Green Living Consultant

When we think of ‘green’ jobs, we often picture a new opportunity, which may require a new set of skills, or a new place of employment with a job title and description that "sounds" green.   This may lead us to believe that ‘green’ jobs are elsewhere - and definitely not our current job.  Frequently, in our sustainability consulting, we are asked, "How do I find a green job?"
 
Keep in mind, every job is a green job: it's all in how you do it.  Granted, there are designated "green" jobs out there.  However, if it is making an impact and making a difference that you are truly after, then transforming your current job into a green job is the ticket.
 
Whether led by a sustainability executive or traditional management, your role in a sustainable organization can have an impact. 
 
•    Supply Chain Professionals: these roles interface with the company’s supply chain and can implement new sources of supply or work with current suppliers to incorporate sustainability concepts that improve operations.  Procurement play a role in coordinating sustainable purchasing practices across various departments within the organization. 
 
•    Environmental, Health, and Safety Professionals: these roles interface with the company’s operations and establish and implement the company’s sustainability policies.  They can also function as a communication vehicle to the organization.
 
•    Sales and Marketing Professionals: these key roles interface with the company’s customers represent the face of business sustainability and communicate the organizations values and commitment to sustainability.  Sales and Marketing link consumer preferences for sustainable products with the offerings of the company.
 
•    Human Resource Professionals: these key roles interface have a key role to play to help a company achieve its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives.  HR professionals are encouraged to check out the new book, CSR for HR by Elaine Cohen for sustainable impact within the organization.
 
At its essence, the desire for a green job is an opportunity for meaningful work.  Specifically, work that transforms our environment and gives back in a meaningful way.  It is the reward of expanding eco awareness through deliberate eco action that generates shifts in business and personal lives.  Follow your eco friendly passions and take on new and exciting opportunities as they become available. Watch your job transform into the sustainability role you have always wanted.        

Sometimes when I talk about green living or a sustainable lifestyle to someone unfamiliar with environmental values, I get the "deer in the headlights" look.  You know, the eyes gloss over, there's a lost look in the face, and there's a gentle stare of confusion.  As a green living consultant, I view these moments as a gift in time to share the value of living a sustainable lifestyle for myself  -  with someone else.  
 
In my professional consulting, I've discovered the easiest way to promote a sustainable lifestyle to others is by sharing with friends, neighbors, and in the community.  Sharing is a genuine expression of the value found in the sustainability concepts that are embraced in your life.  It's easier for others to make the connection between the ideas of living green and how it's put into action when examples are shared. 
 
Following are suggestions mentioned in our eco friendly training to help get the conversation going.
 
•    Want to talk about the weather?  Grow that typical conversation about local weather patterns into an expanding discussion about climate change.  Take the lead and solicit opinions about global warming, pollution, emissions, or a host of other environmental issues and opportunities related to the weather.  Explore possible solutions and eco actions to take.
 
•    Want to talk about work?  Turn that uninspiring workplace problem into an exploration of business sustainability solutions.  Leverage those issues into a discussion of business innovation, operational efficiencies, or exciting new technologies.
 
•    Want to talk about family and children?  Explore conversations about green living, eco travel, or fun green activities for the kids.
 
•    Want to talk about projects around the house?  There is a number of topics to choose from, either though personal experience or thoughts of doing in the future.  As a starter, energy efficiency is always a conversation starter for home improvement projects and appliance upgrades.
 
Remember to share what you are doing and why you like taking those eco actions.  If it feels good to preserve natural resources, say so.  Are you saving money? Say that too!  We all have different motivations and your sharing of your sustainable lifestyle may very well inspire your friends, neighbors, and family members to discover the value in green living for them. 

According to the post, Who's the Biggest Greenwasher of Them All?, consumers are the biggest greenwashers.  And perhaps, rightfully so.
 
The author, Joel Makower states, "For more than two decades, they've said one thing and done another, making outsized claims about their environmental commitments — and the actions they take where they live, work, and play — with little evidence to back up those claims." “If consumers were a corporation, we'd be boycotting them."
 
