Here's a story about how members of the Changemakers community are using text messaging to promote green consumerism:
How many times have you whipped out your cell phone and texted a message that could help save the planet? Probably never, right? Well branch out from all those lols and xoxos and send a text to FishPhone.
Read more about this solution, or discuss this topic below.
Created on 07/13/2009 by Elizabeth
When it comes to genetic food engineering, claims are often made about farmers ability and interest to adapt. And how about vitamin-rich rice? ... Are these realities or misrepresentations? Tell us what you think here
[Also check out our GMO Risk or Rescue competition. Share your idea or initiative to get noticed and to be eligible for various prizes. Submit your entry by October 21, 2009.]
Created on 06/9/2009 by htcgroup
Join the Geotourism Challenge Changemakers group to share ideas and opinions about issues impacting destination stewardship and wisely managed tourism.
Hear about best practices, identify solutions to key challenges, and link to resources that may help you overcome obstacles and succeed as a changemaker in geotourism. Each week will focus on a specific issue; join the dialogue now and tell your story.
Competition Status:
Closed
Competition Milestones
Show:
Show
[...]
Created on 06/18/2013 by Lisa Giroday
Victory gardens removes the barriers to food growing by providing you with the tools which make it easy, and serve as the One-Stop-Shop to Helping You Grow Food in your space, for your own sustainable and organic consumption: We Build (infrastructure). We teach (education). We Grow (maintenance).
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءالبلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
Victory Gardens has received a grant from Vancity Credit Union with the recommendation of the British Columbia Cooperative Association. In addition, Victory Gardens was selected as one of 7 social ventures participating in the Coast Capital Innovation Hub, an accelerator program which mentors, supports and assist in the growth of socially, environmentally and sustainably focused young businesses.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName your entry
Victory Gardens - Helping People Grow Food
Stage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Victory gardens removes the barriers to food growing by providing you with the tools which make it easy, and serve as the One-Stop-Shop to Helping You Grow Food in your space, for your own sustainable and organic consumption: We Build (infrastructure). We teach (education). We Grow (maintenance).
Problem
The global food system does not work: It degrades our environment with massive amounts of Co2, pesticides, GMO' and monoculture, it perpetuates a disconnection from our food source, but most importantly, it ignores that we could do things differently. Victory Gardens is about participating in the new food system, one that includes consuming locally, organically and consciously by helping you use your space in a productive and meaningful way!
Solution
Victory Gardens' solution is to help people grow food!
Infrastructure: Victory Gardens builds gardens for any space, type or size. From raised beds on rooftops to patio containers in parking lots, Victory Gardens approaches all building with one focus: To make growing accessible.
Education: Victory Gardens is a team of experienced growers whose goal is to demystify the process of growing food. By assessing growing locations, we develop custom garden maps and planting guides, offer one-on-one coaching and workshops.
Maintenance: Victory Gardens is a team of urban farmers for hire for both business and residential clients. We farm for clients who want sustainable food in their space, but don’t have time to grow it themselves.
Example
Victory Gardens recently built a garden for the BC Developmental Disabilities association, to provide the residents within a care facility with a beautiful and productive food garden. The BCDD reached out to us with the hopes of enriching the lives of their residents through gardening, understanding the mental and emotional health benefits related to connecting to our food source. This garden has provided the residents, and the home's employees, with a supply of beautiful organic produce and has been a source of joy and happiness for its residents.
Since Victory Gardens installed this garden, the BCDD has reached out to incorporate more food gardens in their other facilities and taken an interest in healing existing fruit trees on site.
Impact
Victory Gardens has built over 50 gardens, educated more than 250 people of all ages and sizes and promoted the urgency, need and passion for sustainable food production to innumerable amounts of people through community work, press and social media.
Our gardens have ranged in shape and size, bringing food into all types of spaces in Vancouver and neighboring suburbs. Included in our home gardens is two residential gardens at care facilities for the BC Developmental Disabilities Association. Our goal is to build gardens which have a significant impact on the people that grow them, from perpetuating the intentions of sustainable consumption, to reducing long-term food costs, to providing organic, and local produce right at the finger-tips of those who use them! Victory Gardens anticipates an expansion in diversity of gardens, serving institutional spaces, schools and care facilities.
Marketplace
Our colleagues and collaborators range from urban farmers to local businesses, such as Homesteader’s Emporium, and agricultural organizations, such as Young Agrarians. These organizations are passionate for fostering awareness surrounding organic food production.
Victory Gardens is a unique organization that offers a diverse selection of services and products which enable people to grow food, an attribute shared by no other identified organization. Victory Gardens takes pride in making growing easy, empowering gardeners and ensuring harvests, the major key to creating next generation farmers
Sustainability Plan
Victory Gardens has established sophisticated systems and infrastructure for client retention, sales analysis, and has developed a team of staff and founders, which reflect knowledgeable and strategic people. In addition, Victory Gardens is working closely with a team of mentors and coaches to ensure operational efficiency and a strong organizational culture which enables independent initiating, role development and growth within the coop.
Founding Story
Victory Gardens was born in a garden. Two of the founding members, Lisa Giroday and Sam Philips, harvesting broccoli one day, started talking about historic Victory Gardens. "What if people felt the same sense of urgency NOW for participating in production, as they did during war-time era's?" Asked Sam. "Why don't they? What is holding them back?" Chimed Lisa. It was in this moment that Sam and Lisa realized there were barriers. The barriers which lead their friends to ask and pay for help in their the gardens. The barriers which lead people to believe it was too hard, or it wouldn't work. "We should help people grow food!" And that was that. The mission was born and the business followed, along with Sandra, third found of VG.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments, Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
Added capacity would enable Victory Gardens to expand our fleet and increase the speed at which our impact can be delivered. In addition, Victory Gardens is in need of production and warehouse space for our organic veggie starter production, wooden garden boxes, seed packaging workshop and team space. With a centralized hub, we could increase revenue in products, workshops and collaboration exponentially, further increasing our capacity to Helping People Grow Food. In addition, space ensuring we are always accessible to the public, further increasing our reach and capacity to spread the word!
