UsedCardboardBoxes.com: 2007 People's Choice Award - part 7

Moving? need some boxes? want to do it sustainably? If you answered 'Yes' to all the 2 questions, our nominee today can help you. Please welcome nominee no. 7 on Eco-Libris blog Unofficial Guide to Co-op America's 2007 People's Choice Award for the Green Business of the Year:

UsedCardboardBoxes.com

Business description: collecting used cardboard boxes, packaging them and reselling them at discounted prices. UsedCardboardBoxes.com rescues truckloads of quality used boxes from businesses and also rescues brand new misprints and overruns from box manufacturers that can longer use those boxes. It puts all of these boxes through a rigorous inspection and certification process, prior to allowing them to be used in its inventory.

Located at: Santa Monica, CA

Operating Since: 2006 (Predecessor company, Boomerang Boxes, founded 2002)

Website: http://www.usedcardboardboxes.com/

The questionnaire (thank you to Marty Metro, UsedCardboardBoxes.com's Founder and CEO):

1. What makes your business a green business?

UsedCardboardBoxes.com is changing the moving box industry, in a very simple way. Rather than cutting down trees and using machinery, gasoline, electricity, etc. to make new boxes, we sell quality used boxes that already exist.

With traditional cardboard box recycling, quality used boxes are baled and shipped to Asia, to be made into new products. There is nothing wrong with that type of recycling, especially if the boxes can’t be used again, here in the US. However, UsedCardboardBoxes.com works with companies right here in the US that historically dispose of quality used boxes. We acquire those boxes and we put them back into the marketplace right here, in the US. No need to destroy them. No need to bale them. No need to ship them to Asia.

The great thing about UsedCardboardBoxes.com is that our customers aren’t just buying a “green product” from a “green company”… they are actually saving money, at the same time.

Few more green points:

- Over $120,000,000,000 worth of cardboard boxes are produced around the world, each year.

- Over 90% of all products in the U.S. are shipped in corrugated cardboard boxes.

- Almost one billion trees a year are used for making paper.

- Trees clean our air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing clean oxygen back into the air for us to breathe. One tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year.

- It takes an estimated 17 trees to create enough cardboard boxes to move one family living in an average three bedroom house.

- Making the pulp from trees for use in corrugated cardboard creates sulfur dioxide pollution. Recycling corrugated cardboard cuts the emissions of sulfur dioxide in half and uses about 25% less energy than making cardboard from virgin pulp. No recycling the box, but simply reusing it emits no sulfur dioxide.

- Saving one ton of cardboard saves over 9 cubic yards of landfill space, saves 390 kWh of energy and saves 1.1 barrels (46 gallons) of oil.

- Nationwide, paper and cardboard account for 41% of all municipal solid waste--that's close to half of all the garbage generated in the US!

- It takes 17 trees to absorb the harmful carbon dioxide emitted from one car every year.

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

That’s pretty easy. We are very proud of two things, here at UsedCardboardBoxes.com:

- We’ve created a virtually “zero waste” company that not only sells a very “green” product, but sells it for LESS than the competition. So, I’d have to say that we are most proud of the fact that we are showing the world that green does not have to cost more. At UsedCardboardBoxes.com, being green actually saves you money.
- Unlike a lot of “green companies” and other organizations that are popping to do their part to save the planet (which is a great thing), we are actually making money while we do it. Its very difficult to be green and also pay your own bills, let alone grow. UsedCardboardBoxes.com is proud to say that we are a for-profit company that has proven to the world that you can make money AND be green. It doesn’t have to be a choice between the two. We help our customers save money, we pay our employees well, we are making a strong impact on the environment and society, all while making enough profit to keep us growing. Yep, we are proud of that!

3. What is your biggest achievement so far?

UsedCardboardBoxes.com’s biggest achievement so far would have to be the fact that we took a local “retail store concept” in Los Angeles and went nationwide. Two years ago, we were proud to say that we serviced an area from Santa Barbara to San Diego, and we delivered 2 days a week. Today, I’m excited to say that UsedCardboardBoxes.com is NATIONWIDE! And, we ship our moving boxes anywhere in the country, for FREE.

