Over the last year, we have been working with the George Gund Foundation to increase environmental funding for the state through 1% awareness building and new member acquisition.
1% recently traveled to Cleveland, Ohio for the Burning River Festival hosted by Great Lakes Brewing. It was a gathering to celebrate good beer and music while raising awareness of local environmental issues. And also happened to be my first business trip! Not many people get to have their first “business trip” be to a festival featuring local craft beer, three stages for constant music, local business vendors, and a dozen non-profits representing in the “eco village.” The weather was HOT, especially coming from Vermont but it was an awesome experience, nonetheless.
We’d like to thank Great Lakes Brewing and all of the volunteers involved in organizing the festival. It was a fantastic opportunity for 1% to explore a part of the country where we see great potential and inspiring to see Cleveland’s commitment to protecting and reinvesting in their local ecosystem.
If you want to really understand something, you should go to the source. And if you are interested in seeing sustainable transportation in action, you have to go to Portland, Oregon; the epicenter of bike culture and sustainable community design.
Last week on a beautiful summer evening, more than 70 people — 1% member companies, 1% NGO partners, along with Patagonia customers and other interested folks dropped into Patagonia Portland for an update on sustainable transportation initiatives.
New Belgium Brewing- Follow your Folly Bicycle
We heard from Dan Powell, co-founder of Portland Design Works, a 1% member company that makes great bike accessories, about why he and his partner decided to locate their company in Portland. While they loved Wisconsin, Portland is “the place” for people who love bikes and biking in the United States. He loves being a part of a community where nearly 6% of the residents make their daily commute to work or school on a bike. This is a much higher percentage than is found in communities around the United States.
Gerik Kransky, Bicycle Transportation Alliance (left) and Dan Powell, Portland Design Works (Right)
Dan and his partner wanted to build investment in environmental NGOs into their business model right from the start, and made the decision to become a 1% member. They support the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and work in partnership to help make Portland and other communities in Oregon more bike friendly.
Gerik Kransky, Advocacy Director for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, gave an update on biking issues at the local, state and federal levels. BTA is working to get funding for a bike sharing program in Portland, as well as advocating for bike friendly policies at the state and federal level. The BTA is a 1% NGO Recipient supported by six 1% member companies, five of whom are based in Oregon.
After the presentation, we got a chance to eat some great local, organic food and look at a display showing products from many Portland area companies involved in biking including Sweet Pea Bicycles, Truce and Patagonia.
1% Member Products on Display
Looking forward to seeing you all again on July 28th, at the final Eco-Trust Sunset Concert. Bring your friends and co-workers!
We’re tweaking the way we blog here at 1%–from now on we’re going to be posting about new 1% members on a weekly basis. We’re psyched about each and every company that joins and we want to give each an individualized welcome to the family.
First tracks go to Absinthe Films of Nelson, BC. Absinthe has been making high-end, adrenaline fueled snowboard films since 2005. Even before becoming a 1% member, they walked the talk–in 2010 Absinthe donated 29% of their profits to environmental causes. Check out their 2010 offering, Nowhere, and if the current heat wave pushing across the country has you down, keep your eyes open for their 2011 flick.
EcoSpaces—green building supplies and consultation
Daniel and Joanna Kanow run new member company EcoSpaces, based in Telluride, CO, and really know their stuff. They supply a full line of green building materials and offer design consultation and owner’s representative services. If you’re starting a construction project, check out their wares here and make sure you stop by their Green Building Blog.
Emmy’s Organics is producing some of the tastiest macaroons, granola, and trail mix this side of the Mississippi. And they’re proof that sometimes work and relationships do mix—and the results are pretty darn good together too. Non-GMO, gluten free, certified vegan and now part of 1% for the Planet! Check them out online and see where to buy their products near you.
Green Body—environmentally friendly fitness and wellbeing
Power up with Green Body, a Saint Paul, Minnesota gym that offers personal training, kettle bell classes, yoga, zumba (full disclosure: my mom has been trying to get me to join her at zumba class, she raves about it constantly) and instruction in clean eating and living. Trainer David LaChapelle and his team of six instructors can help you meet your personal fitness and health goals with fully customized programs that give back to the planet to boot.
Both an accomplished solo artist and front man of Pine & Battery, Jeff Campbell hails from San Francisco. He brings instrumental talent and “a mix of raw rock and winding lyrical melodies” to 1%. He often collaborates with 1% artist Megan Slankard, and the combination is captivating. “Megan Slankard and Jeff Campbell make beautiful music together. It’s amazing to me that two voices and two guitars can produce that kind of magic,” says Peter Finch of KFOG San Francisco. Check out his bio and a few of his tracks at jeffcampbellmusic.com!
Luxa Jewelry is the product of the creative energy design eye of founder Angela Zaremba. She “creates jewelry that takes its inspiration from the ocean,” and is “alive and pulses with energy”. From the beautifully simplistic lines of sterling earrings to summery woven bracelets, Luxa has you covered whatever the season or occasion. 1% of any purchases you make on her online store will go directly to support 1% non-profit partner Surfrider.
Please join us in welcoming this great crew of new members, check out their sites, and keep up the good work.
