Posts Tagged ‘ Green ’

« Older Entries

Marriott’s Barony Beach Club on Hilton Head Island – Beach Cleanup

Monday, May 31st, 2010

I was excited to learn that Marriott Vacation Club has a scheduled beach cleanup at several of their resorts, and first learned about this in January during a vacation at Marriott’s Oceana Palms on Singer Island, Florida.  That was a great experience, and it inspired me to contact Marriott Vacation Club about their beach cleanups and other Green initiatives at their resorts.  They were kind enough to have executives answer my questions, and I found that Marriott is doing a great deal in the Green and sustainable arena when it comes to their resorts.  In April I was on vacation at Marriott’s Barony Beach Club on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and had the opportunity to talk with staff about Green initiatives at the resort.  This post is a combination of comments I received from Marriott Vacation Club and my experience at Marriott’s Barony Beach Club.

Marriott’s Barony Beach Club is located on the beach in Hilton Head, great for walking, kite flying, swimming, watching the waves or lying in the sun.  The resort has a friendly atmosphere with many owners who’ve come for years and many who stay several weeks at a time.  As a first-time visitor, I was drawn right in.  After spending a week there I can’t wait to return.  It was a place to relax and enjoy life with the ocean right outside my door. 

I also found it was a place committed to preserving the environment and helping others whenever possible.  Eric Priester, General Manager at Marriott’s Barony Beach Club, outlined their beach cleanup program for me.  “We hold our beach clean ups every four weeks on Thursday mornings at 8:30 a.m.  All guests and Owners are welcome to join, as well as any Associates who are able to spare an hour.  We provide all of the supplies (gloves, trash bags, etc.) and we ask guests to meet at the end of our boardwalk by the beach.  We do a quick overview and introduction and then begin to walk and search the beach for trash.  We cover the beach from our property up to Marriott’s SurfWatch, so it’s a little more than a mile of beach.  At the end, a resort van picks up the group and takes them back to Barony.  These beach clean ups started approximately three years ago through a joint effort between Marriott’s SurfWatch and Marriott’s Barony Beach Club.”

I had a chance to hear about other day-to-day Green efforts and activities at Marriott’s Barony Beach Club from resort management who were enthusiastic to talk about their initiatives.  It’s clear they’ve put many plans in place with more to come – and I found kindred spirits who love Hilton Head and want to maintain the beauty of the Island.  Besides the beach cleanup, the resort keeps an eye out to be Green whenever possible and turn recycling into donations to non-profits and local organizations as well – an added bonus and a pleasant surprise to hear.  For example, during the resort’s recent remodeling, appliances being replaced were sold and all funds were  donated to the Children’s Miracle Network.  Televisions were also donated to the local school system and Habitat for Humanity, and old carpets were used as padding for moving furniture and protecting walls as furniture was moved in and out of the villas.

Marriott’s Barony Beach Club follows brand guidelines to reduce their environmental footprint as well, and was recognized by Audubon International for their environmental planning.  There are low wattage light bulbs in the villas, automatic cutoff for air conditioners, and appliances have an Energy Star rating.  Their recycling program includes recycling bins in every villa.  Soap that is left behind when owners leave is sent to the Global Soap Project in Atlanta, Georgia.  This non-profit collects leftover soap from hotels, sanitizes and remolds it, and ships the new soap to Africa for refugees. Another great recycling idea with growing participation by hotels in the United States.

The beach cleanup – which started my inquiry into Marriott Vacation Club’s Green initiatives – has been popular with owners who stay for one or several weeks and is also an opportunity for associates to be involved in the resort’s Green initiatives.

Ed Kinney, Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Brand Awareness for Marriott Vacation Club International outlined some of the Green activities that exist for Owners at Marriott Vacation Club resorts.  “With more than 50 Marriott Vacation Club resorts in some of the most desirable locations worldwide, our resorts take great pride in caring for the surrounding environment and take special steps to include our Owners and guests in green activities. A few examples include:

 Marriott’s Mountain Valley Lodge – At Marriott’s Mountain Valley Lodge in Breckenridge, Colo., Associates, owners and guests participated in a tree planting program by planting 60 trees in an area of Breckenridge completely leveled by a Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic.

