Body Politic Boutique

Company Visited: Body Politic Boutique

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://bodypolitic.ca

Mission per company’s website: “ethical. sustainable. organic. welcome to body politic! Sustainable design, limitless style. It’s about choice, not sacrifice. Independent designers from Vancouver to New York are showcased at body politic. Our choices mean that you will find exceptional designs with an urban aesthetic, produced in North America, and created from the best natural and sustainable fabrics. Discover what the new “fashion-forward” means: sustainable design, limitless style!”

Final Thoughts: We met with Nicole Ritchie-Oseen. Sustainable Clothing? Yes! It that is how wonderful and diverse is the world of sustainability. This company design sustainable clothing. Although it is difficult to overcome competition the company actually retains its customers by educating their clients. Some of the profit for different products sold goes to a foundation where the clothing was made.  It works with designer of clothing and accessories from USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and others. It opened 3 years ago and has mixed clients (mainly women mid 30’s) and now selling online. All of the customers care where clothing is made and what is made of. In the clothing you will see difference, quality, and value.

Greenworks Building Supply

Company Visited: Greenworks Building Supply

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://www.greenworksbuildingsupply.com/

Mission per company’s website: GreenWorks Building Supply Inc. was founded by Pete McGee and Alastair Moore. Born and raised in Vancouver, the two have witnessed their hometown grow into a world renowned city and one that prides itself on being green-at-heart. So it was a bit of a shock when Pete returned from business in the US and Alastair from teaching sustainable development in Europe to find that the city still didn’t have a source for green building materials. That was the summer of 2006 and soon after GreenWorks Building Supply Inc. opened to offer homeowners a one-stop shop for environmentally friendly building materials. Modeled after the green building centers that have sprouted up in the US over the last decade, GreenWorks’ goal is to provide its customers in Vancouver and across Canada the best options for creating healthy, beautiful spaces – both inside and outside the home.”

Final Thoughts: We met with Marya. They build well to live well. Their main focus is on providing supplies that help health and are sustainable. They provide international products such as alpaca wool carper from Peru and portion of the benefit goes to local charities in Peru. Company is not big on providing lumber, plywood, or other heavy material, but it is certainly growing fast and most importantly always considering the environment before purchasing products.

University of British Columbia

Company Visited: Center for Interactive Research of Sustainability

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://cirs.ubc.ca/

Mission per company’s website: "Develop applied technical solutions in building materials and design for commercialization by partners. Combine expert knowledge and public values and preferences in exploring pathways to a sustainable society. Collaborate with private, public and non-governmental organization sector partners to create superior policy and business decisions for sustainable urban development. Educate, train and demonstrate sustainable technologies and services and the practices of sustainable urban development."
Final Thoughts: some of the sustainable features that the CIRS building had was stir sticks made fine wood, solar panel windows, water cistern, wood floors from local wood, monitor showing energy savings. There were also some amazing housing and mix use development in the UBC campus. Townhomes, apartments, convenience stores, office space, etc. The 100 acre sustainable South Campus community has heart and soul in the urban village, where residents can live, work, study, and play.

BioTeq

Company Visited: BioTeq

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://bioteq.ca

Mission per company’s website: “BioteQ is a water treatment company that applies innovative technologies and
operating expertise to solve challenging water treatment problems, converting
wastewater into a useful resource.”

Final Thoughts: The person we met was Tanja McQueen. The company mainly focuses in the industrial part in mining. They remove contaminants from water.  It became public in 2001. Main problem was acid mining drainage, which acid rain caused by mining.  Metal recovery and contaminants removal and sulfate removal are some of the contaminants removed from contaminated water. Minerals extracted can be sold for profit. Company’s applications include mining, power generators, soil, and gas. The company has 16 water treatment plants and built all over 6 countries. The company has treated over 9.46 billion liter of water. Strategic partners are Newalta (Canada), Ecometales (Chile), and Lanxess. 10 million company and always striving for new technology.  It is very impressive to find out how many ways we can be sustainable even in the mining business. The water before treatment is as black as coke and can be turned into pure crystal clear water. Basically, the company takes wasted from mining and turns it into something useful. Mining companies are very interested in sustainability. The bottom line of the company goal was to reduce waste integrates water treatment and a lower life cycle cost.

