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Why I Love Starbucks – the Company (and the Coffee!)

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Making Monday Marvelous

I love Starbucks - the COMPANY. Here's why.

I love Starbucks – the COMPANY. Here’s why.

I am a regular Starbucks customer. I go almost every day, in spite of the financial monster in my head who screams, “$3.70 for coffee??? You could retire earlier if you SAVED that money!” Which is true. Except that I can’t count on reaching retirement. So I have my “fancy” cuppa joe each morning before work because it makes me happy, in that moment, every day.

THIS morning when I arrived, the barista handed me a grande version of my usual drink – café mocha, non-fat, no whip, 2 pumps. With a hand-written note on it that said, “Just because we love you, Alison!” And then they told me it was on the house. On a Monday morning, that made my day, week and month.

Now I know that a company is not a person. (Really – Justice Roberts, it’s not.) But Starbucks is a company that I choose to emulate in my own little, one-person shop. Not around coffee (I’m no expert) but in the WAY they do business and the WAY they treat their customers.

What do I mean? Let me count the ways.

The baristas know me and I know them. I am thankful for their name tags because I am terrible with names initially, but once I remember I ALWAYS remember. And it’s cheerful to walk in and say, “Hi Ericka/Mitch/Brooklyn” to whoever happens to be across the counter.

They are unfailingly friendly and polite. I know that’s part of their job, but at my Starbucks, they do it really well. In this time where simple courtesy and respect seem to be in short supply, I appreciate the fact that they DON’T let it all hang out. I know they’re being nice to me, and I am nice to them back.  I like nice.

But there are also deeper reasons I start my day with Starbucks. Their environmental stands on everything from ethically sourcing their coffee beans to building LEED certified coffee shops just resonate with me, as owner of a certified green business myself.

Their support of education with programs like the full tuition reimbursement for Bachelor degrees through Arizona State shows their recognition, not only of the importance of education, but also of the fact that it’s something their employees want. So many companies trim back benefits every year. To see such an important one added is refreshing!

“Nice” can make for smart business

The main thing that I admire about Starbucks is that they’ve made me want to start my day with them.  And that feeling of anticipation and happiness is something I want to create for my own clients. I want my interactions – whether in person, on the phone, over email or Skype – to be the best part of their day. Even if we’re talking about something relatively unimportant in the overall scheme of things, I want to make you feel like I’m happy to see you, that I’m glad I can help, and that you are in good hands.

Because that’s how I feel – every morning at Starbucks!

Visiting Portland, Oregon – A Green City

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No sooner did I finish writing  “Green Travel Trends for 2015” than my husband and I took off and traveled for a few days in June.

We visited Portland, Oregon.

That may seem odd, given that we live in the “paradise” of Tampa, Florida. You know – endless sunshine, white sandy beaches, palm trees. Portland has none of that.

But we had heard good things about Portland’s commitment to being a “green city“, so we decided to check it out.

Portland really IS green

Portland is routinely named the “greenest city in America.”  In 2015, it’s #1 on Travel and Leisure’s list. What struck me was:

  • Lots of trees and parks. There’s no “concrete canyon” feel here. Portland has managed to keep a LOT of trees and parks in the heart of the city.

    Portland has lots of trees in the city.

    Portland has lots of trees in the city.

  • Great public transit. It’s easy to get around. The transit system – which includes the MAX light rail plus street cars and buses –  is clean, cheap and frequent. It’s also growing, with a new line opening in September. When your house has a walk score of 0, being able to walk out the door for a block and (1) stop at a coffee shop or (2) hop on public transit is a miracle.
  • Signs of eco-consciousness everywhere.  From the many bike riders (who can easily bring their bikes onto public transit), to the solar trash compacters on every block, to the ubiquitous recycling bins, it’s easy to be green in Portland.

That’s all anecdotal, of course, but the statistics and rankings back up my impression.

The Clean Edge guys are my “go-to” researchers for all things happening in “clean tech.” Earlier this month, they released their annual Clean Tech Leadership Index, rating all 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas on their “clean tech” activities.

According to Clean Edge, “OREGON retained its #3 rank for the third straight year, but enjoyed the highest score increase of any top 10 state, up to 72 points from 67 last year when it barely edged out Colorado. Oregon trails only California in the Technology category, with perennial strength in hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, charging infrastructure, and green buildings. ”

Clean Edge also says, “Portland places #3 for the third time in four years. The Rose City leads all metros in Clean Electricity & Carbon Management, thanks to strong hydroelectric power resources, low carbon emissions from large facilities, and a strong commitment to climate protection and reporting. Portland also ranks #3 in the Green Buildings category.”

