Smart Green Business » Publications

An Inconvenient Truth

Jonathan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:00:11 +0000

For the understanding of the plight of the human race in relation to climate change, no other movie and companion book compares with Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.” Not only was the movie an award winner as a documentary, it served to open the eyes of millions of people worldwide to the fast-approaching dangers we all face if we continue the patterns of behavior evident in most parts of the world. The movie represents a significant tipping point for me as I began the journey of discovering how I was going to respond to become more sustainable as a consumer and as a business. The most striking feature of the program for me was the degree of denial from the political and business communities even with all of the convincing evidence. It’s inspiring to watch Vice President Al Gore’s journey, presenting his case for decades until his message was heard.

DVD	Book

Good News for a Change

Jonathan — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:00:19 +0000

One of the first books about sustainability that I read was Good News for a Change: How Everyday People are Helping the Planet and I have to admit, at the time, it was scarier than reading Steven King. Not scary for the horror factor, rather because the people profiled in the book made such drastic changes not only in their businesses but also in their personal lives. The implications of what they were saying and doing is very scary because deep down I knew they were right and much of my life was not reflecting a lot of these values. I would have to change a lot of things I was currently not willing to until I experienced more personal tipping points and the global economy handed all of us a chance to take a fresh look at ourselves. The fear of change wears off soon, and it becomes easier to embrace new possibilities of how the global economy can become more balanced not just between wealth and poverty, but also in social justice and opportunity. I would encourage anyone interested in answering the question, “What does sustainability look like?” or “What can I do? My business has nothing to do with the environment.” or “What are other people doing to make a difference?” –this is the book for you.

Good News for a Change: How Everyday People are Helping the Planet by David Suzuki and Holly Dressel, Published by Greystone Books, 2002. Click the link below to purchase Good News for a Change.

Get the book on Amzon.com here.

Cradle to Cradle

Jonathan — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:29:36 +0000

The fact that Cradle to Cradle was printed with completely biodegradable materials was the first indication that this book was going to be different. Focusing on the premise that rather than continuing on our current path of product design and develop, including recycling, it would be better to redesign everything from the beginning with the least amount of harm to the environment. Branded as “waste as food”, the book puts into perspective a higher bar for all of us to consider in any business and any product. I recommend this book as a first stop for anyone interested in exploring the implications of sustainable development. It’s easy to read, full of examples, and a great theme to have endless debates about.

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough, Michael Braungart, Published by North Point Press, April 22, 2002. Click the link below to purchase Cradle to Cradle.

The State of Green Business 2009

Jonathan — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:53:12 +0000

Greenbiz.com® released their second annual report on “The State of Green Business 2009” in February which answers the question: How are U.S. businesses doing in their quest to be more environmentally responsible? The results are displayed both in text and graphical form and make it very easy to gain quick insights into the changes from year to year and areas of concern and positive change. The report considers metrics such as absolute greenhouse gas emissions, electronic waste, and updates on current industries like the race for electric vehicles in the auto industry. This report is a must-have for every leader to understand the current state of our progress, the range of issues that need to be measured, and the implications of all of our actions.

Access: Download the Report for free at www.stateofgreenbusiness.com.