Which brings us to the case in point: Sustainability is two sides of the same coin.   Business sustainability and personal sustainability.   Businesses are stepping up to the plate.  As a consumer, are you?  At the PEW Center for Climate Change's Energy Efficiency Conference held in Chicago last April, one of the plenary session speakers stated a remarkable statistic.  Only 8% of what you DO is sustainable -- the other 92% is in the supply chain -- in other words, what you BUY.
 
As a result, we may not always have time to participate in the latest cause or campaign, but we do have one very powerful tool to affect social change… our consumer dollar. How we spend our money speaks volumes about our beliefs and values.
 
Noted in our sustainability consulting, sustainability needs educated consumers.  Everything you buy affects the Earth, but some choices have a lesser impact. Educating yourself about the products you buy can empower you to make a difference in protecting the planet. It's called "green purchasing," and it's easy to do. As a green living consultant, I've found the problem is, most people are simply not aware of the problems associated with purchasing less sustainable products, let alone the solutions.
 
So if the problem is a lack of education, then who is responsible for fixing it? We are.  Individually, we have a responsibility to seek out information on sustainable products and companies.  The easiest way to promote a sustainable lifestyle is by living your values. Sustainable purchasing is one way to demonstrate that value.  In fact, getting others involved in your purchasing habits is a great way to spread eco awareness to friends, neighbors, and others in your community.   

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they be executed". Translated into today's language that equates to actions speak louder than words.  Translate again to sustainability language, and eco actions speak louder than eco speak.
 
So, how do you walk your green talk?  Misconceptions encountered in our eco friendly consulting illustrate that people falsely believe that a sustainable lifestyle is an all or nothing approach.  The truth of the matter is that you do not have to live a 100% sustainable lifestyle to make a significant difference.
 
Consider a growing movement of buying local food.  While buying local is a sustainability concept, to some, that isn't even factored into their decision process.  They just want to support local businesses.  However, buying local extends beyond that of food purchases.  Purchasing locally made products also supports sustainable businesses in our communities.  Consider the additional benefits to buying local. 

• Local businesses produce more income, jobs, and tax receipts for local communities. 
• For every $100 you spend at one of our local businesses, $68 will stay in the community.
• Local businesses are more likely to utilize local ads, banks and other services.
• Local businesses donate more money to nonprofits and are more accountable to their local communities.
• Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods.
• Supporting local businesses is good for the environment, because it cuts down on fuel consumption.

 
As you can see, living a sustainable lifestyle doesn't mean you have to have an all or nothing approach; you can select the sustainability concepts that resonate the most with you and walk your green talk that way. 

So often sustainability is communicated to others in terms of the quality of the earth and our natural resources that we leave for our children.  Business sustainability programs are intended to address this on a corporate level and companies on the leading edge of sustainability are implementing ‘green’ decision process into all areas of their business, including their procurement and supply chain functions.
 
But as individuals, how does this participation show up in our daily lives?  What about the events in which we choose to participate?   Just this week, Taiga Company was represented in the TransRockies (TR3) mountain bike race.  Not only was this a dream come true, but more importantly, the values of the event parralled those of our company values. 
 
As noted in the TransRockies newsletter,”For years, the TransRockies has prided itself on leaving no trace on the trails we ride and in the places we stay. Because we ride through parkland and use public campgrounds, we have developed a very strict set of internal guidelines that ensure that we leave no garbage behind.
 
Some of the initiatives we take include trucking out every drop of grey water from our showers, leaving a crew behind to walk our campgrounds and pick up all refuse, tasking our sweep riders to take down all marking tape and pick up all wrappers as they clear the course . . . and penalizing riders for dropping garbage.
 
This year we're taking it a step further with the help of mygreenbin, who specialize in reducing landfill waste generated. With support from mygreenbin staff, we've been using multiple bins with separate paper, plastic and metal recycling to divert as much waste as possible making sure that it doesn't end up in landfills. It's a small step but one which will help to reduce the TransRockies carbon footprint."
 
As a sustainability consultant, the reward of riding my bike through breathtaking views in an event committed to similar values of waste reduction, environmental stewardship, and respect of natural resources was immensely fulfilling.  Thank you TransRockies!

They say a hug is a great gift – one size fits all, and it’s easy to exchange.  But as a sustainable living consultant, I wonder, how do you hug the planet? 
 
