October 16, 2009

Realizing A Dream Come True

Posted by Melanie under Sustainability | Tags: , |
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While I was a journalism student at the University of North Texas, I dreamed of becoming a writer for Automobile Magazine. The plan was to graduate, work my way to the Chicago Tribune, then somehow make my way to Detroit.

Car propelled by an electric motor whose energy is provided by a battery.

Car propelled by an electric motor whose energy is provided by a battery.

Alas … I met a boy and worked in technology, where I had more experience than others in the mid-90s. It satisfied my need to take complicated issues and make them easy for everyone to understand.

Today, I think my dream may be coming true. I just returned from a roundtable discussion with Electric Vehicle (EV) entrepreneurs , visionaries and influencers. They are banding together to create an industry association to aid EV start-up companies through networking and information gathering.

I’m volunteering on the marketing/branding team and I have my first assignment. Woohoo! I’m working with bright, innovative people to come up with an executive summary to get the association off the ground.

My experience with tech start-ups is now put to work in the automobile industry. I’m so excited!

 

October 8, 2009

Take aways from GoGreen09

Posted by Melanie under Sustainability | Tags: , |
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I attended the GoGreen 09 conference in Portland today. The Gerding Theater was full of intellectual sustainability experts and wannabe experts. I was a wannabe

Electric Vehicle from Acrimoto expected to arrive 2010

Electric Vehicle from Acrimoto expected to arrive 2010

expert there to network for new clients and get up-to-speed on every facet of the sustainable industry.

Let me know what you learned. Here are some of my key take aways:

  • Portland businesses looking to make their business sustainable can seek help from the BEST Business Center. They evaluate energy, water, waste and recycling, purchasing, green building and transportation www.bestbusinesscenter.org
  • Portland has the opportunity to become the hub for electric vehicles
  • Read: The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawkins
  • Ask every vendor in your value chain to shave a little on their premium so customers do not have to pay so much for conscience decision
  • Go to missionzero.org for a discussion on going off oil
  • Ask your partners, vendors and suppliers, “What is your sustainability policy?”
  • Give a hoot and don’t pollute (flashbacks from childhood)
  • Work with people that embody your brand values
 

October 7, 2009

When Greenwashing Isn’t

Posted by Melanie under Sustainability | Tags: , |
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I read an article from Good Magazine that asked the question if Nike and Apple are Picture 11rejecting the US Chamber as a good marketing strategy, or really do care about the environment, and whether or not this is greenwashing.

Apple is the most recent to join a growing list of companies, mostly from the West Coast, that have quit its ties with the US Chamber of Commerce because of the Chamber’s opposition to the cap-and-trade legislation.

In my opinion this is not greenwashing. I believe this is just corporations following through on its corporate social responsibility.

Is it a good marketing strategy? Uh, yeah! Having a CSR program within your company and acting on it is good for every company, especially big mammoths like Nike and Apple. What I’d like to see from Apple is communication to its audience about its decision to reject its board seat at the US Chamber of Commerce.

By talking to its core audience will explain actions, create more credibility and open discussions among its audience. Creating transparency eliminates the doubt of greenwashing.

For more opinions on this topic read this Forbes article from Jon Entine.