by Scott James

This month I spent time with serial entrepreneur Dal LaMagna to ask him about his new book, “Raising Eyebrows, A Failed Entrepreneur Finally Gets It Right.” He’s been called an irrepressible capitalist (among other things) which made for an interesting conversation.

Scott: In your book you suggest that you were more successful with your company than you would have been had you not followed principles of Corporate Social Responsibility.  Talk to me more about that.

Dal:  Building Tweezerman as a company that practices what I call “responsible capitalism” resulted in a team of competent, happy employees, loyal customers, satisfied vendors, and a community that supported the company as much as the company supported the community.

Scott: I see the positive upward cycle of that. How did that contribute to your success?

Dal: My definition of success is the quality of life the company provides for me and for my employees.  As the company grew my empowered employees – a critical element of CSR – took over, and my work became more strategic and less mundane. I didn’t have to sell, collect money, go to trade shows or worry about much except the strategic trajectory of the company. Had it been up to me alone I would never have grown Tweezerman to a 65,000-square-foot facility with 250 employees. When you run a business that takes care of its employees, its vendors, its customers, and its community…well, all these stakeholders then take care of you.

Scott: What were the salient CSR practices that you felt made the difference?

Dal:  Employees sharing in the profits made a significant difference; after a trial period every one of them became shareholders in the company. We promoted from within and hired from the community. When things went wrong we concentrated on solving the problem rather than pinning the blame. We provided health and job security. It took the agreement of at least two of the top three managers to fire someone which we did rarely.

Scott: And how about outside of the company?

Dal: We respected our vendor’s right to make a living and did not exploit them. For example when we were late paying bills we added interest to the payment (equal to what we would have paid our bank).  We gave back 5% of our profits to the communities we served. We had a lifetime guarantee for all our products and didn’t even charge shipping when we repaired or replaced them. Over the years we found that people cared more and more about the kind of company they were doing business with. Loyal customers, vendors, and workers made a big difference during those times over the 25 years especially when things got tough.

Scott: I’ve heard you say several times that you sold your company for much more money because it practiced responsible capitalism. Why?

Dal: The company that acquired Tweezerman paid more because our brand had a great reputation not only for quality but also for practicing CSR. We developed employees who were empowered people from the President down to the worker who cleaned the bathrooms.  We delivered a turnkey operation. The company that acquired us, J.A. Henckels, a division of Zwilling, only needed to send in two people, a CEO to replace me and a CFO to work with our existing CFO to match up reporting to the home office. Initially eight bidders were involved and through mutual eliminations we ended with the one whose policies of CSR most closely matched our own. We sold the company for about 14 times earnings and 1.5 times sales.

Scott: Would what you’ve done – establishing Tweezerman as a CSR company – work for any company?

Dal: Every company is different, but I believe that most companies can benefit from some CSR practices. Part of being a CSR company involves paying a living wage. I would think that a company that sells a commodity would have difficulty in paying this. I had the capability to pay my employees well, provide benefits, share profits, make charitable contributions, and more because I created a brand, which commanded a solid profit margin.

Scott: What about the international aspects of your company?

Dal: How your company treats the supply chain is a crucial aspect of CSR. We paid a living wage in India (of course much lower than what a living wage is in the U.S.) and operated our factory responsibly. We paid our China supplier more money so they could improve working conditions for their employees. If your business model is to exploit foreign labor you are not a CSR company. The marketplace is constantly punishing companies that have a product that can be easily replicated. If you are the kind of person who wants to get more out of your company than money, and strives to build a company that practices responsible capitalism, then avoid situations such as unreasonably tight profit margins that force you to exploit everyone and everything to make your company work.

Written by Jean Houston

As I travel around the globe speaking and training, I have consistently found that most people ask me the same question, ‘how do I discover my purpose in life?’  In the past, who you became was determined by your family and circumstances. You didn't have much choice. But now there is an open moment in history where you have the chance to tap into the soul of your purpose. 
 Millions of people right now are experiencing a yearning and desire to awaken to their unique gifts and offer them in service to the world—while living a life of joy and fulfillment. It's a surging of the human spirit, a virtual global awakening, at a scale that no one has ever seen before. Simply put, people are longing to finally feel fully alive and to fulfill their unique purpose in life.
So then why is living a life of meaning and purpose so difficult? It is because our current social systems have not been set up to prepare us to live a life of true purpose. That's because today's culture exists not to nurture our highest aspirations, but to ensure our basic survival.

Our educational system is designed to create good workers who will slot into jobs and careers later in life—not to empower fiery, creative people who are forging the path ahead together.

Our social contracts exist to perpetuate the status quo—not to encourage our highest potentials to blossom. Is it any wonder why so many people's best attempts to evolve themselves and our culture fall short of the goal? We simply haven't been trained in how to bring the possible future into the present.

It's not that they don't have the talent or interest to live purposeful, meaningful life. The issue is far simpler. People struggle to activate their "purpose code" because they haven't woken up to--or are only partially awake to--our situation as a human race. Most people hold on to old, limiting beliefs of themselves and our human story. Overwhelmed by all the changes in the world around them, most people live their lives within a "small story," and therefore confine themselves to a "small self." That's why so many people feel that they don't have a purpose, or that they aren't able to actually *live* the life they were born to live.

     There is a saying that “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” I believe that it is butterfly time.  Just as the guidance cells in the mush that is the caterpillar in its cocoon suddenly begin to activate the transformation of mush into butterfly, so too this is the time when we realize that the guidance or imaginal cells of our bodies, our communities, and, yes, even of the cells of our planet are calling us to come together in all our parts to form something gorgeous, interdependent, living lightly on the Earth, cross pollinating cultures, ideas, spiritual forms, glowing with the light that suffuses us, becoming transparent  to transcendence.  And to rise out of the mush we have been caught in these many hundreds of years and to take flight in the air of the new story which is emerging in our time. 

 For the fields we traverse, the many flowers of mind states and soul knowings we now enter are those that belong to the whole, earth, to many cultures, to what I am calling PanGaia. And as the butterfly pollinates and cross pollinates from place to place, flower to flower, so do we also if we have the will and the willingness to discover our purpose and  be part of this extraordinary moment in time.

Three Keys to Empowering New Beliefs

 The first key to activating your life's purpose is to hold new beliefs about yourself and about your role in the Great Story of where humanity is headed.

       Living a great life, requires that you understand the challenges and opportunities of our moment in history. To understand this for myself, I've gathered information from my work in over 100 countries and 40 different cultures and what I've discovered has served as a sure guide on my path. Specifically, I have found five great shifts in our understanding of the story of our time that are affecting everything we do today.  I believe that awakening to the power of these shifts will help you cultivate your sense of compassion and of the infinite possibilities of this moment.

The five shifts are:
• Our understanding of who and what we are and what we need to become in order to be able to deal with the complexity of our time is evolving.

• Human societies are in the process of re-patterning. Social constructs are dissolving and whole new stories are trying to emerge, such as the rise of women to a full partnership with men across the globe, and many others.

• How we conduct business and governance is shifting in the midst of vast ecological and financial changes.  This is perhaps the most important social event of the last five thousand years, because these issues  impact almost everything in our lives.

• The rise and fusion of different cultures--we are swiftly moving towards a planetary civilization that accentuates the uniqueness of each culture while blending them together. Think of the great fusions of food and of music and of beliefs.

• Whole new orders of spirituality are emerging that are not about religion. The new cosmologies are giving us a view of ourselves that we never had before. For the first time ever, we find that we don't just live in the universe, but that the universe lives in us.
      

This journey begins by letting go of old beliefs and patterns to make room for the new beliefs and capacities that will empower you to awaken to and live your higher purpose.

 The Second key allows you to discover and realize the vast field of inner intelligences—using multiple means of knowing and being in order to gain insight into life at a level to which that most people rarely have access.  These skills are to be found on four levels of your human capacity, sensory-physical, psychological-emotional, mythic-symbolic, and unitive-spiritual. As you learn how to utilize the extraordinary capacities to be found at each of these levels you literally move into new ways of being.  For example, you will learn how to play with time in such a way as to take five minutes and experience it internally as hours—these are "hours" you can use to develop a skill or move a project forward.

You will learn to access "inner experts", willing helpers or personas that will help you navigate the complexity of life with elegance and confidence.
 
The third key gives you the means to break free from unconscious, habitual ways of reacting to life that were born thousands of years ago, and embrace higher ways of being for a new era.You will discover ways to move through life with ebullience in your bones and an appetite for celebration—seeing everything as an expression of the Creator. You will move through life, motivated not by guilt or obligation, but by gratitude and an abiding zest for doing the things that are called forth by living out of your higher purpose.

Dr. Jean Houston is presenting a FREE 75 minute downloadable audio seminar entitled 3 Keys to Discovering and Living Your True Purpose Available Now at www.DestinyandYou.com .

