Green Biz Highlight
 Located: 1 Mitchell Blvd.
San Rafael
Joined Chamber: May 2007Certified Green: 2007At the Marin Convention and Visitors Bureau we pride ourselves on being a green business.
When we moved our office and visitors center from Larkspur Landing to our new location in San Rafael we used only green materials for our office renovation. We installed bamboo flooring and used zero volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and energy-efficient lighting. Green office practices All Marin CVB marketing materials are made with recycled paper and environmentally friendly inks. Visitors are encouraged to view our website before requesting printed materials. We continue to use electronic mail vs. paper mail, as much as possible, to fulfill visitors' requests. And we recycle all paper, plastics, aluminum and bottles, and choose only green detergents and cleaning materials for our office. Active in the community Our employees are active members in the Green Meetings Industry Council, MALT, San Rafael Clean and the Environmental Forum of Marin.
|
Who is the Green Business Committee?
Find out what the Chamber's Green Biz Committee is all about. Join us for a meeting, the second Wednesday of each month. Contact any of our active members for more information:
Co-chair Mike Bates, Ad-Infin-Item
Co-chair Caran Cuneo, Workforce Investment Board of Marin County
Susan Adams, Marin County Board of Supervisors
Bob Brown, Dominican University of Calif., (formerly with City of San Rafael)
Mark Carrington, Cornish & Carey Commercial, Chamber Board member
Jan Goldberg, Delicious! Catering
Kiki La Porta, descom studios
Gina Marr, Marin Convention & Visitors Bureau
Lisa Max, GoSolar Marin
Bonnie Ayers Namkung, SEO Copywriting Services
Devi Peri, Marin Sanitary Service
Chris Yalonis, Sustainametrics
Cecilia Zamora, Latino Council of Marin
Citlalli Zepeda, Alfa Promotions
|
Is your business ready for California's Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law -- effective July 1, 2012? Get ready here:
|
Chamber Backs Responsible Production
The Chamber Board voted to support to the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility and the efforts of the California Product Stewardship Council.
CPSC believes good product stewardship creates incentives for producers to "design it green and take it back,"which reduces the environmental impact of product waste.
|
Attend a Green Event
Lecture by Richard Heinberg, senior fellow, Post Carbon Institute
Tuesday, 11/15 - 7 p.m.
Admission free
Dominican Univ. of Calif.
Guzman Hall
Environmental Forum of Marin
11-week Seminar Series focuses on complex environmental issues and how to address them. Take classes individually or as a series.
Next series starts Jan. 28
Learn more
Green Drinks
Casual networking event
Second Tuesday every month
Check for time and location
|
Sponsor an issue of GreenUp!
You can reach more than 900 Chamber members and influential local business people -- for as low as $95 per ad.
We have a limited number of sponsorship slots, so get in touch with the GreenUp editor now to reserve your space in the February issue.
|
Welcome New Green Committee Members
The Green Committee is pleased to have three new members, all with stellar green credentials, on board:
Bob Brown, recently retired development director, City of San Rafael
Susan Adams, Marin County Supervisor
Gina Marr, Marin Convention and Visitors Board
Welcome, Bob, Susan and Gina! We're looking forward to working with you.
|
|
|
|
Greening the Holidays -- How Your Business Can Use Less & Waste Less
Tips from the Chamber's Green Business Committee
In the six minutes it takes to read this issue, you can find out how to:
- green up and receive the gift of higher profits
- choose business holiday gifts wisely
- support responsible product design and packaging
- create a greener holiday party
|
Green Your Business Gift Giving
 |
Reusable Water Bottle with Logo
|
Promoting your business while leaving the smallest footprint on our planet is no easy feat. Here is a list of simple tips to green up your holiday gifts. You may not be able to meet all of the criteria, but the more the better.
* Recycle - the first option is to buy nothing at all. Consider giving something you already have -- many businesses have extra promotional items in their stockroom. Nothing is greener than giving a gift you already own.
* Less is more - buying more gifts than you really need puts a strain on your bottom line and your storage. Only buy what you will give out within one year. And give out what you buy.
* Shop locally - buying from local businesses keeps our dollars rotating at a higher rate than buying from online sources or large chains based out of state. It's always best to buy locally whenever you can.
* Buy from Marin County Green Businesses - search here to find businesses that focus on providing greener options: Certified Green Business directory
* Buy within California - most of the online companies are East Coast based, and tend to use manufacturers located 4,000 miles away. Purchasing from California manufacturers is greener, reducing associated fuel and emissions. It saves on your shipping costs, too.