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Created on 06/18/2013 by ernst
Local organic producers/consumers network using modern media with aim on food sovereignty and the transfer of cooking skills.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءاسم المؤسسة
Die Gemüsewerkstatt - Das regionale Bio-Netzwerk
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName your entry
Die Gemüsewerkstatt - Networking Producers and Consumers
Stage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
Local organic producers/consumers network using modern media with aim on food sovereignty and the transfer of cooking skills.
Problem
Lack of availability of fresh locally produced organic food/Industrialized food production and decrease of smalled scaled farms/Lack of cooking skills and knowledge about food
Solution
We network farmers and consumers and make a critical statement against established food production systems by providing a web-based pre-order-system and a pick-up-shop with cafeteria. If you can’t come, you can take a bicycle courier from one of our cooperation partners. This way we can support farmers and producers in a very effective way to help them build up a stable regular clientele. Consumers on the other side are provided with a huge variety of food they otherwise couldn’t have bought anywhere else. This way, no food has to be thrown away at the end of the day. Our cooking workshops are based on the idea that if we are skilled cooks, it is easier to afford high quality products we can buy from local producer and save money.
Example
One example of how we were successful in supporting local producers is a local famer who is marketing homemade bread and apples through our network. Before cooperating with us, she sold agricultural products to supermarket-chains but when she found out how dependent she had become and that she doesn’t earn the money her work is worth, she turned her back on them and decided to work independently and to focus on producing bread. In the first moths of her business we could provide her with an existing structure of interested consumers of the “Gemüsewerkstatt” network and help her work sustainable very quickly.
Impact
In two-and-a-half years time, we were able to process more than 5400 orders from more than 700 different people. in this time, a huge amount of vegetables, dairy products, bread, fruit, wine etc was transmitted from local producers to local consumers. this means, to give some examples: more than 2 tons of potatoes, 14800 eggs, 2500 litres of milk, 1718 kg bread, 3600 kg apples, 637 kg tomatoes among thousands of kilograms of other kinds of products. almost no packaging is used and everything is produced within around 50 km from the city. so one can easily imagine that it makes a difference to use our network instead of buying from supermarkets. it is hard to estimate how the project will develop in the next years, but numbers are on the increase and we will keep up the work as professional and transparent as possible.
Marketplace
as in many cities, there is a "foodcoop" and approaches for community supported agriculture to whom we keep close contact. we try to adress people who are not able or willing to work in a big group to organize their food and enjoy our network as a helpful and powerful service. and we believe that a bigger part of society can profit from our service if we can fully concentrate on a professional workstyle. additionally to our pre-order-system, we provide cooking-workshops as a way to transfer knowledge about processing food and how to use basic local ingredients.
Sustainability Plan
our plan is to get into contact with more consumers and to develop our organic food catering service in graz. in our headquarters, we are establishing a shared-kitchen and shared-office-concept for young start-ups dealing with similar concerns to improve our network.
Founding Story
I am a Geographer and during my time as a student I realized the necessity of a healthy and strong local food supply system. My master’s thesis dealt with the impact of urban agriculture on Kathmandu valley’s cities and towns and I brought back great experiences and knowledge from my studies to carry on with the topic at home. Because although Austria is a rich country with fertile soil and temperate climate the problem of rural exodus and economic crisis amongst small scaled farmers is undeniable. The growing demand of fresh, local and organic food in today’s society and the regression of small-scaled farms was the basis to interpret local food supply in a contemporary and innovative way, where all stakeholders involved would profit.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments, Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
We could really need some employees who help us to expand our service and to improve our communication with co-operating farmers. In our headquarters, there's a lot of infrastructure and renovation work to do and pay and our marketing needs a re-launch.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Local organic producers/consumers network using modern media with aim on food sovereignty and the transfer of cooking skills.
Created on 06/18/2013 by Ferenc
What is my idea? My idea is to create a garbage which will recycle/sort/re-use it and I would like to sell this product to everyone. Why everyone? Because it saves a lot of money and the environment will not be affected.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءStage
Idea (poised to launch)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
What is my idea? My idea is to create a garbage which will recycle/sort/re-use it and I would like to sell this product to everyone. Why everyone? Because it saves a lot of money and the environment will not be affected.
Problem
It will be a difficult task for me to keep the produce costs very low so everybody could by my innovative garbage. But it will not be a problem If i sell enough garbage's.
Solution
Currently all the households waste there waste. But with my product everybody will save money. My garbage will sort a few types of waste. Glass, plastic, vegetables-fruit-garden waste, and remaining waste. Glass will be separated in 3 parts. White, green and brown glass so this could be transported to the glass factories to melt it to new glass. Plastic will be melt in a sort of boiler, when the plastic is melting there will be release a sort of gas. overall a very complicated machine, but it makes oil. Than we have the vegetables-fruit-garden waste. We also but it in a sort of boiler and it will be a sort of gas. This will be bio-gas. And after all the remaining waste. This will be compressed to a very small volume.
Example
What are the pros of the garbage? We re-use products, so we don't need to buy products again, and again. So the environment won't get affected. We can use the oil and bio gas for our kitchen, warming the house, drive with cars etc.. The glass will recycled in the factories which will saves a lot of money. And by compress the remaining waste will the volume of the waste get less so waste trucks doesn't get the waste every week, but maybe once in a month what will reduce co2 and saves money for benzine.
Impact
At the moment a contacted people/companies how could help me with my product or who I want to combine their product with mine. If the want to help me I want to make a prototype and visit big companies who wane sell my product. If they sell my product they not only get the profit of it but consumers also see that the companies are in for a durable world. And that is the whole idea behind my garbage.
Marketplace
Everybody notes the global warming, with this garbage we could stop it. By recycle products. But it also saves a lot of money, not only for the consumers, also for the factories. And in times of crisis we need to save money.
There are a lot of idea's for stop the global warming and saving money. But everybody use and needs a garbage so everybody will use it and saves the environment and money. And that is the perfect solution.