Dr. Jean Houston is a Scholar, Philosopher and one of the foremost visionary thinkers and doers of our time. She is considered one of the principal founders of the Human Potential Movement. A powerful and dynamic speaker she has served as consultant to several agencies of United Nations including UNICEF and the UNDP. She has worked in over 100 countries training leadership at every level to enhance skills and purpose so as to bring a new mind to bear upon challenging issues. A prolific writer and author of 26 books including A Passion for the Possible and The Mythic Life, Dr. Houston has recently joined the faculty of Evolving Wisdom, today's fastest growing global e-learning company specializing in transformative education, to provide her wisdom online in a cutting edge format.
www.DestinyandYou.com

Written by Scott James and repubilshed from Forbes

This month we have a tale of civil disobedience and the corporate response that touches nearly every household in North America.  It stretches from old growth forests of Canada to corporate boardrooms in Dallas. Oh, and a visit from Dr. Seuss’ Lorax. But first, my guest for this month’s interview, Dr. Michael Conroy.

In addition to being one of the go-to experts on product certification systems (his book on the topic stays in the short book stack on my desk for frequent reference), Dr. Conroy is a retired professor of economics, a board member of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and an established “big picture” thinker. One of my companies produces an FSC-certified product, which gave Michael and me an excuse to reconnect recently. I asked him about the CSR movement here in the States, as well as what he sees abroad.

Scott: You travel internationally way more than I do, Michael. Tell me about where we (the US-based CSR community) are succeeding in relation to the rest of the world.

Michael: I’ve got an interesting story for you that starts in 2004. Back then a group of advocacy NGOs – led by Greenpeace – began campaigning to get Kimberly-Clark to reduce its impacts on intact forests and old growth forests around the world by purchasing its fiber from eco-certified forests and/or recycled paper sources. Kimberly-Clark (KC) is arguably the largest purchaser of wood fiber for tissue products in the world; and it has some of the best established brands in the world, including Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, and more.

Scott: I know from time spent in Texas that they’re in Dallas and have sales of $15B+ [It was actually almost $20B for 2010 when I looked this up later, but what's a billion or two between friends].

Michael: Greenpeace and company created a campaign called Kleercut to mimic the Kleenex brand.  Over the course of the campaign more than 50 activists were arrested for peaceful civil disobedience linked to KC.  The campaign focused on equating “Kleenex” with “Kleercut” and the forest damage created by the companies selling to KC.  They proceeded to drum up support across grocery stores and college campuses, and succeeded in media hits as big as CNN Money and Fortune Magazine.

Scott: Is this the Dr. Seuss thing?

Michael: Yes. You’ll remember that in The Lorax Dr. Seuss has trees speaking for the plight of the environment.  They rewrote the story to “personalize it” around KC and its suppliers, and then they acted it out, in costume, in front of the offices of KC board members!  It always drew a great local media response.

Scott: So did it work?

Michael: Yes, the campaign succeeded in bringing KC to the table and in August of 2009, KC and Greenpeace jointly announced new sourcing policies for KC fiber that included a goal of ensuring 100% of the fiber used in all its products was from environmentally responsible sources, with a clearly expressed preference for FSC fiber. It pledged by 2011 to increase its use of recycled and FSC-certified fiber in North American products to 40%, and by 2012 it would no longer use any pulp from Canada’s vast boreal forest (a principal source at that time) unless it was FSC certified.  By the end of 2010, well ahead of the target date, it had already reached 57% of its North American sourcing from FSC-certified or recycled fiber.

Scott: What implications and impact did that have on the rest of the industry, beyond the Canadian borders?

Michael: As a direct result of KC’s rewritten fiber sourcing policy, some of the largest forest products companies in the world are now actively seeking FSC certification of their supplies of wood chips and fiber.  This includes companies that had actively opposed FSC standards as too demanding and too costly to implement.

Both of the largest forest products companies in Chile (Arauco and CMPC/Mininco) which account for 80% of Chile’s forest products industry, are in the midst of the FSC assessment process, changing their practices to meet FSC standards, at a cost of millions of dollars in re-tooling and re-structuring their operations.  Both of those companies were co-founders of Chile’s competing forest products certification system, CertFor, and had resisted FSC certification for years.  But they had begun to find that markets placed little or no value on CertFor certification, whose standards were weaker and less demanding.

It has taken both Arauco and CMPC/Mininco more than a year to design and implement the changes needed to meet the standards.  And both companies, in private conversations, have told me that changes in purchasing policies of major companies like KC have made them realize that they needed to be FSC certified if they want to be able to sell to the leading branded manufacturers of wood and fiber products worldwide.

In Brazil, the pulp and paper industry, major suppliers of KC and other tissue manufacturing companies, have become so focused on FSC certification that their industry association, Bracelpa, has become a major contributor to the costs of FSC-Brazil’s office and a supporter of training workshops that inform the Brazilian paper products industry on the “whys and wherefores” of FSC certification.

Scott: Tell me more about the “whys and wherefores” and the benefits to both the forests and the companies doing business in forestry products.

Michael: Well, on the ground this means a number of important things. FSC requires respect for, and protection of, the rights of indigenous peoples, at levels often beyond the requirements of national legislation. Indigenous groups have now found that FSC is a new and powerful tool in their negotiations with forest products companies about access to, and use of, traditional lands.

FSC also has more stringent rules on environmental management, protection of biodiversity, and reduced areas of clear-cutting, greater setbacks from streams, rivers, and lakes than any other certification system, and stronger than almost any national legislation around the world.  It requires engagement with local communities, protecting them from the negative impacts of logging (i.e. roads and bridges damaged, water polluted, etc.) and encouraging active hiring of local service providers, local technicians, and local labor.

The chain-of-custody certification in the FSC system provides strong assurance that products produced in compliance with the standards can be traced from the forest, through any and all processing, and right down to the final product sold to consumers.

The number of acres certified to FSC standards in North America is now more than 135 million, about one-third of the acres certified worldwide. In terms of the effect on other industry players besides KC, demand for FSC-certified wood and fiber products is booming worldwide.  Our closest aggregate measure of demand for the FSC products is the demand for Chain of Custody certificates, required of companies processing certified wood and fiber for products taken to retail markets with the logo. These have grown from 16,000 worldwide to more than 22,500 (50% growth) over just the last 18 months.

Scott: And how did KC come out of all this?

Michael: KC rolled out its first KC Professional FSC toilet paper and other products in late 2010 (KC Professional serves hotels and other business/institutional buyers).  It began selling Kleenex with an FSC logo on the bottom of the box at Costco stores late last year, and it is now going national throughout the US, supplying “FSC Kleenex” to virtually all consumer outlets.  An amazing transformation in just two years!

Scott: Excellent. It will be interesting to watch the response of consumers to the logo. Thanks for your time, Michael!

Here it is mid August and already I have to start working on my conference attending schedule for the fall of 2011. It seems like I have to do this earlier and earlier each year primarily because there are so many LOHAS oriented conferences being added or are catching my attention that I did not know of before. I have done a post on what events I think are important the past 2 years and here is my 3rd installment of top green/health and wellness/social enterprise/sustainability/leadership conferences worth considering as you plan your conference schedule for the fall.

For those new to the conference scene, there are two seasons – fall and spring. There are associations and organization that provide 1 or 2 events a year usually during those months. This is primarily because summer is a time when many set up personal vacation time and winter has more holiday time and weather issues.

Conference strategy
In determining which event is best for you take a look at the speakers and topics that will be presented. It is also important to look at the sponsors and how the event is presented via the event website. This will give you a feel on the type of companies that will be attending the event and what type of audience the event is trying to attract. By viewing the agenda content you can get an idea on how in depth they plan on going on topics. Also look at the networking opportunities that are in the program. Some events consciously embed them in the program via receptions, meals and outings and others do not. It is really up to you to make the best of the time for your own networking purposes.

On site
I find attending events to be incredibly stimulating. However I also find them to be extremely exhausting. Make sure you eat right, drink plenty of fluids, keep to a good sleep schedule and maintain a steady energy balance. For the large trade shows make sure you wear comfortable and supportive shoes for those hours on the exhibit floor. There are plenty of after party events to attend at which you can have some great business talks. It is up to you to make sure you know what formula works best for you. Set up meetings in advance if you can. That way you have some anchors to build the rest of the day's plan around and not get too lost in the shuffle of things - especially if they are large trade shows.


Leadership
Women in Green - August 30-31st Santa Monica CA
Focuses on women in leadership positions that promote green business. Although all the speakers are women you don’t need to be of the double X chromosome to attend. This is the second year of the event and according to people who attended last year it was about 200 people. This year there should be more.

Conscious Capitalism - OCT 12-14 Austin TX
You need an invite to attend this prestigious event that brings many CEO’s together to discuss conscious leadership within organizations. It is a relatively small event with around 200 attending. John Mackey of Whole Foods co-founded this and has people ranging from the CEO of the Container Store to Jean Houston speaking on how business can drive conscious change.

Green
Green Initiatives Conference Sept 29-30th Ft Lauderdale FL
A new event on my radar that has some interesting presenters and sponsors. The event team that is putting this on look like they have a tech background and may be one of the main focuses of the event. There are larger corporations participating such as DOW, HP and Coca Cola. It looks like they will focus on sustainability within larger companies and case studies from experiences.

SXSW Eco Oct 4-6 Austin, TX
SXSW music festival looks to sing a new green tune this year with the addition of a green event. Former LOHAS speakers who will be presenting include Simran Sethi and Philippe Cousteau. This is thier first year and the B2B event looks interesting. A great idea tagging it onto SXSW.

Opportunity Green Nov 9-10 Los Angeles, CA
OG is in its 3rd year and brings together green business and sustainable design in LA. They have about 800 attendees from all walks of life – corporate, entrepreneurs, media and of course Hollywood. They hold a great green design competition and it is a high energy event with interesting sessions and booths ranging from LED lighting for studios to BMW to water filters.

