Green Business Trends

September 25, 2009

Green Business Report: Small Wonders

A must read! This new report by the Center for Small Business and the Environment assesses the economic and environmental benefits of green entrepreneurs, examining the economic, cultural, political, and technological impact of small green business innovations. The report features numerous Green Business Network members, including ShoreBank Pacific, Annie’s Naturals,
Numi Organic Tea, and Sage Creek Organics, as well as a green business community inspired by the Green Business Conference.

Read the study »

Shareholders Take Companies to Task on Climate

This season, a record-breaking 68 climate-related shareowner resolutions were filed, 31 of which were withdrawn after companies agreed to positive climate-related commitments, including carbon accounting systems and shifts to renewable energy. A successful engagement with Citigroup led to the creation of a due diligence process for funding mountain-top removal mining, pushing coal companies to improve their environmental performance. Investors also filed resolutions on executive compensation. A bill passed by the House and awaiting a vote in the Senate would provide shareowners with an advisory vote on executive compensation.

Americans Support Comprehensive Climate Legislation

The Center for American Progress Action Fund sampled 2010 (likely) voters in 16 states and found that 63% support the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES).

Sixty percent indicate they would re-elect their Senator if he or she supported a comprehensive federal climate bill. Recent polls by ABC News and the Washington Post found that 57% support proposed federal changes to energy policy, with just 29% opposed. Twice as many more respondents said that the bill will create jobs than those who said they would take jobs away. However, 41% still believe that passage of the bill will raise their energy costs.

Learn more about the 16-state study »

Learn more about the ABC/Washington Post poll »

Social Media Boosts Whole Foods Brand and Boycott

Whole Foods has garnered substantial social media success, with over 1.2 million Twitter followers and 123,000 fans on Facebook—and has faced substantial criticism in online conversation since CEO John Mackey’s op-ed lit up the blogosphere.

According to company sources, Whole Foods aims to make social media content as relevant as possible (local stores carry their own accounts) and allows conversation between the corporation and consumers to flow. Mackey’s recent op-ed in the New York Times in opposition to proposed healthcare reform has filled the blogosphere and social media with negative comments from angered customers and inspired a boycott group on Facebook, which gained 22,000 members in a week. Mackey responded with a post on the company blog and allowed comments, and so far more than 4,000 have poured in.

Read the company blog post »

Illinois Improves Business Composting Options

Recent Illinois legislation expands composting options for businesses, schools, and other organizations by allowing food waste to be commercially composted and sold all over the country. Illinois business owners previously could only compost locally and could not sell the compost. Food waste was also considered garbage, and will now have its own category to improve the process of obtaining composting permits. Chicago-area business owners are working on bringing a large-scale composting facility to the city.

Recovery Act Funds Awarded to Clean Energy Projects in Eight States

The U.S. Departments of Treasury and Energy jointly announced that $502 million in Recovery Act funding will be awarded to wind and solar energy projects in eight states, providing 2,000 Americans access to renewable energy construction and manufacturing jobs. A total of $3 billion is slated for clean energy projects under the Recovery Act.

Office Supply Sector Evaluated on Paper Practices

FedEx Office and Office Depot are making the grade with better paper practices, while Amazon.com and Wal-Mart are still failing, according to the annual Green Grades office supply report card by ForestEthics and Dogwood Alliance. Companies that came out ahead have been shifting their purchasing toward Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper and away from the industry-driven Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The report card also found that the office supply sector is steering further away from the world’s most destructive paper companies.

Learn more »