Comments on: The Sustainable Entrepreneur’s Dilemma

By: Susie's Bags, a Unique, Local Product

Susie's Bags, a Unique, Local Product — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:50:24 +0000

[...] great to see a business succeeding on principles that so many others are trying to get back to – producing goods locally, providing jobs and reducing the impact of having them mass-produced [...]

By: Susie Hewitt

Susie Hewitt — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 13:08:55 +0000

My comment is actually a question: I am gearing up to start a green business that diverts reusable waste from landfills by selling and donating materials to artists and teachers as art supplies.
There are many non-profits around the country that fulfill this function, however, due to our economy locally, there is zero money for non-profit start-up. The artists who are willing to participate need incomes, however modest. A portion of the proceeds will be donated directly to schools and local non-profits that serve the local arts community.
If anyone has ideas, please email
susana922@charter.net with reuse for profit in the subject line.
Thank you!

By: This week’s most helpful posts, 42/08 | Sustainable Marketing Blog

This week’s most helpful posts, 42/08 | Sustainable Marketing Blog — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:58:56 +0000

[...] The sustainable entrepreneur’s dilemma, Ecopreneurist [...]

By: Dean

Dean — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:44:32 +0000

From the StalkMarket standpoint, they begin by upcycling sugarcane stalks that have been gathered from sugar refineries to make disposables that are biodegradable and compostable. The trick is to make sure these items, once used, actually make it to the composter rather than the landfill (though they will break down in the landfill eventually).

There are a lot of things consumers can do on that front. First, they can start composting at home. Second, we should all make sure we put pressure on state and local governments to make sure waste is handled in the best, most environmentally way possible. Composting should be part of the mix there as well.

There are a number of pieces that discuss this in more detail on the StalkMarket blog as well. Since I managed to enter the wrong URL in my first comment, I hope you won’t mind if I correct it here. It is http://blog.stalkmarketproducts.com.

Thanks.

By: mcmilker

mcmilker — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:50:40 +0000

Dean,

Great discussion point- where does “disposable” fit in a sustainble-oriented culture? What steps can we as ecopreneurs take to ensure recyclable products ARE recycled? And at what point…now this may be a silly question…but – could we get to a point where consumerism is so rampant that there is too much to recycle?

By: Dean

Dean — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:18:57 +0000

Teriffic post. Another important thing we can do (as consumers)is to put pressure on companies tht are guilty of greenwashing by calling them out on it whenever possible.

I work with a company called StalkMarket — another sustainable entrepreneur with a similar dilemma to the one you outline above. They make Earth-friendly disposable table ware, to-go containers and food packaging. On the one hand, they recognize our disposable culture is a significant contributor to some of the worst environmental problems we face today. On the other hand, the products that StalkMarket makes definitely provide environmentally superior alternatives to similar items made of polystyrene, plastic, etc. This is one of the main themes that StalkMarket addresses on its blog (http;//blog.stalkmarket.com)

I address the PR and marketing implications of greenwashing at my own blog here http://blog.koifishcommunications.com/2008/09/17/greenwashing–time-to-find-a-new-fad.aspx.

By: Kirk Leonard

Kirk Leonard — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:50:54 +0000

In reply to mcmilker’s “The Sustainable Entrepreneur’s Dilemma”:

This is very good thinking, and I would like to add a few of what I think are likewise fundamentally sound thoughts to consider in producing goods that reduce our environmental impact. They are deducible from this comment, but more explicitly:

1. All products should be designed to be re-used, recycled, or repaired. No more “disposable” products, please.

BMW is one of the auto makers that have been doing this, and I believe Mercedes Benz and Ford are also doing it to some extent, for examples.

2. All manufacturers should be held responsible for either recycling their products themselves or ensuring that they are recycled, by directly supporting recyclers.

I’m not a big consumer, so I don’t know the extent of this, but I believe HP has been doing a good job and continues to grow its recycling efforts.

3. Another idea is encouraging, via public policies and perhaps incentives, the development of a “re-manufacturing” industry. We should learn from Cubans about how they keep 1950′s American cars running so long:). I believe there is a company in New Jersey that makes a good business from re-manufacturing old Volvos, also.

This should include all durable goods — re-use through re-manufacturing, hmm?