Perhaps it's in the expression of our daily choices.  Maybe hugging the planet is by living a sustainable lifestyle.  Consider that while we are here on this planet, many of us want to make a difference in the way we treat our environment.  Many want to make a significant contribution to the role business takes in shaping our economy, society, and environment.
The human values of kindness, generosity and willingness are ways we can all hug our planet:
 

• Kindness in living green is not only being kind to our planet, but kind to each other.  Compassion for where each of us is in relation to the green path.
• Generosity in green living is not only sharing eco awareness and eco resources, but also going above and beyond to inspire, promote, and encourage others on the green path.
• Willingness in green living is demonstrating your values through eco action and generating results

 
As you are going about your day, approach your world from the place of appreciation for our natural resources and community.  Discover ways you can hug your planet!  Here are some ideas:
 

• Pick up litter you see as you are walking on the sidewalk.
• Turn the lights off after someone else has forgotten as they left the room.
• Collect scrap office paper and bring it to the recycling center.
• Bring an organic meal to friends after just having a baby.
• Treat a friend to organic fare at a local sustainable restaurant.
• Teach a child how to ride a bike.
• Invite a friend on a nature walk.
• Share your favorite green blog with friends.
• Volunteer to clean up the break room and use eco friendly cleaning supplies.
• Feed the birds from a park bench or feeder.
• Adopt a pet from your local animal shelter.
• Donate a bag of organic coffee and share with your office.
• Make a contribution to your favorite charity.
• Volunteer your time for a worthwhile organization.
• Notice and compliment the sustainable efforts other are doing.

 
As Bill Keane said, “A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away".

Two emerging buzz words have accompanied growing eco awareness in our society:  Sustainability and Green.   As explained in our business sustainability consulting, sustainability is a macro concept that applies more broadly to entire systems and infrastructures. The term can be somewhat elusive, but can be characterized as it spans a multitude of topics.
 
Green, on the other hand, is a micro concept.   We deal with green in our everyday lives with things like clothing, food, transportation, and a long list of "how to go green today" suggestions. Green is a pretty easy concept to understand in part because it’s relative and tangible.   It is measured on a scale from dirty to clean or eco friendly vs. traditional product.   Also, tangible eco actions are oftentimes associated with being green, as in recycling. 
 
So, what is green living and is it the same as a sustainable lifestyle?  Living green or a sustainable lifestyle is a primary focus on eco awareness with actions towards reducing ones carbon footprint, managing waste, and embracing sustainability concepts in decision making.  A sustainable lifestyle often means different things to different people.  For those well versed in sustainability concepts, a sustainable lifestyle may be very different compared to someone just beginning to make sustainable life changes.
 
In our eco friendly consulting, we begin by asking, "Which sustainability concepts are you most familiar with?" 
•    Energy Efficiency
•    Waste Management
•    Eco labeling
•    Buy Local
•    Fair Trade
•    Carbon Offsetting
 
As a green living consultant, I encourage clients to transform the buzz words of green and sustainability into lasting behaviors and lifestyle choices that support the environment.  Expand eco awareness by having colorful green conversations with friends.  Share the sustainability concepts that you embrace and inspire eco action in others.   

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they be executed". Translated into today's language that equates to actions speak louder than words.  Translate again to sustainability language, and eco actions speak louder than eco speak.
 
So, how do you walk your talk?  Misconceptions encountered in our eco friendly consulting falsely believe that a sustainable lifestyle is an all or nothing approach.  The truth of the matter is that you do not have to live a 100% sustainable lifestyle to make a significant difference.  By aligning personal incentives with just a few sustainability concepts, you can reduce your carbon footprint almost immediately.
 
•    Vehicle Fuel Consumption: The most significant area of personal impact and one that is well within your sphere of influence.  Sustainable actions directly aligned with personal savings include: alternative fuel transportation, fuel efficiency and personal reduction (commuting, ride share, alternative transportation).
 
•    Electricity Consumption: By switching to wind or renewable sources, the average family could save the equivalent to thousands of miles driven in a car.  Sustainable actions include: source control (wind, renewable, offsets), home efficiency (energy star appliances), and personal energy management.
 