Fairmont

Company Visited: Green Roof and Bee Keeping Fairmont

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://www.fairmont.com/waterfront

Mission per company’s website: “Turning moments into memories for our guests”

Final Thoughts: We met with Dominic. He is the gym trainer from the Fairmont. This shows how interdisciplinary sustainability is, it takes of all people from different disciplines to move towards a common goal. The hotel has beehives and green roof. There are about 500,000 bees in 6 hives and they have been doing bee keeping for the last 4 years. The harvest is of about 600 pounds of honey per season. They vegetables, herbs, and honey are used by the chef in hotel’s restaurant. They also sell products from the garden and hive. Doing this saves about $50,000 a year.

City of Vancouver Convention Center

Company Visited: City of Vancouver Convention Center

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://www.vancouverconventioncentre.com/

Mission per company’s website: “To elevate Vancouver as the global leader and convention destination of choice, by creating inspiring and sustainable experiences for: Our clients, Our team, Our community”

Final Thoughts: We met with Kim and Jinny, Communication and Marketing managers. The convention center opened in April 2009, there was a need for city space for conferences and this building was built. It accommodates about 6,000 people and hold LEED Platinum Certification. Sustainability is not just a recognition is actually a part of the company’s culture. Most of the materials of which it was built are local for example in the walls, there is about 2 acres of local wood. It is a multi use space (wedding, conferences) 6 acres of green roof which also includes three bee hives. 4000 plants. Irrigation for the roof is used from gray and black water. Employees are encourage to walk along the park and bike riding. Digital signage is used to reduce paper usage. Artwork is used from local artist to decorate center and it also tells a story of the providence of BC.  40% of the building is in water.

Loutet Farm

Company Visited: Loutet Farm

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

 Website: http://www.ediblegardenproject.com/what-we-do/loutet-farm/

 Mission per company’s website: “increase access to fruits and vegetables and to garden space for those most in need on the North Shore. Increase land used for fruit and vegetable production on the North Shore. Increase knowledge and skills relating to food gardening, thereby increasing community capacity to grow and share locally grown fruits and vegetables. Advise on and support policy development around urban agriculture.”

Final Thoughts: We met with Heather and Galvin. Loutet farm broke ground in February of 2011. This farm initiate as a pilot farm later received approval from to city. It was made from a public piece of property owned by the city. 400 yard of soil for beds, over 200 volunteers, and the first urban farm in north shore. The current living wage in Vancouver is 19/hour, but a framer’s wage is 8.50/hour. It has 10 garden bed and mostly supported by neighborhood volunteers, meaning that community engagement is vital. Products are donated back to the community and also sold in the market. Gardening workshops are provided to the community. The main goal of the farm is to sustain itself. They are also in the process of getting another public property to start an urban farm.

Discovery Organics

Company Visited: Discovery Organics

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://www.discoveryorganics.ca

Mission per company’s website: “We passionately work to promote Certified Organic and Fair Trade by building relationships with small scale farmers here at home, as well as abroad.”

Final Thoughts: We met with Miranda and Andy. Andy is founder of this local food distributor company.  The idea was after this small farmer decided to go organic on all the food is currently grown and due to the misleading advertisement of “organic.” The company works with transparency. The concepts looked for in the company is fair trade and sustainable organics (which includes paying decent salary to workers) The company buys products from abroad, USA, and Canada because of the supply and demand. It compost and donates food. They also deliver 24/7 and competition is pro-organics with prices in the same range. Local commercial restaurants are the most attractive costumers, but Choice’s Market is the biggest costumer. The company is focused more on the social part of sustainability. 40 employees and they are also involved in domestic fair trade.

EcoUrbia

Company Visited: EcoUrbia Network

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://www.ecourbia.org/

Mission per company’s website: “EcoUrbia is a not-for profit organization, and a community-based sustainability portal. We promote education and local action, and serve as a gateway for community members to engage with each other on local and regional issues, broaden public awareness, and offer opportunities for involvement and story sharing. Sustainability is an urgent challenge, and there are many ways that we can be-know-do more to support ourselves and others.”

Final Thoughts: We met with Karen, Kevin, Julian, & Tyler. Karen is the founder of EcoUrbia. Karen is founder the network. It is a registered nonprofit society. The main foundation is food and waste. They focus on advocacy, public outreach, and urban farms. It uses public land for garden and legally they can advocate. The collaboration among local community and eco-friendly advocators is very strong.

Kevin ideas is reconnecting people to food and about returning back to the community by Doing waste and food management and People must have a connection of where food comes from.