BSR - Nov 1-4 San Francisco, CA
The big one for the larger corporations that has been around a long time focusing on the corporate responsibility of multi-national corporations. Last year they had over 1000 in attendance. If you are looking to connect with the bigger companies on CSR initiatives this is the one to check out.

Funding and Finance
SOCAP Sept 7-9 Fort Mason, San Francisco CA
A vibrant event focusing on investing into social entrepreneurship. This event brings together large funds and banks with social entrepreneurs. Competitions on business plans are submitted ahead of time for a competition for funding and there is great education on raising capital for the startup and social enterprises.

SRI in the Rockies OCT 2-5 New Orleans, LA
A flagship event for social responsible investing(SRI) that brings SRI funds together with financial advisors. They also bring in a mix of speakers who focus on humanitarian, social and environmental impacts such as Jane Goodall, David Bornstein, Hunter Lovins and Bill McDonough. If you want insights on SRI and where it is headed this is THE event to attend.

Slow Money OCT 12-14 San Francisco, CA
Slow Money is a network of food activists, investors and entrepreneurs who nurture a range of conversations in order to actively develop funding and investment channels for local and sustainable food enterprises. Like Slow Food, they have local gatherings and a larger main event promoting a slow and steady investment into businesses who are seeking an alternative to the conventional Wall Street type investor.  Speakers include David Suzuki, David Orr and Vananda Shiva.

Investor's Circle OCT 26-27 Philadelphia, PA
A membership organization that  support a great entrepreneurs that are addressing social and environmental issues. They look at 10-15 high impact deals that are seeking investment.  They also provide a due diligence process that starts once the event is complete. It is about 200 people in attendance who are angel investors, fund managers, family office managers, foundation executives and trustees, wealth, financial and philanthropic advisers and their clients and other accredited investors.

Industry Specific
EcoTourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference Sept 19-21st Hilton Head SC
With over 30 inspiring sessions, 50 leading industry partners, and impactful and engaging keynote presentations, the ESTC 2011 (Hilton Head Island, SC, USA, September 19-21, 2011) sets the platform for ongoing dialogue promoting innovative ideas and practical solutions, driving change in global tourism.

Expo East Sept 22-24 Baltimore MD
Attended by as many as 25,000 industry professionals and featuring thousands of exhibits, Natural Products Expo East is the largest natural, organic, and healthy products trade show on the East Coast. With the newest and best-selling products and branded ingredients available this show features the best in organic at All Things Organic/Organic Products Expo-BioFach America, offers an extensive retailer training program and provides an advocacy platform through a strategic partnership with Natural Products Association East. Natural Products Expo East is ranked as one of the top 200 tradeshows in the US.

Greenbuild Oct 4-7 Toronto Canada
Greenbuild is the green building industry's can't miss event. It's where we go to learn about what's new in green building practices through the extensive educational sessions, see the latest technology and innovation in the exhibit hall, and perhaps more importantly, where we go to do business.  Greenbuild is a one-stop shop for credential maintenance. From pre- or post-show LEED workshops to sector-specific summits, from green building tours to concurrent educational sessions, you will find the education you need at Greenbuild. Most sessions at Greenbuild will be approved for continuing education credits for LEED and other professional credentials, allowing you to maintain your credential with ease.

Beauty/Wellness
Natural Beauty Summit Oct 6-7 NYC
This is a smaller and formal event for the natural and organic beauty industry that brings together the mission driven companies such as Dr. Bronners and Weleda with the larger corporations such as Este Lauder, L’Oreal and Avon. It is more of a lecture format and a lot of presentation intake. If you are a data hound you will get your fill. If you are a networker you will need to work for it but there are good connections to be made. The group is a bit insular if you are an outsider but if you are seeking to enter the luxury skincare market it may be worth considering.

Green Spa Network - Oct 9-12 Sundance, UT
This event is made up of a group of spa resorts and products that want to go the extra mile in promoting green efforts in the spa industry. The event has about 100 passionate people who want to move the spa world in the direction of holistic and sustainable integration. They are a very open and friendly group that welcomes newcomers (and new members). Plus the events are always at pristine green resorts.

ISPA - Nov 7-9 Las Vegas
If you are in the spa industry you have to go where everyone goes which is the International Spa Association Conference. Every other year they have their annual event in Las Vegas which brings investors, products and service providers, spa techs and directors together. This is THE most well groomed event I have ever experienced with exhibitors providing facials, teeth whitening and massages. There is good data provided on the spa world and great sessions specific to spa owners and employees. ISPA provides great data on the spa market as well. 

Social Venture Network Oct 27-30 Philadelphia, PA
SVN is a membership organization of successful social entrepreneurs ranging from Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, creators of Ben & Jerry’s, to Van Jones, former Green Czar to Obama, to Tom Szaky founder of Terracycle. It mixes sustainability with community building and innovation and a ton of passion. You can’t leave this event without 2-3 bonding hugs. It is a great place to seek mentorship, collect ideas and also potential funding from successful entrepreneurs and community leaders who are interested in helping others. This overlaps with the Investor’s Circle previously mentioned.

Net Impact Oct 27-29 Portland, OR
Net Impact is a large event that brings 2500 students and corporations together. They have chapters associated with Universities all over the country with a large membership and the event focuses on social enterprise, green business strategies, and nonprofit work.

Public Events
Yoga Journal Conference Sept 18-25 Estes Park, CO
For yoga die hards and trainers interested in the business of yoga or just to improve their own yoga practice. Famous yoga instructors such as Rodney Yee, Sean Corn and Shiva Rae have taught classes here. There is a vendor area as well.

Greenfestivals
Greenfests are the creations of Green America and a designed to celebrate green and diversity in various regions. Their flagship event in San Fran pulls in 30,000 attendees and they have some amazing keynote speakers such as Dr. Weil, Deepak Chopra, Amy Goodman, Jim Hightower and many more. Companies large and small mingle together with the public selling their products and services. I think these are great not only to see what is being sold but to see who is buying and the similarities and differences each region has as it relates to green. There is always a colorful audience at Greenfestivals.
New York  10/1-2
Los Angeles  10/29-30
San Francisco 11/12-13

Bioneers San Rafael, CA 10/14-16
Bioneers is where ecology meets activism meets celebration. I could spend hours in the parking lot just reading all the bumper stickers on people’s cars (mostly hybrids). If you are into fighting injustices of the underserved, hearing the wisdom of traditional cultures and the stories of animals and unique journeys of people this is an event for you. There are workshops on business, youth, art, peace and more.  It draws about 3-5,000 who are all there because of the larger mission Bioneers embodies. Networking is great but you will need to be selective on who you connect with since there are so many types of people there.

Written by Scott James

This month I sat down with John Perkins, the author of the New York Times bestseller,  Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, and many other titles, and former chief economist at a major international consulting firm.

Scott: Tell me about your work with business students around the US, particularly as it relates to Corporate Social Responsibility.

John: We talk about what’s really important for any business leader to understand today. We have moved into a new era where people understand we’ve created a failed system.  When less than 5 percent of the world’s population live in the United States and consume more than 25 percent of the world’s resources, while roughly half the world is either starving or on the verge of starvation — the only way you can define that system is as a failure.

It’s not a model that we can sell to Africa or Latin America or India.  It’s not something we want to pass onto our children.  And an awful lot of business people are beginning to understand this.  Young people are getting it, including young MBA students. Those who are going to be running our companies in the future years are waking up to these facts. I’m very familiar with this, because I’m going out and meeting with them, speaking to them in large assemblies and at much smaller gatherings, going to classes with them, and teaching classes for them.

Any responsible executive today of any corporation needs to understand that this is the future.  And let’s face it: people who stay with the status quo have never been the really successful ones in history.  The ones who understand future trends have always been the ones to prosper most.

When city-states became nations, very few people understood the implications, but the Medici did. They knew that their bank wasn’t any longer just about Florence. They needed to go to Venice. They needed to go all over Europe. They got it, and as a result were very successful.

We’re in a stage like that today where things are changing radically.  We’re moving from this time that was defined, when I was a young person in the ’50s and ’60s, as the time to just continually expand materialism, produce things that seemed to make life easier – vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, mass-produced food, etc.  Now we’re moving into a time when people are really getting the fact that we have to be sustainable, that that has to be the driving force.

And sustainability includes social justice. So we can’t be sustainable if people in the world are starving and being exploited. That’s not working. It seeds the roots of turmoil, even terrorism, and it creates tremendous problems for our children. We’re now finally beginning to understand these new facts of life, and our young people are waking up the fastest.

Corporate executives who understand these new trends and steer their companies in directions that recognize(s) that they are not just about making profits regardless of the social and environmental costs will thrive.

When I went to business school in the late ‘60s we were taught that a good CEO is like a good soldier – he protects the long-term interests of his employees and the communities where they live and work, as well as looking out for the interests of his stockholders. That all changed in the ‘70s and 80’s with the adoption of what we now think of as the theories of Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of Economics. They said that the sole responsibility of business is to maximize profits regardless of everything else. They said: to hell with the long term and the idea of being socially and environmentally responsible! But today we are understanding that profits are not the sole responsibility of business.