•    Water Consumption: Clear fresh water is rapidly becoming an endangered resource in even the most developed countries.  Sustainable actions directly aligned with personal savings include: water management (personal use and outdoor watering) and waste water management (controlling what goes down the drain and into the storm drains).  
 
•    Waste Disposal: A large portion of what goes into the average garbage is recyclable.  By separating your plastics, glass, and paper, the weekly volume sent to the landfill could be cut by more than half.  Sustainable actions include: inquiring about recycling programs with traditional collectors and locating recycling centers in your area.
 
When you consider that over 80% of our personal impact can be bucketed into four major categories, taking eco action becomes easier. Take eco action today! Walk your green talk. 

In our personal and professional consulting, we express to clients that pursing a ‘green’ career is a natural extension of living a sustainable lifestyle.   When you embrace eco awareness as a part of your daily life, it is natural to pursue the same in searching for a career.   Until recently, the future of the ‘green’ job market had been a little bit uncertain and not all that attractive financially.  While green jobs are on the rise, some are considering the path of   the ecopreneur.   But what exactly is an ecopreneur?
 
According to Glenn Croston, author of "75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make a Difference" believes that it's a combination of business savvy and a commitment to the future that defines the successful green entrepreneur.”Ecopreneurs have got to believe in the importance of working for a greener future and a sustainable economy," he says. It's also important to "be a solid business person, someone who knows a good product and can deliver it."

Within our sustainability consulting, we're frequently greeted with questions pertaining to starting a green business:
 

• Am I qualified?
• How do I get started?
• How do I build my business?
• How can I use social media to generate exposure and sales for my new business?
• What are the "must knows" to start and run a small business?
• What small business resources are available to help me?

 
Fortunately, we have a service to address those questions and more.  It's called, The Farmer's Market.  It's specifically designed for quick questions and advice on matters of building a sustainable business.
 
Building a business might seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.  As a professional consultant in the area of building business sustainability, it's rewarding utilizing the small business resources available to assist new environmental businesses get off to a great start.  Ecopreneurs bringing eco awareness to business contribute to positive change in the business world as well as help the planet.      

Children are quickly gaining eco awareness and are in many cases educating their parents. Given access to and experience with sustainability concepts, children often take the lead on green living ideas. Why not give them the sustainability tools they need?
 
With summer is coming to an end, the kids will soon be back in school. Take this as an opportunity to expand your children’s eco awareness and introduce some concepts of sustainable living as they head into a new year of learning.
 
Going back to school can be an exciting time for both parents and children. It is a time of renewal and discovery, as you visit the stores to load up on the supplies needed for the coming school year. It can also be a great way to introduce your family to some fun sustainable alternatives.
 
As a green living consultant, I most often speak with adults about incorporating sustainability concepts into their daily lives. Here are a few tips to raise eco awareness at home while ‘greening’ your back to school:
 
    · Parents take the time to teach your children about sustainable living.
    · Children educate your parents on green choices.
    · Use as many of last year's school supplies as possible.
    · Seek out recyclable canvas and cardboard binders instead of plastic.
    · Promote the use of recycled paper.
    · Use reusable water bottles instead of plastic.
    · Use a lunch box, not paper bags.
    · Reuse or donate last year's clothes instead of throwing them away.
    · Reuse your backpack. Decorate it with cool patches.
    · Buy local and organic food for lunches.
    · Turn your computer off when you're not using it.
    · Carpool with friends and neighbors daily to school and to school functions.
    · If you live close, ride your bike or walk to school.
 
As a personal consultant to individuals seeking a more sustainable lifestyle, I encourage parents and children to continually evaluate alternatives in all areas of life.  A large part of building a personal sustainability plan for your family includes choosing options and products that are good for both the environment as well as your personal well being.  Take this new school year as an opportunity to expand the thinking of your children and to explore alternatives which promote a more sustainable lifestyle.

Forward thinking designers around the world are merging fashion with eco awareness.  Hence the term,  “eco-fashion.”  It refers to stylized clothing that uses environmentally sensitive fabrics and responsible production techniques.  
 
