More News from the Field : Help Sustainable Harvest International Win $10,000

We got today a newsletter of our planting partners and friends at SHI (Sustainable Harvest International.) Recently storms and hurricanes hit parts of Honduras, Belize and Nicaragua, where SHI operates. But as the newsletter reports planting trees helps prevent more severe damages:

Despite these recent hardships, we feel lucky. Sustainable Harvest Honduras Field Trainer, Juan Carlos Sandres tells us that SHI is not in the business of disaster relief, but disaster prevention - and it's working! In his own words, "After the experience of devastation in my country from Hurricane Mitch in 1998, Sustainable Harvest Honduras has been dedicated to sharing agro-forestry techniques with families that were impacted by the disaster. We have been able to improve many vulnerable areas through soil conservation, reforestation, crop diversification and disaster prevention training. We know that when there are natural disasters, the families we work with are more resilient and their parcels of land are much less susceptible to erosion and crop loss."

So here's your chance to assist SHI with their work in these communities to bounce back from the hurricane damages, and do even better in other places:

SHI has created two groups on a new social networking site and will be eligible to win $10,000 if we can get 100 people to join our online groups. It is free, easy and will not lead to any unwanted mailings. $10,000 could allow SHI to begin work in at least 3 new villages, reaching many more Central American families that are anxiously waiting for our help. Please take a moment to join today and encourage others to do the same.

Register at http://beta.razoo.com/ and join our groups at http://beta.razoo.com/groups/shi and http://beta.razoo.com/groups/sw. Then make sure to tell everyone you know how to join each of these groups!

And don't forget to mention that you are joining because you heard about it right here :)

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Pizza Fusion: 2007 People's Choice Award - part 4

Friday is a great day for Pizza, isn't it? well, you've got to the right place! Please allow me to introduce nominee no.4 on the Eco-Libris blog Unofficial Guide to Co-op America's 2007 People's Choice Award for the Green Business of the Year:

Pizza Fusion

Business description: This is the world's first organic pizza chain, with two places operating in Florida, two more slated to open by the end of 2007 and contracts for more than 60 franchised units in seven states. Pizza Fusion serves a variety of sandwiches, wraps, salads, desserts, beer and wine all made with all-natural and organic ingredients. Its cofounders Mike Gordon and Vaughan Lazar are working to build their business on the motto, “Saving the Earth, One Pizza at a Time".

Located at: Fort Lauderdale, FL (headquarters)

Operating Since: 2006

Website: http://www.pizzafusion.com/

The questionnaire (thank you to Eric Haley, Pizza Fusion Vice President of Communications):

1. What makes your business a green business?

AT PIZZA FUSION, WE CARE ABOUT THE PLANET AND OUR CUSTOMERS. WE CARE SO MUCH THAT WE HOLD OURSELVES RESPONSIBLE. BY BEING COMMITTED TO AND CONSCIOUS OF OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE CONSUMER, WE’VE SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO FOLLOW AND WE’RE PROUD OF IT.

PIZZA FUSION ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF TODAY'S HEALTH CONSCIOUS CONSUMER WITH CONCERN FOR BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE ENVIRONMENT BY SUPPORTING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE THROUGH OUR 98 PERCENT ORGANIC MENU AND PRACTICING AN ECO-FRIENDLY APPROACH TO ALL OUR OPERATIONS. FROM THE CREATION OF OUR FOOD TO ITS DELIVERY TO THE CUSTOMER, EVERY ASPECT OF OUR OPERATIONS WAS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE ON SOCIETY AND THE WORLD:

IN OUR RESTAURANTS:

• OFFSETTING 100% OF OUR POWER CONSUMPTION IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND AT THE CORPORATE OFFICE WITH THE PURCHASE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES

• PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BY SERVING A MORE THAN 98% ORGANIC MENU

• BUILDING OUR RESTAURANTS ACCORDING TO THE LEED (LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN) CERTIFICATION STANDARDS SET FORTH BY THE UNITED STATES GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL BY UTILIZING A VARIETY OF UNIQUE ENERGY EFFICIENT TACTICS AND ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS (MAKING US THE FIRST AND ONLY NATIONAL RESTAURANT CONCEPT TO DO SO)

• DELIVERING OUR FOOD IN COMPANY OWNED HYBRID VEHICLES

• RECYCLING AND GIVING CUSTOMERS DISCOUNTS FOR BRINGING BACK THEIR PIZZA BOXES TO RECYCLE THEM

• USING ONLY ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANERS TO SANITIZE ALL OUR STORES

• SERVING OUR FOOD IN PLASTIC SUBSTANCE LIKE CONTAINERS THAT ARE MADE 100% FROM CORN STARCH AND ARE DESIGNED TO DECOMPOSE IN LANDFILLS IN 30 DAYS

• USING ONLY SPUDWARE UTENSILS THAT ARE MADE 100% FROM POTATOES THAT BIODEGRADE IN 30 DAYS

• RECYCLING THE HEAT FROM OUR OVENS TO HEAT THE WATER IN OUR STORES; ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR WATER HEATERS