The company wants to provide a portal to see real sustainability progress and benefit.

Julian is a recent graduate student from the University of British Columbia. He is the most recent member to the board of the company. His main interest is on how science can communicate sustainability to the public and how language needs to be structured to pass sustainability initiatives. It is very interesting to see how EcoUrbia gives opportunities to college students. Tyler has sustainability background and human culture and food diversity is his interest. He wants to create self-financing for contemporary art (from local artist).

Washington Green Schools

Company Visited: Washington Green Schools

Where: Seattle, Washington

Website: http://www.wagreenschools.org

Mission per company’s website: “Washington Green Schools challenges students and communities to create a sustainable region through educational experiences that transform school environments. Every school in Washington will teach, model, and practice environmental sustainability, serving as centers for change throughout the region.”

Final Thoughts: We met with this person Rebecca Meredith. It is a nonprofit organization that started back in 2005 as an agency funded by educators. The Department of Ecology was the one that helped with grants. It is composed of 3 members two co-directors and one staff. The funding mainly comes from Grants, corporations, and individual donors. The main concern that led to this company was the excessive amount of waste produced in schools. There is no cost to use services provided to the company. There are 2300 schools in Seattle but only 211 are participating in the program. The main concepts that school can improve will be Energy, Water, Transportation, or Healthy School Systems. These are the steps: 1. The school chooses the category they want to improve. 2. Set up green team. 3. Asestment of the school. 4. Behavioral change 5. Consider all other categories 6. Verify and Reflect 7. Share. The program covers a wide range of high and low income families. Schools in Texas need to implement sustainable initiatives. This way it will lead by example to improve our world. This is done by teaching sustainability to our children at a young age. In order for an initiative to be successful it does not just need to be implemented, but also needs a follow-up and review mainly by analysis of the data. Collaboration among different agencies is a plus when implementing sustainable changes.

McKinstry Innovation Center

Company Visited: McKinstry Innovation Center

Where: Seattle, Washington

Website: http://www.mckinstryinnovationcenter.com

Mission per company’s website:"Since we began over 50 years ago, McKinstry has continuously looked for ways to innovate the business landscape. That's why we created the Innovation Center: to give new and emerging companies a place where they could come together under one roof to accelerate the advancement of new ideas, products and technologies. We know that these companies play a big role in stimulating innovation in our economy, creating jobs and ensuring our ability to compete globally. The Center is an extension of our commitment to innovation and the small businesses on the cutting-edge that are creating the breakthroughs of tomorrow."

Final Thoughts: We met with this person Tony Stewart. It is a 52-year-old private company. It’s revenues runs for about 500 million. Provides space for start up companies. The company provides short-term leases for star up companies; McKinstry does not own these companies. They are looking for innovative sustainable ideas. Smart building lab that reviews energy efficiency of all building owned. In order to enroll you must have business plan and a fit financial background. The only fee charged is for when the companies need grant writing.

Things Gained: There are companies that really care and help in preserving and implementing sustainable products or services; and this is one of the companies.

Group collaboration is needed to reach common goals.  McKinstry rocks at providing assistance for sustainability innovators. How to invest inside the company by providing an umbrella to start a business and once they succeed the company is being promoted.

IslandWood

Company Visited: Islandwood

Where: Bainbridge Island, Washington

Website: http://islandwood.org

Mission per company’s website: “To provide exceptional learning experiences and to inspire lifelong environmental and community stewardship.”

Final Thoughts: We met with this person Judy. Previously owned by lumber company. The company broke ground in 2000 but was not occupied until 2002. It has wetlands and soil. The building is made with concrete (50% fly-ash) and wood from the trees that were removed to construct the facility. However there is no natural gas and are using propane. They offer a 4-day outdoor education program. Low-income families can enroll and company let them borrow equipment. They have waterless urinals and decomposing facility for the restrooms. Community is very involved mainly thru volunteers. College professors and students can actively participate in their programs too. Learning sustainability at a young age really impacts the improvement of itself later on. Sustainable and environmental saving techniques need to be taught at all level of income people. College involvement plays a big part in the success of sustainable initiatives. Islandwood is playing a big part in the change that is need to go towards sustainability.

YouTube Video

Sustainable Seattle

Company Visited: Sustainable Seattle

Where: Seattle, Washington

Website: http://www.sustainableseattle.org

Mission per company’s website: “Sustainable Seattle's mission is to be a catalyst and resource for positive change.”