Portlanders also know how to have fun

Lest you think Portlanders spend all their free time composting their food scraps, the city offers a great many “attractions,” including:

  1. Craft Beer – There’s a “craft beer festival” in July, and more breweries than you can shake a stick at.
  2. Coffee – I visited the biggest Starbucks I have ever seen, and also sipped coffee at Peet’s and Stumptown. There are dozens of other independent coffee houses.
  3. Restaurants – Thai, Chinese, Morrocan, French, seafood, pizza, and “new American” were just some of the choices.
  4. Books – Public libraries and Powell’s books make this a book lover’s haven.
  5. Education – Portland State is minutes from the center of town.
  6. Parks –  There are over 10,000 acres of parks in the city. We spent time in Washington Park, which is 400 acres with 15 miles of trails.
  7. International Rose Test Garden – you really can “stop and smell the roses” at this 4.5 acre park.
  8. Waterfront – Portland sits on the Willamette River, and the variety of bridges crossing over to Washington state was astounding.

Portland’s economy is growing

According to Google, Portland’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in April 2015. Like most parts of the country, job growth is stronger than it’s been in years. That strength comes from:

  • Silicon Forest – which houses everything from IBM and HP to Microsoft and Intel. It’s an impressive concentration of tech companies employing upwards of 60,000 people.
  • Portland green businesses – which tend to be smaller, but are impactful in their own ways. From organic restaurants to environmental consulting firms to engineers and architects, these organizations help bring that “eco-friendly” feel to the city every day.

Keep up the good, green work, Portland!

 

 

 

Tzoa is here

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Yesterday, I ordered my Tzoa – a new, wearable device that measures air pollution as I go about my day. I’m really excited, even though I have to wait a year to get it.

A Tzoa is a wearable device that measures air pollution.

A Tzoa is a wearable device that measures air pollution.

“What’s that?” you say. “That doesn’t sound cool at all! That’s no Apple Watch, no Surface Pro, no Facebook app.” Surely, I have lost my mind. Or not.

Actually, I’d love for you to join me in supporting Tzoa’s Indiegogo campaign that kicked off yesterday. And no, I am not being paid to say that.

Here’s why I signed up:

  • A Tzoa creates and shares clean air data that is currently unavailable. The Tzoa accurately senses air pollution and shares that information with everyone. The data from everyone who wears a Tzoa gets uploaded to the cloud, and crunched into things like maps, recommendations for where to avoid the pollen, and where the least polluted bike route is.  The data will be available on your smartphone. As a data geek, it’s like seeing a whole new sandbox created. Happiness!
  • It’s easy. As a veteran Fitbit One wearer, I know that wearing the Tzoa will be no big deal. As a matter of fact, I expect it may be a conversation starter. “Gee, what’s that shiny, sleek thing clipped to your arm/jacket/purse strap?” they’ll ask.
  • I really want to know. When I started my business, I was happy (and, if I’m honest, a little smug) to work in a home office. Then, I learned that indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air! I am genuinely interested to find out what the Tzoa will tell me, and adjust my work environment if necessary.
  • I support businesses like Tzoa that are actively reinventing our economy and our lives with regards to climate and the environment. Through Indiegogo, you can chip in as little as $5 to make this product come to market.
  • Tzoa lets me be part of the action. The Tzoa is small enough, and accurate enough to create whole new sets of air pollution data. Everyone from government agencies to fellow citizens can use it. I’ve long liked the idea of being a “citizen scientist,” and Tzoa lets me be one!

Wouldn’t YOU like to know how clean the air around you is – both indoors and out? I would. And to feel the satisfaction of sharing that data – effortlessly – with people around the world?

I’d say that’s pretty cool.

Click here to learn more.

Happy Earth Day 2015!

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For a green business like mine, Earth Day is a lot like Christmas. There is no tree or presents. But there are celebrations world-wide  focusing on what Earth Day means and why the spirit of Earth Day – much like the spirit of Christmas – should really last all year long.

Earth Day celebrates the wonders of our planet.

Earth Day celebrates the wonders of our planet.

For me Earth Day is:

1. A celebration of our planet’s natural wonders – on land, in the sea and in the air. People are a part of that. Feeling down? Get outside and feel better. There’s research that shows how powerful that connection is. On this 45th anniversary of Earth Day, just going for a walk in the great outdoors is an easy, healthy way to celebrate.

2. An invitation to use your energy, creativity and sense of purpose – in whatever way fits you best – to be part of the solution to climate change. It’s a complex problem. But with complexity comes the opportunity to do what inspires you.

You’ll find that loving your work makes a HUGE difference in loving your life. Climate change means that we all need to re-invent our lives in greener, more sustainable ways. That gives you the chance to create work you love in the context of  building that future.

3. A chance to act.  I act by writing about people and companies who are making the sustainable changes we need to see. By spreading that knowledge, I hope educate, inspire and move people to act in similar, sustainable ways.

