innovative and sustainable companies are changing the world

simply stephen — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:00:19 +0000

We hear the word sustainable and continue to go about our business as if nothing is going on in the world. Perhaps, it’s just another one of the too many catch phrases and marketing terms that gets lost in translation. For others it seems to stir a little bit of interest but is still someone else’s job to change things.

Maybe it’s confusing and overwhelming.

Fortunately, sustainable solutions are cropping up everywhere. Two main factors seem to drive sustainable change – innovation and profit. Desire and concern are further down the list. However, individuals from all walks of life and every corner of the world are making great strides working on great projects and innovations to help protect our planet and the people in it.

That’s creating a change in perception.

Green is okay.

It’s becoming cool to go eco-friendly and care for the planet. It’s driving us to find effective and socially conscious ways to exist and work.

Toms Shoes – This company oozes eco-friendly. They produce trendy, washable shoes made with recycled material. But they don’t stop there. For every pair sold they donate a pair to a child in need. Manufactured in Argentina, China and Ethopia all factories operate under a strict code of fair pay and labour, even audited by a third party at least once a year. The company was started in 2006 and…there is no Tom, it’s an abbreviation from the term “shoes for TOMorrow”. Oh…and they are now doing eye glasses too!

Frogbox – I’m a sucker for anything with a frog. Frogbox, a Vancouver startup, is now in over 20 North American locations. They rent eco-friendly moving boxes and supplies – by the week. Simple. Useful. Affordable. Designed with snap lids, handles and recycled hard plastic it makes moving a snap…sorry. They also donate 1% of all proceeds to frog habitat restoration…I like em even more.

There are cheaper alternatives such as Boxcycle were you can even make a bit of money if you have used or new boxes to give away.

I’ve seen tons of great local business too. Interested in getting fresh. local, organic fruit and vegetable packs delivered to your door? Have a look at places like Mama Earth Organics in Toronto or do a local search – almost every city has one now. Speaking of local, in Toronto Turn Around Bike Couriers recruits at risk youth to provide messenger services – and no fuel used.

Kiva – saving perhaps the most heartwarming for last. They empower people around the world with a $25 dollar loan. You invest as much or little of your money in people that need help in the third and emerging world. It almost always raises the quality of life and very few loans are defaulted.

So, Eco is cool. Tell me about your great company and how it is changing the world.if you liked this post, take a gander at these ones

getting rid of your stuff – 3 fundamentals to simplify

simply stephen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:35:13 +0000

As many of you know, I am a minimalist. I try to have only what I need with a few stupid things thrown in. The less stuff you have, the easier it becomes to manage all aspects of your life.

It’s cheaper to manage less stuff. It offers freedom from expense and creates a comfortable space with the things you need. It makes it easy to pack up and move too, so it’s perfect for the mobile or travel minded person. I digress. having less stuff is one key to green living. Consumption is counterproductive and drains our world of valuable resources. Ones that we are in short supply of now.

where do I start

It can be overwhelming.

Not knowing what to get rid or or how. But there are 3 power rules, the fundamentals to simplifying anything.

rule #1 – eliminate

Sounds simple, right?

Wrong.

This is usually the hardest part. Letting go.

At first you might need to take an inventory. If you have massive amounts of stuff this will take time. Do it in little stages. A few minutes a day. Break it down into rooms or areas. Start with large items first (if it is overwhelming only do a few items per room).

Set a schedule and do it in little chunks. There are several ways to eliminate things. Here’s some ideas:

you don’t have to abandon the items and throw them in the trash
find them a new home or even swap, barter and trade them
put them up for sale on Craigslist, Kijiji or Ebay
donate them to your favourite charity
give them to your friends and family

Focus on paper and recycle it all. Magazines can go to hospitals or support centers. Scan important documents. Eliminate files. Forget about your old letters and clippings. After you are gone, nobody will want to read them.

That’s enough for now…I just want to give you some basics.

rule #2 – classify

Time to categorize.

As you are eliminating you might find items that just don’t belong. Think of your house as a department store and break it into units. Classify those units and put the items in the room that they belong. That way you can get ready to organize them for later.

rule #3 – organize

Now that you have your items all broken down into smaller groups you can start to organize them. Find a home for everything. Start thinking about the logical place to put things. See if you have items you don’t need and go back to step one. You will find duplicate items or multi-purpose items that might even overlap.

This is the time to start making more space and putting things in the right place.

If you get to stage 3 and you still have too much stuff in your room, garage, car etc. guess what?

It’s time to go back to stage 1 and eliminate again.

Do this until you have a manageable quantity of stuff. Each time you do your spring cleaning you can eliminate a bit more. You will find the task easier each time you start your simplifying.

Simplifying buys you life. It buys you time, money and energy. It gives you a clean and comfortable living space. There are very few regrets when you downsize your life and simplify your stuff.if you liked this post, take a gander at these ones