Crayola’s new take-back program spurred by elementary school kids online petition

Crayola’s new take-back program was spurred by an online petition from elementary school students. Photo by Thomas Hawk, flickr

Who ever said “no” is the final answer to any question?

After publicly insisting  ”we do not have the facilities or a process that will enable us to offer a take-back program,” Crayola, the iconic crayon and marker maker, bowed to an online petition and has created ColorCycle. This innovative program converts used markers into a liquid fuel source.

Connecticut passes GMO labeling bill – with a catch

Connecticut became the first state in the U.S. to pass a law mandating that foods containing genetically modified ingredients (GMO) be labeled.  But there’s a catch.

The NBA wears its green well

The NBA is greening up its practices. And it’s showing great promise.

As it tips off NBA Green Week, which runs through April 12th, it has partnered with Sprint and the Natural Resources Defense Council, pledging to offset more than 10 million pounds of CO2. NBA’s Green Week includes community environmental projects, recycling programs and energy efficiency initiatives and fan giveaways to encourage them to “go green.”

More consumers thinking green with their dollars

Contrary to recent surveys saying that green isn’t a big factor to consumer spending, according to  the 2013 Cone Communications Green Gap Trend Tracker, 71 percent of Americans consider the environment when they shop. That figure is up from the 66 percent figure of 2008.

We need heroes for the environment. Meet 3 of them

The world needs heroes now more than ever. The new film ELEMENTAL shows the story of three inspiring eco-warriors who are taking on huge issues and facing equally as large obstacles to their success.

etnies shoes help plant trees to restore rainforests

Brett Simpson in the Costa Rican rainforest in support of etnies Buy a Shoe, Plant a Tree program, photo courtesy of etnies

According to leading scientists, at the current rate of deforestation, the world’s rainforests could vanish in a hundred years. The impact from this would be devastating to the planet.

According to Jim Robbins, author of “The Man Who Planted Trees”, a one-hundred year flood becomes a one-in-five year event when deforested land cover is one-quarter of the total, and floods last longer when forests are lost. Because forests naturally sequester large amount of carbon, with deforestation this would be released into the atmosphere. When forests are destroyed, countless species lose critical habitat.

Exciting partnership diverts unwanted books from landfills

Kevin Malinowski of Green Marketing and Maurice Jackson, co-manager of Goodwill Columbus, behind piles of donated books that will be recycled through a new partnership between the two   Photo Courtesy of Green Marketing.

Despite the growing diversity of recycling programs across the U.S., all kinds of books – from textbooks to romance novels – often meet the sad fate of ending up in landfills once they’re used up. But an exciting new partnership is working to correct this.

World Wildlife Fund and Tropical Forest Challenge innovators

Tropical rainforest, photo by Debra Atlas

World Wildlife Fund Switzerland has announced the winners of the Tropical Forest Challenge. The World Wildlife Fund helps conserve some of the world’s most important natural places – including the largest tropical rain forests and the most remote areas of our planet – as well as endangered species. The objective of the Tropical Forest Challenge is to discover the most innovative for-profit enterprises from around the world that have a positive impact on tropical forest biodiversity.

Crowdfunding: Green Start-Ups Crowdfund Their Way to Success

Urban Air’s Kickstarter campaign would transform unsightly Los Angeles billboards into thriving above-ground bamboo gardens. (Photo Courtesy of Stephen Glassman)

Companies seeking to expand or launch new projects have a tough time of it, particularly green-based companies. Sierra Club Green Home explores why more green entrepreneurs are turning to crowdfunding as a viable financial option to help them grow.

Crowdfunding is a financial vehicle that helps entrepreneurs, start-ups, small businesses, and even musicians and artists to raise much needed funds by pitching their ideas directly to the general public via the internet and asking for pledges.  It lets them bypass the lengthy, often grueling process of seeking venture capitalists or “angels.”

To learn more about crowdfunding and to view both current and already successful crowdfunding campaigns, see the full article at 
http://bit.ly/11wNWH8
.

Important update on Naked Juice and Kashi class-action lawsuits

For those who don’t know, two top brands – Naked Juice and Kashi - are in the midst of class-action lawsuits stemming from their claims of being “all natural” and “non-GMO”.