Sustainability Plan
First I try to make a prototype for less than 1000 euros. Than I will visit companies who are interested in the product and make deals with them. If I have enough people who would like to the the garbage will it be much more cheaper to make them, and could I sell the garbage for a acceptable price.
Founding Story
I have a school project with my mates to start a company. I had a few idea's but the reject all my idea's. I was a bit angry but finally the accept one of my idea's, the garbage. I had the idea to compress all the waste so we need less waste trucks and they don't have to come every week but every month.
I told it to my dad, but he said that if you really want to sell it there have to be something innovating. So after the school project I worked my idea out. And now I have my complete idea.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments..
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
The product will be recognized so I will sell it quicker and easier and hopefully in country's all over the world.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Created on 06/17/2013 by Imon Ghosh
As farmlands shrink, and food prices rise, how do we meet the nutrition needs of a rapidly growing population? I propose sky-scraping greenhouses, 'green cupboards' and 'stackable green shelves' for the year-round cultivation of healthy food crops ... as well as tissue cultures of meat and fish.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءاسم المؤسسة
Academy of Human Resources Development
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
n/a
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName your entry
Sky-scraping Green Houses, Hydroponic Cupboards and Shelves
Stage
Idea (poised to launch)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
As farmlands shrink, and food prices rise, how do we meet the nutrition needs of a rapidly growing population? I propose sky-scraping greenhouses, 'green cupboards' and 'stackable green shelves' for the year-round cultivation of healthy food crops ... as well as tissue cultures of meat and fish.
Problem
As farmlands shrink, bio-fuels cultivation compete with food-crops, and food prices rise, how do we meet the nutrition needs of a rapidly growing population? This is a challenge today, in terrestrial conditions, that will continue to grow in future, in both terrestrial as well as 'space colony' / extra-terrestrial conditions, following the technological vectors that humanity is likely to pursue in the coming decades and centuries ...
Solution
One innovative solution is sky-scraping greenhouses that utilize hydroponics for the year-round cultivation of healthy food crops (as well as tissue cultures, for slaughter-free meat and fish) in controlled conditions that preclude the use of pesticides since pests will not have access, unlike in open fields.
A lower-cost version of sky-scraping greenhouses (which admittedly sounds expensive!) are a concept I call 'green cupboards' or even stackable 'green shelves' that provide all the functionality of an efficient healthy food production unit, but are inexpensive enough (and aesthetic enough) to be kept in individual homes, and even cheap enough to be sold to slum dwellers.
Example
With the growing urban sprawl, and shrinking farmlands, ensuring nutrients for all had been a growing challenge. Rising food prices and declining nutrient quality (due to the widespread use of pesticides etc) had precipitated a health crisis.
Sky-Scraping Greenhouses, 'Green Cupboards' and stackable 'Green Shelves' helped meet the nutrient needs of all! While skyscraping greenhouses are capital intensive, green cupboards and stackable green shelves are aesthetic enough to be kept in individual homes, and inexpensive enough to be sold to slum dwellers!
A growing pesticide-free supply of varied fruits, vegetables and crops, and tissue-cultured meat and fish, has helped to feed a growing population, both on earth as well as in space.
Impact
According to the United Nations Population Fund, the world population reached the 7 billion mark on October 31, 2011. Wikipedia notes that current UN projections show a continued increase in population in the near future (but a steady decline in the population growth rate), with the global population expected to reach between 8.3 and 10.9 billion by 2050. Longer-term estimates by the United Nations Population Division range between 3.2 and 24.8 billion by 2150.
Whether food supply can keep pace with an expanding human population is an old question. In 1798, Thomas R. Malthus predicted that population growth would outstrip food supply, causing great human suffering. Of the world's total land area of 150 million km2 (16 X the area of the US), much is not suitable for agriculture. (Source: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/)
Can technological innovations extend malthusian limits?
Marketplace
Urban Farms appear to come closest to this idea, but focus on distribution and the creation of urban food chains to collect the produce of kitchen gardens, 'terrace farms' (an intermediate concept) etc.
Skyscraping greenhouses, green cupboards and stackable green shelves that leverage the latest emerging technologies including hydroponics and tissue-culture of meat and fish, address supply side issues.
Both production and distribution are needed to ensure Nutrients for All!
Sustainability Plan
It would be easy to grow a strong revenue model for this idea, since people have to eat and food prices globally are rising.
While skyscraping greenhouses are capital intensive, green cupboards and stackable green shelves are far less so, and are intended to be affordable accessories for the modern kitchen garden ... high-rise or otherwise!
Founding Story
The 'Aha!' moment for this idea occured during a Twitter conference that I was invited to be a part of recently. It sounded crazy, yet plausible, and I decided to plant the seed of the idea in what I hoped would be fertile soil ...
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments, Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
While the idea is innovative, and has the potential to contribute substantially to the mission of providing Nutrients for All, running a successful pilot project would be the next step in growing this idea and helping it yield benefits.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
As farmlands shrink, and food prices rise, how do we meet the nutrition needs of a rapidly growing population? I propose sky-scraping greenhouses, 'green cupboards' and 'stackable green shelves' for the year-round cultivation of healthy food crops ... as well as tissue cultures of meat and fish.
Created on 06/12/2013 by kgreek
The advent of industrial agriculture has decimated ecosystems, hastened the demise of small farms, resulted in less diverse food that is treated with chemicals, and decreased the nutrition of food. Community supported agriculture (CSA) provides a comprehensive solution to these problems.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءاسم المؤسسة
Association of Conscious Consumers
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
In 2009 ACC, known in Hungarian as Tudatos Vásárlók Egyesülete or TVE, won 1st place in the category of public information service in the eFestival competition. This competition is held yearly by the Hungarian Association of Content Industry, MATISZ, to recognize high quality online content for Hungarians. http://www.matisz.hu/2009.362.0.html
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName your entry
Encouraging Community Supported Agriculture Through Training
Stage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
The advent of industrial agriculture has decimated ecosystems, hastened the demise of small farms, resulted in less diverse food that is treated with chemicals, and decreased the nutrition of food. Community supported agriculture (CSA) provides a comprehensive solution to these problems.