Marriott’s Oceana Palms & Marriott’s Ocean Pointe– Weekly beach cleanup activities are also offered to Owners and guests at Marriott’s Ocean Pointe and Marriott’s Oceana Palms on Singer Island. Every week, groups at each resort head out to the beach to pick up trash along a 2 mile stretch. At Marriott’s Ocean Pointe, guests also gather for a weekly “green update,” aimed at educating them about recycling and the steps they can take to “green” their stay. Furthermore, at Marriott’s Oceana Palms, guests are made conscious of their natural surroundings by reading information about the area’s treasured loggerhead turtles that is displayed on the beach access boardwalk.

2010 Earth Hour – On Saturday, March 27, at 8:30 p.m., local time, Marriott Vacation Club resorts worldwide turned out their lights, for one hour, in support of Earth Hour. Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club included Owners and guests in this effort by distributing fliers and displaying information in the lobby.”

Marriott Vacation Club, thank you for talking with me and sharing information about your Green efforts.  As I researched and spoke with you, I admit I was surprised – and impressed – by the scope of Green initiatives in place.  It’s clear that Marriott Vacation Club is making an effort to conserve and recycle at their resorts.  Of course this saves money and makes good business sense – and we wouldn’t want it any other way.  But the commitment is clearly there, and not easy to achieve while pleasing a wide range of guests and owners in the process, each with their own ideas about the vacation experience.  So kudos to Marriott Vacation Club.  I’ll be writing more about your efforts in a future post!

For more information about Marriott Vacation Club, visit www.marriottvacationclub.com

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Green and the Fortune 500 | No Comments »

Earth Day 2010 Resolutions

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Enjoy our post for Earth Day 2010 – and great news!  Just hours before we posted KissMyCountry learned that Beth Terry and Sara Bayles, who inspired our Earth Day Resolutions -  were mentioned in the Huffington Post yesterday!  We interviewed both Beth and Sara as People Saving the Planet earlier this year, remain inspired by them and are thrilled to see that others agree!

Lexy:  It’s Earth Day 2010.  Forty years and Earth Day’s become a day to stop, reflect and focus on our planet.  It’s a new tradition – a Green New Year’s Day with HonestTea instead of champagne and a recycling bin in hand instead of a noisemaker.  So, let’s push this a little further.  Why not make an Earth Day Resolution on this day?  Something to work on and strive for, a Green Goal for the coming year.  It could be big, small, a real thing – reduce this, do more of that – or just a decision to talk more about Green, read more about Green, immerse yourself more in the Green world.  A Green Resolution to shape as you like, a little bit more to save the places you love.  I like this idea, but I know that not everyone likes – or keeps – resolutions.  It works for us, though, at KissMyCountry and we hope to encourage others.  My Earth Day Resolution this year is pretty simple – reduce my plastic consumption.  I’ve been inspired by Beth Terry’s Fake Plastic Fish and Sara Bayles’ The Daily Ocean; both women continue to pose thought-provoking questions and ask us to take a close look at how we live our lives.  Plastic is filling our oceans, and the result is not good and getting worse.  I love the beach and the ocean, so I’m going to use less plastic in the coming year and encourage others to do the same. 

