It’s great to see that our members are continuing to collaborate in the Portland area and are so eager to share their 1% for the Planet commitments with the community!  Bobby says, “It was a great time to have the 1% for the Planet members working together the make the show a success!”

Thanks again, Portland members! If you want to see a video of the fashion show you can view it here.

Image Courtesy of B Lab

Yesterday wrapped up a few weeks worth of organizing for a webinar hosted by B Lab and 1% for the Planet.  The webinar was intended to provide insight on how to best design strategic philanthropy practices.  The call featured speakers from both organizations as well as four businesses that made the decision to be both a member of 1% for the Planet and a B Corporation.

Janie Hoffman from Mamma Chia, Kelsey Marshall from Grounds for Change, Kate O’Brien from Alima Pure Cosmetics, and Casey Sheahan from Patagonia all answered questions from both listeners and our own VP of Organizational Development, Rebecca.

Image Courtesy of B Lab

One question posed was, does membership in 1% for the Planet impact relationships with retailers and suppliers?  Janie answered by stating that when she first approached Whole Foods the B Corp, 1% FTP, and other logos had “been on our labels, had been on our certification labels, [Whole Foods wasn’t] familiar with B Corp, with Slow money but they were brought up in meetings.  But they obviously knew 1% for the Planet.”

It was great to hear such a strong response 1% FTP membership!  Casey Sheahan posited in response to the same questions that “Virtually [every member] I’ve talked to has seen a lift in business.”

Image Courtesy of B Lab

The webinar was well worth all of the preparation and we couldn’t have asked for better speakers, each representative had clear, precise ideas to share on the impact of the partnerships that formed their businesses in such a significant way.

For more questions, and interviews with B Lab coordinators stay tuned!

If you have any questions about our partnership with B Corp that you’d like to ask on Twitter just ask them and use our hashtag #B1PercentFTP

Photo courtesy of 350.org

Each event will feature different techniques of getting our message out.  The gathering in our hometown, Waitsfield, VT, will feature a rally and speeches from Bill McKibben, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Governor Peter Shumlin.  1% is proud to sponsor such a great event and we hope that everyone within our network (and anyone else!) will have the opportunity to show up and help the world connect the dots!

If you’re a member or non-profit partner and have photos or stories from the event please feel free to upload them to our Facebook page, Twitter, or Pinterest afterward!

In today’s crowded business market & social media whirlwind, it can be very difficult for a new business to get their name out in a creative & noticeable way. Add to that the desire to do so in an earth-friendly and sustainable manner, the challenge doubles. Eco-minded business owners may feel their options are very limited..

But they are not. 1% is proud to welcome Green Peak Promotions to our family of members. Green Peak Promotions is a woman owned business (soon to be WBENC certified) that focuses on creative and sustainable promotional products. They offer clients a combination of extensive industry knowledge, trusted international manufacturing and supplier relationships, and exceptional branding creativity.

The goal at Green Peak is to have the most comprehensive selection of sustainable promotional items available domestically and to offer low minimum, quick production, custom manufacturing overseas. This allows them to offer sustainable products on a custom basis that aren’t available in the US. Their overseas partners assist to produce products made from a wide selection of recycled materials including PET, ABS plastic, polypropylene, zinc, silicone, polyester and PVC. To offset their carbon footprint on the earth they will also be working with TerraPass to offer 100% carbon balanced shipping.

They offer a wide array of promotional products, ranging from apparel to candy, recycled and biodegradable products, while promoting sustainability from order placement to shipment.

Welcome to Green Peak Promotions!  We are so excited and happy to have you in our ever-expanding 1% network!

Q: What do Josh Ritter, Jack Johnson, G. Love, and Grace Potter all have in common?

A: Besides being bodacious rockstars, they are all featured artists on our upcoming release, 1% for the Planet: The Music, Vol. 1

Scheduled for release in early January, 1%  for the Planet the Music Vol. 1, is a one-of-a kind compilation.  More than forty artists have donated rare and exclusive tracks to produce the first album dedicated to supporting the environment. All proceeds from album sales go to 1% for the Planet, and many of the artists featured are members themselves.  The all-digital release will be available online in just a few weeks, so stay tuned for more information on how to get your copy.

P.S. If his current tour has a stop in your area, be sure to check out Josh Ritter in concert. Several of us from the 1% team had the privilege last weekend and were treated to an incredible show.  A longtime friend and supporter of 1% for the Planet, Josh even made a few plugs for 1% during his set!

This call has already taken place. Listen to the call streaming!

http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/brownbaglunch/brownbag2.mp3

Or download the entire file. Right click on this link, then “Save Link As…”.