Problem
Modern civilization's problem is being built around one directional nutrient flows. Resources are extracted from ecosystems degrading them and reducing nutrient availability. Short supply chains are replaced by globalised supply: food is picked early and shipped, losing nutrients. Small, sustainable farmers struggle against the onslaught of cheap food from global supply chains while people do not have the access to high quality food.
Solution
Spread and encourage CSA through small scale workshops that give farmers the tools to start CSAs and consumers the information on joining or organizing. Working at the local level, members of local communities (farmers and consumers) can respond to the problems facing the nutrient cycle, overcoming them through implementation of sustainable practices. CSAs, encouraged by our training, follow environmental practices that reinforce nutrient cycles, increase the nutrient content of their food, and build soil fertility. Encouraging local production minimizes nutrients lost in transit and enables consumption of fresh, nutritious food. Meanwhile, consumers can connect directly with farmers to support more diverse, nutritious food sources.
Example
There is a pent up demand for healthy, local food in Hungary. For many people CSA's are one way to obtain such food and live more sustainably. The Association of Conscious Consumers (ACC), which has long promoted conscious consumption, has successfully championed the spread of CSA in Hungary. Through international cooperation, public outreach, and trainings, AAC has encouraged the growth of CSA in Hungary. In fact, demand for training and active CSAs has outpaced supply. This is why it is important to continue and expand on our work. Active CSAs tend to follow sustainable practices and encourage nutrition through diversity in the food they provide. CSA support local, small scale producers who bring nutrition back to the people and Earth.
Impact
Community supported agriculture relatively recently appeared in Hungary. To spread the idea, ACC has organized public events on the topic since 2008. This year ACC has taken on a new role in motivating and supporting local communities (farmers and consumers) that want to start new CSA initiatives. In 2013, seven trainings were organized in the country, and more than 300 farmers, consumers and community-builders participated. We have created a practical guide to CSA, which will be published soon. Thanks to this work, more than 8 community supported farms have begun operating in Hungary; they are very active and have helped start new initiatives in their regions. In the future we would like to reach more communities with the trainings, develop new training modules (e.g. community building, communication, social inclusion), and train local volunteers to further help us at the local level.
Marketplace
Our main competition is the status quo; markets forces that emphasizing price and quantity over quality. We share our resistance to this with many other organizations who, because of the complexity of CSA, overlap with our work. However, our project occupies a unique niche in Hungary; we have a history of looking at the whole system as we bring these various stakeholders working with organic agriculture, farmers unions, local groups etc. together to build a strong network. Through our trainings, expertise is shared and long term relationships built, increasing our impact.
Sustainability Plan
ACC's work in this area was funded by grants. In the future we would like to train local volunteers to hold trainings and help local communities start their own initiatives. Additionally, we want to deal with new topics and make our training materials and methodology available to others, facilitating the spread of information. With additional financial support, we can create new training modules that strengthen the Hungarian CSA movement.
Founding Story
In 2008 French farmers and consumers visited Hungary to give a presentation about the French version of CSA, AMAP. The farmer, Benoit, was so enthusiastic as he introduced us his community. He explained to us that his one mission is to feed local families with high quality food. At the moment, we saw that CSA was the perfect solution to improve the quality of and access to food in a way that supports and builds local communities. We promoted Benoit's vision and enthusiasm through a partnership with other European NGOs to spread CSA throughout Europe. This year we developed a training program for local communities, adapted to the Hungarian context, that provides sustainable agricultural solutions for producers and consumers.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
With the added capacity we would like to take our CSA workshop to more communities in Hungary (at least 5) and train volunteer multiplicators (app. 10 persons in the countryside) to support our work at the local level. Additionally, we would like to support existing CSAs, since they represent is a new and important alternative food system for Hungary, through the creations of special training modules (at least 2 topics: community building, effective communication, etc.) to support their long-term success and sustainability.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
The advent of industrial agriculture has decimated ecosystems, hastened the demise of small farms, resulted in less diverse food that is treated with chemicals, and decreased the nutrition of food. Community supported agriculture (CSA) provides a comprehensive solution to these problems.
This project also has a Project where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: Fairleaf Foods.
Created on 05/12/2013 by tiffanydanae
FairLeaf will produce organic, fairly traded food and beverage products made using moringa - a nutrient-rich superfood. Our non-profit arm will promote moringa tree community gardens as a solution to malnutrition and deforestation in low-income countries, beginning in Nicaragua.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءبلد المؤسسة
United States, NY, New York, Tompkins County
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
Fairleaf Foods competed in this year's Echoing Green Fellowship competition, and was selected as a semi-finalist from among nearly 3000 applications. Similarly, we are currently one among 30 companies competing for $50,000 as part of a funding contest sponsored by GOOD and TOMS.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءStage
Idea (poised to launch)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
FairLeaf will produce organic, fairly traded food and beverage products made using moringa - a nutrient-rich superfood. Our non-profit arm will promote moringa tree community gardens as a solution to malnutrition and deforestation in low-income countries, beginning in Nicaragua.
Problem
An estimated 870 million are undernourished worldwide. 165 million of those are children under 5, including 38% of children in Nicaragua. Extreme poverty is a primary indicator of hunger, and 76% of Nicaraguans live on under $2 a day. Meanwhile, Nicaragua has lost approximately half of its forest since 1950. Initiatives for income generation, food security, and reforestation can mitigate these issues.
Solution
For every product that we sell, we’ll plant five moringa trees (in a community, school, or family garden) and provide technical assistance on how to grow, maintain, and utilize moringa to improve local livelihoods. We'll then train those recipients to incorporate nutrient-laden moringa into meals in cultural appropriate ways, thereby ameliorating malnutrition. Our farmers’ communities will be the first communities that we provide trees and technical assistance to. As for income generation, our model follows an “above and beyond fairtrade” ethos. This means that, rather than simply meeting the minimum requirements of fairtrade, we provide prices 15% or greater above fairtrade value. With every sale we'll also plant a tree for reforestation.