There are so many ways to help. Do you want to figure out better recycling processes? Create innovative green financing options?  Invent new algorithms that use the big data present in climate models?  Look around. Talk to people. Find their pain points and match them to your joyful expertise.

Need ideas? Peruse the Green Dream Jobs Board, brought to you by Sustainablebiz.com.

It’s not too late to join in the Earth Day fun. To find an event near you, click here and put in your zip code. Let’s be climate-aware out there!

Warming up for Earth Day with a Salute to Harvard

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April is my favorite month because it includes “Earth Day”  on April 22.

For green businesses like mine, April is really more like “Earth Month” – a month-long celebration of all things green and sustainable.

Check out the Earth Day events going on worldwide, and decide where you’d like to participate. Or start an event of your own. You’re likely to find food, fun and friends wherever you go.

When the Crimson is Proud to Be Green 

As part of my Earth Day celebration, I’m giving a special shout-out to my alma mater – Harvard University – for its ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable world. These efforts range from leading-edge research to offering students over 200 courses on energy, sustainability and the environment, to greening the actual operations of all of Harvard’s schools. This happens all year long.

Given that Harvard’s official color is crimson, the idea of a green.harvard is both wonderfully ironic and exciting.

Learn about sustainability from Harvard’s experts – for free

You don’t need a Harvard degree to understand what sustainability is. Check out their page of Topics to see the breadth of what’s involved. Click on any one of them for details on how Harvard is approaching it.

For example, pick “Food” as a topic, and see how they’re thinking about new ways of growing it, distributing it, and avoiding food waste.

There are no tests or grades! Just information that – with a little creativity – you can use in your own life.

Divestment – Come On, Harvard…

While I salute Harvard for all it has done and is doing, I wish they would also divest from fossil fuels. The size of Harvard’s endowment is the stuff of legend – $36.4 billion in 2014. Divestment from fossil fuels would be a major statement from one of the most famous universities in the world.

It’s the kind of action that’s needed to grab the attention and shape the thinking of millions of people. It’s no silver bullet, but Harvard could add its weight to the positive momentum around sustainability issues.

Harvard is helping build a greener future for everyone

Two things I appreciate about Harvard are (1) they maintain a wonderful sense of history as they go about inventing the future AND (2) they ask their students, teachers and alumni to be their best selves and bring that to the rest of the world. That sense of responsibility for making the world a better place was palpable in my time there.

I can think of no better way to uphold that tradition than to “make a ruckus” – as Seth Godin says – about sustainable living, working and learning. And I salute Harvard’s efforts to do that every day.

Help create a sustainable spring

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Welcome, spring! If you’re champing at the bit to get out and enjoy the season, here are 10 tips for doing so in a more sustainable fashion. (This is a post I wrote for the Sustany Foundation.)

10 Tips for a More Sustainable Spring

And tomorrow, April 1, is not just April Fool’s Day. It’s also the start of what many people consider to be “Earth Month.” Earth Day is April 22, but eco-friendly events happen all month long. Join in!

MIT’s Climate CoLab Wants You!

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You’re invited to be part of the solution to climate change

logo-climate-colab

This week I’m passing along an invite to you from MIT’s Climate CoLab. The CoLab is a crowdsourcing platform where citizens work with experts and each other to create, analyze, and select detailed proposals for what to do about climate change.

On March 6, The CoLab launched some 22 new contests on everything from our energy supply to transportation options to a U.S. carbon price.

These contests are open to everyone. You can contribute to an existing proposal or create your own. Proposals can win a “popular” vote and they can be judged as winners by a panel of experts. The winner takes home a Grand Prize of $10,000 and gets the opportunity to present their proposal to experts who can help implement the idea.

Last year’s winner

In 2014, Danielle Dahan took home the Grand Prize award for a proposal to Improve Building Energy Performance: Green Job Skills Training. It addresses the shortage of qualified personnel to maintain the increasingly sophisticated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems installed in green buildings today.

“As high performance green buildings increase in complexity,” Dahan wrote in her proposal, “we need to give building technicians the skills to maintain buildings and achieve high performance energy goals.”  The curriculum, when in full motion, is projected to save 33 trillion metric tons of carbon each year in the United States alone.

What’s neat about the Climate CoLab

  • It’s a great use of crowdsourcing.  MIT knows that, as one institution, it can’t possibly house all the potentially life-changing, climate-saving ideas within its walls. So it has thrown open the doors to the world and said, “Come help figure this out.” With more diverse ideas – and more efficient ways to vet them –  we can find and scale the solutions that work sooner.
  • It’s a hub of activity.  As of January 2015, over 270,000 people have visited the Climate CoLab, representing every country in the world, and over 30,000 have registered as members.  The CoLab community also includes over 7,000 Facebook likes and 17,000 Twitter followers. To learn more about the Climate CoLab community, click here.
  • It’s a fun way to tackle a critical issue. Because climate change is such a multi-faceted challenge, there are endless aspects to focus on. Choose the one that interests you most, and dive in!