As a green living consultant introducing sustainability concepts to living a green/ sustainable lifestyle, it makes sense to look for different ways to integrate eco awareness into your life.  The most impactful areas of our lives are those that we do by habit.  We dress daily, so why not add eco awareness to our fashion? 
 
With eco awareness on the rise, more and more sustainable options are becoming available.  Even traditional brands like Levi's, American apparel, and Nike are offering eco friendly apparel.  Also, noted in the post, Green is the New Black, "A new crop of natural fabrics are hitting the fashion scene. Some materials are new to the fashion world, such as soy, bamboo and hemp. Others have been around for years, but you may not have known they were natural, like ramie, rayon and modal." 
 
Integrating eco fashion into your wardrobe can be a fun process.  It's not an all or nothing approach but as suggested in our eco friendly consulting, it's an opportunity to express your personal style with eco awareness.  Check out two resources to help you do just that:

• Eco Fashion your Passion  to employ sustainability concepts of reduce, reuse, and recycle
• Green is the New Black for a snap shot of these natural fabrics the green (and not so green) aspects.
• Your One-Stop-Shop for the Top 20 Eco-Fashion Sites

 
For those on the path of living a sustainable lifestyle, there’s power in leveraging purchases to support credible and sustainable businesses.  With business sustainability permeating the apparel industry launching the Eco Index there are more and more options available to look and feel great while wearing fashionable eco wear.

Packing for college can be a lot of work.  In the face of the many pre-college activities, it’s easy to fall into old habits and fall amiss to living a sustainable lifestyle.  With a little planning, the move to college can still embrace eco awareness and keep you on course with your personal sustainability plan. 
 
In our eco friendly consulting, we advise clients to employ the sustainability concepts reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever possible.  Moving to college offers a great way to revisit old moving habits and replace them with choices that get the job done as well as reduce the impact on the environment.  Here are some tips:
 

• Reduce the packing load by minimizing the items you bring with you.
• Make use of your empty suitcases to pack up items and accessories.
• Look for used boxes on Craig’s list, local liquor stores and grocery stores.
• Put storage crates from around the house or boxes used for bulk purchases to good use.
• Ask neighbors and friends for bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, padded envelopes and other packing materials instead of purchasing them new.
• Newspaper and towels as great packaging material.
• Consider the use of a greenbox.
• For new purchases, make them at the destination to avoid additional transportation cost of moving it.  Good sources include: Goodwill and Salvation Army stores.
• Evaluate your moving options: is a hybrid car or biodiesel-powered truck available?
• Once moved in, take eco action to reduce moving waste by re-listing boxes and material on Craig’s list or Freecycle and recycle the boxes beyond repair.

 
Keep in mind, that while at college, you are building a new life of sorts for yourself.  From life-long friendships and relationships to jobs, classes and internships, the college years of a person’s life are sure to be memorable.  Personal sustainability can touch every area of your life and usually encourages others to become involved.  As a green living consultant, I can't think of a better time to begin a lifetime of good habits embracing eco awareness and eco actions.

When it comes to daily choices, our personal and professional consulting views each decision point as an opportunity to integrate eco awareness into an eventual outcome.  While the result of every decision does not have to be directly aligned with sustainable values, the inclusion of sustainability concepts in the thought process can greatly improve the evaluation.  Seems simple enough?  The truth is the term ‘sustainability’ often confuses and delays personal and business action.

Rather than getting bogged down with the enormity of the sustainability discussion, our sustainability consulting advises clients to first focus on solutions that are within their control and which have immediate impact.  For example, two areas of immediate personal impact lie in energy conservation and source control.  We encourage individual efforts to identify the ‘low hanging fruit’ at home first.

Conservation is a solution within everyone’s control and can be a huge difference maker.  Our green living consulting helps clients identify personal mitigation strategies as well as understand the nature of their consumption.

•    What appliances and/or equipment are consuming the most energy?
•    How are these high energy consumption items being run (simultaneously, non-efficiently, etc.)
•    When are these high energy consumption items running (when not needed, during peak load times, etc.).
•    Are appliances and/or equipment left plugged in when not in use?

However, conservation is not the end of the story.  Managing your energy source can be very simple and often does not have to be a huge capital expense.  Depending on where you live and work, you may have a choice in your electricity provider.  While the debate over deregulation continues, the ability to choose may offer you the opportunity to make a significant difference. 

