Posts Tagged ‘ environment ’

Interview with Ben Jervey – Pepsi Refresh Project Planet Ambassador, Journalist and Author

Monday, April 19th, 2010

“We’re seeing the first round of grant recipients, and we’re telling stories about the grant recipients.  The actual impact of these projects is what’s most exciting to me.  I’m excited to see how they develop.”

“I’m still very intrigued by the Arctic.  It’s being out on the edge, a place where the impact of humans is there but invisible.  You have to know how to look for it.  It’s where you learn – there’s something deeper there.  It’s where you learn about yourself and the world.”

- Ben Jervey

KissMyCountry had the chance to talk with Ben Jervey, Planet Ambassador for the Pepsi Refresh Project –and a person truly committed to saving our planet.  In this interview, Ben adds to his comments from our post about the Pepsi Refresh Project a few weeks ago, talking about what he’ll do as Planet Ambassador in the next few months as grant recipients are announced and their projects move ahead.  Ben also talks with us about his thoughts on the Copenhagen talks, which he attended last December, the recent SXSW conference, and the places he loves – including a great eco-eatery in Brooklyn.    Enjoy getting to know Ben Jervey, hearing his opinions and about his experiences – and don’t forget to work on your Pepsi Refresh submission!

Lexy: What are your main activities for the Pepsi Refresh Project?  What kinds of things are you doing, and what are you enjoying the most?

Ben:  It’s been changing a lot.  The Project just started and we’ve been figuring out our roles as Ambassadors.  On March 22, there was an announcement of the first round of 32 winners from February.  We’re starting to tell the stories of the grant recipients  and helping them to implement their ideas.  The actual impact of these projects is what’s most exciting to me.  I’m excited to see how they develop. 

Lexy: You mentioned a few weeks go that you’ll be reporting on Planet funded ideas for the Refresh Project.  When will that begin, and how many projects will you highlight?  Will you visit grant recipients in person?

Ben: Each Ambassador will try to tell one grant recipient’s story each week through phone conversations, and every month or so we will go visit funded ideas.  We plan to create web videos and blog posts to highlight what they’re doing, and these will be on the Pepsi Refresh and GOOD sites.  I haven’t decided yet where I’ll go first.  The GreenShields project to make school buses more energy efficient is really doing well, and as soon as they have a prototype I’d like to go see one and talk with the grant recipients. 

Lexy: Ben, you were at the Copenhagen climate talks last December.  That’s incredibly exciting, and your blogs about Copenhagen are awesome.  Copenhagen received mixed reviews.  As someone who was actually there, what are your most vivid impressions?

Ben:  Everyone – and I’m not pointing any fingers – created such a circus and such high expectations there was no way it would have worked.  It was no setting for sober, thoughtful negotiations at all.  What was accomplished is nothing close to solving the worldwide climate problem.  But it’s folly to completely dismiss the progress made.  It was a small step forward when we were all hoping for a giant leap forward kind of moment – but it was a step forward.  We still have a lot of work to do, and I count myself among those disappointed.  It was an incredible collision of people but also a great convergence.  Note:  KissMyCountry’s Mr. K posted thoughts about Copenhagen before and following the talks, including a hopeful message that echoes Ben’s opinions.

Lexy: You were also just at SXSW Interactive – lucky you!  That was really the place to be a few weeks ago.  What were the highlights for you – what did you see that you’re still thinking and talking about?

 Ben:  There’s a lot of fun innovation – a lot of tools, a lot of toys for the tech crowd.  It’s disappointing to me there aren’t more tools developed to serve the greater good – on this point, there is a long way to go.  I’d like to see that community shaken and all this incredible innovation being used for positive change.  I’d love to see a day where the most buzz worthy tools at SXSW are those with the most positive value for the world.

Lexy: You’ve been doing a lot of traveling, and travel can present dilemmas for a Green lifestyle.  As a person saving the planet and a world class Traveler, what are your suggestions for making travel a little Greener?

 Ben:  I love to rent or borrow a bicycle when I visit another city.  In Los Angeles when I go to GOOD’s offices I borrow a bike from a friend.  It’s a great way to see a city.  I feel I know Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and other cities better because I know it from two wheels.  There’s actually a subway in Los Angeles that nobody knows about.

