contains organic matter.)

The "Aseptic" Tetra Paks used for soups, juices and more contain 6 alternating layers of paperboard, polyethylene plastic, and aluminum foil. As Whole Foods San Francisco told me this week, these have to be trashed. There is no green hope for these overzealous fusions.

I talked with the godfather of green design, William McDonough, about the Tetra Pak problem. He said that they are a "monstrous hybrid" of paper and plastic and asked, "Why don't they just make the spout out of a biodegradable plastic?"  This is what makes William McDonough so brilliant. If this were the case, then the entire carton could be composted as a whole.

The Tetra Pak Takeover

Have you noticed that Tetra Paks are taking over supermarket shelves?  They seem to be multiplying like weeds. It is unsettling that many of my favorite organic products have switched to Tetra Paks. This is inconsistent with their brands. You can't say that you are the "greenest milk" or "the best organic soup" if you are utilizing a non-green package.

In an ironic twist, Tetra Pak periodically sponsors environmental events and professes to be "one the most environmentally-friendly packages on the market."  This is greenwashing. Tetra Pak will not be eco-friendly until their cartons utilize a high percentage of post-consumer recycled paper and are able to be composted fully as is.  If most Tetra Paks are going to landfills, which I suspect they are, then they are contributing to global warming. Because all wastepaper used to be a forest, paper breaks down in landfills and releases potent greenhouse gases into the air.

In the UK, they are testing a separate collection process for "recycling" Tetra Paks. People would collect them separately and send them to a dedicated facility. This seems like a good step, but why put an additional burden on others and why not just solve the root of the problem?  This recycling process has been reported to be bogus, being put on for show to distract us from the real issue. In fact, Tetra Pak currently favors incineration as their preferred option:  burning the cartons into a cloud of toxic smoke. 

The No Tetra Pak Pledge

I am now trying not to buy anything that comes in a Tetra Pak. For example, Clover Stornetta Farms organic milk still comes in a carton without a plastic spout. Today was my first morning composting since making the pledge, and let me tell you, I am living large in San Francisco!  It was so much easier. No pesky spouts to try to cut out, and no hidden metal in the cartons. Everything went into the BioBag and then into the green bin. Voila. 

Let's encourage Tetra Pak to walk their talk. Let's encourage our favorite products to use true eco-friendly cartons. Let's design smart packaging so that valuable resources can be recovered and reused. In the meantime, I invite Tetra Pak to my residence on a weekly basis to help me do eco-chic composting. One morning with me should do the trick.

Where did Heart of Green come from?

People ask me about the name Heart of Green so I wanted to share its origins with you.

The name Heart of Green originated on an airplane in 2004. I was searching for a name that encapsulated the message and meaning of my life's new mission for the planet. While looking out into the clouds, the words "heart of green" came to me. I asked one of my mentors about it, and he encouraged me to go for it and thought that the name truly represented me at my core.

For several years, no one could remember it. It was funny! It caused me to wonder if I had the right name a few times, but I stuck with it because I believed that we all have a heart of green inside. For me, the word "green" represents life, life as nature intended, a healthy regenerative existence for all life on Earth. Now in 2009 people tell me that they love the name Heart of Green. This makes me happy because it means that the intention and spirit of the name are resonating and that is the ultimate goal.

Vote Solar Equinox Party

On Monday I am co-hosting an event for an organization that has both a heart of green and a heart of gold/yellow - the Vote Solar Initiative.

They do excellent and creative policy work to bring solar into the mainstream across the country, and they know how to throw one fabulous party.

Vote Solar Equinox III
Monday, March 23, 2009
6:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street, San Francisco

Reserve your spot here

Besides wonderful people with a sunny disposition, the event will feature an awards program, rockstar performances with Jesse Carmichael of Maroon 5 and jive recording artist Ry Cuming, organic tapas from the famed Radio Africa & Kitchen, organic wines, dancing and more. I hope to see you there. After all, we have the greatest source of clean renewable power shining down on us every day - the sun. Let's figure out how to use it to power our lives as the plants do. www.votesolar.org

Pop Goes the Green

 I love going to the movies, except for one thing – the popcorn, or rather, the smell of the artificial butter. Enter the new hip 479° Popcorn to the rescue. Not only is this gourmet popcorn certified USDA Organic, but it is some of the best popcorn I have ever tasted. 

479° makes artisan popcorn the old-fashioned way - from scratch. The founder Jean Arnold prepares small batches in heavy copper kettles in her kitchen using only premium organic ingredients. Her ah-ha moment was the discovery that 479 degrees Fahrenheit is the optimal temperature for popping corn.