There are lots of traditional box companies that offer 5-7 day shipping and/or charge $14.95 - $49.95 just to ship enough boxes to move a household. But at UsedCardboadBoxes.com, anyone in the country who orders used moving boxes from our website will get their boxes in 1-2 business days, guaranteed. We are the only company in the US that can do this. We’ve come a long way in the last few years and I’d say that’s quite an achievement.

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

UsedCardboardBoxes.com provides a way for people to buy a “green product” that actually costs less than the traditional product. And, because UsedCardboardBoxes.com has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, we provide a “no risk” way to try us out. Because we take a portion of our proceeds and plant trees through our partner, TreePeople.org, our customers purchasing actions do more than just get them low cost, risk free moving boxes… they contribute to planting trees and educating people about trees, at the same time.

Our customers don’t have to research charities to find out who actually plants trees and how many. We’ve done the research and completely stand behind them. A portion of our proceeds to go plant trees, but our customers can also choose to plant their own from our site, for only $25. Its amazing to see when our customers purchase one of our smallest moving kits for just $36, but then go ahead and donate a tree, for an additional $25. We like to think that because of the money we are saving them, they are able to do such wonderful acts. The reality is our customers are just plain awesome!

5. Who is your green hero?

Well, there are a lot of pioneers in the green movement these days. New people come up with new green concepts everyday. But I have to say that for UsedCardboardBoxes.com, our heroes are our customers. We have built an amazing business with sophisticated processes and world-class technology. However, if its wasn’t for our customers, that made a conscious decision to switch to used boxes, we would be out of business quickly.

However, we have been growing strong. Not only do more and more customers come to UsedCardboardBoxes.com, but one of our top referral sources is word of mouth from our customers. They are helping us spread the word, by telling friends about us, nominating us for Coop America’s “Green Business of the Year” and more. I can’t tell you how many calls we get from people saying “my sister said that I just HAD to use you….” and the like.

We don’t have a single salesperson at UsedCardboardBoxes.com. We are grateful to have a customer base that loves to brag about us. So, whether they have been green for years, or are just experimenting for the first time with UsedCardboardBoxes.com, our customers are our biggest green heroes.

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

On one hand, our dreams have come true. We took a simple concept and spent 5 years developing the logistics, technology and business processes to have national company, where anyone in the country could easily purchase used cardboard boxes. We did it! Now, our dream is for EVERYONE in the country to know that “you don’t have to cut down a tree, to make a used cardboard box!” In other words, the dream for UsedCardboardBoxes.com is that every person and company in the country will consider using a used box, before contributing to making new ones!

The next nominee: Flexcar

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
Part 4 - Pizza Fusion
Part 5 - Green Living Now
Part 6 - ReusableBags.com

Yours,
Raz

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

Tamsin Blanchard shows you how to change the world with style

It all started in a confessional booth.

Cyndi Rhoades of Anti-apathy has a mobile fashion confessional booth she takes to workshops and festivals. In the summer of 2006, she took it to a local festival in London. Tamsin Blanchard, the Style Director of Telegraph Magazine and a longtime fashion journalist, who was helping to organize an eco-fashion day at this festival, decided to take advantage of the opportunity and went to confess at the confessional booth.

These moments at the booth were epiphany moments for her. "I went to confess my fashion sins and from then, I really began to seriously consider the issues of pesticides in cotton, fairtrade clothing, clothing dyes, recycling etc." she told me. She acted fast and one year later she launched her new book: Green is the New Black: How to Change the World with Style. The book is a guide to everyone who is looking for ways to green up their lifestyle, without compromising on style, quality, being fashionably, etc.

Nowadays you can find a growing number of books written on different aspects of green consumerism, but this is the first one written by a fashion journalist. Naturally, it focuses on topics such as eco-fashion, eco-style, green weddings, eco-friendly shoes and bags and getting the (green) look.

In addition the book also presents the alternative way to be green and fashionable - DIY. Blanchard, knowing very well the significance of recycling, gives many tips how to make clothes and accessories from materials you can find at your home and your closet, including how to organize swishing (clothes swapping) parties.

I was recently honored with the opportunity to speak with Tamsin Blanchard for an article I made for the web-edition of Maariv, Israel's second-largest newspaper on her book. You are welcome to read on her thoughts on green living and which of her green tips is her favorite.