Often times, I take the train.  I really love the train.  I like Amtrak.  It’s not the most well-managed – and I’ve written about that.  I long for the day we have European or Japanese high speed rail travel here in the US.

Flight is tough.  It’s an enormous emission of greenhouse gases.  There are some offsets you can pay to cut this a little bit.  I have a friend who works for 350.org, and he and I were talking about this in Copenhagen.  He said, “I will go any distance and take any flight if I’m working toward solving climate change.”  Most of the decisions I make personally or professionally have to be for a good purpose.

Lexy: Ben, at KissMyCountry we like to ask people about their favorite places.  What places do you love the most?  Where do you love?

Ben:  I love my neighborhood in Brooklyn – Fort Green.  It’s a real community in the streets, the restaurants and the bars.  It’s a wonderful place to live.  I love the Green Mountains of Vermont.  I went to school there, and I lived there for years of my life and still have a connection there.  Also, the high peaks wilderness in the Adirondacks Mountains is really just the next level of heaven.  It’s rugged, massive and sublime.

Lexy: You seem to enjoy travel.  Any place you’ve never seen that you’d love to visit?  What’s at the top of your ‘wish list’?

Ben: I’ve been fortunate to get to some places in the Arctic.  I’ve been to the east coast of Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard.  I’ve felt the need to get back.  I’ve never been to Western Greenland or Baffin Island but I’d love to visit some villages there – also the north slope of Alaska.  I’m still very intrigued by the Arctic.  It’s being out on the edge, a place where the input of humans is there but invisible.  You have to know how to look for it.  It’s where you learn – there’s something deeper there.  It’s where you learn about yourself and the world.  I’d also like to go to Vancouver – a city that is so well planned and operated.   Cities are a really important ingredient and Vancouver might be one of the best models we have.

Lexy: You live in Brooklyn, which seems to have a lot of great places to eat.  If someone is spending the day in Brooklyn, where do you suggest they stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner?

Ben:  Spring through Fall there’s Habana Outpost – it’s an eco-eatery.  The food is good.  The corn is amazing.  It’s Cuban-influenced food and the setting is amazing.  You can enjoy the outdoor café, it’s solar-powered and rainwater captured.  It’s a real beacon, and a great hub for conscious and conscientious types in Brooklyn.  Franny’s has some of the best flatbread style pizza made with locally grown sustainable produce.  They shop in the farmer’s markets daily.

Ben, we wish you the best as you visit and talk about Pepsi Refresh Project funded ideas – we can’t wait to hear how they’ll be saving the planet and bringing good to their communities.  We look forward to catching up with you later this year, and in the meantime will stay in touch through your blogs for Pepsi Refresh, GOOD, and ONEarth.  Thanks for keeping us posted about what’s going on, and what we should know about!

 

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Earth Day 2009 – Pulling Weeds in Washington, DC

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Earth Day 2009 – Earth Day is 40 years old this year, and stronger than ever. This post is from Earth Day 2009, written at this time last year when Mr. K and I were just getting started with our plans. This was one of my first ‘practice’ blog posts, and now seems the right time to share it with you. Please think about volunteering for Earth Day if you haven’t signed up somewhere already – or create your own Earth Day project. And, please let us know about your Earth Day – we want to hear!

“What a surprise. What an unexpected surprise – and what a great feeling of community, support and doing something that was so appreciated …. “ – Lexy

I volunteered for Earth Day. Okay, I saw a commercial on Planet Green about the Green Apple Concert, and thought I’d like to go to that concert. Then I learned you could only get tickets if you signed up – and showed up – for an Earth Day Project. So, I volunteered for Earth Day. There was a ‘pulling weeds’ project on Saturday, April 18. So, there I was at 8am taking a big orange plastic bag and following our Weed Warrior down the Capital Crescent Trail to pull garlic mustard – an ‘invasive’ brought over by European settlers in the 1800s. I put on my gloves and silently hoped there weren’t any snakes.