* USA made - try whenever possible to buy items that are made in the USA. This helps the entire economy and reduces shipping needs.
* Buy with utility in mind - this is good green advice, as well as a smart marketing move. Buying products that can be used over and over is the best way to keep your organization's name in front of your clients and to keep the gifts from ending up in a landfill.
Good luck and have fun shopping.
|
How Your Business Can Support Responsible Product Stewardship
product stewardship: environmentally
responsible practices centered on a
product, from its production and
packaging to final disposal or reuse  | |
Battery Collection Box |
Businesses often have the power to do what government can't or won't. Product stewardship is one of those areas where businesses can lead the way in reducing waste and the associated costs of wasting. So what can you and your business do right now?
First, you can do what the Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste JPA, City of Larkspur, Tamalpais Community Services District and the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce have done -- actively support the product stewardship movement.
To date, 122 local governments, in California adopted resolutions, and the San Rafael Chamber is the second chamber in the state to submit a letter of support.
Become a CPSC partner
Second, your business can become a partner with the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce waste by promoting a free-market approach. This means the private sector aligns sustainability practices with the interests of small business.
Partnership is easy -- just sign the pledge online and join the hundreds of other businesses that are making the effort to be economically and environmentally sustainable. In September, Patty Garbarino, president of Chamber member Marin Sanitary Service, joined the CPSC Board.
Green purchasing makes a difference
Third, you can flex your purchasing power and drive product stewardship. Every time your business makes a green purchase decision, you send a powerful signal to producers to reduce packaging and make sure what remains is compostable, reusable or recyclable. Your buying choices also tell manufacturers you want products that are less toxic, designed to last and easy to recycle.
When you purchase from companies that "Design It Green and Take It Back" (CPSC's tagline), you make an impact. For example, buy PerfPower Go Green batteries, and you not only get a product made from recycled cells, but the package includes free shipping to mail the batteries in for another round of recycling. (Please use rechargeable batteries, which give you an average of 70 uses, and the producers fund a free takeback service -- Call2Recycle.)
Host a recycling box
Fourth, your business can be visible and helpful as a collection point for used batteries, CFL bulbs and other products. CPSC focus groups have documented the benefits to businesses in being a host recycling location. To host rechargeable battery and cell phone collections in your office at no expense, sign up for the Call2Recycle program and get a prepaid collection box to display in your office. Once shipped, a new empty box will be sent automatically. It's easy -- just fill out the online form.
As we always say, let business lead the way! |
Here's a holiday gift you can give your bottom line: Greening for Profit workshops. In these sessions, you'll discover simple solutions for reducing energy, water and materials use - steps that will dramatically improve your profitability.
The program is sponsored by the City of San Rafael, Dominican University of California and several Marin Chambers, including San Rafael. Sustainability consultants from Natural Capitalism Solutions will conduct the workshops. The pioneering company is known worldwide for helping Fortune 500 firms, governments and small to mid-size businesses green up and save. Alumni from Dominican University of California's Green MBA program will assist you in creating an action plan and tracking your savings.
Green up at the subsidized rate
Just 36 Marin businesses will get to take advantage of the program at a subsidized rate. Join these progressive local businesses that will participate beginning in January:
Find out:
|
|
Put a Green Bow on Your Holiday Event
This year, green the holidays ... Select a green certified hotel or meeting space to provide the backdrop for your holiday party. A variety of options are available throughout Marin County and can be found here.
Choose from green hotels that are San Rafael Chamber members: Embassy Suites, Larkspur Hotel-Mill Valley and The Lodge at Tiburon.
Whether you hire an event planner or do your own planning, the following eco-friendly tips will help you create a green event:
- Ensure the hotel or caterer provides local, organic and vegetarian menu items
- Consider "finger foods," which eliminate the need for utensils
- Serving beverages in punch bowls and pitchers reduces the waste from single-use containers, but make sure to carefully consider the types of cups you provide
- Choose reusable cloth napkins and tablecloths over paper or plastic
- Invitations, decorations and favors/gifts can be a black mark against your green event -- online invitations cost less and save trees
- Stay away from one-time use decorations, such as balloons, and consider local flowers for centerpieces, which your guests can take home
- If gifts are necessary, avoid purchasing items in excessive packaging -- then wrap gifts in simple tissue or recycled papers, not metallic and traditional wrapping which is not recyclable
- Avoid waste -- skip the party favors
- And ask your guests to donate to a local charity, whether it's canned food for the Marin Food Bank, blankets for the homeless or a donation to a local environmental organization
Have a happy and green holiday season! |
|
|
|
|