•    By simply choosing a “100% Wind Energy” option, the average household can have the same impact as not driving their car 20,000 miles in that same year. 

•    The same choice made for a “Renewable Energy Option” (typically 90% hydro, 10% Wind) would equal a 2,000 mile reduction.

Whether you have the capital to make home improvements, the power to choose, or simply a desire to consume less, the decisions you make have real impacts on your business, life, environment.  Feel free to search the Taiga Company blog for more helpful ideas.

"If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn't need motivation to speed him up, he needs education to turn him around." ~ Jim Rohn
 
With that being said, does it make sense to blast or "make wrong" those individuals and businesses that have not yet embraced sustainability?  Think about it from a personal perspective.  When someone points out a fault or wrong doing, does it encourage you to make a different choice?  Or, does it create resistance, justification, and denial?
 
To create change, what other options are available?  As mentioned in our eco friendly consulting, first and foremost, awareness is a first step to sustainable change.   Whenever you want to improve in a specific area or program, just the process of increasing awareness will yield improvements.  The same applies to living a sustainable lifestyle.  Most of us recognize that change can be tricky:  habits and convenience make it far easier to slip back into the comfortable way of doing things.  However, implementing effective sustainable change does not have to be a laboring process.  The key is conscious awareness.
 
Additionally, educating yourself about the products you buy can empower you to make a difference in protecting the planet. It's called "green purchasing," and it's easy to do. As a green living consultant, I've found the problem is, most people are simply not aware of the problems associated with purchasing less sustainable products, let alone the solutions
 
So if the problem is a lack of education and unconscious choices, then who is responsible for fixing it? We are.  Individually, we have a responsibility to seek out information on sustainable products and companies.  The easiest way to promote a sustainable lifestyle is by living your values. Sustainable purchasing is one way to demonstrate that value.  In fact, getting others involved in your purchasing habits is a great way to spread eco awareness to friends, neighbors, and others in your community.  
 
Each day we are presented with opportunities to expand our eco awareness and make informed choices.  The trick to capitalizing on those opportunities is being aware and making educated choices.  As Louis Nizer said, "When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.”

Many in the field, including our sustainability consulting practice, agree that the gap between eco awareness and action may represent the single largest opportunity for global sustainability progress.  While traditional ‘green’ efforts have focused on expanding awareness, the recent explosion of information and global interest indicates that the message has been sent out and received. 

In fact, a recent Gallup poll shows 94% of Americans are aware of Climate Change issues and 75% feel something needs to happen.  The next step (opportunity) is closing the gap between knowledge and personal action.  With the limitless option available, you may be asking yourself:

•    Where do I even begin? 
•    What should I focus on?
•    How do I know what if I am making a difference?  

Don’t worry you are not alone.  Our eco living consulting encounters these questions, among many others, in our daily practice.  We remind clients the answers are within each of us to discover.

To help you get started or past that sticking point, here is a suggested reading list:
 
•    Following Your Personal Sustainability Passion 
•    Rewards of Personal Sustainability
•    What is a Personal Sustainability Plan?
•    Keeping It Green in Today’s Environment
•    Live Green- Conveniently
•    Are YOU and eco inspiration?
 
The pursuit of a sustainable lifestyle is a continuous improvement process , commonly described as a journey, that can only be defined by personal experience and discovery.  Our sustainability consulting practice provides information and resources to help release resistance and embrace the benefits of personal and business sustainability.

"Certain people have a way of saying things that shake us at the core. Even when the words do not seem harsh or offensive, the impact is shattering. What we could be experiencing is the intent behind the words. When we intend to do good, we do. When we intend to do harm, it happens. What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through. We cannot sugarcoat the feelings in our heart of hearts. The emotion is the energy that motivates. We cannot ignore what we really want to create. We should be honest and do it the way we feel it. What we owe to ourselves and everyone around is to examine the reasons of our true intent." ~ Thurgood Marshall   
 
As a sustainability consultant, I ask, what is your sustainability intent?  Sustainability begins with each of us as individuals - in our thoughts, choices, and eco actions.  The journey of a sustainable lifestyle goes beyond just ‘greening’ your life.  Personal sustainability is a mindset change that shifts the personal value drivers in daily activities- it shifts your intent. 