It was great. The weed pulling was easy – it had been raining all week, and garlic mustard is easy to spot with white lacy flowers. The sun was shining and the morning cold started to melt away. I joined up with a high school senior who’s going to study graphic arts and design video games. We talked and pulled. And then it started. Bikers, walkers, runners on the Capital Crescent Trail shouting ‘thank you’ as they sped by – ‘thank you for cleaning our trail!’. Not just one or two but a constant stream of friendly ‘thank yous’ – from Washingtonians intent on their morning exercise. And questions – ‘What are you pulling? I’ve got that in my yard and it’s spreading.’ What a surprise. What an unexpected surprise – and what a great feeling of community, support and doing something that was so appreciated by people who love the beauty of the Capital Crescent Trail, a haven of green among new roads, new houses, and new luxury stores.

My senior highschool partner and I walked back with our Weed Warrior and listened to him talk about Senator Gaylord Nelson who first suggested Earth Day in 1970. Russell showed me his iPhone when he called his mom to pick him up, told me about the video game course he took last summer, and asked me if I did any music or art in my free time. We piled up bags of garlic mustard for pickup on Monday, and walked back to our starting point. A great day, a great feeling. And next year I won’t need concert tickets to volunteer for Earth Day.

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Interview with Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle – Part 2

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

“What I think is really special about the US is the way the US encourages business and then is not shy of failure.   Probably the latter being more important than the former.” – Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO, TerraCycle

KissMyCountry continues Part 2 of our interview with Tom Szaky, following Part 1 posted earlier this week.  Today we hear Tom talk about his positive views of America as a place for entrepreneurs to succeed, his connections to other countries, and the places he loves.  Enjoy!

Lexy:  You’re originally from Hungary.  Eastern Europe and the former Soviet republics often call on successful émigrés for advice and sometimes even political appointments.  Any phone calls or emails from the Hungarian government?  Have they recognized you or reached out in any way?  What about Canada? 

Tom:  No, not yet.  In time I’m sure it will happen, you never know, but not yet.  But there has been recognition.  Let’s see, last year I won the Hungarian–American of the Year award.  That’s happened.  We have offices in Canada and all these countries and we are there in some capacity with people and there are local jobs and all that.  People understand and just want more of the programming and that’s what we try to focus on and bring out as many additional options as possible.  Keep checking in and hopefully it will keep coming.

Mr. K: You’ve been very positive about America, especially when it comes to business.  The business world is globalizing.  In your opinion, is America still a land of opportunity when opportunity seems to be moving to other parts of the globe?   What does America offer to entrepreneurs in a global business environment? 

Tom:  Oh, by far.  By far there’s not even a close second still.  There may be down the line.  What I think is really special about the US is the way the US encourages business and then is not shy of failure.   Probably the latter being more important than the former.  There’s a good book out there, something about the Immigrant Entrepreneur I think is what it’s called, and it talks about how in foreign countries the rate of entrepreneurship is very low.  For example in Germany if you open a business and fail you can’t open another one.  You’re barred.  To fail here is no big deal, it’s not a big deal to have failed and gone on and started something else.   I don’t think anyone would look down at that.  One of the reasons TerraCycle has been able to go global so fast is because of leveraging the multinationals, and the fact that they’re global makes it incredibly easy for us to open globally as well.  So there’s this irony of globalization having actually helped us grow in a very, very big way.  But really if you look at it the real virtue of the United States is its ability to support business in every way, from how incorporations are done, to how money is raised, the culture of it.  That’s the key is the American culture is all about, it almost defines itself in a way by the ability to live the American dream which I think is to start a business and become really rich.  That’s one way to look at it, and that probably may be the more stereotypical way.

Mr. K: At KissMyCountry we talk about the places we love.  Tom, you’re from Hungary and Canada, and your company is in New Jersey.  That’s a lot of places to be connected to.  What are some of your favorite places?  Where do you love?

Tom:  That’s a great question.  One of my favorite places is Holland.  It’s one of my favorite countries in the whole world.  From the little subtleties – like for example there’s a bike road beside every main road, it’s built like a normal road, things like that.   The people there are unbelievable.  So I think first Holland would be up there and then Brazil is something that’s become amazing recently.  We’ve been very blessed by having an office there and moreover being able to spend more time there.

Mr. K:  Is there a place you’ve been that surprised you in any way – good or bad?  Why?

Tom:  I’ll actually hold on the bad.  There has been bad but I don’t want to knock a country negatively.  The good is really in developing countries we were incredibly surprised by how much more the people are into business.  We thought it would be very difficult to get going and the whole thing, and it was amazing.  So Brazil was a great case study and we were actually encouraged in Brazil because we thought it would be a much harder road to climb and there are obviously bigger issues than saving a wrapper and so on.