Warning – it is difficult not to eat the entire box at one time. Good luck with that. Thank goodness the beautiful colorful boxes are not super-sized, even though the salty and sweet flavors are. My favorite sampler is called The Sweet Tooth and contains the following flavors:  Fleur de Sel Caramel, Ginger Sesame Caramel, Chipotle Caramel + Almonds, and Vietnamese Cinnamon Sugar. But salty snack fans, don’t worry. There are amazing choices for you too like Black Truffle + White Cheddar and Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt.

479 ships just about anywhere, and for those of you who live in California, you can find the spirited eco-chic popcorn at establishments such as Whole Foods Market, Rainbow Grocery, Bi-Rite, Oakville Grocery, Dean & Deluca, and Draeger's.

One funny question that everyone asks me, “Is the popcorn already popped?” I find this question hilarious for some reason, and the answer is a definitive yes.  www.479popcorn.com

Love Wins Party

You are invited to the festive Love Wins gala with Van Jones, Julia Butterfly Hill and Seane Corn benefiting the Engage Network and featuring cocktail receptions, a delicious organic dinner, live music, dancing, performances by Michelle Shocked, interactive videos, cupcakes, sparkling wine, hula hoopers, an amazing silent auction including a trip to visit Luna with Julia, and other love-filled eco-friendly surprises.

LOVE WINS
An evening with Van Jones, Julia Butterfly Hill, Seane Corn
and benefit for the Engage Network

www.engagenet.org/lovewins

WHEN:
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
5:30 pm    VIP Reception with Honorary Hosts
6:00 pm    Pre-Event Reception
7:15 pm    Delicious Dinner, Program & Live Music

WHERE:
The Bently Reserve
301 Battery Street
San Francisco CA

HONORARY HOSTS:
Van Jones
Julia Butterfly Hill
Seane Corn

HOST COMMITTEE:
Katchie Ananda, Michael Anders, Josh Becker, Amber Marie & Christopher Bently, Andrew Blau, Lisa Conte, Tim Dale, Amy Darland, Ari Derfel, Oronto Douglas, Eric Fenster, Lindsay Firth, Alissa Hauser, Hala Hijazi, Marion Hunt, Jonna Hunter, Taj James, Dorka Keehn, Kerri Kelly, Danny Kennedy, Hala Khouri, Lauren Klein, Michael Klein, Roxanne Klein, Laura Loescher, Monica Maduro, Marianne Manilov, Anna Hawken McKay & Rob McKay, Ina Pockrass, Erin Potts, Rose Pritzker, Katie Redford, Paul Saccone, Suzanne Sterling, Joslin Van Arsdale, Elissa Van Deursen, Tom Van Dyck, Francesca Vietor, Nadine Weil

FEATURING:

• Honorary Hosts
• Cocktail Receptions with Organic Vintners Cava sparkling wine
• Organic Dinner by Back To Earth
• Videos
• Performances by singer Michelle Shocked
• Silent Auction including trip to visit Luna with Julia Butterfly Hill
• VIP Eco-Gifts
  
• Live Music & Dancing
• Entertainers, Hula Hoopers
• An Eco-Friendly Party

DRESS CODE:
Cocktail Attire or Luxury Eco

TICKETS:
All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Engage Network
Individual Tickets:
$250 Community
$250 2-for-1 Love Wins special for limited time
$500 VIP with special VIP reception, VIP Gifts

Tables:
$2,500 - 8 regular, 2 VIP, recognition
$5,000 - 10 seats, all VIP with premier seating, recognition
$10,000 - 10 seats, all VIP, most premier, recognition, seating with Van, Julia or Seane at your table

RSVP:
Reserve your spot online at www.engagenet.org/lovewins
or Call 510.610.0506

Special Thanks:
Frey Vineyards, Organic Vintners, Coracao Confections, Green Carpet Limo, EO, Peace Love & Cupcakes, To-Go Ware, Heart of Green, Forty Oaks Farm,
International Orange, New Leaf Paper, Reed's Ginger Brew, New Belgium Brewing Co,  GreenerPrinter

About Seane Corn:
Seane Corn is an internationally-celebrated yoga instructor known for her passionate, dynamic and inspirational style of teaching that incorporates both the physical and spiritual aspects of the yoga practice. Seane has been on the covers of Yoga Journal, Nike Goddess, Inner Vision and Healing, Retreat and Spa Magazine and has been featured in other magazines including Glamour, Fitness, Self and Allure.  Seane serves as the National Yoga Ambassador for YouthAIDS and is the resident yoga expert for Dr. Caroline Myss's web site.  www.seanecorn.com and www.offthematintotheworld.org