About the call:

2009 could mark the most significant year in climate change history as world leaders meet in Copenhagen this December to tackle a new plan for curbing global greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently, our atmosphere carries over 387 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide – the leading cause of global climate change. Our top climate scientists (James Hansen, Nicholas Stern, Rajendra Pachauri,  and Al Gore) have indicated that a safe climate future rests at 350 ppm (or less). Actions across the globe will take place on October 24^th - the International Day of Climate Action – to help spread awareness around this number and the forthcoming release of the United Nation new international climate change treaty.

Join 350.org’s Bill McKibben this Thursday for a briefing on this historic time in climate change and how you (and your organization) can get involved.

The call is open to everyone, so please spread the word!

Reserve your spot now for the Bill McKibben and 350.org climate change briefing on Thursday, September 24th, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT – New York time)

Space is limited, so sign up early! We’ll send you a confirmation email and the call-in information before the call, as well as information on upcoming events (you can always unsubscribe from future emails with one click).

About Bill and 350.org:

An American environmentalist and writer, Bill McKibben is the founder of 350.org, an international climate campaign. This October 24, 350.org is organizing the 350 International Day of Climate Action, with thousands of events planned at iconic places around the world. Bill frequently writes about global warming, alternative energy, and the risks associated with human genetic engineering. Beginning in the summer of 2006, he led the organization of the largest demonstrations against global warming in American history. McKibben is active in the Methodist Church, and his writing sometimes has a spiritual bent. More about Bill here →

About the 1% Brown Bag Lunch Series:

This new conference call series from 1% for the Planet aims to help educate our 1% community — members, partners, and friends — about the latest environmental topics that experts in the 1% network are working on.  We’re currently looking into the topic of climate change and how individuals and organizations alike can get involved. Earlier this summer, 1% non-profit partner Clean Air-Cool Planet led our first 1% Brown Bag Lunch Series call to brief us on climate and energy legislation in the U.S. For upcoming calls, please submit your ideas to brownbag@onepercentfortheplanet.org. We are picking upcoming topics based on your requests.

Last week 1% CEO Terry Kellogg interviewed with marketing extraordinaire Lynda Resnick for her first Ruby Tuesday: Pick of the Week of the fall. Terry helped start the season off with a colorful Vermont bang. Titled “Doing Well by Doing Good: 1% for the Planet Lives the Message”, Lynda concludes the interview with a line we love: “If you’re not doing something for the planet, you don’t deserve to be in business. It’s basic to your being. So, I think what you’re doing is fantastic. I wish the very best for you.” Read the full interview on Lynda’s blog by clicking here.

Slow Money is a new economic vision lead by a dynamic network of investors, donors, farmers and activists. The goal is to, from the ground up, build local food economies and spark a “nurture capital” industry. With the release of Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered by Woody Tasch, the Slow Money Alliance is looking to host their Inaugural National Gathering this September 10th and 11th in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We are pleased to be a partner of this event and are excited for the caliber of speakers. Registration is still open through this link. If you can attend, we’ll be there and would love to learn with you.

Bill McKibben (l) and Stephen Colbert (r)

Some like it hot, but tonight on The Colbert Report acclaimed author and 1% for the Planet Non-Profit Partner Bill McKibben of 350.org will teach us all a thing or two about how we really, really need to cool it down. We encourage you to tune in to The Colbert Report on Comedy Central at 11:30 pm ET and PST, (or you can see the taped version on The Colbert Nation website here). Two brilliant men with a knack for hilarity, addressing a planetary issue with a clear call to action, this promises to be a great show.

We are more than delighted to share that Clif Bar & Company will be hosting a 1% for the Planet Happy Hour at the Summer Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City this week. Terry our CEO and Melody our VP will be in house to unveil a teaser of our new film due out this summer, there will be New Belgium Brewing bike bells for the first 50 attendees and co-branded Clif Bar/ 1% pint glasses to go with the free local brew.

We’ll also have more-than-amazing giveaways from exhibiting members to highlight their participation and commitment. Invitations to enter your name into the drawing at the event can be picked up at member booths – Clif Bar & Company – #8020, Patagonia – #13027, Patagonia Footwear – #13043, Repreve - #62021, Mountain Khakis – #22013, Sigg – #10046, Klean Kanteen – #52, Bronwen - #88, Elemental Herbs -#BR 417, Point6 – #BR 703, and Locals Have More Fun – #BR 506.

Aside from the free beer and member giveaways, know we’ll have a wonderful attendance of true change agents in the Outdoor Retailer space. We encourage you to rally your friends and join our members and friends so we all can meet, network, and learn how you can get involved with the charging momentum of the 1% for the Planet movement! A very Happy Hour indeed . . . . we look forward to seeing you there!