The moment this catalog arrived at the office, a dozen people swore to never shop there again. Environmentally, it’s absurdly wasteful. On the other hand, it’s massively awesome if you’re a fan of the brand. You’ll fall in love and fawn over these books for months. Good or bad? It all comes down to really, […]
Awesome greenness from Columbia Sportswear
March 19, 2011
Reduce, reuse, or recycle? Most businesses ignore the reuse option. Smart thinking (and right-on for this outdoorsy brand) from Columbia — a checkbox in the shopping cart that lets you request a used box. Save a ton of money, help the environment. (Most companies would reject this idea immediately as being unprofessional. But by asking […]
Newsletter #802: The “Lessons from Going Green” Issue
September 30, 2010
Welcome back to the Damn, I Wish I Thought of That! newsletter. This is text of the great issue all of our email subscribers just received. Sign yourself up using the handy form on the right.] With so much energy and smart ideas behind the green movement, there are a ton of ideas we can all […]
Killing vampires: How the tiniest innovations make the biggest difference
August 20, 2010
There has been a revolution in consumer electronics. But it’s so small you didn’t notice. That’s an off switch on a Cisco Valet Wi-Fi hub. Every day all your techno junk is burning power when you’re not using it. "Vampire Power" — what you use on standby mode — wastes up to 13% of all […]
Look for the simple changes
August 18, 2010
Businesses agonize over how to be greener. It’s a big, complicated thing that’s hard to get your head around. Suggestion: Start with the simple stuff. Aloft Hotels put their soap in a dispenser instead of a little bottle. That equals one zillion plastic bottles saved per day, per hotel. (Yes, they are locked so no […]
Get you and your customers on the same page
June 22, 2010
Westin offers a $5 refund to any guest who wants to skip housekeeping for a day. The official reason is about being green. But I’m sure Westin saves a fortune not having to clean hundreds of rooms every day. The $5 isn’t much, but it shows that both sides win on the transaction. Lesson: How […]
It’s not going to work until you make it simple
July 29, 2009
I had two experiences recently where well-meaning environmentalists tried to get people to recycle — and it backfired. Each case involved three garbage cans and detailed, complicated signs explaining what went where. It was too hard, people got flustered — and everything went in the trash. Simplicity rules: It's better to get a few simple […]
Newsletter #724: The “Give Away Permanent Stuff” Issue
March 26, 2009
{Welcome back to the Damn, I Wish I Thought of That Email Newsletter. This is text of the great issue all of our email subscribers just received. Sign yourself up using the handy form on the left.} So much waste is involved in purchases. Turn this garbage into marketing opportunities. 1> Packaging that lasts 2> […]
Why I think Walmart is the biggest force for green business
March 4, 2009
Market forces drive change more than regulation or consumer enthusiasm ever could. Walmart is using their power to push 60,000 supplier to green up their product lines. It's impressive. Just as important, they are making green options affordable to everyone. Read more here from the New York Times.
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