Tuesday, February 23, 2010

NO MORE PLASTICS?

Can any of us really admit to having a life without plastics?
Is is even possible be be plastic free?
What are some of the best resources for living a plastic free existance?

Plastic bird deaths.. a photo series called Midway by Chris Jordan
http://www.chrisjordan.com/


A great quote about reducing plastics in our lives from the Fake Plastic Fish blog "... I didn't try to eliminate all plastics at once, and I would never recommend anyone else do it that way either. It's the road to burnout." 
http://fakeplasticfish.com/

More online resources to check out:
http://lifewithoutplastic.com/
http://www.newdream.org/water/
http://freecycle.org/search
http://zenhabits.net/2009/05/55-ways-to-get-more-energy/

Top 10 plastic reducing actions:
1. Avoid the worst plastics: Polyvinyl Chloride (#3 PVC), Polystyrene (#6 PS), Polycarbonate (#7 Other).  Good luck!
2. Carry reusable grocery bags. ChicoBag.com
3. Give up bottled water.  Klean Kanteens
4. Say no to plastic shopping bags.  Chicobag.com
5. Return the green plastic tomato baskets to the farmer’s market. They will love you.
6. Carry a stainless steel travel mug at all times for most drinks while out in the world.  Rei.com
7. Buy from bulk bins as much as possible. Bring your old plastic bags even!
8. Cut out sodas, juices, and all other plastic-bottled beverages. Buy Glass or Aluminum! 
9. Buy fresh artisanal bread which comes in either paper bags or no bags.  Yeah no bag!
10. Carry reusable personal utensils, stainless containers and glass drinking straws.  Bamboo even at Togoware.com     
More than the top ten are listed here: http://fakeplasticfish.com/list/ 

Great body products in compostable, not recyclable plastics: http://www.organic-essence.com/

So enjoy the new found advice and good luck in reducing your plastic footprint on the world.  Know is half the battle as G.I. Joe would always say.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

My Sustainable MBA with Presidio!

In the Fall of 2010, Jared Brick (author) will begin his formal business career schooling with the new Presidio Graduate School with an MBA in Sustainable Management based in San Francisco, California.  This two year full time program is a newly concentrated area of study benefiting all types of private/public business ventures, civic government bold entrepreneurship and sustainable management.  It is my belief that the only business that will thrive in this new economy and even purely survive, will have dominant sustainable practices.

"Presidio is producing a new kind of leader in every area—from business management to public policy, from social entrepreneurship to global governance—with the courage and competence to manage, influence, develop, teach, and create."

Here is more about the Presidio Graduate School Sustainable MBA program:

"Presidio prepares MBA students to be skilled managers who are competitive and relevant in any field. Every business professional is challenged in today's marketplace to lead and manage successful organizations while understanding complex and interdependent issues such as greenhouse-gas emissions reduction, transportation planning, green building and procurement, waste management, and energy and water conservation. Navigating these challenges requires applying a new lens to traditional management practices.

Our degree in business administration connects rigorous management theory and practice with social responsibility, ecological awareness, systems thinking, and leadership within an integrated framework of sustainable management. As a unifying concept, sustainability weaves the core elements of the program together in ways that help students make connections, promote innovation, and create transformative solutions in service of a more sustainable future."

Please click Presidio Graduate School for an overview on their offerings altering the business world.