We recognize – as our grandparents did – that to be responsible and successful, businesses are going to have to pay decent rates of return to their investors while taking into account the creation of a world that we want to pass onto our children; a sustainable world, a just world, a world where everybody can thrive on some level.

All executives – even executives of corporations that today appear extremely successful and profitable – need to understand that their corporations are very vulnerable to these future trends. They need to get on the sustainability bandwagon; the ones who do so are going to be successful in this new era.

But many business leaders who are already CEOs and CFOs, who graduated with my generation – 30 or more years ago, often take the attitude that this is their system, and that as far as they’re concerned, everything’s working just fine. They are wrong and ultimately they – or their companies – will pay a very high price for these outdated attitudes.

Scott: What does a world look like without CSR…where corporations are all simply responsible enough that we don’t need to tack a CSR department onto them?

John: We have a precedent in this country for that.  For the first hundred years that the United States was a nation, no corporation could get a charter unless it proved that it was going to serve a public interest.  Charters lasted on average for ten years.  There were exceptions – such as building a highway or a bridge –  but on average ten years.  Then the corporation had to go back and prove that IT had met the public interest and would continue to do so, in order to renew its charter.

That all changed in the 1880s when the Supreme Court decided that corporations had the rights of individuals but not the responsibilities, and we’ve been moving further and further in that direction ever since.  “Citizens United” is the most recent example.

There’s a backlash today. The general population – despite the recent Supreme Court rulings that seem to favor corporations – are really beginning to get it.  that backlash is going to increase as people decide they only want to support corporations that really are committed to creating a better future, to serving a public interest.

Scott: As this backlash is happening people are not only reacting against the negative but also moving towards the positive. What are the positive aspects within CSR that you’re seeing abroad from which the North American CSR community could benefit?

John: In the last decade, we’ve witnessed a revolution in Latin America against the form of capitalism that I call “predatory capitalism,” the Milton Friedman form of capitalism.  We’ve seen ten countries which represent roughly 80 percent of the population of South America vote during democratic elections for presidents who campaigned with the promise of reigning in the corporations.

These countries are not getting rid of the corporations, not nationalizing them, not driving them out – because they recognize that they need them – but saying to these corporations, “If you’re going to drill for oil here in Ecuador, or if you’re going to drill for gas here in Bolivia, or grow bananas in El Salvador, that’s okay, but you must share a larger percentage of the profits with our people.  You’ve got to pay higher taxes, and you’ve got to pay higher wage rates.  You must make sure that the people working on these projects are adequately compensated and that they’re not working as slaves to you. And you have to offer the same protections for our environment as those required in alaska and other states.”

The old model used to be that when a foreign corporation went into another country, it would set up a contract whereby it got about 80 percent of the profits, and the country got 20 percent. The new leaders are changing this. For example, Rafael Correa who’s president of Ecuador and has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois understands the system, he’s a capitalist. He’s not trying to get rid of corporations, but he is asking the corporations to stop externalizing the costs associate with destroying the local environment and exploiting local populations. Correa, like other latin leaders, is demanding that corporations internalize those costs and that they return a much larger percentage of the profits to the people. These presidents are not asking for a reversal of the 80-20 formula but they are asking for something that is fairer for their people.

Every one of these countries, for most of my lifetime, was run by brutal dictators often put into power by our own CIA. Now, in peaceful, democratic elections all that has changed. I want to point out that these countries are not opposed to the United States.  They’re not anti-American.  They’re not anti-corporation.  They’re just trying to say, “Listen, you’ve got to be socially and environmentally responsible if you want to work on our lands.”  And the interesting thing is that many of the corporations – the ones that will truly thrive – are getting it.

I recently was a keynote speaker at a conference which was held in Panama which was primarily CEOs and CFOs of extractive industries in Latin America, mostly Canadian companies.

Before I accepted the invitation, I asked them, “Why me?  What do you think I’m going to offer you?”

They said that policies in Latin America have changed. These elections have proven that business is not “as usual.” They told me, “We still want the minerals, and we understand we have to be good neighbors. We hear what they’re saying, and we want to cooperate.” these are very forward-looking senior business leaders saying they get it, and that they want to move forward. They want to be at the top of the curve, to continue to innovate and be the pioneers in this new and changing business environment.

That’s the real message today from all over the world – what I find in China and Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. People understand that capitalism is a very effective system to channel human and natural resources and to apply creativity in areas that result in very productive activities. Now it simply needs to redefine its objectives. Capitalism must accept a goal not just of making profits but also of serving a public interest. When it does that, we arrive at a win-win, a true partnership. Those who understand this will become leaders in this new era. They will thrive, prosper, profit, and create beneficial environments for themselves, their customers, their suppliers, their employees, and the communities in which they work. And for their progeny.

Scott: Yes, definitely a more equitable and respectful relationship, one that can be sustained indefinitely. Any parting words of wisdom?

John: Simply this – that any truly responsible businessperson has to look to the long term. Bonuses may be measured by the quarterly profit statements but true success has to be long-term. As a society, as a species, it is imperative that we understand the importance of creating a world our grandchildren will want to inherit.

By Nathan Rice of Haberman

Where does a pioneering filmmaker with the idea to celebrate agriculture in the U.S. go for funding? What about a scientist with an innovative plan for improving the growing potential of urban gardens? What about someone kicking around a design for a new farmer’s market? Kickstarter.com, or its crowd-based funding brethren Kiva, is a great place to start. Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com) is a relatively new website designed specifically to support the funding of creative projects. These projects can range from promising innovative concepts to some that might be categorized as duds. That is the beauty of the system – those with a pioneering attitude and an entrepreneurial spirit can both get funding, while kicking the tires on an idea at the same time.

The inspiration behind Kickstarter is to get a large community of people backing a project in an all-or-nothing funding style (i.e., only fully-funded projects receive the money donated to them). Users of the platform offer various incentives to encourage backers to rally for their product. These incentives can vary significantly – a personal visit from the funder to report the results directly to you, a DVD of a documentary of a film, a personalized thank you card, or in one case of a $1 donation to help scientists study soil saturation in an urban garden – “a wink and a nod for being sustainable.”

A few examples of some kick-starters from food pioneers shows the great thinking and innovative concepts seeking crowd-sourced funds:

Small Farm Rising is a documentary short “inspired by first generation farmers who are redefining agriculture in America.” It is also a recipient of 103 microloans totaling more than $14,000 to help get the film finished. They blew past their goal of $9,000, giving these filmmakers both the funds and the inspiration to carry out their objectives. Thanks to the micro investors on KickStarter.com it looks like the  story will get told.

Even the big boys are getting involved. Earlier this year, Sundance Films partnered with Kickstarter and Facebook in an initiative to help their aspiring film makers get a leg up through crowd-based funding.

Seeing Green: The Value of Urban Agriculture is a research project designed to “measure storm water management potential of two urban farms; Brooklyn Grange (a rooftop farm) and Added Value (raised beds) in NYC. The project is currently $2,600 short of its $12,000 goal. This looks like a cool project but fundraising is still fundraising whether it is online or offline – investors need to be inspired.

Atwater Village Farm Market (Northeast Los Angeles) is billed as a connection point between neighborhood, community, city and the environment. The village is projected to allow for “a healthy lifestyle to be sustained or developed,” a truly LOHAS-inspired goal. The group behind the idea is seeking funding to purchase things like refrigeration, food storage and equipment. The project has already received donations totaling  $11,000 but is still short of its  $20,000 goal with 34 days to go.

As innovators seek funding to expand their ideas and grow the market-share and awareness of Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability, digital, crowd-based funding offers exciting possibilities.

Written by Renee Hartmann of Hotpot Consulting
US media coverage of China frequently focuses on environmental problems, but rarely investigates how Chinese consumers incorporate environmental concerns, health and nature into their lifestyles.

Chinese consumers crave a sanctuary from daily overdoses of pollution, rampant urbanization, traffic and food safety issues, and are gradually adopting more sustainable lifestyles to cope with the pressure and stress of every day life.

Like Bamboo in the Spring: LOHAS growth bests the West
The convergence of environmental pressures and rising incomes is resulting in a much more rapid ascendance of LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) in China than occurred in more advanced LOHAS markets such as the United States. 17% of consumers in China’s top five cities -- a combined population of more than 60 million -- describe themselves as LOHAS-focused, versus 19% of American consumers, despite the significant head start of the US market’s LOHAS consciousness.

And China’s LOHAS consumers are not price sensitive – nine out of ten consumers would be willing to pay 20% more on average for sustainable products, and are looking for increased product choices and availability.

Chinese LOHAS consumers are growing in number, are hungry for sustainable products and willing to pay higher prices – so why aren’t all sustainable brands investing like mad in the China market?

Complications
It’s complicated. For some brands, government product approvals and regulations create barriers, for others the lack of existing distribution channels requires exceedingly high levels of investment. Some are concerned with Intellectual Property issues and product quality, while others are just plain intimidated by the China market.

Are these concerns justified? Are they enough to prevent your brand from pursuing the growing China market opportunity, even as opportunities in other countries are shrinking?

The answer is: it depends – on your industry, your product, your positioning and, most of all, your appetite for adventure. 

For example:
- The beauty industry is absolutely booming in China, and has a relatively strong distribution channel already in place. However, government regulations and entry requirements can be onerous.

