New partnership aims to reverse deforestation and global warming

One of California’s giant coastal redwoods that’s been cloned to save its genetic diversity, photo by Debra Atlas

On May 28th, two powerful entities came together to take on two serious climate-related issues and make a positive impact on our children’s future.

Planetary Emissions Management, Inc. and non-profit Archangel Ancient Tree Archive announced a partnership that will integrate innovative forest carbon measurement with environmental financial products along with the genetics of the largest trees on the planet.

How composting can make a difference in the face of climate change

Photo courtesy of Recology

The world’s soil has lost up to 80 percent of its carbon – runaway fossil fuel use, rampant deforestation and modern industrial agricultural practices that depend on widespread pesticide use are responsible for that.

That carbon, now CO² in our atmosphere, is growing at an alarming rate. Governments are beginning to recognize that climate change due to increased greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is a reality.

To learn what Recology, a San Francisco Bay area composting facility, is doing about this and the international attention its innovative methods have attracted, click here to read the full article.

New affordable ways to help Republic of Change reforest the planet

I recently wrote a story on how Republic of Change was empowering people to help with reforestation efforts. Their crowdfunding campaign aims to plant 100,000 trees and to have as many people as possible engage in its efforts. Their initiative will help remove 100,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees are the best option we have to do this, by the way.

Now the company has come up with new perks to help the campaign get from 50,000 to its 100,000 goal as quickly as possible.

Sustainability and Organic Valley – a successful business model

Known publicly as Organic Valley, the farmers cooperative organization CROPP has been steering with sustainable business practices for years. Founded in 1988, CROPP is the largest and most successful organic farmers cooperative in the U.S. Since its founding, the coop has grown to be a leader in organic production, marketing and farm policy.

Recycled wine corks get new life as stylish footwear

We’re able to recycle more things now than ever before. Entrepreneurs continue to come up with innovative processes that promise to keep expanding the list.

The latest recycling innovation is a new Kickstarter campaign I recently found called “ReCORK: Imagine Carbon Negative Footwear”. ReCORK promises stylish footwear for men and women made from recycled natural wine corks.

Keep produce fresh longer with Debbie Meyer Green Bags

Debbie Meyer Green Bags can really help you cut food waste

Keeping with our newest and growing tradition, Americans throw out a good 25 percent of the produce we buy. Whether it’s overripe bananas or unattractive scuzzy lettuce, the result is unappetizing looking food you don’t want to touch, much less eat.

You’ve seen the TV commercials about this simple innovative solution. It’s not my usual new-to-market type, but it’s definitely one that works.

Debbie Meyer Green Bags™ are plastic bags that absorb and remove ethylene, the main culprit that causes produce to go bad. These bags contain zeolite, an aluminum silicate mineral that absorbs gases like CO2 and helps control the humidity that surrounds your produce.

Combating Climate Change – a new look with Al Gore and Jeff Skoll

Former Vice President Al Gore at the Google Hangout 

A fascinating online meeting billed as Combating Climate Change took place Tuesday June 11th. Sponsored by The Climate Reality Project (the non-profit founded by former Vice President Al Gore), it featured Gore and Jeff Skoll, the Executive Producer of the film An Inconvenient Truth. In 2006, this eye-opening film launched a worldwide conversation, some would say controversy, regarding the effects of climate change. Now, on  the film’s seventh anniversary, these two came together, with moderator Dr. Kiki Sanford to give an update on what was discussed in the film.