Notes of Interest: We met with this person Terri Butler. Firs community based organization in 1991. All started with a group of 20-25 concerned citizens. The concerned was the hogging of all natural resources. It was also to investigate what makes more or less sustainable.

Things I gained:

To adapt and modify sustainable initiatives to fit local needs

To start a sustainable company with low funding volunteers and grants

Seattle is already at an advance level than level of sustainable thinking than Texas.

Sustainable initiatives go beyond because there is a gathering of business to share ideas and implement them.

YouTube Video

EarthShare

Company Visited: EarthShare

Where: Seattle, Washington

Website: www.esw.org

Mission per company’s website: “EarthShare Washington (ESW) plays a vital role in promoting environmental education, volunteerism, and charitable giving by partnering with businesses across Washington.”

Final Thoughts:The site visit was EarthShare an approach to sustainability. We met with this person was Jeff Whiton. This is what was said the company is the federation of other environmental nonprofit agencies. It focuses on employee engagement and where they educate employees about environment. There are 21 local charities and 44 national/international charities. They offer sustainable workbooks and software to promote sustainability within employees. The company actually started a funding organization. There are no fees for services provided. The things I gained were to see how much education plays a big part in world of sustainability. The way funding is developed thru donations. There are companies willing to charge no fees to provide consultation to companies interested in improving the company’s sustainability program or initiatives.

YouTube Video

ecoEquity

Company Visited: ecoEquity

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://www.ecoequity.ca/about.asp

Mission per company’s website: “EcoEquity is working to address one of the greatest challenges facing humanity – stemming global climate change. In Canada our work is focused on creating green homes and sustainable communities. We are dedicated to making energy efficiency an affordable, attractive and fulfilling part of people’s lives.”

Final Thoughts: We met with Blair Wilson. The company provides green financing to any company that owns a property or business. Any type of environment ecofriendly project will be financed. The company focuses on how finance can facilitate sustainability. A wrong tool to use is what is my payback; instead stretch the loan to have less payment and equal energy and water savings. Which makes cash flow positive for initial term of the loan. The company currently charges 11.90 APR for interest in a loan, which is way better than banks. They also finance the warranty and loan of the equipment/project. The main challenge to invest in an ecofriendly project will be to educate costumer on cost benefit analysis and how sustainability projects will have a long term and short-term return. Putting correct words and showing numbers can ease the company to accept green initiatives or projects. Vancouver has many green initiatives/companies/projects that makes it easier to overcome some of the challenges we are currently facing in the USA. 

HiVE

Company Visited: HiVE

Where: Vancouver, BC Canada

Website: http://www.hivevancouver.com

Mission per company’s website: “A shared work space with a dynamic cafe-like studio culture, our mission is to catalyze opportunities for collaboration and innovation amongst a community of change-makers in an actively hosted, shared work and event space.”

Final Thoughts: We met with Tera. A multi use space that hold Gold LEED certification. Bike friendly environment where encourage bike to work. The funding comes from $30,000 grant from city among other grants and memberships. Two years ago the company had a vision of share space and company is about to reach first anniversary. 70 organizations (IT, Biodiesel, Policy Making, Architectures, Story Tellers) currently participate and the cost of hot desk is fifty dollar for four hours. Participating companies’ brainstorms with ideals and carry action forward for a solution. It consists of a very young demographics and collaborates with 5 other network share spaces to improve business. Help is provided little and big by other organizations; for example Canadian post donated mailbox and Japanese consulate donated lockers. This company represents how sustainability is a mixture of many disciplines and the interaction among each other is crucial for the final outcome. It is a good way to start a company when do not have enough capital to begin with. 

GotGreen

Company Visited: GotGreen

Where: Seattle, Washington

Website: http://gotgreenseattle.org

Mission per company’s website: “Got Green is a grassroots group in the Seattle area led by young adults and people of color that promotes the movement for an equitable, green economy as the best way to fight poverty and global warming at the same time. Founded in 2008 under the fiscal sponsorship of the White Center Community Development Association, Got Green has quickly established itself as an authentic voice from communities of color on economic, racial and gender justice issues within the framework of this new, green economy.”