Mr. K:  This Earth Day seems as big as any I can remember.  I recall one when I was in high school and it was a pretty big deal.  At least it seemed that way to my 15 year old mind. But since then, there’s been seemingly less attention or caring in general.  Until now. We are about to have a huge convergence on the National Mall in DC for THE CLIMATE RALLY. I’ll be there to report for KissMyCountry and find out what Earth Day means to the folks in attendance. There will be a concert featuring Sting and John Legend among others, and speakers include Rev. Jesse Jackson, and James Cameron. So Lexy and I agreed to make this Earth Day special by making resolutions.  I am very “Anti-New Year’s Resolution”.  I kinda think you either are going to do something or you are not.  But Lexy persuaded me (as she does on many things) so I decided there are few better reasons to do something you might not, than to save the planet.  So, what should I resolve to do? It wasn’t hard to figure out. I guiltily admit that I have 5 re-usable grocery bags and I forget to bring them with me probably 50% of my trips to Trader Joe’s (which I go to way too often) and just about any other store that doles out the cruddy plastic bags that we don’t need.  We typically use them for about 20 minutes or less, going from store to home.  (Sidebar-Props to Beth Terry for really measuring out her plastic usage and committing her life to being as plastic free as possible).  So beginning Earth Day 2010, I will keep three bags in my car (and not in the trunk so I actually see them).  I resolve to use them at every store I go to and to refuse plastic bags whenever possible.  It’s a small thing, but it adds up, and that’s the theme of KissMyCountry. The small actions do count and the more of them we adopt, the better off we’ll all be. Happy Earth Day and if you see a guy in the KissMyCountry “I heart My Planet” shirt, say “Hi.”

Lexy:  So that’s the coming year for myself and Mr. K.   What’s your Earth Day Resolution for the year?  Who inspired you to make a Green Change in your life?  Tell us – we’d like to hear and we’ll be glad to encourage you!

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Earth Day | No Comments »

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!

 

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in People Saving the Planet | 1 Comment »

Review of The Big Green Apple by Ben Jervey

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

For the next few posts, KissMyCountry will focus on Ben Jervey – journalist, author and Planet Ambassador for the Pepsi Refresh Project. Today, enjoy this review of The Big Green Apple – Ben’s book about eco-friendly living in New York City. On Monday we’ll post an interview with Ben as he talks about the Pepsi Refresh Project, Copenhagen and SXSW Interactive, and the places he loves. Enjoy!

I invite you to peruse these pages, considering their ideas and strategies, so that you can develop your own personal program for bringing a greener shade to life here in this wonderful city.” – Ben Jervey, The Big Green Apple

The Big Green Apple – Your Guide to Eco-Friendly Living in New York City is written for New Yorkers who want to live a Green – or Greener – lifestyle. It’s great for that – full of information, advice and suggestions and helpful to the ‘core’. But anyone – New Yorker or not – will enjoy this book. The Big Green Apple is a great book for anyone visiting, planning a visit, or just a fan of New York who likes to read about The City. Ben is someone who clearly loves New York, and really enjoys, knows and appreciates what The City has to offer; Ben just wants to do it Greener. His love of New York comes through and comes through strong, and that’s what makes The Big Green Apple more than a guide to living Green. It’s a look at New York through Green eyes, and a testament to what New Yorkers are doing, have been doing, and want to do to make their city Greener.

Ben’s a journalist, and I must say that in reading this book I wished that more journalists would write guides about where they live. Or maybe Ben should write more guides about Green living in other cities. You decide when you read the book. Ben’s writing has a personal tone that most city guides do not. You are walking and traveling with him when you read this book. It’s a day together going around New York – seeing the sights, riding the bike trails, stopping at restaurants – a walk on the Green side with Ben. You feel what it’s like to live in a New York apartment and figure out how to reduce energy consumption when your energy is controlled by a landlord, how to bike around The City, how to enjoy the parks and parts of New York preserved through the years and still ready for everyone.

Ben also praises and acknowledges those who’ve worked hard in the past to make New York City Greener – the Straphangers and Greenmarkets started in the late 1970s and the Parks System’s beginnings in the 1700’s and 1800’s. Ben highlights new efforts like The Lower  East Side Ecology Center and the Five Borough Bike Tour. And Ben’s Green Pages is a great resource for Greening your way around New York City today. You learn something on every page.