- Luxury is in. LOHAS products are often associated with luxury in China, which is a good thing for a market that is gobbling up luxury products – both home and abroad. Western tastes like wine and chocolate fall into this category and also take advantage of Chinese customs of gifting and “showing face”.

- Food safety is a huge issue in China. High-income urbanites are actively searching for safe food options that ease anxiety and promote health. Distribution is widespread in this sector, but supply chain issues can often be thorny.

- Children are kings. Literally. Given China’s one child policy, China’s children call the shots, happily emptying the six adult wallets available to them. Toys, bottles, apparel, education, and food – you name it, parents (and grandparents) want the best for their children, and will spend to get it. Chinese shopping habits are ingrained, and will play heavily into your distribution strategy in these industries.

If the brand fits…
Yes, China is complicated. It is a big country, with a widely disparate population going through tremendous changes at a breakneck speed. But, if you play it right, it can be very lucrative for your brand, also providing ample opportunity to give back to the country and enable positive change, which is good for China and good for the world.

How do you navigate all these issues?
HotPot Consulting, Greennovate and The Wellness Works have teamed up to host a LOHAS China Insight Tour this September 20th and 21st to cover issues related to China Market Entry for Sustainable brands. Content will cover legal issues, LOHAS consumer insights, managing supply chain, distribution channels and more. You will hear from experts in many sectors, learn from businesses operating in the market and meet like-minded local distributors and partners. Visit http://goo.gl/bBKz3 for more information or contact renee@hotpotconsulting.com.

The LOHAS China Insight Tour is timed to coincide with China’s largest ECO tradeshow – EcoLifestyles from September 16th – 18th (www.ecolifestyles.cn) which gives sustainable brands an opportunity to meet more than 6,000 business attendees and more than 12,000 LOHAS minded consumers.

www.hotpotconsulting.com
www.greennovate.net
http://www.the-wellness-works.com

by Fred Haberman

What if five percent of the $500 billion in global ad spending was instead
invested in making this a better world.

Each year, companies worldwide spend $500 billion in advertising. Corporations enlist talented advertising agencies and brilliant marketers to present their products as boldly and creatively as possible – often at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars per second.

It’s an astounding amount of money. $1.7 million per 30-second spot for the Academy Awards. $3 billion spent on political ads. $12 billion spent by U.S. tobacco companies. $3 million for a 30-second Super Bowl ad – many of which are violent, degrading, or sexist.

As a marketer and parent, it’s given me pause to ask, what does all this money really do to add to our society?

What if these brands could redirect some of these ad spends for for good causes? Could a fast food brand unleash its best creative marketing minds to raise awareness that many Americans have no access to fresh produce? Why can’t an athletic apparel brand run an entire ad encouraging us to donate shoes to the citizens of Haiti?

It’s not just charity, it’s smart marketing. Research suggests consumers want this type of commitment. According to Cone Communications, 79% of consumers say they would be likely to switch from one brand to another, when price and quality are about equal – if the other brand is associated with a good cause. This means that campaigns that add value to our world can also add value for a brand, resulting in the same (or better) increase in sales that an advertising  campaign may offer. Two iconic examples are Pepsi’s Refresh Project and Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty.

It’s time to begin a deeper dialogue about where and how the companies whose products and services we support spend their marketing dollars. My company is seeding this conversation with a grassroots program we call “ADD or DELETE” that asks fellow marketers, “Could the $500 billion projected to be spent on advertising in 2011 be put to better use?” We hope that ADD or DELETE inspires chief marketing officers at Fortune 500 companies, creative directors at global advertising agencies, designers toiling at boutique shops and struggling copywriters entering the workforce to consider their legacies: do we want to be known for lavish ad shoots or for creating campaigns that positively impact our world?

We’ve created a website, www.ADDorDELETE.com, to provide a forum for all consumers to identify advertisements that ADD value to society vs. merely being “ads” that consumers would rather DELETE. Our video shows why. Please follow us on Facebook to join the conversation.

Our vision is that consumers will inspire business to leverage at least five percent of their advertising or marketing assets to solve social issues. If all were to agree, that would equate to $25 billion the greatest minds on Madison Avenue and creative shops worldwide could devote to stemming the rise in diabetes, fighting cancer, curbing unwanted teen pregnancies, eradicating food deserts and so much more.

Don’t get me wrong. I love humor in marketing, in the workplace and in life. I love ads. But when customers demand better from the companies they patronize, it’s an opportunity for all of us to use our influence, power and resources to help those in need. So, let’s start ADDing more to society.

By Deb Robins

Leadership is an extremely important commitment. That is why there are so few truly great leaders on the planet at any given time. Great leadership hinges on a dedication and commitment to learning -- the type of learning that demands a willingness to traverse the divide between success and failure. Leadership provokes thoughtfulness and contemplation so that the knowledge you have acquired can be successfully interpreted and passed forward in service to inspire and uplift others.

When I was named one of the top executive coaches in the country in the field of leadership training, the first thing I did was up my own ante on learning more about myself, the world of which I am a part and what exceptional leadership means. I did not allow my ego to fool me into thinking that I, by any stretch of the imagination, knew it all.

Thus, it is with great humility and gratitude that I accepted the invitation of LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) to speak with some of the world's top leaders and discover the keys to their individual success: Dan Millman, best-selling author of "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" and "The Four Purposes of Life;" Casey Sheahan, CEO of Patagonia; Gretchen Bleiler, professional snowboarder and Olympic silver medalist; Ted Ning, director of LOHAS; and Freddie Ravel, former keyboardist from Santana.

Casey, Dan, Gretchen, Freddie and Ted -- in your experience, what choices have you made professionally or personally that provided the most growth-knowledge that undeniably lead to your greater success?

Casey Sheahan:

There have been two insights that have propelled Patagonia forward at a faster pace in the last three to four years. First, is the awareness that inspiration is a more powerful leadership tool than motivation because people will do anything for love but can be paralyzed by fear. Second, is the powerful effect of intention versus traditional metrics based goal-setting. If you can create a strong vision of how you want your company to look and feel far into the future, this is like looking at a three-dimensional satellite photo of the planet showing where you want to go, as opposed to a two-dimensional roadmap. Metrics make you focus on short-term outcomes; vision causes you to focus on the process and behaviours that really get you there.

In my talk I will explain how Patagonia's success has sprung from a series of transformative moments in the work and home lives of its leadership team -- from company owners, Yvon and Malinda Chouinard, to myself. I will speak to the challenges and opportunities I face in running one of the most socially responsible companies in the world. Patagonia's mission and values have proven legendary in their power to effect positive change in modern apparel manufacturing. As a side benefit, 1 percent of Patagonia's sales are donated to small activist groups working to preserve the global environment. But for all the company's financial and repetitional success, I intend to show that the company's growth accelerated even faster when it brought total awareness to the full spectrum of its real-world impacts and extreme transparency to its daily operations. I believe that being green and being socially responsible are essential now, but it has become equally important to lead with mindfulness, compassion and soul. What's true in the macrocosm for companies is true in the microcosm for its leaders. There is no global transformation possible without personal transformation.

Dan Millman:

We each make choices according to the unique timing and circumstances we meet on the mountain of life -- so noting my own specific choices may not serve anyone else. As the proverb says, "Maybe the only people who profit from the experiences of others are biographers." But I can share this: As I point out in "The Four Purposes of Life," there is no such thing as a future decision; all meaningful choices are made in the moment, and they are made through action. As E.M. Forrester wrote, "How do I know what I think until I see what I do?" Thinking about doing something is the same as not doing it. So don't think without acting (or act without thinking). Make a choice and stand by it until you have seen clearly where it may lead. Faith is the courage to live as if everything that happens is for our highest good and learning.

Gretchen Bleiler:

When I was a senior in high school, I came to a pivotal point in my life: I could go to college like I had always planned on doing and worked so hard for, or I could take a year off and put everything I had into becoming a professional snowboarder. At the time, being a professional snowboarder was not something a lot of people took a crack at; let's just say that route was obviously not the safe bet! I knew that I could go to school, just like all of my best friends, and live a happy life but I also knew that if I really gave it my all I could live an extraordinary life doing what I absolutely loved. A formal education is invaluable but you can also learn about the world and your place in it in other ways. The reason I choose snowboarding is because I knew that this path was my unique way and my individual gift. Every single one of us has a unique set of talents, gifts and skills and when you have the courage to pursue these no matter what or where they lead you, you will run head first into success. The key is knowing when to take that 'leap' and the answer is within you always, you just have to listen and have the courage to act.

Freddie Ravel, Motivational Maestro, CEO of Tune Up To Success:

From as far back as age 5, I have been utterly fascinated with the raw power of music. By 12, I became so intrigued with the piano that I practiced eight hours a day and that singular focus laid the foundation for the blessing of a music career that has taken me all over the world. I also love to work in the business world where there is a constant search for a more sustainable paradigm -- particularly by sharing music as a multi-tasking power tool for so many of our challenges today such as leadership, collaboration and time management. This has kept me in the mode of service, learning and contribution, which in turn sustains my personal and professional life. I believe that we are teachers sometimes and students ALL the time! This is especially true of becoming a father -- we don't raise our kids, they raise us! Finally, I'd say the most important choice I have made is to call my everyday intention toward living in a state of constant gratitude -- when we can be in that perspective, we can see the potential of light in everything.

