Opportunity Green - Nov 08
Artisan’s very own Erin Scruby attended Opportunity Green 2008 at the University of California in Los Angeles in November. A few of the many proactively green companies sponsoring were Patagonia and NBC Universal.
The two-day Opportunity Green Sustainable Business Conference, co-founded by Karen Solomon & Mike Flynn, focuses on “balancing the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit.”
Erin was not only impressed with the attendees’ dedication to social responsibility, she walked out inspired!
In Erin Scruby’s own green-motivated words:
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I wish I could say that I take three minute cold showers, drive a Prius, and have a compost bin...but I don’t.
Yet.
And, if I’m being honest, you could take everything away before my hot showers!
But my biggest “ah-ha!” moment from the weekend was that - even if I am the “Lazy Environmentalist” - I can vote with my dollar for a Greener tomorrow, simply by being aware of the sustainable companies and choosing their products and services, which will then perpetuate the demand for these products! This fits with my consumer lifestyle. Hooray!
Designers, here’s the exciting thing: the idea of being more environmentally aware and friendly in design not only makes one feel warm-and-fuzzy, it is a sound business decision.
Venture Capital firms are investing in the cause. We heard from Ben Black, co-founder of New Cycle Capital, which is focused on investing in business that promotes “The Sustainable Economy” specifically in the social networking space.
Companies represented, including Pangea Organics, TerraCycle, and Causecast, are making a difference, bringing transparency back to business - and making money!
How? Well, these companies make competitive products, at a competitive price, based on consumer demand. No preaching, just better consumer choices. And so these companies are also Sustainable even in the monetary sense.
And the future looks greener. Heidrun Mumper-Drumm at Art Center College of Design is teaching courses on Sustainable design, hoping to have this become part of the more mainstream design curriculum.
Looking forward, I see strategy consultants, designers, and even business development professionals with specific experience in Sustainability as being increasingly relevant to the way that we do business.
So if you are an environmentally and socially conscious designer, let’s be in touch!
-Erin
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Check out a few more photos from Opportunity Green 2008:
