We’ve been growing at a rate of more than one business per day for the past two years, but January was a particularly wonderful month here at 1% for the Planet. 49 businesses started their membership during the past four weeks. For those of you nervously watching the 260-day Mayan Tzolkin calendar this year, that works out to an impressive 2.2 members per day this month.
We’re tweaking the way we introduce new members in light of all the activity in the network and the addition of our talented new staff members James, Pauline and Tom. Look for an initial post announcing the folks who have joined most recently, followed by entries going deeper into the stories of the people, places and motivations that inspired them to join 1% for the Planet.
Welcome all! Stay tuned for posts sharing the stories the individual businesses and their motivations for joining 1%–thanks for making the world a better place!
Hiking early season turns at Mad River Glen with the 1% crew
Waitsfield, Vermont, like most ski towns, is filled with people who are generally pretty darn happy. The social life of a Valley resident (or a 1% for the Planet employee) revolves around enthusiastic discussion of the outdoor pursuit du jour, or actually getting out and partaking wholeheartedly in that activity. Grins are standard. But this December has been a different story.
When weather doesn’t cooperate, people take a turn to the dark side… especially in the early winter when memories of the previous season’s bounty tantalize us. This past week I’ve seen people stare up at the sky with looks on their faces usually only employed by seven year olds hoping to reprimand their parents for withholding desert. The feeling of tension in town is palpable, and our office is not immune.
Thankfully, release came today with 2-6 inches of new snow over fast grass at Mad River Glen. The 1% team, sporting grins once more, was there early to welcome winter to the valley by hiking a few early morning runs. All this welcoming has me thinking about another long-overdue welcome–the one we owe our most recent 1% members!
Bamboodha is the first out of the gate this week. They’re based in Australia but will ship their bamboo towels anywhere. And best of all, they’re giving away copies of the 1% for the Planet CD! If you haven’t heard it yet, check it out.
The Aromatropolis The Aromatropolis retails printed materials online which concisely convey the complex properties of essential oils. This is an emerging, woman-owned business developing media in different formats to enhance the experience of the essential oil enthusiast. Currently they offer a limited-edition, 18″x24″ print and carrying card relating the properties of the twenty most common essential oils. Future plans include the development of brick-and-mortar locations to retail their products and create healing environments for patrons. The Aromatropolis and parent company Bright Blue Green LLC seek to raise the bar for environmental and social responsibility in business.
David C Dixon LLC offers LEED and sustainability consulting to Food and Beverage corporations. David, proprietor and avid outdoorsman (who would have fit in well at Mad River this morning), has been involved in some of the largest LEED food manufacturing facilities built in the past 6 years, and has helped name brand companies reduce their environmental impact and pursue “closed-loop” technologies. David says that “1% for the Planet is a great initiative which can offer corporate decision makers a “brand” similar to LEED that they can trust, that earns them recognition, and provides funding for vetted organizations.” Glad to have you David!
Keep your eye on Exout for deals on outdoor gear for every sort of pursuit, summer or winter. You’ll find steals for members as low as 70% off retail–stock up and feel good that 1% is going back to the environment!
Gone Surfing Hawaii specializes in surf lessons and customized surf tours in the Hawaiian Islands. Need a break from winter? Check ‘em out!
The Green Line‘s proprietor Janine on coming to 1%: “Discovering 1% For The Planet was the missing to piece to my puzzle. I always knew I wanted to give back but I didn’t have the proper platform. Since becoming a 1% member, now I have the resources to do what I always wanted to do: Give back to something meaningful to me.” Janine is giving to Oceana, so when you purchase her jewelry you’ll know her 1% is going to a good cause!
Hug on a Rug is based in our very own state of Vermont and offers hand-made rugs. They’re still working on their web presence but check back soon to see what they’re up to.
Integral Dialogue Project is a consulting company committed to the greater purpose of “co-creating a better world by empowering people to lead.” They believe we all possess interpersonal greatness. By facilitating and engaging individuals and organizations in generative dialogue there exist the potential to create this ‘better world’ through a sharing process of innovative perspectives – and transformational change.
KAVAJ has you covered when it comes to protecting your iPad, Xoom or other tablets with great looking cases.
Ever hear that Uncle Cracker song with the line about being “as cool as the flip side of my pillow?” Well… Polar Pillow is an award-winning cooling pillow that uses specialized gel technology to generate coolness. PolarPillow has identified Philippe Cousteau’s EarthEcho International as its first beneficiary, and will be helping to inspire the next generation to care for the earth.
Tulan supplies everything you need for yoga, from mats to clothing and you can feel good about buying from them!
When I pick up the phone at 1% I’m always prepared for a surprise. Eight months after my first phone call I’ve finally figured out that solicitations from Publishers Clearing House usually don’t pan out, but I still get excited. While I’ll be the first to admit that I consider myself among the “One Percent,” our fringe benefits come in the form of lunch time yogs, not yachts. An extra million here or there wouldn’t hurt. When I answer and it’s Jeff Denholm, founder of Atira Systems and Patagonia ambassador on the line, it’s almost as good as winning big.
Jeff’s company provides fire protection services that mitigate the highly detrimental environmental and health effects of fighting wildfires. He and his team (advised by luminaries including Nell Newman and Rick Ridgeway) have reworked every facet of the industry to eliminate harmful chemicals and carcinogens that are hazardous to firefighters on the front line and equally bad for the ecosystems they work to protect. To top it off, Atira Systems is now a 1% for the Planet member.
New member Château de Chéronne can take you back to the 1500′s when the castle-turned-weekend-escape was constructed on 400 hectares of woodlands in the Perche Sarthois. The moat and drawbridges were removed in the 17th century to make it easier for guest to join them for overnights and special events.
Dancing Snow is a Japan-based company that specializes in providing their clients to the deepest powder turns of their lives. Let them introduce you to the kind of fluffy white stuff that makes you drool at Teton Gravity Research premiers every fall. In the summers they offer kayaking tours to boot!
Eden Groupe joins us from France and specializes in real estate development with a conscience, giving back 1% of everything they do!
Expedition Broker is based in Haines, Alaska, a recreation paradise (having lived there for two summers I can vouch!). Let owner Greg Schlachter set you up with the finest guides the area has to offer for your next fishing, skiing, climbing or surfing–yes, Alaskan surfing–adventure.
Diverse Collection of Individuals Unite to Help Elevate Awareness of Sustainability Issues and ‘Keep Earth in Business’
Waitsfield, VT — What do a beer-brewing CEO, a racecar driver, an artist, a media mogul, a pro-surfer, and a musician have in common? Several things, actually: They live under one sky, share one playground and are all committed to sustainability and giving back through the 1% for the Planet Ambassador Program.
Today, 1% for the Planet, a global network of businesses that invest at least 1% of their sales in organizations focused on sustainability, is pleased to introduce its new ambassadors. The 1% Ambassadors are a diverse group of business-leaders, athletes, artists and activists who are integrating the 1% for the Planet message into their daily lives to help broaden awareness for our global movement. Designed to give influential people a powerful platform to make a difference, the 1% for the Planet Ambassador Program seeks to elevate awareness of sustainability issues while building bridges between corporate and non-profit leaders to keep earth in business.
Our Ambassadors span all walks of life and many divergent professions, including CEOs, media, artists, musicians and even race car drivers. They hold a common core-belief that businesses have the power and responsibility to create reliable prosperity for the planet by investing in sustainability projects with the non-profits partners in the 1% global network. To view all of 1%’s Ambassador profiles please visit the 1% website here.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to have an all-star team of 1% Ambassadors who understand that it’s time for business to move beyond “doing less harm” by committing to making on-going investments in “doing good” for the planet,” said Terry Kellogg 1% for the Planet CEO. “Our ambassadors are a diverse group of business-leaders, athletes, artists and activists who are integrating the 1% for the Planet message into their daily lives to broaden awareness for our global movement.”
1% for the Planet has experienced remarkable growth in recent years and in fact, is fast on the way to becoming the largest network of environmental funders on the planet. Adding the Ambassador Program to it’s mix is a central part of efforts to broaden the personality and character of the 1% brand and to scaling the entire 1% movement.
The complete list of 1% Ambassadors includes:
Kris Holm extreme unicyclist, geo-scientist, Vancouver, BC
Julie Gilhart green-fashionista, consultant, New York, NY
Stu Bowen surfer, eco-entrepreneur, Yamba, Australia
Chase Jarvis artist, photographer, film-maker, musician, Seattle, WA
Leilani Münter race car driver, public speaker, Charlotte, NC
Alex Hillinger digital media entrepreneur, Jackson Hole, WY
Dan Ross pro surfer, Yamba, Australia
Jack Johnson musician, surfer, Oahu, HI
Maya Albanese sustainability expert, New York, NY
Zach Crist extreme skier, Sun Valley, ID
Chris Keyes writer, editor, VP of Outside Magazine, Santa Fe, NM
Penn Newhard PR and media specialist, Basalt, CO
Kim Jordan beer brewer, entrepreneur, CEO New Belgium, Fort Collins, CO
Sara Lingafelter social media entrepreneur, Rock-climber, Seattle, WA
Reggie Crist extreme skier, living wherever snow falls, Planet Earth
Terry Kellogg 1% for the Planet CEO, Waitsfield VT
About 1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet exists to build and support an alliance of companies financially committed to creating a healthy planet. Launched by Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard in late 2002, 1400+ 1% member companies can now be found in 44 countries around the world. 1% members give at least 1% of their revenues (top line sales) directly to non-profit organizations focused on issues of sustainability. For more information or to get involved please visit our website.
Earthtec founder Dennis Randall insisted his company be green from the get-go. Combining his commitment to sustainability with his love of the outdoors and his knowledge of technical knits, Randall created a company that produces fashionable, functional clothing made from recycled or renewable materials. Using a streamlined design and manufacturing process, Earthtec does its own product development, knitting, dyeing, finishing, and garment production, resulting in a greener manufacturing with less waste.
In recognition for its innovation, green manufacturing and leadership in bringing the sustainability message to consumers in multiple ways, Earthtec was presented with the 2011 Greenerpalooza Award, given each year to a NH-based person, organization or initiative dedicated to energy efficiency. The award recognizes the accomplishments of those who support and promote green efforts throughout the Granite State and who work tirelessly to ensure that New Hampshire maintains its position as a state which celebrates sustainability.
The presentation was made during the Greenerpalooza IV festivities at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion. Greenerpalooza, which is presented by the NH Business Resource Center and the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in coordination with key sponsors, is a celebration of energy efficiency efforts in the state. With the backdrop of a concert by Alison Krauss and Union Station, attendees were able to learn more about the latest energy efficient products and services offered in the Granite State.
“Earthtec, is quite possibly the best example of a company that encompasses all that’s good and right about living and breathing the green lifestyle,” said for NH Division of Economic Development Interim Director Roy Duddy in making the announcement. “This apparel manufacturer takes plastic bottles and transforms them into something very special – clothing that is both stylish and earth friendly. At a time when space at landfills is at an all time premium, what better way to reuse our resources in a fun, creative and productive way?”
Randall and his company are on a mission to bring the message of sustainability to consumers in many different ways. For example, for the past two years, Earthtec has handed out 6,000 free knit hats made from a blend of recycled plastic and organic cotton at hockey games between the UNH Wildcats and Boston College at the Whittemore Center. Earthtec also participated in the Providence Rock and Roll Half Marathon, collecting recyclables that could be turned into apparel.
A member of 1% For The Planet and the Green Alliance, Earthtec has developed the Earth 360 program, designed to capture plastic bottles and other #1 plastic at sporting events, concerts, conferences, schools and other gatherings; and to then process them into flake, then into fiber, yarn, fabric, and finally into apparel and accessories.
“Earthtec has been a fixture at Meadowbrook this season collecting recyclables and is currently embarking on an effort with our office to start similar collections at venues throughout the state,” continued Duddy. “Next week, they will join forces with the Division of Economic Development, PSNH, WTPL and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to hold the first inaugural Green Scene Night where they will collect over 1,000 plastic bottles and turn them into blankets that will be given out at the New Horizons homeless shelter in Manchester.