Ted Ning:

The choices I have made that have had the most impact tend to be the ones I did wrong.

Find the leader inside of you. It's there!!!
In loving, Deb Robins, M.A.

If you know me you are well aware that I have a bit of a hectic travel schedule and go to a variety of conferences oriented around green business, social enterprises, health and wellness and everything in between. Yes I am an admitted conference junkie. But there is a reason for my addiction and I will try to explain them rationally as any junkie in denial will do. For me, my reasons are to keep on the edge of what is happening in the various spaces that comprise LOHAS. I enjoy attending conferences not so much to hear about what someone is saying on stage but rather what is being said in the hallways. I feel that getting into the candid conversations at dinners or over drinks really gives me an up close and personal view point into various market sectors with various market leaders. The presentations on stage are an added bonus and if I am lucky they are indeed worth listening to. But I am a critique on a variety of levels. My preference is someone who not only provides a picture of the problem but also presents a vision and solutions to it. If I want gloom and doom I can just watch the news. No need to tell me more about it. I think we are all aware that we are all in deep s#!@ and in it for a long while. I want inspiration and something that speaks to me at a deeper level. I also don’t want a sales pitch. I know that corporate presentations tend to have specific parameters on what they can and cannot say. But getting those people off the stage and into a conversation in the hall is great. That is when you can get to the heart of burning questions and have them give you more in depth answers that they can’t when in front of an audience. I also need imagery. I’m a visual person and a visual learner. If someone presents something with multiple bullet points and is reading them off – that immediately sends me to checking my email on my smartphone. Yawn! But is someone has a well thought out presentation and integrates examples and lead ins using images it is magic. Presenters don’t always need to have images behind them on a large screen. They can take the audience on a wild ride just with a compelling story that has colorful detail and elements that the audience can relate to. After all we are a society of storytellers. They also must have that connection with the audience that a few have and others do not. Hard one to teach but when it is there you can feel it. I also run into some of the most interesting people I would not expect and allow myself to do so by being open to whomever or whatever manifests in front of me. By attending various conferences and hearing different thoughts and ideas both on stage and off I begin to weave together trends and similarities I hear repeated in various LOHAS sectors. I also try to integrate new ideas and concepts that may be fresh to LOHAS. This process constantly reminds me of the fable of Stone Soup. The fable goes like this:
Some travellers come to a village, carrying nothing more than an empty cooking pot. Upon their arrival, the villagers are unwilling to share any of their food stores with the hungry travellers. The travellers fill the pot with water, drop a large stone in it, and place it over a fire in the village square. One of the villagers becomes curious and asks what they are doing. The travellers answer that they are making "stone soup", which tastes wonderful, although it still needs a little bit of garnish to improve the flavor, which they are missing. The villager does not mind parting with just a little bit of carrot to help them out, so it gets added to the soup. Another villager walks by, inquiring about the pot, and the travellers again mention their stone soup which has not reached its full potential yet. The villager hands them a little bit of seasoning to help them out. More and more villagers walk by, each adding another ingredient. Finally, a delicious and nourishing pot of soup is enjoyed by all.
This is in essence how the core content of the LOHAS Forum is developed. We then add additional speaker applications into it from those who submit presentations and we adjust a bit here and there but that is how it is contrived. It may not be perfect but the mix is a work in progress and I hope that you are able to enjoy some of the nourishment that the LOHAS soup provides by attending the LOHAS Forum, attending LOHAS regional events, subscribing to our e-newsletter or our various social media groups such as Facebook, Twiiter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Buzz. Chatter. Talk of the town. There’s no denying excitement is building as we approach the 2011 LOHAS Forum. Here’s your chance to turn thought provoking conversation into a FREE ADMISSION to the LOHAS forum.

The Scoop
Every weekday May 25 through June 1, we will ask our followers to tweet in response to a question. Today (May 25), we are asking our followers to tweet one thing they’ve done in the past year to be more sustainable in their offices or homes.

Each morning, we will announce the contest topic. Participants can enter as many times as they’d like.

All submissions require the use of the appropriate LOHAS Forum hashtag in the tweets (#LOHASForum).

The Haberman team, a 2011 LOHAS Sponsor, will select the grand prize winning tweeter. In addition to a FREE LOHAS Forum Registration, we will award daily prizes to contest participants selected at random. Prizes will include DVDs, magazine subscriptions and more. Use your savvy social media skills to tweet your way to Boulder! 

Contest Rules
1. Entrants must participate within the given timeline.
2. Entrants must include the appropriate hashtag in their tweets to be considered for prizes.
3. Entrants must be following the LOHAS Forum Twitter account so that we may message them if they are chosen as a winner.
4. The grand prizewinner must confirm his or her eligibility to attend the conference before announcing the outcome of the contest.

by Scott James

This month we took in a conversation with David Batstone, whose current job titles include Professor of Business & Entrepreneurship at University of San Francisco, President and Co-Founder of the Not For Sale Campaign, and Managing Partner of Just Business Fund. Let’s hear what David had to say:

Scott: What country should serve as a model for the U.S. community of CSR professionals and why?

David: Norway. I’ve been impressed with both their government and private sector initiatives. Their largest telecom company – TeleNor – was the 51% investor to bring launch Grameen Phone, the very successful mobile telephone company in Bangladesh. I wish our own country’s administration could begin encouraging business models and investments like this. We’re missing the boat in the U.S. to create local enterprises in other countries which offer both better return and a better chance of success because they are locally embedded. There are real business opportunities for – and with – the bottom billion. Let’s not lament the troubles involved; we must rethink who our market is and expand it to include this group.

Scott: Where are we (the US-based CSR community) succeeding?

David: Our private sector green protocols and investments are working. They represent cost savings, but also bring alternative energy and waste reduction to Corporate America in ways that you are not finding in other regions of the world. For example, last year Intel bought 1.4 billion kilowatts of renewable energy. Think of what that does for both new and existing renewable energy companies in terms of capital flow and attraction of investment dollars.

Intel is just one company; imagine if we were to see 10% of the Global 500 match Intel’s commitment! This is much more encouraging to me than any type of government compliance work around climate change. The private initiatives coming out of a strong CSR commitment are making much more headway than is our government.

Scott: How about our failures, where we are not succeeding as much as we could?

David: There is a real sense of ambivalence about CSR right now. It’s like a trip to the dentist; you know you have to do it but it’s not a pleasant experience. It does not provide inspiration and vision for most companies. But there is hope.

There are a selected few companies that are taking CSR to the very core of their business and corporate identity. It’s beyond starting a soup kitchen here or a HIV clinic there, although those are very important things. It’s about how our employees care and engage with this on a daily basis. They’re not just making widgets but tied to something bigger.

Stonyfield Farms (now owned by Dannon) used to do a lot of diverse philanthropy, but they’ve focused their CSR investments now to help farmers transform their dairy businesses from hormone-based to organic farming. And the small farmers are core to Stonyfield’s supply of high quality healthy products and brand identity.

Scott: Tell me about a company doing something in CSR that is a model for our future.

David: The G-III Apparel Group, which owns the U.S. license for Levi’s jackets and other name brands. As they are converting their supply chain, they’re thinking well beyond just CYA to create a story behind their product. They are reshaping what it means to be a retail brand by enhancing the lives of everyone who comes in contact with their product. G-III is sourcing organic cotton from an area in the Amazon heavily afflicted by human trafficking.

They are working with the Not For Sale Campaign to source from that region specifically to benefit the producers and communities, bringing the material to a Cambodian manufacturer also committed to a fully transparent supply chain. This enables retailers to communicate an authentic supply chain story, creating an emotional link for the end purchaser of the apparel. The new driver is consumer experience, not just price point and distribution.

Scott: What question are we not asking ourselves that we should?

David: Most of CSR today is derivative. We look for the easiest path, the plug-and-play CSR solution for our companies. Instead, we should be asking ourselves, “How do we become the Apple of social innovation?”

How do consumers know if a business is really green? This age-old question has been nswered by the Green Business Bureau – one of the nation’s fastest growing green certification organizations for SMBs—through the simple use of technology.

In an industry first, GBB has implemented a new, cutting-edge program utilizing Quick Response Code (QRC) technology for its green certified business members. As many mobile phone users have already discovered, the use of QRCs can be fun and educational. Soon, all businesses that carry a green certification through GBB will offer QRCs at the point-of-sale to show consumers just what steps have been taken towards sustainability.

These second generation barcodes, when scanned by a mobile phone, instantly take consumers to a dedicated mobile page. In this case, when the QRC of a GBB member is scanned by a customer, the customer will be introduced to the entire list of sustainability initiatives undertaken by the business, providing increased transparency as to why that business can claim some level of eco-friendliness.

 “Studies show that 40 percent of shoppers want to see more green information at the store level, and 28 percent want to see it displayed prominently on shelves or directly on the menu,” says Marcos Cordero, CEO and co-founder of the GBB.  “The new FTC Green Guides go right along with that by requiring businesses to back up their green claims at the point-of-sale.”

The FTC Green Guide updates, which will go into effect this year, state that it is no longer enough to have a website which outlines green initiatives, but that businesses must now offer information on their green practices in the store and at the register.

 “QRC technology is a perfect fit for the GBB’s existing online platform,” says Cordero.  “It conveys the transparency of our interactive membership website seal and takes it mobile, allowing customers immediate, on-the-spot insight into our members’ green practices.”