Example
We’ll service communities in sweeps (e.g. if a community has 1,000 families, we’ll wait until we’ve sold 5,000 products and then we’ll go into the community and plant five trees per family; we'll provide training such as tree maintenance practices, show how to incorporate moringa into meals, and fatten livestock using moringa). Before going into a community we’ll rely on our NGO partners to collect baseline indicators of livelihood quality (e.g. weight measurements), and then monitor and evaluate the impact of our program in these communities. If communities haven’t achieved a certain threshold of livelihood improvement, we’ll continue to work with them until it’s clear that they can sustainably reap the benefits without outside assistance.
Impact
So far we have trained 180 households in a pilot curriculum in Rwanda. We will adapt this model to Nicarauga to ensure broad community impact. We will improve the health and livelihoods of rural smallholder farmers, employees, and communities in Nicaragua. In year 1, we’ll train and source Moringa from 20 smallholder farmers, aiming for a 30% increase in their income and boosting their communities’ economies with education, food security, job creation and reforestation (totaling about 5,000 Nicaraguans). We also plan to provide 100,000 US customers with healthier food choices and raise awareness of moringa. Within 5 years we’ll expand to Africa, sell nationally in the US, and source from at least 100 smallholder farmers and impact 30,000 Nicaraguans. We'll fund and collaborate with partner organizations, enabling them to educate and promote moringa for nutrition and reforestation.
Marketplace
Many programs focus on global malnutrition but few (e.g. Trees for Life; ECHO) are currently using moringa in their programs. Moringa has been primarily relegated to supplement and cosmetics markets (e.g. Grenera; Body Shop), and only one other company that we know of is selling a bottled beverage (Zija Drink). Kuli Kuli uses moringa, but their product and outreach is different. Given recent “superfood” consumer trends, moringa is poised for broad acceptance. Runa uses a similar model, but with a different key ingredient (guayusa) in a different region (the Amazon), and has had great success.
Sustainability Plan
We plan to begin at local markets and scale-up at a pace that allows us to carefully monitor and evaluate market sustainability. Eventually we aspire to have FairLeaf products available nationwide (via multiple retailers like Wholefoods, Wegman's, and Trader Joe's) and globally. This phase-by-phase approach will allow us to continually gauge market sustainability and ensure that we don't expand beyond our capacity.
Founding Story
Fairleaf was founded by four friends in a rural village in the mountains of Nicaragua. Three of the co-founders were food security volunteers in the Peace Corps while I was completing an internship nearby. We were all promoting moringa as a food security and reforestation tool in our communities. Given moringa’s astonishing nutritional virtues we were amazed that it wasn’t being marketed as a superfood in the US. After completing our service abroad we wanted to introduce moringa to the US, but we wanted to do it in a way that continued the work we were doing to reduce malnutrition and deforestation. We conceived of FairLeaf as a means of linking the US consumer to Nicaraguan rural communities via these extraordinary leaves.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments, Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
We feel we are only beginning to touch on all these sectors. Our business model will engage us in all of them, but this added capacity will ensure we can delve deeper into creating a thorough educational model for our farmers, with on-the-ground support staff. Added capacity will also help us ensure we are building our brand quickly to encourage sustainability and efficiency of our manufacturing. We will also have more opportunities for diversifying our impact on the environment and overall human wellness as we engage the local community in reforestation and other educational efforts.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Created on 04/18/2013 by North Country Sustain
We are creating a shared use facility to enable those with skills in time honored practical skills in home maintenance and economics to develop businesses while educating and serving others with less skills who want that knowledge or products.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءاسم المؤسسة
North Country Sustainability Center, Inc.
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
United States, MA, Ashburnham, Worcester County
Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName your entry
Rural Strengths/Urban Skills
Stage
Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Elevator Pitch
We are creating a shared use facility to enable those with skills in time honored practical skills in home maintenance and economics to develop businesses while educating and serving others with less skills who want that knowledge or products.
Problem
Young people in our region lack the skills and knowledge to make healthy choices at affordable rates. Our elder people have these skills, but lack facilities to take this knowledge and improve their economic well-being. NCSC will create a a shared use facility where new businesses can grow based upon healthy food, proven knowledge and a mutual sense of building community.
Solution
We have put an offer in on an old mill complex, with ample space for commercial food prep areas, woodworking shop, and other studios. Our plan is to build our local economy by building urban and rural connections to the practical skills and resources at NCSC so that we create a sustainable region. Senior citizens and others will teach classes, on site and in outreach. Others can start food-based businesses, and the hub can grow, building our future with the resources we have on hand. For the most part, low cost classes will be offered, with tuition being split between NCSC and the teacher. By connecting different generations, and developing links between farm, food and home, we see communities better able to face future challenges.
Example
We have already started a crafter's co-op which allows area farmers to develop value-added products that are non-edible. It has brought income to two farms and ten other vendors, and that is growing. People are recognizing the value of local agriculture and their on potential abilities to "save, make or stretch a dollar." Our customers are also learning the difference between naturally home prepared products and mass produced ones. This is shaping their changes in other areas, such as which foods to buy and what sources to support.
Impact
The site we are trying to purchase is only one mile from the New Hampshire border and an hour from the Vermont border. Our sustainability hub will enable farmers from the northern parts of New England to access Greater Boston's market. It also expands opportunities for artisans who lack facilities to develop their skills to support their families. Our program will provide these facilities from studios to farmers market, gardens to exhibition space, so people can learn more about ways they can make the most efficient use of the resources they use and develop those that they have to make their lives and their community stronger.