About Julia Butterfly Hill:
Julia Butterfly Hill brought international attention to the plight of the world’s last remaining ancient forests in 1997 when she climbed up 180 feet into a 1000-year-old redwood tree. Her historic 738-day crusade against environmental destruction caused by clear-cutting ancient redwoods culminated with a negotiated agreement that provided permanent protection for the tree – Luna - and a nearly 3-acre buffer-zone. She is author of the national best seller The Legacy of Luna and One Makes The Difference. For the past 7 years, Julia has toured the world giving presentations at universities, conferences, concerts and community events about each person’s power to change the world.  www.whatsyourtree.org

About Van Jones:
Van Jones is founding president of Green For All and a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress. He is the New York Times best selling author of The Green Collar Economy, which is endorsed by Nancy Pelosi, Tom Daschle and Al Gore. Green For All is an organization that promotes green-collar jobs and opportunities for the disadvantaged. Its mission is to build an inclusive, green economy that is strong enough to resolve the ecological crisis and lift millions of people out of poverty. A 1993 Yale Law graduate, Van is a husband and the father of two small boys. He is a tireless advocate, committed to creating "green pathways out of poverty” and expanding the coalition fighting global warming.  www.greenforall.org

About The Engage Network:
The nonprofit Engage Network is an innovation in social networking.  They help everyday people create social change by equipping them as leaders in their communities.  They develop curricula and trainings to build local leadership one person, one small group, and one community at a time.  In their first year, Engage trained more than 200 leaders and launched 35 social change circles in 7 regions.  To date, the Engage Network has partnered with three remarkable visionaries, Seane Corn, Julia Butterfly Hill, and Van Jones. Come hear about their innovative strategies for moving people from inspiration to long-term engagement and celebrate the power of bringing people together for positive change - and have a great time at the party doing it!  www.engagenet.org

Press from the Event:

San Francisco Chronicle

944 Magazine

Drew Altizer Photos

Green Retailing

I just returned from speaking on the Eco-Friendly Retail Panel at the San Francisco International Gift Fair with Betsy Rosenberg and Jared Blumenfeld, and the response from the audience was phenomenal. As we joked, if you like the person you are giving a gift to, then why not give a handsome healthy green gift - rather than a toxic one. Now if you don't like the person, that is another story.

But in all seriousness, it was wonderful to see the Gift Fair's new category called Green By Design. Booths displaying this hopeful sign were showcasing eco-friendly products for consideration by retailers. Some of the exciting Green By Design products included the very attractive and functional Clean Conscience bags made in the USA from recycled PET fabric (look out for their organic cotton bags and PET aprons and table linens coming soon) and the Elisabethan eco-fashion line handmade in Colorado exclusively from reclaimed fabrics and appliques. As Elizabeth said, they will take the discarded shirts off your back (pretty please) and turn them into new fashion pieces, Cradle To Cradle style. I had the pleasure of meeting the president of the ReUse People plus the founder of the hip, edgy, artistic Political Gridlock t-shirts, which will be transitioning to organic cotton or bamboo fabric in the near future. How was attendance at the SF International Gift Fair?  Let's just say that there was a line to get in at 8:45 am. Now that is impressive in today's economy!

Green Retailing or Gtailing

What is green retailing?  It is both 1) what you sell and 2) how you sell it.

1) The What:  A green product is one that benefits both people and the planet and is ideally regenerative for life on Earth.

• Ingredients - beneficial, certified organic, biodynamic, sustainable, recycled, non-toxic
• How - produced ethically, efficiently, and sustainably without depleting or polluting
• Where - made in the USA, locally, or fair trade (living wage)
• In What - sold in minimal or eco-friendly packaging
• For What -  will be actually used, not just landfilled
• Now What - durable and can ideally be recycled, upcycled or taken back and broken down into its biological and technical nutrients for reuse in new products

Standards that people can trust are becoming increasingly important for both retailers and consumers as claims of "green" proliferate. We cannot take green claims at face value. We have to ask questions and scrutinize ingredient lists. Great standards to look for are:

• USDA Organic Seal - contains 95%+ certified organic ingredients or Made With Organic Ingredients equates to 70%+
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood produced in a sustainable way. Avoid the spurious SFI standard by the logging industry. Ask for FSC or reclaimed wood or bamboo (a rapidly-growing grass weed)
• Energy Star label for energy efficient appliances
• Green America Seal, which used to be called Co-op America
• TransfairUSA for fair trade
• Cradle To Cradle
• (No nanoparticles and GMO. Avoid these)

2) The How: You can operate and sell in a green way.