Lexy: You seem to appreciate urban areas and urban life, and accept things about cities – like graffiti – that most people want to change.   That’s interesting.  What about urban life appeals to you?

Tom:  I think that what really strikes me about especially the American inner city is how it’s all opportunity really.  It can only go up, it’s very hard for it to go down and it’s just an amazing opportunity for business.  And what I love is when you can do something – this is what makes it even more compelling – because when you can do something and make total financial sense, even almost more than normal, but then still do the right thing – help society, help the environment, then it’s the ultimate and you can’t lose.  And I love that that opportunity exists right here in Trenton, which is an hour away from New York City, an hour away from Philadelphia.  It’s not even in the middle of the country, in some random city.  It’s right here.

Lexy:  TerraCycle is in Trenton, New Jersey and you’ve lived and worked in New Jersey for a number of years.  Do you have some favorite places in New Jersey?  What about Trenton?  Any suggestions for someone visiting or passing through?

Tom:  In Trenton one of the things to always do is pizza and there’s a little joint famous for its pizza.   It’s called De Lorenzo’s and it’s really world famous.  I’ve tried pizza all over and if you’re in Trenton you have to treat yourself.  You have to try De Lorenzo’s.  I’d stick with pizza in Trenton.

Lexy:  Tom, thank you very much.  It’s exciting for us to have had the chance to talk with you, and we’re hoping to stay in touch with you. 

Tom: Very, very nice to meet you and nice to talk to you guys.

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Interview with Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle – Part 1

Monday, March 29th, 2010
“I love the fact that I can make money and help the planet at the same time.  But making money is number one and that drives everything else.  It’s just been a blessing really to find a model where it really clicks together in that way.” – Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO, TerraCycle
 
 KissMyCountry had the opportunity to talk with Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle, which manufactures products from non-recyclable waste.  It’s a fascinating and exciting company that reflects the energy, creativity and commitment of Tom Szaky and his team.  Enjoy this frank and information-filled conversation with a true business genius who is committed to saving the planet.  This is Part 1 of a 2-part interview.  In Part 1, Tom talks about his early years as an entrepreneur and the growth of TerraCycle into a company with endless possibilities.  Enjoy!
 
In April, TerraCycle will have over 60 products featured in the front of all 3500 Walmart stores nationwide – alongside the original products that provide the packaging for their upcycled items.  Don’t miss this unique chance to see the creativity of TerraCycle in action.  To learn more about the company, take a look at KissMyCountry’s recent review of Tom Szaky’s book, ‘Revolution in a Bottle’.
 
Lexy:  Tom, it’s an honor.  You’ve done what many dream of – starting a company at a young age and making it a huge success.  ‘Revolution in a Bottle’ talks about the challenges you faced, and how you simply kept going despite setbacks.  It’s a great story.  But lots of college freshman have an idea, and lots fail.  Why did you succeed when so many do not?   Is it really as simple as not giving up? 

Tom: I did fail actually earlier on.  I started six businesses that all failed before TerraCycle.  I think it’s most likely when you start a business especially as a young person – and maybe as an older person, but definitely as a younger person you’re just going to fail.  The trick is just doing it again and again and again.  And doing it as long as you’re excited about it, doing it as long as it’s something really interesting and exciting.  But failure comes first and it comes big.
 
Lexy: TerraCycle has created a huge network of people, many of them schoolchildren, connected to the company through your Brigades.  They collect the trash you upcycle and earn money, but they also learn about business and work in the meantime.   What do you want schoolchildren to learn about business by being part of your Brigades? 

Tom:  I think that they can make a difference.  The big thing with the environmental movement and green in general is that it almost feels like it’s too big for an individual, especially a child, to really make a difference.  Who knows how much of a difference whether it’s a juice pouch or a candy wrapper that’s going to be saved from a landfill, but it is a difference.  I think that ability is something really important.  Having the product that they’re literally helping to build end up in major significant retailers all across the country really shows them that they are a part of a process.  And I think that’s the beginning of getting excited about potentially building a process like this on your own, whatever it may be. 

Lexy:  You’ve built a great base of loyal TerraCycle supporters through this program.  Do you have any plans for keeping your Brigades connected to TerraCycle as they grow older?