• What is it that you want to create for yourself and this world? 
• What contribution do you want to make? 
• How can your words, your actions play a role in the bigger picture of sustainability? 

Examining your personal sustainability drivers compared to your results will give you the best clue as to how you are measuring up to your own personal sustainability potential.
 
It's easy to fall prey to convenience, or "this is how we've always done it", but sustainability is about innovation.  It calls for fresh views of traditional practices that reap rewards of respecting our natural resources while simultaneously advancing society. 
 
Is your intent to live a sustainable lifestyle when it's convenient?  Perhaps it's to take on a bit more daily and stretch your goals.  Inspire others?  You'll know you're succeeding when you see it in your results.  Results are intentions manifested.  

Do you fall prey to routine habits out of convenience or do you take extra steps to embrace sustainability concepts in your daily life?   It seems in recent years being busy has become the rule rather than the exception.  With busy comes conveniences and sometimes conveniences means having to compromise on values.  Fortunately, that's no longer the case.  With growing eco awareness sprouting more and more environmentally friendly options, those living a busy and sustainable lifestyle can take their green on the go. 
 
At its essence, personal sustainability is about addressing the environmental concerns of carbon, water, and energy on a smaller scale: your life.  Committing to sustainability in your personal life is holding yourself accountable for the very commitments and eco actions we are asking our leaders to make.    Additionally, it's about leveraging your financial dollar to support credible and sustainable businesses.  Vote with your financial dollar; as a shareholder, uphold reporting, transparency, compensation related to business sustainability.
 
Looking to make your green life more convenient?  Enjoy some of the tips shared in our eco friendly consulting practice.
 
Get green on your iPhone?  Take eco action now and check out these top green apps:
•    Carbon Tracker: This GPS-enabled carbon footprint application allows users to calculate their carbon footprint from daily commuting, business trips or vacations.
•    iRecycle, makes it easy to find recycling locations anywhere in the U.S. Find places to drop-off your old cell phone or other items, get directions and find out what else they accept.
•    GoodGuide:  Use this app to find out what’s in 75,000 common household products.  Reviewers praise the level of detail in the GoodGuide database as well as its ease of use.  Especially handy while shopping.
•    Greenpeace Tissue Guide: Research brands of consumer paper products to find the greenest tissues, paper towels, and toilet paper.
 
Get personal with green.  Carry your reusable mug, reusable water bottle, and PeopleTowels.  PeopleTowels are 100% organic cotton, reusable personal hand towels that are portable and preserve environmental resources.
 
Get mobile updates on sustainable lifestyle choices and businesses going green from twitter and Facebook.
 
A primary aspect of a sustainable lifestyle is the recognition that every action is part of a larger whole and even the smallest change can make a difference.  Taking eco action on the go keeps your values in line and contributes to everyone’s efforts towards the greater environmental good.  

Are you the Picasso of fair trade?   Otherwise stated, how innovative are you at using a variety of media to creatively express why fair trade is important to you?  Find out with YourOliveBranch's I love Fair Trade Contest.
 
I Love Fair Trade! invites you to creatively express how you feel about fair trade commerce. You can do this through a submission of words, video, images, music, or other media.
 
Fair trade is a sustainability concept.  As for ideas, consider that the word “fair” can mean a lot of different things to different people and there are myths  about what fair trade really is.  Fair Trade is about more than just paying a fair wage. It is also not charity. It means that trading partnerships are based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect; that prices paid to producers reflect the work they do; that workers have the right to organize; that national health, safety, and wage laws are enforced; and that products are environmentally sustainable and conserve natural resources.
 
Components of Fair Trade include:
 
•    Fair wage.
•    Fair working conditions.
•    Open information exchanges between producers, consumers, and companies.
•    Long-term trade relationships between corporations and producers.
•    Practices that promote environmental protection and sustainable practices.
•    Elimination of unnecessary middlemen between producers and consumers.
•    Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible.
•    Providing equal opportunities for advancement all people.
•    Being open to public accountability.
•    Ensuring the rights of children.
•    Cultivating environmental stewardship.
•    Respecting cultural identity.
 