Marketplace
While there are other organizations that teach farming skills, or teach sewing, they do not have the facilities to take these skills to the level of production for sales. Our approach is unique in that we ask ourselves "Who else could use this?" and rather than subdivide by specific goals, we use our definition of sustainability "Whatever it takes to keep living here," and open the doors to that shared use. This includes serving 4H, animal assisted therapy and dog training, as these are part of life, but often suffer from lack of facilities. This systems approach makes us different from others
Sustainability Plan
Once we have the buildings, some aspects, such as the fiber, farmers market and animal-based programs can start bringing in funds and visitors. User fees, tuitions and event sales will support the ongoing needs of the NCSC. Paid staff will be minimal, as it is not our goal to teach everything, but to fill in any gaps that need to be filled, and make facilities available to others to build their own businesses.
Founding Story
The Ashburnham Agricultural Commission was meeting in September 2010 and was naming hurdles that we faced as farmers and consumers in our region. The need for a commercial kitchen and a 4H facility came up, which then began to grow into what is now the North Country Sustainability Center, "The NCSC Hearth." Though the needs were widespread, they all shared one thing in common, a way to make our region more sustainable, from food to the arts, homestead to the Boston marketplace. We then began looking for a facility that would work with our diverse needs. We found it in an 1860 vintage mill building in neighboring Winchendon, MA. There's ample room for growth, and great access and visibility. NCSC and the Mill were meant to work together.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?
Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.
If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?
Healthy environments.
How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءHow is your product or service connected to vitality for the people and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
People need appropriate nutrients to grow, learn, and fight off disease. How do you measure, track, or make use of information about nutrient levels in your own work?
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Considering the flow of nutrients from ecosystems to soil to farms to food to communities, what are the barriers to achieving vitality for people and the planet?
Other barriers you have identified
In your view, what developments need to happen in order to help overcome those barriers and produce a more nutrient rich and vital public and planet?
Approximately 125 words left (1000 characters).
What do you consider the most promising trends or evidence that indicates that the developments you described are emerging? Please elaborate.
Approximately 100 words left (800 characters).
Created on 03/8/2013 by bcydez
Several local organizations have partnered with Project Introspection: A Case Against Bullying, to provide job-training, life-skills training and "green" jobs for those seeking work-especially for young people and those returning to society following incarceration. It will result in multiple benefits to the State of Maine, including reducing unemployment and recidivism: providing job training consistent with the goals of Efficiency Maine; and providing hope to rural residents that have seen their job disappear.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءبلد المؤسسة
United States, ME, Somerset County
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
United States, ME, Madison, Somerset County
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName Your Entry
Project Introspection: A Case Against Bullying
حدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
فكرة (أنت متأهب للإطلاق)
What problem is your organization committed to solving? In particular, share what is innovative about your approach.
Several local organizations have partnered with Project Introspection: A Case Against Bullying, to provide job-training, life-skills training and "green" jobs for those seeking work-especially for young people and those returning to society following incarceration. It will result in multiple benefits to the State of Maine, including reducing unemployment and recidivism: providing job training consistent with the goals of Efficiency Maine; and providing hope to rural residents that have seen their job disappear.
What are your organization's top three priorities in the next year?
The first is to build capacity among various non profit shelters that serve the needs of Veterans, Domestic Violence and at risk youth and create a memorandum of understanding with one of the Nation's earliest Community Land Trust, here in Maine. Secondly, that memorandum of understanding will fuse the needs of those shelter residents with property owners who wish to dedicate a portion of their property to the implementation of a CLT and an artisan based Co-Op. Thirdly, the implementation of the time banking scavenger hunt will bring the community resources together in a conservative manner to construct Tiny Houses for those residents and youth who can be the connection between businesses, schools and residents with Project Introspection.
Need #1
Digital Marketing Strategy
Need #2
Staffing Capabilities
Based on your first choice of the eight technical categories you selected above, what is your specific project need? Please be specific!
I want to identify what steps are necessary to utilize event driven architecture that reinforces marketing/branding of local businesses to supplement the game play of timebanking members and youth. To host a scavenger hunt among community members, offering "badges" from corporate sponsors, and to retain real time analytics is imperative to the success of this pilot's implementation.
2.
Communications: Timely and Specific
3.
Compassion: Leadership with a Heart.
Will support from American Express be focused on your organization overall or a specific product/service? Please describe.
I believe that the support from American Express will be best utilized in creating the template for the digital services that will expotentially drive this competition, based upon maximum community cooperation. The sustainability of the program from the perspective of the digital services, and unique staffing constraints (as participants are seens as community managers) is essential.
Have you focused on the above area previously? If so, please explain, including whether you have worked with outside consultants before.
Yes, I have participated in the Community Roundtable (Jim Storer/Rachel Happe) community, and have been a follower of UBM, as to learn about B2B applications that would serve the gaming community with real time analytics.
Are you able to commit 3-5 hours/wk over 10-12 weeks?
Yes
Are you able to meet virtually or at a convenient in-person location?
Yes
Are you able to meet in the city where your organization is based?
Yes
1.
Formalize a Steering Committee to forge the pathways and benchmarks of sustainability.
2.
Introduce the project to local community colleges and university's to maximize the sustainability/curriculum quality.
3.
To utilize media literacy as a means to deliver enthusiasm to broaden game play regionally.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
This is in the beginning stages of prototype with the solarized kit, and Moosehead Furniture has shipped the kit to be assessed/photographed by the process engineer for assembly/instruction purposes. Property owners have agreed to donate 100+ acres for the pilot program to instruct shelter residents in skills to mentor local youth. A proposal is currently being drafted to submit to each shelter, for participant engagement as to identify terms of transitional living at the CLT/Co-Op. A meeting will be convened this week, with legal counsel to construct the memorandum of understanding and CLT/Co-op agreements.
What is your project future impact after receiving professional support from American Express?
I believe that this model will be able to address the needs of other shelters in the State, especially those that utilize time banking. As a best practice of sustainability, it will then have the potential to be implemented by other time banks in the U.S. and Internationally, as well.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Trabajaremos con una metodología de implicación de toda la comunidad en las soluciones a las situaciones que impidan la salud física, siquica o social de alguno de los miembros. Bien resolviendo el problema o paliandolo a corto plazo
El enfoque de derechos civiles en todas las edades de la vida y la implicación como sociedad civil organizada
Here in South Africa there are no strict law enforcement around pollution and environmental exploitation, therefor people like to stick with old ways, i.e. in the tourism industry it doesn't matter if electricity or water prices go up, they just put the price of accommodation up! Schools complain they never have a big enough budget, but they are ignorant in ways to reduce consumption and need guidance and assistance in that; which they definitely do not receive from government and dept education.