Tom: Sure.  If you look at our total demographic each waste stream we collect has a different type of consumption and a different type of collection.  If you look at certain waste streams like juice or candy or chips that’s primarily schools, and we are now into over 40,000 schools and that’s a pretty big number.  With that said we also have coffee waste streams, it’s all offices.  Depending on the waste stream it completely depends on where people collect, and I think that what will happen is that as an elementary school student you get older and when you get to high school maybe you’ll start collecting energy bars, maybe it’s yoghurt.  It all depends not so much where people are but what they consume is what they end up collecting.  And as long as they can keep in that mindset of collecting, we win.

Mr. K:  You’ve said you’re not an environmentalist, which some might find surprising.  What do you mean by that?  How is an EcoCapitalist like yourself not an environmentalist?

Tom:  The way I’m not an environmentalist is that my consumption is representative of the average.  I think that at this point the average does care a little bit more about the environment than it used to.  The average does maybe look at an organic product a little bit more than it used to before.  That is how I view myself because my goal is to change the average.  I love the fact that I can make money and help the planet at the same time.  But making money is number one and that drives everything else.  It’s just been a blessing really to find a model where it really clicks together in that way.  But I think that if you come to it without money as your primary goal then you risk not being able to scale because you need profit to be able to scale pretty quickly.  And if you don’t have profit then you may end up in the position that a lot of non-profits are in which are doing fantastic work but don’t have the ability to become a global entity.
 
Mr. K: Tom, you’re a very creative entrepreneur.  You’ve built a unique company and brought a lot of new ideas to the CPG world.  Many people admire you for good reason.  But who are your heroes and who do you draw inspiration from when it comes to business?
 
Tom:  That’s a good question.  Some of the people who I look up to are obviously the guys in the space that have succeeded whether it’s Ben Cohen from Ben and Jerry’s or Gary Hirshberg from Stonyfield.    These guys have built a couple hundred million dollar businesses and that’s amazing.  And they’ve built it within a twenty or twenty-five year span.  And then also the big thinkers in the green space like Paul Hawken who wrote ‘Natural Capitalism’ – that was a really inspirational book for me when I began.  These are the types of things that I really like seeing and draw good energy from.
  
Mr. K: Lots of people talk about upcycling but you’ve brought it to new levels at TerraCycle.   Of your many products which one or two are your favorites?

Tom:  I’ll absolutely tell you.  The important thing of course is you know I’m a 28-year old male so that’s my mind set and how I look at these products.  It all depends on who you ask.  The things I really like are the bag we make for Target called the ReTote which is the first time plastic bags have been really put into a new product and upcycled and that was a really exciting one.  For me the material in there is something I really like.  Our first plastic product we’re launching hits the shelves in April and that’s something I’m looking forward to.  Usually on our web site or in general we do a lot of branded products.   But with the volume of waste we’re collecting we can’t do that all – the amount of juice pouches we collect are over a million a week just from consumers -  and there’s not enough demand in the world for that many juice pouch tote bags.  But we’ve been able to turn a lot of these waste streams into plastics and so you’re going to see a cooler launching very soon that’s made from 100% chip bags and that’s a very exciting piece as well that we’re very jazzed about.

Lexy:  You’ve also been a pioneer in Sponsored Waste, another great concept and an example of your skill at partnering with CPG giants.  What are some of your most successful Sponsored Waste relationships?  Why are they such a success? 

Tom:  What makes a sponsored waste relationship a success is the brand really getting behind it, and then time.  It’s sort of funny, you just need time.  Without time it’s impossible to get scale. So if you look at some of our biggest programs which I would put synonymous with successful in this case, Capri Sun’s a very big one.  With Capri Sun we’ve donated almost a half a million dollars to charity just directly on that program.  We’ve collected hundreds of millions of pouches, I think around 38,000 million in the US alone.  And now that program has expanded into Canada, we have the Koolaid which is the Capri Sun of Canada and they’ve opened up, and we’ve also expanded into Latin America with Tang.  In Mexico and Brazil we collect Tang which is basically the equivalent of Capri Sun.   That program is almost our gold standard if you will for scale.  It’s also been around for four years so that’s why time is important.  Some of the programs that are coming up that I think will turn into that sort of program is chip bags with Frito Lay.  That program has done incredibly well and is now also in Brazil with the biggest chip brand there called Elma Chips in Brazil but Frito Lay owns the company.  What else?  Mars with candy wrappers, that’s one that’s looking at that too.  It’s basically ones where the brands really expand.  On the flip side what I find the most interesting from a personal, maybe professional position are the really unique crazy ones.  We’re now working with a feminine hygiene company to collect the tampon wrapper but also the used tampon applicator.  That’s going to launch hopefully soon.   That’s a pretty interesting one from a challenge perspective.  We’re working with a big razor blade company on collecting used razor blades.  Now you’re talking sharps, blood, all sorts of unique things that make it a little bit more challenging. 