From Treasure Mountain Inn, www.treasuremountaininn.com, a long-standing member of 1% for the Planet:
PARK CITY RECOGNIZES TREASURE MOUNTAIN INN AS AN “ENVIRONMENTAL HERO”
Park City, Utah – December 16, 2010
Park City Municipal is pleased to announce Treasure Mountain Inn as the inaugural recipient of its new “Environmental Heroes” award. Andy Beerman & Thea Leonard, co- owners of Treasure Mountain Inn, accepted the award during a City Council meeting on December 16th.
Treasure Mountain Inn (TMI) has been committed to sustainable business practices for many years. In announcing the award, Park City Mayor Dana Williams congratulated Treasure Mountain Inn for its “long-standing example of environmental stewardship in our community. TMI has adopted green practices which extend far beyond day-to-day business operations and reflect a genuine concern for the future of our planet and the long-term sustainability of our environment”. The Mayor continued, “[Treasure Mountain Inn] is proof that doing good business can, and should, include doing what’s right for future generations as well”.
TMI is a member of the Green Hotels Association and, as a participant in the “1% for the Planet” organization, donates a minimum of 1% of its gross revenues to environmental organizations. TMI provided grants totaling more than $100,000 to several environmental organizations in 2010. The hotel purchases Blue Sky renewable energy credits for all of its electricity usage and became the first hotel in Utah to go carbon neutral when it acquired carbon-reducing offsets for its remaining footprint. In addition to these programs, the hotel installed a 4-kilowatt solar array to produce clean electricity onsite.
TMI coordinates an extensive internal recycling program, started in 1996, and has twice been named Business Recycler of the Year in Utah. Their green efforts also include purchasing materials with recycled content, such as their carpets which are made of recycled material. Additionally, water-saving fixtures and ENERGY STAR appliances complement high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, further reducing the hotel’s environmental impact. For more information about TMI’s environmental commitment and program contact Andy Beerman at 435- 655-4510 or visit www.treasuremountaininn.com.
The Environmental Heroes Award recognizes local leaders who are working hard to protect and improve the natural environment in Park City and beyond. This new award is a way for City Council to formally recognize and thank individuals and organizations for exceptional contributions for environmental sustainability.
For more information on the Environmental Heroes award, including how to nominate a person or organization you feel is an Environmental Hero, please visit the Sustainability section of www.parkcity.org.
Last night was the third week of the Ecotrust Sundown Concert Series and the theme was energy, particularly alternative energy. 1% for the Planet had its usual tent and table, which was hosted by the fantastic Focus the Nation and sweet new member Skate Lift. The NGO and business handed out t-shirts and stickers to the crowds of people who attended while sharing their 1% stories and getting to meet each other and discuss the 1% network. They also got the chance to meet 1%’s VP of Organizational Development, Rebecca Calahan Klein who was in town for the day and made it to the show.
Photo Courtesy of Focus the Nation
We’d like to extend a big thank you to Anne and Sasha from Focus the Nation and Bobby and Anthony from Skate Lift for holding down the fort last night! If you’ll be in Portland make sure to stop by next Thursday at 5:30 for a great concert and exhibits with the theme of forests.
The 1% for the Planet crew is going to take a break from listening to Rebecca Black croon about the impending weekend and extend a warm welcome to the 17 new 1% member companies that have joined since the beginning of July!
We’re psyched to gain several water-oriented companies this month. First out of the waves was Kalon Surf, a boutique surf camp in Costa Rica. They were followed closely by Maximum Surfcamps, who will get you hanging ten on the coast of Portugal in no time. And you can get everything you need for your surfing adventures and lifestyle at Envirosurfer, an awesome online green surf shop. And don’t forget, Oceadiet supplies natural products sustainably sourced from the seas.
If surfing is only part of the picture for you, or you’re like my ex-girlfriends and you associate surfing lessons with the swift and traumatic conclusion of relationships, check out Feather & Fin Vacations. A new member based in Montana, they can take you to beautiful places as far from water (or as close) as you like. If you’re trapped in a concrete jungle for the time being, Island Natural Fragrances will bring the scents of nature to your home or office.
In the spirit of getting out there, The Highly Acclaimed magazine has joined our ranks and is a great resource for keeping apprised of the latest outdoor news, places and people. Double Check Ranch Grassfed Beef Crisps, made on the ranch in Winkelman, Arizona, will keep you fueled during your adventures and Teresa at BioSpirit Day Spa will work out the kinks afterward!
July also brings new members with a focus on the home, including In the Barn Woodworks, who makes beautiful custom cabinetry in Tennessee, PaGreenWindows.com, where Eric will help you build it right the first time with Energy Star windows, and Elementem Art & Design, makers of stunning large-scale prints–see below. And if you order a print from Elementem, be sure to call on Quantum Courier to get it to you on time!
stepOut, a Swiss marketing firm brings international good looks and sensibility to 1% and is joined in the European arena by Dr. Andreas Weis’s businesses Dentalogue and Vitalogue, two excellent resources for people looking to find dental professionals or health supplements.