• Green Customer Touch Points including bags made from recycled content, a bag credit if consumers bring their own bag, eco-friendly packaging, CFL or LED lights, green cleaning products, business cards and marketing materials on recycled paper, resusable glassware for water, and emailing receipts if desired. It is important that customer interfacing items be as sustainable as possible to convey a consistent message. My personal pet peeve is the petroleum paraffin candle with artificial fragrance burning into a store's air like a diesel engine. There is no faster way to scare off sensitive customers. You can burn a soy or beeswax candle with botanicals.
• Generate Energy & Water Cost Savings from both water conservation and energy efficiency measures (CFLs, power strips, utility audits, less AC blasting) to help provide funds for any going green transition costs.
• Operate in a Green Way such as by using zero-VOC paints, reclaimed or FSC wood, non-toxic varnishes, recycled papers, and hybrid delivery trucks. If building stores, consider filing for LEED certification.
• Explain The Positive Benefits of the eco-friendly products in a positive and upbeat way without gloom and doom or guilt. Educate in a loving way. Provide affirming testimonials and press clippings. Create a hip eco-lifestyle vibe.
• Partner with Green Events and environmental nonprofits to get the word out such as Global Green and Healthy Child Healthy World. Provide samples and incentives to encourage newbies to try green products. They will convert!
• Provide a Solid Value Proposition. A green product must still have the winning combination of performance, style, and sustainability for its price. A retailer must still have a good location, enticing product selection, and an inviting helpful staff if offline and an excellent web site that is search-engine-optimized if online.
• Be Authentic. Don't overstate or overpromote and then underdeliver.
• Tell Your Story. Why are you inspired to care about the environment. What moves you the most? Is it the national themes of energy independence and green American jobs?  Was it Al Gore's film? Was it the birth of your child?  Explain why you care and customers will empathize and share their story too.
• Don't be afraid to put your Toe in the Water and go green in a small way at first. Going green is a journey. Feel good and proud about the things you can do and are doing.

For an abundance of independently-reviewed, hip, stylish eco products, please see www.ecofabulous.com, and the next time you have to give a gift, consider giving a green one! 

Global Green Oscar Party

You are invited to the Global Green pre-Oscar Party in Hollywood with eco-conscious celebrities, a Prius limo line, organic cocktails, musical performances by Sheryl Crow and Gavin Rossdale, and more to raise awareness and funds for Global Green USA and their highly worthwhile Green Schools Initiative in California.

6th Annual Global Green Pre-Oscar Party

 

Thursday, February 19 2009
8:00 pm
Avalon, Hollywood
RSVP here at Global Green

See you there in Hollywood and don't forget to wear your best luxury eco duds on the green carpet.

Style, Naturally

Congratulations to my friend Summer Rayne Oakes on her new fabulous book entitled Style, Naturally.  Summer got her degree in environmental studies from Cornell and then transitioned to the perilous world of high fashion modeling. But she never forget the environment. In fact, showcasing green with style has been the hallmark of her career and her activism. Who else could look so glamorous while talking with such authentic passion about bugs and reforestation?  

Style, Naturallyis truly an original style guide filled with over 500 engaging color images plus personal vignettes, product reviews, girl-on-the-street style profiles, and tips of the trade. Her favorite clothes, shoes, beauty products, jewelry, handbags, travel spots, and green causes are all on display, and an online directory is coming soon. Now we can help to save the world through choices that make us eco-beautiful and eco-stylish. As Summer says, "This book is for women who love style, and it is also covertly about something much deeper:  solution-based approaches to chemicals in personal care products, organics, fair trade, and more," written in an upbeat and fun tone of course! 

And let's not forget, the book is printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks. Not many environmental books can say that!  This was very important to Summer, and she is also donating 1% for the Planet to Energy Action, which hosts the amazing youth-led Power Shift conference in DC to rally for climate change action.

I can't wait for my copy to arrive, since by looking at early photos, I can tell that this is the kind of book that will be tough to put down.  Style, Naturally

Green Teen Summit

During this historic time of national service, we honor everyone who dedicates time to help others and the world including one special group - teenagers!  When I was a teenager, I didn't know green from orange, so it is inspiring to see young leaders taking control of their health and their future. Who else would dress up in prom dresses to demonstrate for safe cosmetics in San Francisco's Union Square?  Don't miss the popular Teens Turning Green Summit in Marin this February 6-7, 2009 and hear excellent speakers, participate in eco-lifestyle workshops, meet fellow eco-chic crusaders, and sample the new beauty product collection. Enjoy a Green Spa, gift bags, raffle prizes and sumptuous organic meals - all for free if you register!  Hosted in part by organic beauty leaders Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, Pangea Organics, Weleda, John Masters and Whole Foods. Toxic chemicals are out, and organic is in. Eco-beauty is the new human right. www.teensturninggreen.org