The immediacy and accessibility of the QRC technology complements the GBB platform’s real-time updating of green initiatives undertaken by a business. Applications for QRC at the point of sale are endless. QRC can be applied to nearly every conceivable media, including cars and vans, invoices, business cards, entry doors, signage, stickers, menus, hangtags, brochures, hardhats and more.

“The GBB’s platform is built on transparency,” says Cordero. “QRC technology is the next, logical evolution of that goal.”

For more information about the Green Business Bureau QRC program, please visit www.gbb.org/qrc

Moving into a dorm room can be a tumultuous experience for many college students, especially those unused to such close-quartered communal living. While many things about life will change when they finally move into a dorm, one thing can stay the same — a commitment to living green. There are tons of ways students can make their cramped life greener and get even more out of their college experience. Here are just a few ideas to get you started on your green dorm living.

Shopping

These tips will help you to outfit your dorm room with everything you need while still staying green.

1.     Buy furnishings locally. If you’re going to college far from home, buy your furnishings locally instead of hauling them with you. It’ll save on gas and still give you access to everything you need. Some stores, like Bed, Bath and Beyond, may give you the option of purchasing remotely and picking up at your destination so you don’t have to move a thing.

2.     Shop at resale stores. Not everything for your room has to be brand new. You can be green and save money by shopping used.

3.     Browse Freecycle. Why pay for what you can get for free? Use sites like Freecycle to pick up great stuff for your dorms at little to no cost.

4.     Buy organic cotton sheets. Organic cotton and other natural fibers like bamboo are incredibly soft, durable and don’t require any pesticides to produce.

5.     Look for natural fibers. When shopping for blankets, rugs and towels look for natural fibers. They’re more environmentally-friendly, even though they may cost more to purchase up front.

6.     Get a plant. A plant will not only help your room feel more homey, it will help to clean the air as well.

7.     Look for recycled paper products. When buying paper towels, toilet paper or printer paper, opt for recycled materials.

8.     Avoid disposable furniture. While it might seem like a bargain, cheap, particle-board furniture won’t last and will only end up in a landfill. Higher quality furniture will be a better investment for you and environment in the long run.

9.     Buy things that will last you beyond the dorms. When purchasing things for your room, look for those that will work if you decide to move into an apartment later. That way you won’t have to spend money and resources when you get out.

10. Look for environmentally friendly storage solutions. This can mean getting canvas or metal baskets or looking for plastic bins that are made of recyclable materials.

11. Find or make reusable shopping bags. Don’t bring home loads of plastic bags. Instead, invest in some nice reusable ones. Or make your own.

12. Skip heavily packaged items. Unless it’s something you really, really need, avoid purchasing items that come with way too much packaging. It’s wasteful and will be a pain to deal with once the item is unpacked.

Appliances

From fridges to air conditioning, use these tips to save on energy when it comes to appliances.

13. Look for Energy Star appliances. When buying a mini-fridge or microwave for your room, always do your research to find the most energy efficient models.

14. Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Replace those incandescent and halogen lights with compact fluorescents instead.

15. Turn off your computer when you’re not using it. It saves energy and will help your computer to get a much-needed break. If you don’t want to turn it all the way off, at least make sure it’s sleeping or in power-down mode.

16. Watch out for energy vampires. Chargers for phones, computers and the like suck up energy even when not in use. Use a power strip you can easily turn off to help reduce their impact.

17. Pay attention to the chill factor in your fridge. Keeping your fridge out of the sun and regularly checking its thermostat can help it use less energy over time.

18. Get rid of the AC. Most older dorms don’t have built in AC, but some do allow window units which can be big energy hogs. Forgo the AC if you can handle it, or only switch on to help you sleep or study rather than leaving it on all the time.

Cooking and Eating

Waste less and conserve more when it comes to cooking and eating with these ideas.

19. Avoid plastic water bottles. Instead of stocking up on plastic bottles of water, get a reusable, filtered pitcher. You’ll save tons of plastic from being wasted.

20. Kick the packaged snack habit. Instead, purchase snacks that aren’t individually packaged. Fresher snacks are greener and healthier to boot.

21. Find low-energy methods of cooking. Cooking in a rice cooker, toaster oven or crock pot can mean making delicious meals with much less energy.

22. Buy reusable silverware and plates. Instead of going with the disposable kind, invest in some nice cups and plates you can store and reuse in your room. If you’re worried about breaking glass, go for a recyclable plastic instead.

23. Reuse plastic grocery bags. Don’t throw out perfectly good plastic bags. Use them as liners for your garbage cans or find a number of other great uses for them.

24. Eat smart in the cafeteria. Only take what you know you can eat and avoid using a tray if you don’t have to in order to keep your diet and dorm greener.

Community

Dorm rooms are the perfect place to get close to others and spread your green ideas.

25. Start a club. Want to get the word out about greening the dorms? Start a club on campus to promote activism.

26. Go communal. Instead of having your own fridge or microwave, share with others in your dorm when possible.

27. Green your move out. Don’t simply throw out items when you move out of the dorm. Donate them to a resale store or give them to new students.

28. Share with your roomie. There are numerous items that can be shared between you and your roomie, saving space and materials.

29. Get others interested in your cause. Talk to others on your floor about being green. Post flyers and posters to help them understand just what you’d like to accomplish.

30. Talk to administrators about green ideas for the dorms. There are loads of ways to make dorms greener, and many ways that your college can start being environmentally friendly. Talk to them about your own ideas, you might just see change.

31. Embrace the small space. Living in the small space isn’t the worst thing in the world. It will help you use and waste less, appreciate what you have more.

Green Clean

Give some of these ideas a try to keep your dorm room and yourself clean while still remaining green.

32. Forego plug in air fresheners. They might make your room smell better, but they’re not good for the environment. Clean up your room instead or use natural air fresheners.

33. Do laundry in cold water. It will save on the energy used to heat water and will get your clothes just as clean.

34. Purchase earth-friendly toiletries. Toiletries can be full of harmful chemicals, so reduce your exposure by purchasing those that are better for your body and the earth.

35. Clean your room naturally. Ditch the harsh bleaches and chemicals for cleaning. Instead, choose products that are green or natural to tidy up with.

36. Take shorter showers. It might be nice to luxuriate in long showers, but you’ll be wasting loads of water. Instead, keep it short and sweet.

37. Get all natural flip flops for showering. Kick the plastic flip flop habit and go for natural materials instead.

38. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or washing your face. Be kind to the earth by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth or washing your face.

39. Buy chemical-free detergent and fabric softeners. There are several brands out there that make great chemical-free detergents. These options are better for the environment and will leave your clothes wonderfully clean.

Saving and Recycling

Try out some of these tips to ensure your time in the dorms leaves as little impact on the health of the earth as possible.

40. Recycle class materials. Don’t just toss out old notes and papers from class. Put them in the recycle bin instead or use them as scrap instead.

41. Make your own. Rather than going out to buy decorations for your room, make your own using items you already have. There are numerous ideas out there you can use.

42. Never leave the lights on. Keeping the lights on when you’re not in the room is just plain wasteful. Always turn them off when you and your roomie are out.

43. Upcycle old items. Something might not be useful on its own anymore but can be nice when upcycled. Use these ideas to make your dorm room nicer.

44. Take old soda cans and bottles to a recycling center. If you’re like many students and have an addiction to caffeine, you probably have a few soda cans and bottles hanging around. Instead of tossing them out, recycle them.

45. Recycle boxes or invest in reusable containers for moving. Dorms can be pretty wasteful places when students are moving in and out. Do your part to reduce this by recycling and reusing anything you can.

46. Store instead of shipping. Instead of shipping your items back and forth between home and school when you go home for summer, store them locally.

47. Insulate windows. This can help use less energy when both heating and cooling your room.

48. Read online instead of printing. When possible, read your assignments online instead of printing them all out.

49. Buy rechargeable batteries. Devices like remotes and game controllers run through batteries pretty quickly. Instead of simply throwing them out, get some rechargeable ones instead.

50. Print on both sides of paper. When allowed (some professors don’t like it) print on both sides of the paper to use half as much.

By Scott James

Hey sports fans, did you see that six professional teams from the Pacific Northwest just banded together to launch a new Green Sports Alliance (GSA)?

With serious endorsements from each of their commissioners and backed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the GSA is bringing a conservation message to the majority of Americans via a trusted channel, professional sports. Eco-resistant sports fans may be more receptive when the pitch comes from their favorite team. As Scott Jenkins, V.P. of Operations for the Seattle Mariners (and arguably the father of green sports) told me, “We can take the lead in changing the American culture of consumption to one of conservation.”

Wow. We’re clearly talking about more than just setting out recycling containers at the stadium gates. An expert panel at the kickoff event of franchisee representatives in Seattle this week discussed a wide range of big picture topics, including citywide transportation issues that have stymied many a metropolitan area. Given the frequency and volume of traffic that sports stadiums generate, if teams and owners back best practices, that should lead to significant progress in many cities.

To date, much of the talk  about sustainability in the world of sports has been about saving behind the scenes. The event’s host, Allen Hershkowitz, Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), challenged the panel: “As each of you seeks to find environmentally preferable products, what will the fans begin to actually see?” The answers included examples from two of the largest profit centers within any sports franchise: concessions and merchandise sales.

