Green Buckeye

In case you haven't already heard from Alvin, Startup Weekend is coming to Columbus July 18-20! You can register online here.

I encourage the organizers, sponsors, and participants to Think Green.

Labels: business, events, green business

The 270 blog brings our attention to a awesome opportunity. What if we could start up a green business here in Central Ohio in just one weekend?



Tag: Startup Weekend

Labels: business, green business

The second Columbus "Get Green" Business Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, February 13. The conference will highlight the goals and activities of Mayor Coleman's Green Team, and promises to provide businesses with ways to "assess their green status (waste and energy)" and to provide steps for saving money and becoming more environmentally friendly.

Labels: business, events, green business

Treehugger reported this week that NetJets Europe is instituting mandatory carbon offsets for its customers. Since NetJets Aviation is based in Columbus, I wondered if the same applied to North American operations. It appears from the NetJets Climate Initiative web site that they will make offsets available but not mandatory. You can read the news release here.

Labels: business, climate change

I'm late to the party, but I did want to tip my hat to Surly Girl Saloon for being recognized as one of the best bars in America by Esquire magazine. The Surly Girl has hosted many Columbus Green Drinks gatherings, and I love their varying selection of organic and Belgian beers!

And truly, how can you ignore a name like Surly Girl?

Labels: awards, business

Months ago I listened to a podcast that featured John Mackey of Whole Foods talking to Michael Pollan, the author of The Omnivore's Dilemma.

I was impressed that Mackey reached out to Pollan, who had criticized Whole Foods in the book. Listening to Mackey talk, I thought he sounded sincere in his desire for Whole Foods to do the right thing. He was educated and passionate about organic foods and corporate farming. He seemed self-aware and conflicted about the impact of Whole Foods on the organic food movement.

It's disappointing to learn now that for years Mackey was surreptitiously posting comments on a Yahoo stock-market message-board that bad-mouthed rival Wild Oats. Why? Yeah, the company could potentially gain from such antics, but at what cost? He claims he was "having fun."

It looks like Mackey, aka "rahodeb," and his company will discover the long-term costs in loss of reputation in the coming days, months, and years.

Of course, no one is perfect. We all make mistakes, even (or maybe especially and most publicly and sensationally) CEOs of large corporations. If we're lucky, the mistake is such that we can recover and learn from it. I hope Mackey gets a clue about transparency and integrity and recovers personally. His personal redemption, though, is not the end of the story.

What is most disheartening is that the cynics will say, "I told you so." They'll say that no successful businessperson is truly sincere about transparency, which is an aspect of corporate sustainability and the "triple bottom line." They'll say that people like me are naive about the way the business world really works. They'll say that they're justified in continuing with "business as usual." Because Mackey was a high profile example of someone who was - at least publicly - trying to do the right thing. And his fall from grace will be very expensive in terms of good will and momentum for the sustainable business movement.

Tags: "John Mackey", "Whole Foods"

Labels: business, news, sustainability

Any early risers out there? You might want to check out The Fisher College of Business Breakfast Club.

This month's program features Dr. Neil Drobny of Keep Franklin County Beautiful, Greg Cunningham of Limited Brands, Kevin Malhame of Northstar Cafe and Mark Corna of Corna/Kokosing.

Topic: Green Business 101

Remember - the early bird gets the worm! Businesses that wake up to the business case for green will have the advantage of being ahead of the curve AND doing the right thing.

Labels: business, events