What brought you to write this book? to whom it is written?

As a fashion journalist, I have seen the high street begin to take note of the issues surrounding eco and fair trade fashion. The consumer is beginning to ask questions and I felt it was the right time to supply them with the information - written in an accessible and unworthy way. The book is aimed at anyone interested in fashion who also has a conscience.

What's the most interesting stuff you have learned about eco-living while working on the book?

That there are so many great alternatives, from fantastic fair trade jewellery (made on the slums of Kibera by the ethical jewellery company Made) to fantastically cool chrome free leather shoes by Terra Plana.

You are described as someone who is bringing eco-living to the masses - do you think the masses really care about eco-living? isn't it still something that only people with financial capabilities can afford?

Even if only 5 % are interested in making a change, then they are worth communicating and engaging with, and hopefully, the message will spread to everyone. We now all have to recycle our rubbish or we get fined so nobody can ignore eco-living completely. 10 years ago, fairtrade bananas and coffee were a niche product bought by a committed few. Now they have become totally mainstream. Change happens quickly.

What's your reply to the critics of green consumerism, like George Monbiot for example, who believe it causes more damage than good by giving us an illusion that we can fix the world with a couple of efficient bulbs and a pair of organic cotton jeans?

Nobody is going to stop buying jeans. Why should we? We are not living in the dark ages and whether we like it or not, we are a society of consumers. Shopping has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment. If we can get people to direct their spending power in the right direction, then perhaps more people will be paid a fair wage.

Sure, we need to cut down on how much and how quickly we are consuming, particularly in fashion. I do think we need to slow down, buy fewer, better quality items, and respect the things we buy - looking after them, mending them, making them last as long as possible - so that we stop throwing things away so readily. Cheap, fast fashion, in particular, is a false economy as it falls apart after a couple of washes.

It seems that the options for men are relatively limited when it comes to eco-fashion. What's your advice for those of us who happen to be men, but still want to be fashionable, cool and green?

There are plenty of organic jeans around now, (including Levi's) and there are labels like Katharine E Hamnett, Loomstate, and Howies that cater for men who want to be green and fashionable. Support those labels and other companies will follow.

How many of the tips you provide in your book you implement in your daily life?

what's the one you like mostly? Washing your clothes at 30 degrees. They still come out just as clean!

What you see as the hottest trends in green living in the next couple of years? is there any area that we should follow in particular?

We will be seeing more alternatives to cotton (even organic cotton - it's so water intensive that it is not sustainable). Fabrics like bamboo, soya, interesting mixes with hemp, washi etc will be more widely available and will filter into designer lines as well as the high street.

What's the most important advice you can give to someone who really wants to change the world and make it greener, but with style?

Don't compromise on style. Be confident in your own style and don't follow trends. Ask questions about where your clothes were made. Slow down.

Your book is about green living. Does it also 'walk the walk', i.e., printed in an environmentally manner (using recycled paper for example)?

The book is made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The hard coverboard is recycled. And I encourage anyone who has a copy to pass it on to a friend once they have finished with it!

The book 'Green is the New Black: Changing the World with Style' can be found on Amazon.com. You can also check out Tamsin Blanchard's blog.

Raz @ Eco-Libris

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

ReusableBags.com: 2007 People's Choice Award - part 6

Using reusable bags in the supermarket is one of my favorite green actions. It's so simple, but yet so rare.. Our nominee for today works to change the situation. Please welcome nominee no. 6 on Eco-Libris blog Unofficial Guide to Co-op America's 2007 People's Choice Award for the Green Business of the Year:

ReusableBags.com

Business description: Online store featuring a wide range of high-quality, innovative reusable shopping bags and related accessories. ReusableBags.com is also a major force providing facts and news on the global push to reduce plastic and paper bag consumption.

Located at: Chicago, IL

Operating Since: 2003

Website: http://www.reusablebags.com/

The questionnaire (thank you to Allison Kozdron from ReusableBags.com):

1. What makes your business a green business?

We handpick all the products that we carry, and focus on recycled, sustainably grown, fairly traded products and high quality products. We work constantly with our fulfillment warehouse to reduce our eco-impact in shipping and use packaging products with 60% recycled content.