We’re honored to have Skate Lift join the tribe–and stoked they could attend the EcoTrust Sundown Concert Series to announce their participation with 1% yesterday. With two more shows to go, we hope we’ll see you at one of these Thursday night free concerts if you’re in the Portland area!
And to top it all off, 1% is psyched to add AMR Meetings & Incentives, who helps companies build corporate social responsibility in to the bedrock of their business plans. What a great way to finish off the first half of July.
With the change of the seasons and the return of jovial sunshine, the rejuvenating power of the planet has inspired a plethora of companies worldwide to take action and join the 1% alliance. Here’s the lineup of the eclectic yet inspirational mix of new members from June 2011.
California brings us My Own Bottle with new and improved classic reusable water bottles, Ouroboros Ales with their radical microbrews from the central sun coast, and RACER Frames who have filled the niche for affordably showcasing the infamous racer bibs in an athlete’s home.
From the edge of the Great Lakes in Michigan, Traverse Gourmet serves up succulent suppers in seersucker suits.
In New York, skinnyskinny is handcrafting organic, luxurious bath and body treats as well as beautiful, unique home affair.
Arizona brings us Mountain Sports- the leading four-season supplier of all Patagonia outdoor clothing in northern Arizona.
In Pennsylvania, PensionPro Software, LLC is creating innovative, fluid software for cutting edge business.
Montana brings Eric’s Wicked Seasoning to the table with it’s wild kick of flavor to spice up any dish.
From underneath the arch of St. Louis, Missouri comes Brit Stewart Weddings with its’ passionate and creative approach to wedding planning.
In Massachusetts, Stance Collection is creatively merging the worlds of designer toys and sneakers, Althea Jane is baking lovely homemade dog treats for the urban animal lovers, and Swimfish, Inc. provides collaborative, holistic business consulting.
Coming all the way from Laos, Spirulinea Laos Co. Ltd., provides rejuvenating supplements for optimum health.
In France, Eco-Lodgia is setting the bar for ecologically conscious lodging and dining in the heart of Paris, and 2 Display 4 You offers elegant, innovative marketing and public relations services.
Spain brings us Pensando en Blanco, a funky design firm highlighting the beauty of natural forms and raw materials.
In Germany, Hoehenfaktor is breaking ground in sustainable construction with the innovative use of climbing ropes, and Ailola is launching online interactive educational resources for both students and teachers alike.
Canada brings us Acoustic Creative, a studio and gallery with a minimalist, organic approach to design, Xclamation Media & Communications Group who is bridging the gap between traditional marketing and positive civic engagement, GearOutHere.com with their online outdoor store featuring funky, quality items for the raw adventurer in us all, and Native Canada Footwear who is mixing it up with a new, versatile, and stylish slip-on shoe.
1% is beautiful in its simplicity. It’s a simple model, with a high bar for giving and consequently, a profound impact. Beautiful and bold is 1%!
But really – numbers are just numbers, and at the end of the day the fun part that really sheds light on the power of the movement are the stories behind it all. Each company gives 1% to nonprofit partners of their choice, but who are those organizations, and what are they working on?
Here’s a story from a longstanding member company, CaliBamboo:
CaliBamboo is a leading 1% member company that exists to provide sustainable building supplies for both residential and commercial homes. They do so by using bamboo, which is one of the world’s most durable, sustainable and renewable materials. In addition to building their business around a better alternative for building materials, CaliBamboo donates one percent of net revenue annually to The Surfrider Foundation.
This month CaliBamboo is undertaking in a fun project with The Surfrider Foundation–together they’re promoting The National Greenscape Challenge. By challenging contestants to design the most sustainable garden they can, this project educates contestants and followers about the common mistakes in landscaping, and the consequent perils of urban runoff. The National Greenscape Challenge raises awareness among a larger audience and culminates with a large influx of inspiring project solutions (not to mention that the winner gets to enjoy a weekend of surfing in sunny Southern California!).
This is but one story of thousands out there. What’s yours? Spread the word, share the good stories and keep us inspired. Email me at brittany@onepercentfortheplanet.org and tell (or show!) us how you’re a living model of corporate philanthropy in action!
Last night kicked off the first week of Ecotrust’s Sundown Concert Series in downtown Portland. Every Thursday, from 5:30 to 8:30 a local band plays while various businesses and non-profits exhibit work that is related to the theme of the week. Last night’s theme was water and 1% NGO Western Rivers Conservancy was there to show and tell people what they do to make Oregon’s water purer and safer for ecosystems. The crowd of about 600 people was able to wander through all of the tents and tables while listening to the awesome sounds of the Everyday Prophets.
Western Rivers Conservancy tabling (Photo Credit: Eric Brody)
The themes for the following weeks include:
July 7 — Food
July 14— Energy
July 21— Forests
July 28 — Reliable Prosperity
We’d like to thank Western Rivers Conservancy for exhibiting and a BIG thanks to Eric Brody from Shift Advantage for helping us coordinate the events.
Eric Brody of Shift Advantage working at the 1% table (Photo Credit: Eric Brody)
Come down to the Ecotrust parking lot on a Thursday night to meet some other 1% members and NGO’s exhibiting and listen to great music!