Pick-A-Pepper is a elegant, user-friendly service that creates a direct market between local food producers and local consumers. Though the idea is simple, the potential for making change in our food systems is huge.
With the movement towards web based sourcing of products, imagine the potential that a central online shopping site for local food, from your own local community, could have.
With the help of our partner organisations, i-Solarlite aims to eradicate the usage of dangerous kerosene lighting or candles. It has also been found that daily usage of solar lanterns has been able to double the household income of village families. They have been able to work during night which children attend night schools (in few of the cases) or are able to study at nights.
This project also has a Project where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: Inspired By Nature.
Created on 01/15/2013 by inspired
Our focus is on creating livelihoods and ensuring environmental sustainability. We aim to enable communities to expand their product line and develop new natural sustainable products. By utilizing invasive species or other waste materials, we can help them protect the environment.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءTell us about yourself/your team.
I am a mechanical engineer who is passionate about having a positive social impact. I have worked on a couple development projects related to waste management and product development. My team consists of people with backgrounds in engineering (chemical and mechanical) as well as international development and economics.
What makes you an intrapreneur? What are the skills, capabilities, and personality traits that make you an intrapreneur?
I have collaborated with our local community partner to develop new products and advise on the product development process in order to increase income generation for the local people. We hope to replicate this process with other communities and organizations.
Company Country
United States, MA, Cambridge
Primary country where this project is creating social impact
Additional countries or regions
Industry
Consumer Products
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
فكرة (أنت متأهب للإطلاق)
The Need: What social or environmental problem are you trying to solve?
In remote communities across the world, people often do not have access to sustainable sources of income. By working with these communities to develop new natural products, we could help create jobs and provide an example to others that it is possible to use waste or other natural materials to create high quality eco-friendly products.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
We aim to work with sustainable communities to develop and sell locally sourced natural products to increase income generation and job creation for the local people. We would help communities with any part of the natural product development cycle from R&D of new products, to marketing and sales strategy, to actually getting their product to customers via the network we are building. Our customer would be organizations similar to our current community partner in that they are focused on sustainable living and are working with natural dyes. Based on experience with our current pilot project, we would be able to work with the organization through the entire process of developing the product to bringing it to market. By promoting their products and increasing demand, they will be able to employ more people to produce the volumes to meet the demand as well as train them to develop the new products.
The Solution: Why is this solution innovative for your company and industry?
We are connecting the market needs in developed countries to communities in developing countries by helping the communities better utilize their local resources to develop natural products.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities.
The current model is to work closely with the community on developing the new product based on previous experience and knowledge of the market. We would be able to help them increase competitiveness and profitability through product expansion strategy and understand international quality standards, research and develop new products, with capacity building and training for the new processes, market and sales strategy, and connect them to distribution channels.
For our pilot project, we have been working to develop natural dye crayons with a community in Northern India. We used one of the byproducts of another process they have and utilized local materials to develop the current product. We are in the midst of pilot sales for this product. Having worked on this from scratch, it seems like a process that could ultimately be adapted to other communities around the world.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
Other companies focus on developing agrarian or other technologies and trying to mass produce and distribute them to rural communities. Our focus is on developing new products to create livelihoods and also ensure environmental sustainability. Working on sustainable product development will greatly benefit the communities we are working with in terms of providing jobs but it will also benefit everyone else because these communities would be able to show that it is possible to use waste or other natural materials to create high quality products.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
After spending over two and a half months in India working with the people in the community to develop the natural dye crayons, we spoke to potential customers to get some feedback on the product and found that they were interested in not only giving us feedback but also in purchasing sets. We have been working on getting the crayons into stores and also see potential for other natural art products which are non-toxic.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
The crayons are currently being sold in India but we are still working out the logistics of selling in the US. The profit will enable the community to hire more people to produce the crayons.
What is your projected impact over the next 1 to 3 years?
Over the next 1-3 years we hope to expand to working not only on developing other natural art products but also on working with other communities around the world.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
We are currently looking into getting certification for the crayons and one of the challenges is dealing with the logistics of selling in the US. We are looking for another teammate who may have that experience.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhat is the benefit or value you're creating for your business?
We are helping the community increase income generation while still being environmentally friendly by using waste materials to create natural products.
How are you leveraging internal resources (funds, time, knowledge, etc.) to support this initiative?
We are currently working as part of the MIT IDEAS Global Challenge to develop the pilot project and launch the crayons in the US.
Expand on your answer, explaining the long-term funding and support plan.
In the long term, we hope to make a profit by selling the products that we helped develop and also from consulting with the community organization.
Tell us about your partnerships across your company and externally that are key to your project's success.
We are partnering with a network of farmers and artisans in Northern India to produce the crayons and hope to work with them on future products as well. We are also working with mentors from MIT to develop the project.
What internal support have you gotten for your project? What kind of push-back have you received?
We have gotten valuable advice from our mentors on key things to think about moving forward.
Created on 12/30/2012 by chandra.paramita
E-junkyard, bridging the formal and informal sector to create a more effective and proper e-waste management infrastructure, toward integrated e-waste management.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءTell us about yourself/your team.
I am trying to contribute to environment and society by taking part of collecting and treating waste properly. This contribution is by working in an e-waste recycling company. We are not only handling used and discarded electronics, but we seek how to optimize the usage of electronic devices before its end-of-life.
What makes you an intrapreneur? What are the skills, capabilities, and personality traits that make you an intrapreneur?
I still live my idealism, I’m eager to try something new and learn along the way from various sources around me. I’m not afraid to cross my comfort zone, and cannot help thinking about how to develop my idea beyond the call of duty.