• ELIMINATING THE USE OF AIR HEATING UNITS BY REDISTRIBUTING THE HEAT FROM OUR OVENS TO WARM THE RESTAURANTS IN OUR NORTHERN LOCATIONS

• USING A GREYWATER SYSTEM THAT RECYCLES WASTE WATER INTO OUR TOILETS AND SAVES 1/3 OF OUR RESTAURANTS’ WATER USAGE PER YEAR

• SELLING AND PROVIDING OUR EMPLOYEES ONLY WITH ECO-APPAREL MADE FROM 100% ORGANIC COTTON

• USING 100% POST CONSUMER TOILET PAPER AND PAPER TOWELS IN ALL OUR BATHROOMS

• PRINTING OUR IN-STORE GRAPHICS ON A BANNER MATERIAL MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED SODA BOTTLES AND PRINTED USING NON-VOC INKS

• USING ECO-FRIENDLY PAINTS FROM GREEN PLANET PAINTS

• USING COMPACT FLUORESCENT (CF) BULBS IN OUR STORES WHICH SAVES ON ENERGY CONSUMPTION

• USING SEAT CUSHIONS MADE FROM SOYBEAN OIL, INSTEAD OF PETROLEUM BASED FOAM

• INSTALLING COUNTER TOPS MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED DETERGENT BOTTLES

• USING PANELS FROM 3-FORM, A RECYCLED MATERIALS PAPER COMPANY WITH A MINIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT, TO BUILD SHELVES AND COUNTER TOPS IN OUR STORES

• USING RECLAIMED WOOD TO BUILD OUR TABLES AND CUTTING BOARDS

• REUSING GLASS BOTTLES FROM OUR STORES TO CREATE FLOORING TILES FOR OUR FUTURE LOCATIONS

• INSTALLING A SMART LIGHTING SYSTEM IN OUR BATHROOMS THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS OFF WHEN THE BATHROOM IS VACANT

• USING DRYWALL IN OUR BUILD-OUT THAT IS 95% POST-CONSUMER CONTENT AND LOCALLY MANUFACTURED

• USING FSC (FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL - HTTP://WWW.FSC.ORG/EN/ABOUT) CERTIFIED WOOD TO BUILD OUR CABINETS AND WOOD FIXTURES

• ALL APPLIANCES ARE ENERGY STAR CERTIFIED

• USING INSULATION IN OUR RESTAURANTS MADE FROM RECYCLED BLUE JEANS

• USING THE MOST EFFICIENT HVAC UNIT ON THE MARKET

• USING 30% RECAPTURED INDUSTRIAL CONCRETE

• USING CEILING PANELS MADE FROM 74% RECYCLED ALUMINUM CANS AND 24% POST INDUSTRIAL METALS

• INSTALLING USG GYPSUM BOARD MADE FROM PRE-USED DRYWALL

• INSTALLING BAMBOO VENEER FACE COVERINGS FOR FIXTURES

• USING CEILING BAFFLES MADE FROM RECYCLED COMPOSITE BOARD

WITH OUR MARKETING:

• USING PAPER IN OUR COLLATERAL THAT IS FSC CERTIFIED, PRODUCED CHLORINE FREE, AND CONSISTS OF 50% ALTERNATIVE FIBER (RENEWABLE SUGARCANE) AND 50% RECYCLED CONTENT

• USING AN ELECTRONIC VERSIONS OF OUR COLLATERAL, SUCH AS OUR FRANCHISE BROCHURE (HTTP://WWW.PIZZAFUSION.COM/FRANCHISEBROCHURE.PDF) AND PRESS KIT (WWW.PIZZAFUSION.COM/PRESSKIT.PDF), WHENEVER POSSIBLE

• HOSTING OUR WEBSITE WITH A ‘GREEN’ WEB HOSTING SERVICE PROVIDER THAT OFFSETS THE POWER CONSUMPTION OF THEIR SERVERS WITH THE PURCHASE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES• BRANDED PENS MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED CARDBOARD AND RECYCLED PLASTIC

• USING SEED PAPER (HTTP://WWW.BLOOMINPROMOTIONS.COM/PRODUCTS/BOOKMARKS.HTML) FOR VARIOUS COLLATERAL

IN OUR CORPORATE OPERATIONS:

• OFFSETTING 100% OF OUR POWER CONSUMPTION IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND AT THE CORPORATE OFFICE WITH THE PURCHASE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES

• OFFSETTING THE CARBON IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH OUR TRAVELING WITH THE PURCHASE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES FROM 3DEGREES (HTTP://WWW.3DEGREESINC.COM) AND, WHEN ASKED TO SPEAK AT ENGAGEMENTS, REQUIRING THE ORGANIZERS TO PURCHASE RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES TO OFFSET THE CARBON IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH OUR TRAVELING

• SEEKING OUT ONLY ECO-CENTRIC VENDORS TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH AND PUSHING THEM TO FURTHER THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS WITH THEIR OPERATIONS