Final Thoughts: We met with Michael Woo. Company was formed in 2008. Organized groups especially minority groups to created equity and opportunity in jobs. Company got stimulus money for green jobs capacitation, but no jobs available had to give money back. Women within neighborhood opted to go with less healthy items for food, but the company encourages people to grow their own food or buy food from local farmers. They help seniors and low-income families to keep food stamps system that was threatened to be remove by a local policy.  The company is also helping homeowners of the local government programs that help their homes to be come more sustainable (weatherization). Leadership is a big part of sustainability because it takes one person to lead others into informing and educating people within surroundings about sustainable practices. Lets make our community aware of the few local sustainable initiatives and make them full understand the concept and the value of sustainability. That will lead to people being less reluctant to change and will see the reward of sustainable products or services.

Seattle Office of Sustainability

Company Visited: Office of Sustainability

Where: City of Seattle, Washington

Website: http://www.seattle.gov/environment

About Department: The Office of Sustainability and Environment has been hard at work coordinating and developing policies and initiatives to protect Seattle's environment for over 10 years”

Final Thoughts: We met with Jeannie Boawn. High-level policy led to initiatives in climate protection. It has been doing 40 years of environmental initiatives. It focuses on policy related to energy and climate. They are heading towards net zero carbon by 2050. The department of energy granted the community power works program. Which focus on preserve energy and retrofit buildings. Collaboration among other city departments is vital. They have electric vehicle infrastructure. Food system educational program informs citizens on healthy, affordable, local food. The city owns 7000 acres of land and only 2 properties available for farming all other land is not suitable. They city has mandatory recycling for residents.  Waste 2020 is the vision of having 70% of the landfill waste reduced. They are currently at 50% reduce waste. Our local city should implement a coordinator of sustainability or an office of sustainability so that there is a better control and use of sustainable initiatives. Collaboration is needed among residential, commercial, community, etc it takes of all to make milestone changes. The local government needs to comply, create and implement policies that favor sustainability.  Employee engagement is successful to increase green policies.

FutureWise

Company Visited: FutureWise

Where: Seattle, Washington

Website: http://futurewise.org

Mission per company’s website: “Futurewise is a statewide public interest group working to promote healthy communities and cities while protecting farmland, forests and shorelines today and for future generations.”

Final Thoughts: We met with this person April Putney. This is what was said the company has been for about 20 years and it is a non-profit. The main concern was fast growing Washington and changing landscaping this scared people. The challenge was to protect natural legacy by the growth act. Some of the main objectives they focus are public education, technical assistance, policy appeals, and Advocacy.  They are not against growth they are against unnecessary growth without using other alternatives such as vacant rural land. The funding comes from foundation, donors, and memberships; the company consist of 11 employees (lawyers, planners, and public engagement) the main event the company host is the Feast with friends where local farmers and chefs prepare local food and share it.  She described in detailed what a sustainable lobbyist did and how she still cannot get this bad perspective of a lobbyist. She is a white hat lobbyist where she does not have any money to work with. When an anti sustainable bill is created or suggested we need to take action by opposing or just contacting people in charge and share our concerns. Lobbyist has a very high impact on the legislature part of the sustainable bills. I understood that growth is good, but when the growth is excessive then there is a problem. Funding for most of the companies is thru outside donors that have also a concern about the environment and sustainable development.  I like the comment that she stated, “A community should be built for the people not for the car” which really inspire me to think more of how materialistic society has become.

NBIS (Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability)

Company Visited: NBIS (Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability)

Where: Seattle, Washington

Website: http://nbis.org

Mission per company’s website: “NBIS provides Businesses and Professionals who are serious about Profitable Sustainability with the connections, skills, tools, programs, and resources that are vital for success in the Green Economy.”

Final Thoughts: We met with this person Karl. This is what was said it is a 10-year-old company that had a concern to a planet for his grandchildren. It helps business become sustainable by providing workshops.  They mentioned DM strategic software SBP360 that has been out and takes date from other sources and use it for sustainable matrix. The main goal is to accelerated profitable sustainability. It relays on promotion and marketing to push their personal and virtual consulting products.  The scopes will be 1. Fuel reduction 2. Energy buy utility 3. Everything else. They work with McKinstry and collaborate between companies. Personal and family ideas to change the world are what make me passionate to be a change agent for the world. Sustainability is also for profit and not always a nonprofit. Not all sustainable makes profit and need to find the niche where the profit can be taken. Marketing and promotion of an idea or initiative is crucial for the success of an initiative. Employees need to be rewarded for the work done. The scopes used by the company could be a baseline for an intra-policy for any company. There is open range of options to implement sustainable ideas or initiatives.