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Eco Business - Our economy is an integral part of our ecology and the business of fair and responsible trading in the fruits of the earth is the foundation of a healthy society. Our Eco Business section explores Eco Innovations that can make a positive difference to your life.  We examine new Eco Technologies that can change the way we live and work in our society. We explore developing Trends in business and in the eco products and services market place. We profile an Eco Business in each issue which is leading the way in its field of enterprise. We look at various ways to add green to both ways of doing business and to the bottom line. We look at ethical and Eco Investing as a means to securing sustainable income that make more than sense. The way we work is very much part of the way we live and the way we treat the planet. The economic future belongs to sustainable businesses. In this section we can help business become part of the solution and true environmental leaders.

Ray Anderson Leads Business Down A Sustainable Path

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Written by The Editor

 

Known for his advanced and progressive stance on industrial ecology and sustainability Ray Anderson has been described by many as the greenest CEO in North America. A pioneer and visionary, Ray has lead the way by not only transforming his successful carpet and floor covering company into one of the most sustainable corporations in existence but also by actively sharing his experience with other organizations and government.

Ray Anderson, CEO Interface Inc.Ray Anderson is the author of a novel titled Mid-Course Correction. about his journey up what he calls “Mount Sustainability”. By demonstrating how he was able to increase profits by going green in his business Ray is a perfect example of the kind of radical industrialist who has been leading the corporate green revolution.
Ray Anderson is the founder and chairman of Interface Inc..  'Interface' is the largest carpet manufacturer in the world and one of the greenest.

Not always a friend of the environment Ray had his epiphany in 1994 when he read The Ecology of Commerce, by Paul Hawken.  Hawken argues that the industrial system is destroying the planet and only industry leaders are powerful enough to stop it.  That year, Ray Anderson vowed to make his company the world's first truly sustainable business, with a carbon footprint of zero by the year 2020.

His intention is to do business, make money and protect the environment at the same time.  A decade later Interface is halfway to Rays sustainability goals and making even more profit.  So now, Ray is spreading the word. He's been in the documentary 'The Corporation,' which criticizes how big companies operate and he's been part of Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental documentary  'The 11th Hour.'  Today, Ray travels the world - talking about corporate sustainability. He's also put together a 100 day action plan for the environment for the President of the United States.

 

Sixteen Tips for a Greener Workplace

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Written by Contributor

 

Here is Sixteen Tips for a Greener Workplace without reinventing the wheel, here are some simple things you can do to make your workplace greener:
Greening Business1.    Recycle. If your workplace doesn't have a formal recycling program, insist one is adopted. Bottles, cans, cardboard, and paper should never be found in landfills.

2.    Avoid printing and copying whenever possible. Always think – do I really need a hard copy of this? If you have to copy and print, use both sides of the paper.

3.    Use recycled products. From pens to paper to printer cartridges, you'd be surprised at the variety of products made from recyclable materials.

4.    Stay local. Buy office products from local dealers to reduce the impact of transportation.

5.    Lighten-up. Replace all light bulbs with low-energy ones.  Also, install automatic shut-offs for lighting.  Lighting a typical office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1,000 cups of coffee. Saving the planet will also save your employer buckets of cash as 44% of the electricity used in office buildings is spent on lighting alone.

 

Recycling Electronic Equipment

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Written by Contributor

 
Recycling Electronic Equipment - Unused, outdated, and otherwise unwanted electronic equipment is taking up a large part of the country's landfills. These mostly plastic and metal machines are not biodegradable, certainly non-compostable, and therefore, will remain relatively intact, potentially for generations to come, as they slowly oxidize away. But rust and a lot of other byproducts of this slow, mechanical crawl to oblivion are toxic—bad for the environment, bad for soil they eke into, the water they spill into, the air they blow through. And that's bad for us. With that in mind, recycling electronic equipment is not just an option for individuals and businesses ridding themselves of old machines; it's an imperative!
Consider the following frightening facts about the electronic machines we throw away:
 A few older and defective computers, CRT monitors and a television.
Computer cathode ray tubes (CRT) contain approximately 4 pounds of lead.
 
A typical television or computer monitor contains about 5 pounds of lead.
 
Cell phones contain antimony, beryllium, copper, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc.
 
Millions of toner cartridges from copy machines, fax machines, and printers are dumped into landfills each year, at a rate of about eight per second. And it takes one whole gallon of oil to produce the plastic in a single toner cartridge.
 
Materials in the discarded household batteries that run much of the electronic equipment we use make up 20% of the hazardous waste in our landfills.
   

What is Carbon Offsetting?

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Written by Contributor

 
What is Carbon Offsetting? - To understand carbon offsetting, one must first have at least a general understanding of carbon emissions, also commonly known as "greenhouse gases". These are atmospheric components—like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane gas—that contribute to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is responsible for the warming of the atmosphere that, in respectable levels, makes our atmosphere capable of supporting life, but that in extreme levels like those we've been experiencing ever since the industrial revolution and the advent of contemporary, "modern" civilization, can make the Earth unsustainable for life.

That said, carbon offsetting is any act that mitigates (or "alleviates", "lessens", or "diminishes") greenhouse gas emissions. The idea behind it is that instead of reducing one's own greenhouse gas emissions, one compensates by paying to have them reduced elsewhere.
This is particularly helpful in cases where it simply isn't feasible for an industry to cut down on its own greenhouse gas emissions without detrimentally affecting its ability to manufacture the products or perform the service it's in business to manufacture or perform. In other cases, even if it is possible for a business to cut down on its own emissions whilst still being able to do its business, it may not be able to do so without causing prohibitively high price increases for the end-user.
Examples of carbon offsetting in action include:
 

Business Leaders Reducing Green House Gas Emissions

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Written by John Hawes

 

Business Leaders Reducing Green House Gas Emissions In Canada and around the world, more and more industry leaders and communities are discovering  that there are many opportunities that make both economic and environmental sense. They’re finding out that both energy conservation and energy efficiency save money and create new industries and new jobs.

"If we get it right, our company and our supply chain will never have to take another drop of oil." - Ray Anderson, CEO of Interface Inc., the worlds largest flooring manufacture
Businesses and Institutions

Many companies are dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, often exceeding the Kyoto target. So far, this is generally achieved at minimal cost or with considerable savings.

   

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