• MAKING A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MINIMIZE OUR ELECTRICITY USAGE AT THE CORPORATE OFFICE BY SHUTTING OFF ALL COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, LIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONING, ETC. EVERY NIGHT BEFORE LEAVING

• MAKING A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MINIMIZE OUR PAPER WASTE BY REDUCING OUR PRINTING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

• EXPANDING THE RECYCLING PROGRAM IN OUR OFFICE COMPLEX TO ALLOW ALL TENANTS TO RECYCLE

EDUCATION, PHILANTHROPIC & POLITICAL:

• DONATE MONEY TO ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES IN, AROUND AND BEYOND OUR COMMUNITIES

• HOST A FREE ORGANICS FOR KIDS CLASS EVERY THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH THAT EDUCATES CHILDREN ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EATING ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING

• LOBBYING FOR POLITICAL ACTION, SUCH AS THE SAFE CLIMATE ACT (H.R. 1590), THAT SUPPORTS A MORE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FUTURE

• SPEAKING AT VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS IN AND AROUND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES

• FURTHERING OUR ECO-IMPACT BY SPEAKING AT VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND ORGANIC CONFERENCES AROUND THE U.S., SUCH AS THE 2ND ANNUAL BUSINESS OF ORGANICS CONFERENCE (WWW.ALMEVENTS.COM/CONF_PAGE.CFM?INSTANCE_ID=29&WEB_ID=1017&PID=625) AND THE 2008 ALL THINGS ORGANIC CONFERENCE (WWW.ORGANICEXPO.COM/07/PUBLIC/CONTENT.ASPX?ID=14290)

• FOUNDING A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE LITTLE SPROUT FOUNDATION,,, DESIGNED TO RAISE MONEY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE AN IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN VISITING TOWNS AND CITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, HOSTING EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS AND ORGANIZING PARK CLEANUP.

2. What is your green characteristic you're most proud of?

WE’RE MOST PROUD OF A SINGLE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE, BUT MORE SO OUR ENTIRE APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS. EVERY ONE OF OUR GREEN INITIATIVES IS THE RESULT OF OUR COMMITMENT, RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PRO-ACTIVE OUTREACH THAT HAS ENABLED US TO FURTHER MINIMIZE OUR ECO-FOOTPRINT AS A BUSINESS. WE’RE EQUALLY PROUD OF ALL OUR ‘GREEN’ CHARACTERISTICS.

3. What is your biggest achievement so far?

WHILE WE’RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO PROMOTE A MORE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FUTURE, FROM COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. ALTHOUGH, WE CONSIDER OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT TO BE THE CREATION OF THE PIZZA FUSION BUSINESS MODEL, WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PROFITABILITY. WE’RE EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE THE GREENEST RESTAURANT CONCEPT IN AMERICA.

4. In what way do you think that you help people to take a green action and make a difference?

WE PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS WITH AN ECO-FRIENDLY DINING OPTION WHERE THEY CAN DINE-IN, CARRYOUT OR ORDER DELIVERY WITH A MINIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. BY SERVING A 98 PERCENT ORGANIC MENU WE ARE SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE THAT IS HEALTHIER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO EDUCATE OUR CUSTOMERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING THROUGH OUR COLLATERAL, IN-STORE DESIGN AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. OUR ‘ORGANICS FOR KIDS’ CLASS EDUCATES CHILDREN ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ECO-FRIENDLY LIVING AND EATING ORGANIC. ADDITIONALLY, WE TAKE PRIDE IN SPEAKING ON THE IMPORTANCE SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANT PRACTICES AT VARIOUS EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, SUCH AS THE 2ND ANNUAL BUSINESS OF ORGANICS CONFERENCE (HTTP://WWW.ALMEVENTS.COM/CONF_PAGE.CFM?INSTANCE_ID=29&WEB_ID=1017&PID=625) AND THE 2008 ALL THINGS ORGANIC CONFERENCE.

5. Who is your green hero?

“MY MOM. SHE INSTILLED IN ME THE ABILITY TO DETERMINE RIGHT FROM WRONG, WHICH IS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE BEHIND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE CHOICES AND PREMISE BY WHICH PIZZA FUSION WAS FOUNDED ON… DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY. THE HEALTH OF OUR PLANET IS A REFLECTION OF THE CHOICES WE MAKE,” VAUGHAN LAZAR, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF PIZZA FUSION, STATES.

6. What's your green dream for your business?

“OUR DREAM IS TO BECOME A ZERO IMPACT RESTAURANT WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN COME IN FOR A QUALITY DINING EXPERIENCE WITHOUT LEAVING ANY IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT,” VAUGHAN LAZAR, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF PIZZA FUSION, STATES.

The next nominee: Green Living Now

And if you missed the parts of the Unofficial Guide we published so far on Eco-Libris blog, please check them out:

Introduction
Part 1 - Natural Pet Home Store
Part 2- Mountains of the Moon
Part 3 - Yoga Nine

Yours,
Raz

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for everybook you read!