green business

Many consumers are increasingly alarmed about issues such as the genetic altering of food or the rising use of pesticides—commercial broccoli is treated with 35 pesticides, for example, and carrots with 22—it’s difficult to find fresh, organically grown produce. That’s because organic farming is a tough, labor-intensive business that struggles to make a profit. Few growers are willing to convert from toxic chemical fertilizers to piles of aged chicken manure or to use boxes of ladybugs instead of insecticides to control pests. And how many will hire workers to sit on their haunches in rows of escarole, painstakingly pulling every weed, instead of quickly dousing everything in herbicide?

Currently, more than 38 million conscious consumers are willing to alter their behavior to make a positive impact on their health and the well-being of our planet. However, they often encounter a disparate amount of unreliable or misleading information which creates more questions than answers. The market is being flooded constantly with “green” products.

This is a great first-person article show that not all business models need to be based on infinite growth. They can be SUSTAINABLE!

A recent study revealed that 2/3rds of people who booked an ethical or eco holiday were woman...and that women is more likely to be older wearing a size 12 dress.  

There are a number of simple things you can do to make your business more green and the beauty is that they won't cost you a single penny! So going environmentally-friendly needn't cost you the earth ;)

Recognizing that consumers need the facts in order to act, ecomii partnered with many of the most authoritative organizations and respected experts to offer practical, how-to guidance for pursuing a socially-conscious lifestyle. These partners include: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Society Publishers, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, among others.

The Milkweed Mercantile is a great startup Bed and Breakfast offering an ecologically sustainable business model, right down to the floorboards and the electricity supply.

The best 18 green business stories from mid September covering topics in chemistry, product development, marketing, innovation, and regulation among others. Includes stories on eco-patents, california green chemistry, consumer reports investigation into energy star standards, and 15 others.

Vote for your favorite green business in the Co-op America People's Choice Awards for the greenest businesses of 2008! Check out the nominees and make your voice heard.

Environmental measures could combat the economic downturn, according to research by government-funded sustainable business programme Envirowise.

It revealed that 85% of companies questioned believed waste prevention using fewer raw materials and energy recovery would be "crucial" to save UK companies money.

Humorous short animation by MTV Switch, draws some important points about 'green' and sustainability claims which are unsubstantive or irrelevant. Includes additional commentary and analysis

Growing a successful brand is much like growing a garden. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.

You cannot stop a negative habit without knowing how much and how often you are doing it. Enter the financial "carrot": the online environmental calculator with a finance edge. Organizations like Xerox, RecycleBank and Creative Citizen are offering more than just a climate change reason to decrease consumption: money.

Do you want to stop pollution, global warming, deforestation, and sweat-shop manufacturing? Read this story to learn how to put your money where your heart is.

Researchers at a giant panda reserve in southern China are looking for paper mills to process their surplus of fiber-rich panda excrement into high quality paper. Liao Jun, a researcher at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base in Sichuan province, said the idea came to them after a visit to Thailand. They thought panda poop would produce a fine quality paper, he said. The center's 40 bamboo-fed pandas produce about 2 tons of droppings a day.

Nineteen stories (link and summary analysis) from August around green business and sustainability including consumer product manufacturers, retailers, regulatory agencies, junkmail, PVC, plasticizers, paper and book production, packaging, and e-waste & plastic recycling.

Unless you personally have deep pockets, such as inherited wealth, figuring out where you’re going to get the money to start your own green business and getting the financing in place beforehand is one of the most important components of planning your business. Or is it? If you have no money, no business experience, and absolutely no idea about how to start, what can you do? Keep on reading...

It seems like the price of everything is going up lately, and so is the cost of doing business. One of the best pieces of business advice I’ve heard so far is to keep your overhead costs as low as possible. But with a little green thinking it’s possible to lower your costs while making eco-conscious decisions. Here’s where our old friends reduce, reuse, and recycle come in.

 more than 900 UK online retailers offer customers the opportunity to earn reward points on a green loyalty card which can then be redeemed against environmentally friendly products and services.

Less than a year ago Dell announced they were heading towards a carbon neutral future. Today this is a goal they claim to have achieved. Dell is buying wind and solar power where possible and they have bought carbon credit to make the difference. But most importantly they are cutting the amount of energy needed to power your computer at home.

We have submitted a recycling project for funding to Amex and need the public's help! Please click on the link to read the project and vote for it. You do NOT have to be an Amex cardholder to vote.  Just someone who cares about the environment and wants to make a difference! THANK YOU!

In the face of recession, like hundreds of mainstream brands before them, green companies and companies with green product lines now need to focus on building a brand identity that fills the emotional needs of consumers – to feel good about themselves, to feel hip to feel like they are eating healthy.

Although there are many sources of advice for writing a business plan or 10-page PowerPoint presentation for seeking investment funding, there is still the issue of how to get a meeting with an investor. This post is the 2nd of two on how to do that. Although Ecopreneurist is a green business blog, this advice is relevant for all startups.

Environmental stories for the last couple weeks, relating to business, society, and law.

Plastic bag taxes, angry truckers, EPA blog, toy safety law likely to be passed, and some other stories you might like.

Green investments are traditional investment vehicles (such as stocks, exchange-traded funds and mutual funds) in which the underlying businesses are involved in operations aimed at improving the environment. This can range from companies that are developing alternative energy technology to companies that have the best environmental practices.

On a site that focuses on tips for green business, this post on getting a meeting with investors to pitch your business idea, is appropriate for any entrepreneur.

Telecommuting is an excellent opportunity to promote greener business practices without sacrificing results or daily production. It is a rare win-win compromise that satisfies employees as well as your bottom line.

One of the most important pieces of your marketing plan should be your company web site. Your web site will be the first impression many of your clients and customers have of your business, so it’s important to invest the time and money necessary to create a well-designed, informative, easy to use, and sustainable web site.

A new report shows that inadequate communication is the primary reason why green marketing efforts are losing momentum.

What do green consumers demand from an authentically eco-friendly business? Here are three qualities to focus on if you want to be successful with this audience.