Lexy: Where do you see upcycling and Sponsored Waste going for TerraCycle?  The possibilities seem endless.   Do you see TerraCycle sticking with consumer packaged goods, or might you move into other areas like housing or automotive? 

Tom:  I agree with you for sure.  It is absolutely endless.  Our goal now is to expand into as many countries as possible.  We’re now operating in five – the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the UK.  I hope to open six or seven more countries this year.  The main are going to be in Europe with Argentina the one exception.  Either way we’re really focused on growth, scale and getting as many waste streams as possible.  That’s our goal is to try to become the equivalent of recycling for everything – and at that scale – that is non-recyclable or hard to recycle.  And so far, so good.  That’s what we’re driving towards and everything is thumbs up.  It’s different what TerraCycle is known for with the public and what actually happens.  One example that surprises a lot of people is that this year we’re projecting that about only 15-20% of our total volume will be the branded type products, while 80% will be turned into plastics and more materials.  They’ll still be turned into consumer products – like a TerraCycle trash can if you will.  We are collecting the suits that people wear every day, and hair nets, beard nets that are disposable and thrown out every day.  Medical waste is another one that we’re starting to talk about collecting disposable devices from hospitals.  So there’s a huge opportunity on the industrial side too.  It  just may not be as talked about as collecting juice pouches from schools. 
A very exciting program is coming up in April that will be a new direction for Sponsored Waste. In all 3500 Walmart stores nationwide, TerraCycle will have over 60 products featured in the front of the store. The upcycled products will be co-displayed with the original products that provide the packaging for our upcycled items. So tote bags made from Frito-Lay wrappers will be sold with bags of Frito-Lay chips and backpacks made from Capri Sun drink pouches will be sold next to boxes of the popular juice. One of the newest items will be purses and shoulder bags for teens and adults made from popular Mars candy wrappers like M&M’s and Skittles. This program is great because it helps to show consumers what we are doing. When parents go to buy stuff for their kid’s lunches they will see how we use the packaging and how they can get involved!

This is Part 1 of a 2 part interview with Tom Szaky, and we hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about Tom, his ideas about how to save the planet, and his plans for TerraCycle.  We’ll take a pause here and pick up again on Thursday, April 1 to hear more about Tom’s strong support of America as the best place for entrepreneurs to flourish, his connections with other countries, and the places he loves.  Join us! 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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Miss America’s Green Star – Miss DC 2009 Jennifer Corey

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Jennifer Corey at her Miss America Send-Off by Vithaya

We’re thrilled to see the Miss America Organization embrace Green in their Green is Gorgeous campaign, and glad to see that we can vote for the Greenest Miss America contestant.  Welcome.  We’re glad to have you aboard.  But we’re the most thrilled that the Greenest Contestant is in our own backyard. Jennifer Corey, Miss DC 2009 – beauty, brains, talent and recycling.  Thank you, Jennifer – we’re proud and glad that you’re representing our nation’s capital.  And we’ll be rooting for you on January 30.

Last night we caught up with Jennifer Corey at her Miss America Send-Off party sponsored by the Miss DC organization.  A crowd was there to wish her well on January 30, and Jenn took the time to talk with KissMyCountry about her commitment to recycling.  “It’s really the easiest way to be Green”, Jenn said.  We couldn’t agree more.

It’s really great to see recycling as a platform for a Miss America contestant.  Her platform – ‘Let’s Talk Trash’ – is a standout, and she’ll reach millions.  Nice job, Jennifer.  We like your style.  ‘Let’s Talk Trash’ promotes recycling in DC, including the Federal Government, the Capital and the White House, and stricter recycling laws.  She’s working with Goodwill Greater Washington to encourage people to buy recycled furniture and clothing – she’s decorated her own apartment with ‘finds’ and her favorite style is Hollywood glamour for furniture, 50’s vintage for clothes.