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

Joining the likes of Patagonia, 1% of sales are donated to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment through our 1% For the Planet affiliation.

3. What is your biggest achievement so far?

For the last five years, we've been fighting hard to spread the word on the massive over-consumption of plastic shopping bags and have made a significant impact -- inspiring hundreds of news stories, empowering individuals with practical tools and supporting grassroots activists. We are proud to have been endorsed by An Inconvenient Truth, and recognized in mainstream publications, such as USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Vogue magazine and many others.

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

In addition to being a major catalyst in raising awareness on the plastic bag issue, since 2003 we’ve provided consumers with nearly 350,000 reusable bags and bottles, enabling consumers to reduce their consumption of use-and-toss items by an estimated 190 million units.

5. Who is your green hero?

ReusableBags.com was founded by Vincent Cobb, who after researching the issue, was amazed by the sheer volume of plastic bags and the growing negative impact on our environment. He was inspired by his mother, who had long used reusable shopping bags and was a practical environmentalist. She helped fashion the early prototypes on a home sewing machine for the proprietary Acme bags line, which recently won a “best overall” rating as the best reusable shopping bag by the Wall Street Journal. She still continues to use her reusable shopping bags and spread the word!

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

To continue to stand out as providing attractive, high quality reusable shopping bags that consumers actually want to use, especially as more retailers begin virtually giving away cheap shopping bags (which may merely replace one “use and toss” with another!). We hope to expand our offering of bags made of truly sustainable (organic cotton, hemp) and recycled materials (such as recycled PET and recycled cotton).

The next nominee: UsedCardboardBoxes.com

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

Part 4 - Pizza Fusion

Part 5 - Green Living Now

Yours,

Raz

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

Green Living Now: 2007 People's Choice Award - part 5

I hope you all had a great weekend and now you're ready for the second week of our nominees series. Today Eco-Libris blog presents nominee no. 5 to Co-op America's 2007 People's Choice Award for the Green Business of the Year:

Green Living Now

Business description: Green Living Now is a unique woman owned, organic and natural products online store, based in Vermont. What makes Green Living Now unique is that they only sell the products that Amy Todisco, founder and owner, researches and uses herself. Green Living Now does the research so consumers don’t have to. They also provide a free monthly newsletter and many informative articles on green living.

Located at: Huntington, VT

Operating Since: 2004

Website: http://www.greenlivingnow.com/

The questionnaire (Replied by Amy Todisco, founder and owner of Green Living Now):

1. What makes your business a green business?

Many things make Green Living Now a green business beyond just selling truly green products. One big thing that sets me apart from other natural product stores is that I only sell the products that I've researched (I'm an information-a-holic) and used myself, rather than all of the ones marketed as 'green', 'natural' and 'organic'. And, I'm basically a purist with very strict criteria. There are lots of products in natural food stores that aren't much better than conventional supermarket brands. A few added herbs and essential oils, and earth looking packaging, along with a bunch of toxic synthetic chemicals.

Green Living Now makes it easier for consumers (I hate that word, but that's what we are?) to find truly organic and natural products from companies who are walking their talk. Also, I provide free articles and tips on green living, as opposed to sales oriented newsletters. My mission is really about sharing information to help people become more informed. I sell the products to make it easier to take the next step. Selling online provides an option for people that don't have stores locally that sell these products.

Mainly I want to help people be sure they are getting truly organic and natural products and inspire them to live greener healthier lives.

I would like also to add that Green Living Now donates products, consultations, and money to a variety of nonprofit socially and environmentally responsible organizations each year.

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

I walk my talk. My business is home based which means I don?t have to commute anywhere. I use USPS priority mail, in part because they provide free recycled cradle to cradle certified boxes ecologically-intelligent design that eliminates the concept of waste. USPS is also more affordable for the customer, which keeps our shipping rates reasonable (especially with heavy liquid soaps).

We use recycled paper to pad the boxes, or reuse packing peanuts that we receive from manufacturers.We use only the same natural and organic products in our home office that I sell. We compost, reduce, reuse and recycle, keep our thermostats set to 60 in the winter and heat with local wood, practice a whole bunch of energy conservation techniques, including using energy star appliances, buy local organic food in season (and organic all year round).