“Earthtec is a terrific example of how a business can not only be profitable, but also be environmentally aware and a good neighbor,” Duddy added. “The Greenerpalooza Award is designed specifically for model companies like this.”
To learn more about Earthtec, visit www.earthtec.com. To discover the latest happenings with Greenerpalooza, visit Greenerpalooza IV Facebook page at www.facebook.com/greennh.
Multi-Media Partnership Will Span Outside Magazine, Outside Online and Outside Television
Waitsfield, VT (August 15, 2011) 1% for the Planet, a global network of businesses that invest at least 1% of their sales in organizations focused on sustainability, and Outside, a media leader in the active lifestyle, outdoor, travel and adventure markets, are up to something… partnering to make the planet a better place. Their partnership is a multi-media one, spanning print, digital and broadcast, with the goal of building awareness of the important work of the 1% for the Planet network.
“The sustainability of business is directly tied to the sustainability of our natural environment,” said Christopher Keyes, Editor of Outside Magazine and OutsideOnline.com. “Corporate giving can have an enormously positive impact on our planet and joining 1% for the Planet is one of the simplest ways to make that happen.”
“Companies and non-profits working together to make big, positive environmental change happen is big news; consumers should know about that and encourage companies to contribute; this partnership enables just that” says Melody Badgett, SVP 1% for the Planet.
The partnership will reach millions of consumers annually and include Outside Magazine, Outside Online and Outside Television properties. The alliance was announced in the Keep Earth in Business editorial in Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work September issue and takes effect immediately.
“Outside’s leadership position in the industry, along with their sustainable corporate ethos, make them and ideal partner for 1% as we continue to encourage businesses to take a lead role in environmental stewardship” said 1% CEO Terry Kellogg.
1% for the Planet is proud to work with 25 media partners including Mother Jones, Utne Reader and CSR Wire. Each media partner commits to giving 1% for the Planet at least 1% of their advertising inventory to help grow the power and reach of the movement.
For more information on 1% for the Planet, our members and the environmental non-profits they support, and our media partners please visit us at http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/en/.
About 1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet exists to build and support an alliance of companies financially committed to creating a healthy planet. Launched by Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia and Craig Mathews, Owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, in late 2002, 1400+ 1% member companies can now be found in 44 countries around the world. 1% members give at least 1% of their revenues directly to non-profit organizations focused on issues of sustainability. ###
In a follow up to our October 1st post, the results are in for Green America’s People’s Choice Award for Green Business of the Year. Drum roll please . . . . . the winner is 1% for the Planet member Reusablebags.com! In recognition of their continued success (Reusablebags.com also won this award in 2007), the company was also awarded a Longtime Leadership Award. Our greatest thanks to all who voted and recognized Reusablebags.com as a truly committed company to Keeping Earth in Business!
We are pleased to share that 1% for the Planet co-founder Yvon Chouinard and the 1% for the Planet community have received a leadership nod by U.S. News & World Report for their commitment to revolutionizing the way business is done on this planet.
To join the movement with your business’s membership please contact us at memberships@onepercentfortheplanet.org.
For the full article please click here. Please click here to learn of the 20 fellow honorees of America’s Best Leaders for 2009.
This Saturday we encourage you to drop all plans, grab your circle of friends and family, and join the big circle, our global community, in action for 1% for the Planet Non-Profit Partner 350.org‘s International Day of Climate Action. Voice, act, dance, paddle, ring, play, sing, whatever you can offer, in show of your support for the number 350, representing 350 parts per million, the scientifically backed “safe upper limit” for CO2 in our atmosphere. With creative events and gatherings across the globe, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with this powerful message that affects us all. Click here to find out what’s happening nearest you.
How are we celebrating? You can find us at Vermont’s 350 Dance Party at Higher Ground in Burlington. Headlined by 1% for the Planet member Barefoot Truth (member since Jan. ’08) the show will be simulcast online and on cable throughout the state so all can join.
1% for the Planet will also have a presence in New York City, circumnavigating Manhattan Island with a group in kayaks stenciled by area students.
Calling all 1% for the Planet members, if you’re participating in a 350 action this Saturday, please write me at kate@onepercentfortheplanet.org. We’d be happy to share your support with updates to our blog post here!