Jennifer’s been committed to recycling for a long time, and her passion stems from her family.  Her grandfather built a garbage and recycling business run by her father and uncles today – so she knows what she’s talking about.  We couldn’t ask for a better champion for Green given all of her energy, intelligence and talent.  Keep in mind that she’s not only a cum laude graduate of American University, but she’s in the Placido Domingo Apprentice Program at the Washington National Opera.  Quite a combo.  You can’t help but love a woman who stands on stage in an evening gown singing and then with equal emotion talks about reusing furniture and clothes from second hand stores.  How lucky are we?

So Jen – and we hope we can call you Jen – thank you and you’ve given us a reason to tune in on pageant night.  We know you’ll wow the judges and we can’t wait to watch.

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5 Celebrities Who Saved The Planet In 2009

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Leo, move over.  A new crop of celebrities is doing their part to save our planet and sites like Ecorazzi keep us well informed.  Here we highlight five celebs who stayed firmly in the Green limelight during 2009 as they spoke out, stepped up and drew attention.  We’ve got a teen, a true lady, a Boomer and two hunks.  Here’s who they are and what they did this year to save the places we love.

Photo by Mike Schmid

Mylie Cyrus.  Mylie, you set the tone for a whole generation when you swapped your mom’s car for the Prius from your dad  – and talked about doing good for the environment and living a Greener lifestyle.  We hope you still enjoy your car and your Hello Kitty floor mats, and continue to think Green.  Safe driving.

Public Domain Photo

Ashley Judd.  Ashley, nobody else supports conservation with such beauty, grace and strength.  Thank you for your courage and your style.  You gave us a double dose of Green this year when you spoke against mountaintop removal with The Sierra Club and the aerial killing of wolves with Defenders of Wildlife.   You showed your love for America’s lands and America’s wildlife, and we love you.  Please say more, and often.

Photo by Chrisa Hickey

Ed Begley, Jr. Ed, this year you were everywhere – awards ceremonies, conferences, web sites, and events, events,  events.  But you did your best work on ‘Living With Ed’ – making your home the Greenest on the block, visiting celebrities, and driving Rachelle – and Bill Nye – crazy.  We’re glad you’ve got your day inthe sun; thanks for staying the course and showing us all how to be an Eco Activist.

Photo by Ednortongfdl.PNG

Ed Norton.  Ed, what you did this year was amazing.  First, Earth Hour, then judging the Green Effect .   But the best was running in the 2009 New York City marathon with Maasai warriors no less and raising over $1 million for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust.  Nice use of Twitter to raise even more money to protect East African grasslands.  We’re breathless and in awe, and can’t wait to see your next move.

Public Domain Photo

Matt Damon. Matt, you remind us that saving the planet is also about saving people – especially children and families.  Your work with Water.org  for clean water around the world is significant, and builds on the support you’ve shown for OneXOne.  Thanks for lending your voice so firmly to clean water – and thanks also for your PSA for the US State Department about climate change and world hunger.  Keep it flowing.

Mylie, Ashley, Ed, Ed and Matt – thank you for all you’ve done this year and for all you’re going to do in years to come.  Next week we’ll reveal our picks for celebrity up and comers in our post on ‘5 Celebrities to Watch in 2010’.

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World, hold on.

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
Cross your fingers, world.

It bears mentioning that on Monday, 192 delegates from around the world began the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Thankfully, President Obama is among them after confirming just last week.

Only the fate of the world is at stake.  So, let’s all cross our fingers and hope that the representatives of our world’s governments can use this opportunity to make real decisions on real issues. Rather than jockey for position and use the forum for their own agendas.

In a forthcoming post, you’ll see a very simple example of lobbyists, government, and companies working to create a simple change that has a very positive impact on the global environment. So yes, it is possible for our leaders to “do the right thing.” We’ve got another two weeks of the summit to go. By then we’ll hear reports of progress, or bickering. Let’s all hope for progress. Citizens of the world, keep your fingers crossed.

To learn more about what’s going on in Copenhagen, click here.

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