The six teams in the GSA can exert considerable pressure on concessionaires like Sodexho and Aramark, that will yield immediate results. In fact, in several stadiums they already have, moving the cups and plates to compostible versions and removing (yes, removing) 90% of the trash bins, replaced with recycling containers.

As the professional players themselves self-identify as Eco Warriors (hey Golden State, here’s your next marketing campaign), they’ll begin to demand gear and equipment that is eco-certified. This will spill over into merchandise sales benefitting the players, the fans and the planet.

GSA Executive Director Martin Tull painted an exciting vision as he talked about the Alliance’s desire to expand quickly across North America to include other pro teams, and to move down into the collegiate level, high school, and club sports. When that happens, conservation will become an American as apple pie and baseball.

Full disclosure: I attended the kickoff event for the Green Sports Alliance in my role as the founder of the first eco-certified sports balls company in North America. But I quickly decided this was worthy of getting in front of Forbes and LOHAS readers; pro and college sports are big business and a core part of North American megapolitan areas.

By Peter David of ESquare corresponding from Japan.

I am writing to you from a hotel along the shore of Biwa-ko, Japan's largest lake some 528 km west (and slightly south) of the Fukushima nuclear power station. Fresh snow is covering the landscape in what would, normally, be a very idyllic setting.

Right now, it feels absolutely surreal, as if all the earthquake destruction in Eastern Japan combined with the man-made specter of nuclear destruction were scenes out a Hollywood movie entitled "Twin Disasters." But this is no movie, and whether there will be any form of "happy" ending to the nuclear malaise remains entirely unpredictable.

The Japanese government "cannot" talk openly and honestly to the Japanese public about the potential dangers in a worst case scenario at Fukushima, primarily because of fears of panic in the 30 million population in the world's largest metropolitan area, Tokyo + Yokohama.

Personally, I have over the last 10 years or so repeatedly experienced the attempts of TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Co.) to control information on nuclear power in this country. For eighteen months, from 2000-2001, I anchored the main news program at MX TV, Tokyo's local TV station, and was told by the producer that "since TEPCO is a sponsor of our program, I would prefer if you do not openly criticize nuclear power."

On another occasion, I was writing a piece for a well-known publication for 5-6th grade school kids on the environment, this time being told by the chief editor that, "TEPCO is one of the sponsors of our magazine. While I would like you to write on the enviroment, please don't be critical of nuclear power."

On a third occasion, not directly related to TEPCO, I was interviewed by the Yomiuri Newspaper, one of Japan's top two newspapers in terms of circulation, about the 1978 demonstrations throughout Denmark against the possible introduction of nuclear power in which I participated as a child. When the interview appeared in the newspaper, my phrase "demonstrations against nuclear power" had been altered to "demonstrations for renewable energy." This was not what I had said, and when I called the journalist in charge, he sheepishly apologized, saying that "I did not dare to write anything negative about nuclear power lest I should invite the wrath of my editor (boss)."

I feel so very sorry for the people who are, right now, sacrificing their future health, and some of them their immediate lives, working to stop the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. They may be described as "heroes" - and surely their efforts as such are heroic - but in a wider perspective they are victims of an industry in which the brainwashing of contractors and workers to believe that what they work with is safe has been pervasive.

In its entirety, the present situation in Eastern Japan and the Tokyo Metropolitan area has revealed the amazing fragility of modern civilization. All lifelines - water, transport, electricity, food supplies - have been severed or disrupted in Eastern Japan, and one of the world's largest cities, Tokyo, was yesterday afternoon (March 17th), in danger of a large scale, sudden blackout as a cold spell of weather drove up electricity consumption close to the limit of maximum supply. A good friend of mine, working at Tohoku University not far from the epicenter of the earthquake, called to tell how he finally, after six days, managed to leave Sendai (a city of more than a million on Japan's (Honshu's) east coast), driving to Tokyo in a 16 hour ordeal. No gasoline being available anywhere on the route, he barely managed to reach Tokyo, his gas tank drying up. More frightening than the drive, though, was how food and water were virtually impossible to obtain in the city center of Sendai. "Emergency supplies have been distributed to the schools where tens of thousands of people take refuge, but nothing seemed to reach the city of Sendai and shelves in supermarkets were almost completely empty. For the first time, I had the feeling of a threat to my life because of an inability to buy food," he told me.
My friend made it, but older and weaker people are dying - or will die - as the crucial lifelines of a hypermodern society have been devastated.

The question, obviously, is what we can learn, not only in Japan, but in modern society as a whole, from this experience. It remains to be seen whether we will, truly, learn anything at all. To me, there seem to be at least three major lessons.

The first is the question of how or if lifestyles and values will change. The thing that the Japanese have been praised for throughout the first week of this terrible disaster, has not been "technology" or "financial strength"; it has been the strong spirit, the patience, the human qualities of the people here that has touched many around the world.  Money and shiny goods in temples of consumption have carried absolutely no value for the people here in the last week. Is there a chance that we may, now, see and act on the emptiness of useless consumerism? A chance there must be, I hope, although I do at the same time fear that once things settle down, Japan and the world will go on as if nothing had happened.

The second lesson is the danger of concentration of population into huge metropolises. Although the epicenter of the M9.0 earthquake was hundreds of kilometers northeast of Tokyo, the city was paralyzed, streets clogged, subways inoperational, phone lines dead. The staff at my office could not get home or get in touch with their family.

What if - and this could happen any day - the earthquake had hit Tokyo straight on? I have not the courage to think of the scale of disaster or the number of human lives that would have been lost. As urbanization continues at great speed in the world's population centers, the utter fragility of the 21st century megacity poses serious questions. Is there a way to answer this question in a more humane and sustainable manner than we are experiencing today?

There must be.

The third lesson is the folly of making ourselves dependent on energy production from large scale and extremely dangerous power stations, where no workable plans exist to control worst case scenarios.

Huge costs will be incurred in Japan over the next several decades to clean up Fukushima. Huge costs were incurred to build the plant in the first place. Surely, this money could have been used more wisely. Hopefully, the lesson taken from Fukushima will, finally, make the idea of non-violent, non-toxic, decentralized energy sources the mainstream policy and business choice around the world.

If we can learn the lessons, there is hope for the future.

If you want to assist with relief efforts here is a list of aid groups who are on the ground helping with putting things back together.

1. 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth: Check out this book that tells kids the many ways they can contribute to saving the Earth.
2. The Giving Tree: Shel Silverstein’s book teaches kids about the relationship between kids and the forest.
3. My Bag and Me!: My Bag and Me! can teach your child to be eco-friendly by using reusable bags.
4. A Drop Around the World: Kids can follow a drop of water around the world in this book.
5. The Great Kapok Tree: In The Great Kapok Tree, a man changes his mind about chopping down a large tree in the Amazon when he hears the pleas of the animals.
6. George Saves the World by Lunchtime: George saves the world with simple everyday actions in this book.
7. The Tree in the Ancient Forest: In this book, Carol Reed-Jones writes about the web of plants and animals in the world.
8. Earth-Friendly Crafts for Kids: Here you’ll find 50 awesome recycled crafts projects.
9. The Forever Forest: Kids save a tropical treasure in The Forever Forest.
10. Charlotte’s Web: Charlotte’s Web teaches animal appreciation, life cycles, and ecosystems.
11. Green Wise Kids: Jean Clausen’s book teaches kids about doing simple things to improve the environment, sharing age appropriate activities.
12. The Empty Lot: This book’s hero sells off an empty lot, but after consideration, learns about all of the natural elements that make the lot more valuable than he thought.
13. My Favorite Tree: Kids can choose their favorite North American tree in My Favorite Tree.
14. One Well: One Well tells the story of water on Earth.
15. The Lorax: The Lorax offers kids an ecological warning about the disregard for the Earth’s environment.
16. We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers: These kids recycle their toys instead of throwing them away, and they even get their classmates involved.
17. Herb the Vegetarian Dragon: In this book, kids will read about eating vegetarian through Herb, the vegetarian dragon.
18. Oil Spill!: Kids can learn about the ecological damage of oil spills in this book.
19. Earth Book for Kids: Earth Book for Kids has activities to help heal the environment.
20. Wonderful Nature, Wonderful You: Wonderful Nature, Wonderful You tells the lessons of nature and the animal kingdom.
21. What’s It Like Living Green?: Kids teach kids how to live green in this book.
22. The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: This plastic bottle helps kids learn about recycling from a new perspective.
23. Recycled Crafts Box: Kids can make crafts out of recycled materials using this book.
24. The City of Ember: In The City of Ember, the heroes of the book live in a world run on hydro power.
25. Giggles the Green Bean: Giggles the Green Bean learns environmentally friendly lessons and transforms his stinky town to green in this book.
26. The Curious Garden: The Curious Garden tells a story of a little boy who becomes a city gardener in an urban, factory town.
27. Dear Children of the Earth: Mother Earth writes to children to get their help in this book.
28. World Beneath Our Feet: Kids can read about the world that exists in the soil in World Beneath Our Feet.
29. The Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute (Anymore): This family of bears learns about why we need to mend our polluting and wasteful ways.
30. Why Are the Ice Caps Melting?: Kids can read about the dangers of global warming in Why Are the Ice Caps Melting?