Tuesday, April 21, 2009

GreenBuzz :: The Phony Green Jobs Debate, The Seventh Sin of Greenwashing, and More...


GreenBuzz :: April 20, 2009
April 20, 2009
In This Issue GreenBuzz
  » The Latest News on Sustainable Business Practices
  » Featured News: The Phony Green Jobs Debate
  » Expert Insight from the GreenBiz Blog
  » GreenBiz Radio: Lies, Damn Lies, and the Seventh Sin of Greenwashing
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THIS ISSUE'S SPONSOR


Taking Care of Business

By Joel Makower


We find ourselves this week experiencing the flurry of green activity surrounding Earth Day, a somewhat normal state of affairs every third week in April, though for reasons unknown this year's flurry seems more blizzard-like. So much so that we've planned a bonus Earth Day Issue of GreenBuzz, which you'll receive on the 22nd, including a package of business-related stories we've created.

What's driving the rising chorus of Earth Day activity this year? It's curious, given the economic constraints companies are facing, but adds to the increasing evidence that being seen as green is no longer a "nice to do" for a growing number of companies. Indeed, rather than dampening green initiatives, as has been the case in the past economic downturns, this recession seems to be upping the ante, creating a sense of greater urgency for companies to differentiate themselves as green leaders.

Is Earth Day the best way to do that? Has it become table stakes for companies seeking green cred? Or do companies' green announcements and achievements this time of year get lost in the din? You are encouraged to weigh in on this topic by joining the burgeoning conversation on "What does Earth Day mean to your business?" taking place among some of the more than 12,000 members of our LinkedIn group.

We are proud to be associated with one of the launches this week -- one of the more substantive, in our humble opinion: The Forest Carbon Offsetting Survey 2009, created by EcoSecurities, Conservation International, The Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance, and our ClimateBiz.com. The report offers an in-depth look at the current corporate attitudes toward carbon offsets from forests and the growth opportunities in this market. I encourage you to download it.

One other note: We want to alert you to our ongoing Steelcase Sustainable Design Scholarships, in partnership with Steelcase and Net Impact — four full scholarships (plus travel and hotel!) to our upcoming Greener by Design conference. There's still time to enter, and the process is easy: Submit a short essay by way of GreenBiz.com or NetImpact.org, and spread the word to others who may be interested. And thanks to our friends at Steelcase, the global manufacturer of office furnishings, for making this possible.


   Expert Insight from the GreenBiz Blog
New Report Sheds Light on Corporate Attitudes Toward Forestry Carbon Offsets
By ClimateBiz Staff

A new study released today from EcoSecurities, Conservation International, the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance, and ClimateBiz analyzes the perceptions and expectations driving corporate decisions to buy forestry carbon offsets.... Read More



Live From Ceres: Climate Change Requires Bold Thinking

Book Industry Group Wants to Cut Emissions 20 Percent by 2020, 80 Percent by 2050

Live From the Ceres Conference: How Do We Change the Rules of the Game?

Aspen Skiing, Clif Bar, Seventh Generation Strengthen BICEP Climate Coalition

Live from the Ceres Conference: Why Should a Coffee Company Care About Climate Change?

How Sustainable Thinking Can Change Design

Live from Ceres Conference: The Water-Energy Nexus

Solar Power Plans Take Off at Home, Business and City Levels

Renewables and Efficiency Fuel Timberland's Climate Strategy


   Featured News
The Phony Green Jobs Debate
By Marc Gunther

Ironworker image CC licensed by Flickr user Paul Keleher. See image at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkeleher/250020132/

As the battle over climate change legislation heats up, several Big Green groups -- the Environmental Defense Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club -- are rolling out TV and Internet ads designed to persuade voters that regulating greenhouse gas emissions will create green jobs.... Read More


         
Sponsored Content

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   GreenBiz Radio
Lies, Damn Lies, and the Seventh Sin of Greenwashing
By Joel Makower

TerraChoice Environmental Marketing this week is releasing an updated version of their widely discussed "Six Sins of Greenwashing," and to explore the new findings, as well as just how grave a sin greenwashing can be, GreenBiz.com executive editor Joel Makower talks to TerraChoice's Scot Case about the seventh sin of greenwashing.... Listen


         
Sponsored Content

Register to attend EcoSecurities FREE Forest Carbon Offsetting Trends webinar on the 23rd of April


This interactive panel includes speakers from EcoSecurities, Conservation International, CCBA, WWF and the Voluntary Carbon Standard and will include findings from the forthcoming research report. Click here to find out more.                                     
   Columns and Blogs
Joel Makower
The Seven Sins of Greenwashing: Is Everybody Lying?
> Read more...
Nick Ellis
Green Businesses' Dirty Little Secret: Implied Ethics
> Read more...
Betsy Fargo and Ryan Schuchard
Whose Carbon Is It? The ABCs of Counting Emissions in Your Supply Chain
> Read more...
Jonathan Bardelline
New Soap, Old Bottle: Repackaging Name Brand Cleaners
> Read more...

      FEATURED RESOURCES

The Forest Carbon Offsetting Survey 2009

This report, produced by EcoSecurities, ClimateBiz.com, and other partners, offers an in-depth look at the current corporate attitudes toward carbon offsets from forests and the growth opportunities in this market.

Shades of Green: Quantifying the Benefits of Organic Dairy Production

This report describes the methodology behind the Organic Center's new calculator, which estimates the environmental impacts avoided by shifting dairy cows from conventional to organic management practices.




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FEATURED EVENT
Greener By Design 2009
Date: May 19, 2009 - 7:00am
Location: San Francisco ,Calif.

Bringing green products to the mainstream requires a focus on aligning environmental innovation with affordability. But how are successful companies designing greener products with little or no price premium? Join us at Greener By Design 2009 to see who's evolving, who's thriving, and how they're producing products that aren't just greener, but better — and more affordable.






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