Enter now

The new contests are open now. Peruse your choices (there are about 7 of these I’d sign up for in a heartbeat). Or add your own new idea. You must enter before Saturday, May 16, 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time.

The CoLab sponsors tell you when voting on the various proposals will occur. If history is any guide, the awards will be announced around November 2015.

So join in. You might just make the world a better place – for all of us!

Students Bring Sustainable Business Expertise to Theater Buildings

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Every so often I see a sustainable business article that I want to share “as is.” Today there’s happy, local news from the Sustany Foundation – one of my long-time clients.

SBP_FinalLogo

Through Sustany, students from the Patel College of Global Sustainability will serve as sustainability consultants to one of Tampa’s premiere landmarks, the Straz Center.

The Patel College is one of the best sustainability schools you’ve never heard of. And the Straz Center, which has graced Tampa’s waterfront since 1987, will definitely benefit from their expertise in energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste minimization.

So today, I’m pointing you to the source – Janet Harrison Hall – and saying, “What she said…” Enjoy!

Students Serve as Sustainability Consultants for the Straz Center

Some Sweet News about Chocolate…

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I am a certified chocoholic. I still remember being wowed by the first Whitman’s Sampler I saw as a kid. And through the years I discovered M&Ms and Hershey’s chocolate bars and Godiva and See’s Chocolates – to name just a few.

Chocolate companies need to source their cocoa ethically.

Chocolate companies need to source their cocoa ethically.

The “dark side” of chocolate

So I was dismayed to learn from Green America about how much cocoa production involves child slave labor. The global chocolate market is $83 billion a year, of which the cocoa farmers get a pittance.

This past Christmas was the first where my family skipped our usual boxes of Godiva’s and See’s. My daughter was not happy, but as a high school student she is old enough to understand that feeding our “sweet teeth” should not come at the expense of children.

Since learning about this issue, I’ve paid attention to some of the big chocolate companies. I was underwhelmed by Hershey’s response, which was to drag their feet for years and then announce in 2012 that they would source 100% Fair Trade cocoa by 2020. That’s an 8 year lead time. In the life of a child, 8 years is an eternity. And who really “recovers” from being a slave?

But there is some recent good news to share:

  • Harry Potter fans persuaded Warner Bros. Studio to source ALL of the cocoa for their chocolates from Fair Trade sources by the end of 2015. That’s this year. If you’ve read the Harry Potter books, you know that magical chocolate frogs figure prominently.
  • Hershey just announced that they are ahead of schedule in sourcing their cocoa from Fair Trade sources.  “30 percent of their globally sourced cocoa was independently certified and verified in 2014—this reflects an accelerated pace for achieving its goal of sourcing 100 percent of its cocoa supply from certified and sustainable cocoa farms by 2020.” That’s still not fast enough, but it’s better.

I’ve often wondered why can’t we grow cocoa beans here in the US. There’s huge demand for it, it’s healthy for you in moderation, and we’d eliminate the emissions that currently arise from shipping beans by boat across the Atlantic. I’m sure there’s an agricultural scientist out there who knows why that won’t work. But if urban dwellers can grow their produce on their apartment walls, then there must be opportunities to grow the much-beloved cocoa bean in news ways and places.

Sharing Great Green Content from Earth911

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My New Year is off to a fast start, and that’s a happy thing.

Today I’m sharing some posts that I wrote late last year and early this about cars, food, jets and the circular (green) economy.  Disclaimer: I was paid to write these for Earth911.com – a client – although not by the individual companies. I think the information is useful.

Earth911.com is a treasure trove of information.

Earth911.com is a treasure trove of information.

Creating Awareness

As I work with businesses and talk to people, I am struck by the continuing lack of awareness around green businesses and the products they create. Green business is not a “scam” or a “hoax” or a “threat to jobs.” On the contrary, green businesses are here today. Green businesses range from behemoths like Google to tiny ones like Great Green Content. They are profitable AND they minimize harm to the planet.

Green businesses create jobs

And while the oil and gas industries have grown with the shale oil boom, scientists have told us for years that using fossil fuels puts greenhouse gas emissions in the air, which leads to global warming, which leads to climate change. And all the droughts, floods, storms, property damage and weather-related insurance claims that that entails. Fossil fuels need to stay in the ground.

It reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw when I lived in North Carolina. It said, “Tobacco put my kids through school.”  Unfortunately, that tobacco probably killed or sickened people as well. People need jobs, but not jobs that harm other people.

So here is a sample of my articles. It heartens me to know that green business is taking off in all directions. And I want YOU to be heartened – and more aware – too!

Really, this is just the tip of the green business iceberg. I’ll be writing weekly for Earth911.com, so if you are interested in even one of these, there are plenty more on tap.