The Big Green Apple was published in 2006, and it might be time for an update. We suggest that Ben seriously consider a mobile application of The Big Green Apple. That would be great and make it an easy reference for living in or visiting New York City. But for now the book itself is fine – divided into sections on Home, Food, Transportation, and Work and Play. Enjoy and use it to take a Green bite out of the Big Apple! You’ll be glad you did.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sustainable Cities | No Comments »

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.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Earth Day | No Comments »

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.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in CEO Saving the Planet | No Comments »

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! 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in CEO Saving the Planet | 1 Comment »

Internships Galore and a Chance to Add Film Skills to Your Resume

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

‘Fields of Green’ Off To A Great Start
“How was it?” a friend asked about Bethesda Green’s ‘Fields of Green’ Internship Fair on Saturday, March 27 – knowing I’d been there that morning.  It was great, really great.  Bethesda Green’s Rosalie Grazzini, Volunteer Coordinator and organizer of the event, take a bow.  The ‘Dave team’ – Dave Feldman, Executive Director and Dave Heffernan, Director of Communications, take a bow.  You did a great job.  Students talking to companies.  Companies talking to students.  Local colleges talking about their programs and classes.  Start-ups, business incubators, non-profits that plant trees, clean energy companies – all in our backyard.  The largest green higher education building with LEED™ Gold certification in the state of Maryland at The Universities of Shady Grove.  There’s a lot going on in Montgomery County, and we know all about it due to Bethesda Green and the Internship Fair.  Thank you.

The Greening of Montgomery County
“We can have a healthy economy and a healthy environment.  That’s the mission of Bethesda Green”, said George Leventhal, County Council Member, speaking at the Internship Fair.  With over 200 young adults registered, and hundreds of internships available, there was a lot going on and the Fair was well organized for students and young adults to take advantage of the offerings.  Nearly two dozen companies and schools were set up in two rooms, and a panel discussion by experts with experience in the Green jobs market talked with attendees about the opportunities in Green today.  “Just think about where you want to go longer term,” said Anca Novacovici, Founder and President of Eco-Coach and author of the DC Metro Area Green Career and Jobs Guide.

Erika Mitry, manning HonestTea’s booth and talking with potential interns about the company’s Road Warrior position, told us how she came to work for HonestTea.  “I picked up a bottle of HonestTea and read the back.  I was living in DC and couldn’t believe they were based here.  It’s been great.“

Documentary Filmmaker Plans Web Video Series
Adding to the excitement and possibilities of the Fair was Laura Seltzer, an award winning documentary filmmaker who plans to film ‘Fields of Green’ interns as they work and gain experience in Green jobs – and put video cameras into the interns’ own hands so they can create their own videos about working in Green industries.  “We’re planning a web video series of remarkable interns who are comfortable behind the camera and in front of the camera”, Laura said.

Bethesda Green Seeks Donations for Video Cameras
Bethesda Green is currently seeking funding to purchase several inexpensive video cameras to help facilitate effective student filming.  According to Bethesda Green, businesses who sponsor the purchase of these videos will be given priority of site documentation.   The Fields of Green Video Series is a way to extend the experience of interns in Montgomery County and educate others who are interested in working for Green companies.  And, it’s a great way to highlight Green companies in the area, and the enthusiasm and talent of local students.    If you have a way to help, please let them know.

For more details about ‘Fields of Green’ and the Intern Video Series please contact Bethesda Green, which is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located on the second floor of the Chevy Chase Bank Branch at 4825 Cordell Avenue, Suite 200, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.  Bethesda Green will host a Premiere Party on Wednesday, April 21 from 7-9:30pm at the Hard Times Café for Laura Seltzer’s PBS documentary “The Last Boat Out”, about Virginia’s Watermen and the Chesapeake Bay, narrated by Sam Waterston.  Suggested donation for the Premiere Party is $10 to go toward education programs for Bethesda Green and communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  Please RSVP by April 14th to attend the Premiere Party to Melissa@SeltzerFilmVideo.com or 202-210-4689.
 

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Green Jobs and Career Opportunities | 2 Comments »

« Older Entries
Content Protected Using Blog Protector By: PcDrome.