1% welcomes Danny, Cecilia, and Patrick

Our summer internship team, shown here near our planetary headquarters in Waitsfield Vermont.

We have some new friends at our space in the old schoolhouse this summer, and we thought to share the good news. Please join us in welcoming Danny, Cecilia, and Patrick (pictured above in order) to the 1% team!

Danny Kuzio is a recent high-school graduate from Green Mountain Valley School right down the street from 1%, in Waitsfield, Vermont.  In the fall he’ll be a first year student at Bates College in Maine where he hopes to study economics or environmental science.  This summer he’ll be working mostly with Chrissy in member services and certification, and training for cross-country ski racing in his spare time.

1%’s favorite Danny-hobby: cross-country skiing in our backyard, the Green Mountains (ok… we’re slightly biased)

Cecilia Su has just finished her first year at Dartmouth College, pursuing a B.A. in Government and Economics. She was drawn to 1% because of her interest in environmental problems and policy solutions as well as her faith in 1%’s innovative environmental investment model. In addition to marketing support, Cecilia is spearheading much of 1%’s new media outreach (give a shout-out or follow our Celia-led 1% Twitter updates).

Top “social networking” activity: with friends, shefing-up vegan cookies that aren’t cooked (the “un-cookie”)

Patrick Johnson is an Environmental Policy major at Middlebury College. He refuses to leave Vermont during the brief annual spell of glorious weather and lives over the mountains from 1%, in Charlotte. Patrick has spent time in work relating to venture capital, land conservation, and the study of policy matters related to the reduction of greenhouse gasses. At 1%, he’s focusing on the upcoming release of our 1% short film (stay tuned for more about the film!).

Favorite street-wear: a used-to-be-neon-colored Ducks Unlimited cap from the 70s

A warm welcome from our extended 1% For The Planet family!

Posted in News, Our Team

1% for the Planet: Redefining How Business Does Business

The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) shares a first-look at results from its annual philanthropy survey of nearly 140 leading companies, revealing that 53% of companies increased their total philanthropic donations in 2008, and 27% increased their giving by more than 10% year-over-year. Amid a challenging economy, business leaders continue to support their companies’ commitments to rebuilding their communities and advancing social and environmental programs around the world.  Read full article.

1% for the Planet is establishing philanthropy as a tenet of the socially-responsible business model.  As global financial markets collapsed last October, more companies joined than in any other month of 2008, and we are growing by more than one new member company every day!  Currently over 1,100 member companies in 39 countries!

Despite the recent economic downturn, several 1% for the Planet member companies had their best year ever in 2008. One reason for their relative success is the value of sustainability. Many members have strong values-oriented brands in a marketplace that increasingly rewards responsible businesses. Participation in 1% for the Planet is a great way to signal that commitment.

Since overall performance of 1% for the Planet member companies remains strong, so too does charitable giving from the 1% for the Planet network. With donor dollars for non-profit causes falling fast in today’s economic crisis, giving that is tied to the sales of our member companies remains strong. To date, we have channeled an estimated $42 million in critically needed funds to more than 1,700 non-profits around the world, with $10 million given in 2008 alone.

With the current momentum that is carrying 1% for the Planet, our powerful network of socially responsible companies is redefining how business does business – and generating considerable new resources to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits that protect and restore the environment.

Posted in Philanthropy

Garett Brennan and the Great Salt Licks

Huckleberry Tree.  Yeah, that’s right – Huckleberry.

That’s the name of the new album from Garrett Brennan and the Great Salt Licks

and it’s chock full of goodness. Tunes like ‘Joy Sweet Joy’, ‘Down the Line’, or ‘Too Old to Dream’ will all put you in a very nice place.

While the music’s darn good, it’s more than tunes that connect Huckleberry Tree to 1% for the Planet. In addition to being a friend of ours, and one of the funky freshest humans we know, Garett is a 1% member, committing 1% of the sales of his music to environmental non-profit groups. He’s also the Executive Director of Focus The Nation, a 1% recipient non-profit organization that’s leading the charge for civic engagement around the issues of clean energy and bold and just climate policy.

As if all that weren’t enough, Garett donated a song to our upcoming 1% CD project, one that will help us spread the 1% message far and wide (stay tuned!). AND, he entertained the crowds for us at this past winter’s Outdoor Retailer tradeshow in Salt Lake City. Need another connection? Garett was a founding artist of 1% member Clif Bar’s GreenNotes team, a fantastic crew of musicians committed to greening their touring and educating fans about sustainable lifestyles.

Okay, lovefest over. Don’t check out Huckleberry Tree ‘cause he’s our pal or the things he’s doing for the environmental movement. Check it out ‘cause it’s some truly fine almost-summertime music. It’s been echoing through the 1% office for the last few days and we can’t get enough.

Go, Garett, go!

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Media, Members, Non-Profit Recipients

Can Walmart Be Sustainable?

While in New York for 1% for the Planet’s 1,000 member celebration in March, 1% co-founder Yvon Chouinard and friend Tom Brokaw sat down with Fast Company to talk shop. In this video, Yvon touches on the signficance of a very unlikely ally in the sustainable business movement. Click the image to watch.

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Media, Members, Philanthropy

Our favorite time of year . . . . .

The end of April marks for the majority of our membership the deadline for sending in materials proving they have made their 1% commitment. That said, the 1% for the Planet office is currently inundated with stories of giving! It is a very beautiful thing, and really highlights our favorite time of year. All of these businesses, across industry, across the planet, giving in concert to Keep Earth in Business; well . . . . we get a little tickled in excitement, awe and thanks as we charge through the certification process.

This said, and following Becky’s story from last week of member giving, today we are pleased to share some inspiring words from Tactics (member since Feb ’07).

(Left to right: Tactics Snow Team Rider Forrest Sharer, Cascadia Wildlands Project Executive Director Kate Ritley, Cascadia Wildlands Project Conservation Director Josh Laughlin, and Tactics Co-owner Matt Patton)

“At Tactics, our goal is to be a model environmentally sustainable and socially responsible company. The environment is such a large part of what we do and who we are. Not only do we sell gear for use in the outdoors, many of our employees spend a lot of time outdoors. Our partnership with 1% for the Planet is about much more than supporting non-profit organizations. For Tactics, it’s about fulfilling our responsibility to give back and protect the environment that sustains our business.

For 2007 Tactics provided financial support to a wide variety of non-profits who represent the critical front lines of environmental conservation, preservation and restoration. We just wrapped up our paperwork for 2008, and we’re happy to say that this year we’ll be giving even more.”

Many thanks to Tactics for their commitment and their 2008 grants, and a huge congratulations for your continued growth and success!

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Members, Philanthropy