Académique Documents
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by sarah sekula
Enterprise
c By the time 29-year-old eco-preneur
Julie Norris cruises into work at 10
a.m., her café is buzzing with activity.
bulbs. What’s more, Norris’ 14 employ-
ees (or “tribe,” as she calls them) all ride
their bicycles to work, where bike racks
eliminate something?” proof that the organic movement is not firm. “They are our foundation and trees we planted,” she says. “There were
As green-centric as she is now, it’s just for Sierra Clubbers and Ed Bagley our pioneers in the sustainability 400. It’s something to be proud of.”
hard to imagine her any other way. Yet, Jr. types anymore: U.S. sales of organic movement.” She pats her dad on the back for her
it wasn’t until 2001, on a post-gradu- food increased 22 percent to $17 billion early intro to eco-respect and a less-
ation backpacking trip through Europe in 2006. Climate Champ is-more approach. And these days she
that it clicked. After tasting organic food The environmental and sustainability Panks-Holmes’ business, which she passes her lifelong ideals along to other
for the first time, she says, her palate led industry is gaining steam, too. What founded in October 2007, was dubbed businesses, advising them on green
her to the environmental movement. Norris has embraced over the past four green by Co-Op America last year for policies and concrete ways to follow in
Turns out, her relatively new love for years is nothing new to the Silent Mil- several reasons: She chose to nix office her low-impact footsteps.
all things natural is paying off. At any lion, a group of businesses that, back in space entirely to reduce her ecological Her clients learn to embrace the use
given lunch or dinner hour, the café the 1950s and 1960s, began adopting footprint; she’s a member of the Action of renewable resources and hold them-
line is out the door. Perhaps it’s the business strategies that met the needs Network for Concerned Scientists and selves accountable when it comes to the
tofu-topped “Henry’s Hearty Chili,” of the enterprise while protecting, sus- is one of only a thousand people rigor- environment and human rights. They
loaded with sweet corn and super-secret taining and enhancing the human and ously trained by all-time eco-maniac must also operate on a triple bottom
spices that draws a crowd. Or maybe it’s natural resources that would be needed Al Gore last May to serve as a Climate line — social responsibility, environ-
the art openings and poetry nights that in the future. Project presenter; and she knows a thing mental sustainability and profit. The
the homey hideaway hosts. Or, it could These innovative businesses certainly or two about the environment. results: more efficient operations and
be the green businesses that are sprout- were true greens, although the now- Her eco-roots can be traced back increased profits.
ing up around it, together creating a ubiquitous term hadn’t sprouted up to childhood days in Michigan, where Not coincidentally, as federal laws on
cozy bohemian-style atmosphere, com- yet. “It’s just who they are and how they summer mornings were for tree plant- greenhouse gases (which will require all
plete with medicinal herb garden, green do business,” says Mary Panks-Holmes, ing and tending the organic garden. “I businesses to report emissions’ levels)
spa and nearby yoga studio. president of Lake Mary-based Climate went back a few years ago, and we walked hover on the horizon, more businesses
Whatever it is, it’s working. And it is Culture, an environmental consulting around and counted all the remaining are following the specially handcrafted
trail carved out by the Silent Million. To get to our goal, we are working with supplier outreach program, encour- “As a company, we are fortunate that we
Locally, to stay ahead of the regulations, our vendors and our team members in aging partners to develop and execute have been focused on this for a number of
Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty the plant to change habits.” energy-efficiency programs. They even years,” he says. “We have made significant
is developing a Climate Change Imple- To extend their impact beyond, plant offer an energy audit for co-packers strides in our environmental journey.”
mentation Plan, with a benchmark of executives have also implemented a and suppliers. Is it all paying off? Apparently.
19
reducing greenhouse gases by 15 percent
by 2010. “We are trying to change the
behavior of the county,” says Lori Cun-
niff, manager of the Orange County
Environmental Protection Division.
“It’s going to drive the community in
the right direction.”
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The new regulations and a heightened
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sense of awareness are catapulting the
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growth of the U.S. marketplace for
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goods and services focusing on health,
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says Panks-Holmes, “especially when
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you get to the Fortune 100 and 500
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socially responsible.”
When it comes to the Central Florida
marketplace, she says, it is just begin-
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as a market. Those who have already HB6AA7J>HC:HH:MED
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“We are already at less than 10 percent.
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may 2008 >// 21
//> COVER
“Compared to our 1999 baseline per- continue to drive our sustainability natural gas usage by 58 percent. Annu- the efforts don’t end there. Frito-Lay
formance, our efforts saved more than efforts.” ally, that’s enough water to supply 1,125 officials set another goal back in 2004
$55 million,” says Roden. “These sav- Since 1999, the Orlando plant has households, enough electricity to sup- — to reduce greenhouse gas emission
ings can then be reinvested into more reduced its water usage by 60 percent, ply 300 homes and enough natural gas by 14 percent per pound of product by
innovative programs that allow us to electricity usage by 27 percent and to supply 1,050 northern homes. And 2010 — and they are well on the way to
reaching that lofty goal.
Overall, Roden, says, these conserva-
tion efforts have no doubt had business
benefits and created a culture that is
Smaller Footprint
Take Universal Parks & Resorts, for
example. The company has adopted
sustainability as a core business value.
The fist major step was switching all
mobile engines and water taxis, even the
Jaws Ride boats, to run on biofuels. The
result: The theme park estimates it will
reduce CO2 emissions by 158 tons per
year for its vehicles now using biodiesel
and 101 tons per year for its ethanol-
run vehicles.
One of the theme park’s key eco-
initiatives is spreading the sustainabil-
LYNX CARPOOLS & VANPOOLS significantly reduce CO2 emissions. ity messages to its 13,000 employees
through eco-fairs and a weeklong
Call our Commuter Services team at 407-843-POOL (7665) or visit www.golynx.com/commuter to get started! Earth Day event. The person-to-per-
son approach raises awareness among
by going green?
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employees and, in turn, with guests. practices,” says Panks-Holmes. “We most authentic changes you can make.” She stresses that it requires a total cor-
Talk about a large platform from which work with businesses that upgrade The first step is to measure your porate commitment to green any com-
to spread green ideals. their facilities with energy-efficient ecological footprint. Then set your pany’s products and services. “It needs
What’s next? The new Simpsons technologies. These types of steps boundaries and goals for reducing it. to be founded on a thorough greening
Ride incorporates green technologies, reduce operating costs and liability, Consultants, who will analyze your of the entire company,” she explains.
including variable-speed motors and and boost profits.” company’s true environmental impact, The bottom line — or the triple-
energy-efficient lighting. In addition, come in handy. bottom line in this case — is this:
reclaimed water is used for landscape Boosting Your “The best advice that I can give any There are long-term benefits to hav-
irrigation, cleaning products are being Eco-Cred organization looking to start some type ing a sustainability strategy both for
replaced with nontoxic equivalents, and When it comes down to it, greening of green initiative is to start with your good business and for good graces
recycling and green sourcing policies are your business can be daunting if you ownership and secure the support that with Mother Nature.
ramping up. Park officials say the many look at the big picture. “Don’t focus you need,” says Panks-Holmes. “From
new programs make sense financially. on the millions of things you can do,” there, you want to start identifying your
“There’s definitely a link between Norris says. “Focus on what the imme- climate champions and create a sustain-
sustainability and profitable business diate problems are and determine the ability team.”