We also use natural building materials (just had our kitchen tiled with ceramic tiles), have hardwood floors, use no VOC paints, sealants, stains, etc. We signed up to have a solar electric system installed with Citizenre (it's essentially a rental deal that allows you to lock in your current electricity providers rate for 1, 5, or 25 years, and feed solar generated electricity back into the grid). There's more, but you get the idea.

3. What is your biggest achievement so far?

I've been in the green movement for over 15 years, and my biggest achievement is hearing about the lives I've touched in positive ways through living and sharing about green living. Sometimes it?s through a newsletter article, a personal note with an order, a telephone consultation, or quick question answered for free via email or telephone. Or, sometimes it happens when I'm chatting with someone while I wait in line somewhere.

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

First, by taking action myself and then talking about it. It's all based on my personal experiences, or at the very least-my research. Whenever I communicate about green living I try not to preach, but to share information as one friend to another. Using humor when writing has helped me to deal with the often depressing state of our environment.

I have been told by various people over the years that they have been inspired to act by my newsletter articles (which appear on my site, the Ecomall in the 'Ask Amy' section of the Green Living Magazine-http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/ate.htm, and many other places on the Internet), through my answers to questions from people via the Earth Day Network (http://earthday.net/involved/newsletter/june07.html) and my own site.

Years ago I did a lot of community activism, creating nonprofits and events, and writing letters to the editor of newspapers (the most read section of any newspaper).There's no question that one person can make a difference (sadly we often see the negative effects of one person's actions). Every step we take, no matter how small, may inspire someone else. And, even if no one else is watching, we can feel good knowing that we are doing our best.

5. Who is your green hero?

Rachel Carson

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

To reach a much larger audience with the message of green living. We need bold action now to save life on this planet. I plan to do that by finishing writing my book on green living and be a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show sharing about green living.

The next nominee: Reusablebags.com

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
Part 4 - Pizza Fusion

Yours,
Raz

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

Craft Inc. book launch party

Do you live in the San Francisco area? if you do, check out Craft Inc. launch party on Tuesday. If you don't, maybe you should :-)

I have heard about the party from our good friend Victoria E, and here are the details from the blog of the author Meg Maeto Ilasco:

The book launch party for Craft Inc. will be hosted by the wonderful ladies of Rare Device.

When: Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Where: 111 Minna Street, San Francisco

Time: 6pm-9pm

As it says above, we'll be raffling off a TON of prizes. Literally, 2,000 pounds of Chronicle Books craft titles and goods donated by local indie businesses and the profilees featured in the book. Really nice stuff like an In Fiore body balm, a Lotta Jansdotter bag, fat quarters of Denyse Schmidt's new line "Katie Jump Rope", a gift certificate for Rare Device and so much more!

And the best prize of all (if you own an indie craft/design biz) is one month of free advertising space on design*sponge.

So come to the party to buy a signed copy of the book and to meet me! Or if you already know me, then come to win a prize. Or if you don't care to win a prize, then come to see all the very nice-looking people that will be there. I've paid them handsomely to stand around looking pretty. Don't let my good money go to waste!

(If you're in LA: yes, I will be having a book party there, too, with Reform School in November. Details to come!)

So what's the book all about? "Craft Inc. is the hipster business primer for entrepreneurial crafters to turn what they do for fun into what they do for money. Pro crafter Meg Mateo Ilasco offers a step-by-step guide to everything from developing products and naming the company to writing a business plan, applying for licenses, and paying taxes. Chapters on sales, marketing, trade shows, and publicity round out the mix. Plus, in-depth interviews with such craft luminaries as Jonathan Adler, Lotta Jansdotter, Denyse Schmidt, and Jill Bliss provide inspiration and practical advice. Accessible, informative, and more than a little spunky, Craft, Inc. paves the way for today's creative minds to become tomorrow's trendsetters." (Amazon.com)

Interested to learn more? check out Victoria E's exclusive interview on her blog with the author, Meg Maeto Ilasco.

Enjoy the party and if you happen to win one of the books that will be given there, don't forget to balance it out with Eco-Libris :-)

Raz

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

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!