As expressed in our sustainability consulting, fair trade is a sustainable business model that has multiple environmental and social impacts:
 
•    Fair trade has a positive effect on the environment.
•    It benefits farmers, farm lands, and the workers in developing countries.
•    Provides consumers with options to purchase ethically sound and higher integrity products.
•    Positive impact on communities: Children’s school fees are paid; nutritional needs met; health care costs are covered; the poor, especially women, are empowered; the environmental impact of production, sourcing, and transport is mitigated to the fullest extent possible. Such an impact is created, because fair trade approaches development as a holistic process.
 
So what is the contest all about?  As a green living consultant, I see the value of the contest as one way of personalizing the value of fair trade as a sustainability concept demonstrated in one's life.  The personal expression of it could be the very inspiration for another to discover what fair trade means to them. 

Submit your entry here and good luck!       

Strong indications are that we are on a road to recovery.  As we rebuild our personal lives and businesses, distinctions between past and future actions need to be made.  The present and future business environment indicates a potentially unlimited opportunity for prosperity and growth.  The question is: Where are you focusing your attention now?

According to the Corporate Executive Board, many companies stop growing permanently in tough economic times despite the fact that many of the causes of permanent growth stalls are largely preventable.  Differentiating between reactionary decisions and implementing informed business sustainability strategies can be a fine line, especially in tough times.  In our professional consulting, we often qualify decisions in terms of future sustainability and future growth:

• Are you cost cutting your way to out of business?
• Have you reduced your internal resources to levels that place strain on operations?
• Has your organization shifted economic burdens back on the supply chain creating uncertainty and increased risk in future supply?

Our sustainability consulting finds the business sustainability leaders are looking beyond basic ‘green’ concepts and the challenges of the current economy  They are targeting both the present and future value of integrating business sustainability into their manufacturing and supply chain operations.

• Sustainable Education and Development – Initiate and encourage expanded eco awareness, education, and ‘grass roots’ innovation within the organization.
• Management Systems – Raise awareness of company’s commitment through established sustainability policies, standards, metrics, and self audits.
• Sustainable Design – Consider materials selection, energy consumption, manufacturing, product use and operation, and final disposition, early in the product development process.
• Waste Reduction - Anywhere there is a trash can, there should be a recycling bin.
• Resource Conservation – Consider material and energy consumption across the entire value chain…reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Sustainable Partnering  – A key aspect of business sustainability is making sure that you manage your supply chain and partner with companies with similar values.

Integrating sustainability concepts into core business functions makes brands more attractive to consumers, executive management more respected by employees, the company more attractive to financial markets. In short, business sustainability is about making the organization stronger and more responsive for the future. 

Absent of common definitions, standards, or consistency in guidance, the growth in public eco awareness and personal sustainability action has largely been through personal experience and situational application.  While general concepts can be used to describe the broad topic of ‘sustainability’, our green living consulting has come to realize that each individual has a unique and personal story in the pursuit of a sustainable lifestyle. 

Who are the characters and how does the story go?

Based on our experience, we most commonly come across personal sustainability stories stuck in initial sustainability concept identification (as in, what is green living?), challenges in personal implementation, or difficulty maintaining action.  In general and almost without exception, we find that everyone has a unique perspective on ‘what’ and ‘how’ to incorporate sustainability concepts into their daily living.

The process of defining the ‘what’ aspect of personal sustainability is often sparked by a personal growth in eco awareness and a desire for personal improvement.  Finding concepts that you are passion about and can assign personal sustainability value to is an important first step in building a personal sustainability plan.  Some of the common questions we ask clients to consider in their journey:

•    Will a different choice increase personal satisfaction?
•    Will the path lead to personal growth?
•    Will this decision decrease personal expenses?
•    Will this direction decreased time spent on unfulfilling activities?
•    Will this choice improved health and general well-being?

Each day presents an opportunity to expand our eco awareness and make informed choices.    By making changes that are inspiring and manageable relative your current life, the process of incorporating sustainability becomes much easier.  Being conscious of sustainability concepts when you shop, work and play, allows your sustainable lifestyle story to simply play-out.