Today’s travel decisions are not just about where to go and how to get there. Environmental factors color our decisions, and we prefer them in cool shades of green. More hotels and B&Bs are addressing the concerns of travelers by meeting our need for environmentally responsible places to stay while traveling. And now, thanks to …
TripAdvisor Green Travel Program Expands Into Canada & Europe Read More »
LYFE Kitchens founder Steve Sidwell knew nothing about the grocery retail market, but he knew what demand was. Sidwell, who said he’d struggled with finding healthy, quick meals for years and battled weight issues as a result, was looking for a good tasting, healthy, quick meal plan that he could stock up in his fridge. …
Lyfe Kitchens cuts into Lean Cuisine’s market share with wholesome quick meals Read More »
Diesel engines are a big deal in America. They are used to haul the food we eat and the goods we otherwise consume. The biggest challenge in the wide use of the diesel engine is that its emissions will often pose a problem for maintaining clean air. The good news is that advancements in technology …
EPA Allows Illegal Engines As Long As Feds Get Paid Read More »
Sustainable tourism certification programs are increasingly important to safeguard tourism providers from loss of market position due to negative social and environmental impacts induced by their operations. With the plethora of certification systems and ecolabels proliferating in the tourism industry, it is difficult to distinguish the credible sustainable tourism certification programs from superficial ones. Among …
For many years now, developing countries bestowed great amounts of natural resources were thought to be on a path to development based on the wealth of these resources, which are prized throughout the West. Such resources have included oil, minerals, metals and of course diamonds. However, almost exclusively, this potentially game-changing situation has lead to …
Zimbabwe Diamonds and the Kimberley Process: Round Something Read More »
While doing laundry, we read our clothing labels – “wash in cold water”and “tumble dry low”. But do we pay attention to the “made in…” labels such as Made in India or Made in Peru? What does that actually mean? And where is the transparency? Fair Trade USA (formerly TransFair USA) hopes to shed light …
Fair Trade USA Tackles Fashion and Cotton Industry Read More »
Fair trade continually interests me. It’s a great example of a development “policy” that at first glance, seems perfect. Companies (generally in foodstuffs like coffee or cocoa, but clothing and related items as well), basically agree to set the prices of the goods they purchase at a higher than market price in order to provide …
In a terse open letter to top executives at Woolworths, Coles, and Metcash, the Consumer’s Alliance for Global Prosperity (CAGP), is publicizing its report “The Empires of Collusion,” which apparently proves that the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a tool used by the “greens” and “the NGOs” to “conspire to force their standard on consumers …
Does Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification Impoverish? Read More »
A stick held alone breaks easily. A bundle of sticks? Much harder to break. So it is with partnerships. Initiatives with multiple committed partners are stronger and more powerful than those embarked upon alone. That’s why it’s encouraging to read about all of the positive things that are coming out of the array of partnerships …
SFI Conference: Partnerships DO Make a Difference Read More »
San Diego lobster fisherman Shad Catarius (no relation to the spawning fish) supports an annual trapping tax of of $300 currently before the California legislature. The tax on the $7.8 million annual spiny lobster market would raise the cost for Catarius to make a living on his boat McGhee Marie. In a San Diego Union-Tribune …
California Fisherman Doesn’t Want to Catch the Last Lobster Read More »
I’ve blogged a number of times about the benefits of purchasing paper that uses an environmental certification like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). But has not using one of these certifications become a negative differentiator? Can it get you kicked out of the running? I just read a post on …
Rejected! Can Lack of Environmental Certification Hurt You? Read More »
Many people think that if they use paper, they need to pay attention to carbon emissions, but if it’s e-media, not so much. Not true. Whether it’s print or electronic, all media has a carbon footprint. According to a report by Don Carli of the Institute for Sustainable Communications, as reported in Printing News: According …
More Reasons to Take Your Media Choices Seriously Read More »
Businesses marketing themselves as “green” are not using environmentally-responsible marketing materials. Earlier this month, a survey released in conjunction with Canadian Environment Week (May 31 to June 5), showed that more than half of businesses marketing themselves aren’t walking the walk — at least not in their marketing materials. The survey, conducted by traffic marketing …
Businesses and individuals can make a difference by choosing sustainably sourced paper products. As oil continues to spew into the Gulf of Mexico and Hooters girls contribute to the solution by donating pantyhose, my thoughts turn to environmental paper certifications. Okay, it’s not going to solve the devastating loss to wildlife, eco-systems, and local economies …