Primary country where this project is creating social impact
Additional countries or regions
Industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
فكرة (أنت متأهب للإطلاق)
The Need: What social or environmental problem are you trying to solve?
The growing problem of electronic waste along with the growth of gadget and appliance market. E-waste posed environmental hazard due to physical-chemical properties of its components. E.g. leachate containing metal pollutes the soil and ground water, some batteries are explosive.
Despite the growth of e-waste production, an integrated system for proper management of e-waste is not yet on place. In the formal sector, service providers existed, but its outreach is limited to corporate clients. The informal sector has grown its own system down to household level, but its operation is not meeting health and environmental safety standard, thus is creating negative impact.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Bridging the formal and informal sector to create a more effective and proper e-waste management infrastructure. The formal sector has the proper standard and facility for e-waste processing, but lacking the system to expand its outreach down to the household level, i.e. the largest market share of end-consumer. Rather than starting from zero and competing with each other, the formal sector can use the system already existed in the informal sector and upgrade it to meet the proper management standard.
The Solution: Why is this solution innovative for your company and industry?
This solution will add double value to our company in a go. Business wise: increase of production scale along with the increase of e-waste volume collected. Corporate social responsibility: increase of safety and overall welfare of the informal sector. Environmental responsibility: minimization of environmental impact due to inappropriate processing by informal sector recycling operation.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities.
E-junkyard, i.e. E-waste collection center will be the core to bridge formal and informal sector. Our company will provide education (e.g. how to do segregation, simple dismantling, health and environmental hazard of the waste) and proper facilities and equipment (e.g. shelter, gloves, boots). Informal e-waste collector will provide the man power (waste picker) and simple transport (e.g. pedicab) to operate the e-junkyard.
The commonly viewed as valuable from e-waste is PCB board, mainly due to its gold and copper content. In the informal sector, extraction of these metals involved unsafe use of mercury solution, in which the vapour was inhaled by the recycler, and the waste water is discarded freely to the environment.
As our company is specializing in PCB board recycling, we have established a recycling facility meeting health and environmental safety standard. We will buy this component to be recycled in our facility, thus reducing the environmental impact from recycling operation in informal sector. E-junkyard collector can sell the rest of the components to our network of authorised and certified recycling facility.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
There are a small number of players currently in the formal sector. Companies licensed for hazardous waste management are sometimes involved in e-waste. Informal sector collector and recycler have existed for long, but using methods that bring health and environmental hazard.
What differentiate us is that we try to offer a “comprehensive solution” – from data confidentiality assurance (destruction of data in the e-waste component) to a certified responsible cradle to grave processing. This includes a tight safety control within our operation, and a thorough audit on partners’ operation in our network of authorised and certified recycling facility.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
When TES-AMM was established in Indonesia, the business intention was to serve company/organization to properly treat their e-waste. However this business did not touch the biggest e-waste contributor which is households. Households’ e-waste are being collected and treated informally by e-junkyard. The main issue with e-junkyard is that they have little care for environmental aspect and worker’s safety/health issues.
Then on one day, a reporter ask me whether TES-AMM will force e-junkyard to stop operating. On that moment I thought, we can have a win-win solution by co-operating with e-junkyard without causing them to lose business. They can still collect e-waste from households and we will provide way to treat the e-waste properly.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
As a guiding image: in the last 1 year, we have collected more than 1000 printers in colaboration with its manufacturer in a take back scheme. We are projecting to collect 2-3 times more if we are not focusing on only 1 brand but allow community to discard any brand of electronics.
What is your projected impact over the next 1 to 3 years?
Establish 1 e-junkyard pilot, in collaboration with existing e-waste collector/ recycler. The e-junkyard is aimed to serve an area of approx. one city, and will become a base for replication in other areas in Indonesia.
Operation in the junkyard includes collection, segregation, simple dismantling, and transportation to authorised recycler.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
The existing “mafia” in informal sector waste management (including e-waste). Our plan is trying to collaborate with existing informal business unit and offering this alternative business unit as a package of community development proposition for the personnel involved.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhat is the benefit or value you're creating for your business?
This solution will add double value to our company in a go. Business wise: increase of production scale along with the increase of e-waste volume collected. Corporate social responsibility: increase of safety and overall welfare of the informal sector. Environmental responsibility: minimization of environmental impact due to inappropriate processing by informal sector recycling operation.
How are you leveraging internal resources (funds, time, knowledge, etc.) to support this initiative?
This project will be part of marketing and CSR program. So it will be part of the overall company budgeting and prioritized work.
Expand on your answer, explaining the long-term funding and support plan.
As this initiative is basically a business model, funding should be generated from result of proper e-waste processing. The initial investment and community development part might be funded as part of company’s CSR, but as the operation started it should generate funding through responsible recyclables trading. Another funding possibility is voluntary carbon market, although the mechanism still need further exploration.
Tell us about your partnerships across your company and externally that are key to your project's success.
We are closely working with the environment authority and now in the middle to make better aquaintance with e-junkyard.
What internal support have you gotten for your project? What kind of push-back have you received?
The management supports the idea but will need a more detailed plan and schedule to fully approve it.
The Mardi Gras industry in the Greater New Orleans region is worth at least tens of millions of dollars, likely hundreds. This means there is a huge demand for what are locally known as "throws." Throws can be anything from cheap, plastic beads to hand-painted coconuts, and they are thrown out by the ton during the weeks of celebration culminating in Mardi Gras.
go2gether redefines ridesharing through technology and peer communities, making carpooling convenient, easy and fun!
Mico-Logica Oaxaca is an initiative to promote the cultivation and nutritional benefits of edible and medicinal mushrooms.
Created on 11/12/2012 by avdavey
Transparency is a value of GlaxoSmithKline. As a GSK employee, I have knowledge on sustainability from the corporate web sites. I feel we are missing virtual media programs. If we use videos related to the greening of GSK, our employees will become more aware of their personal roles in the environmental efforts.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءTell us about yourself/your team.
I have worked with GlaxoSmithKline since 1983. I have worked as a field based professional sales representative over those years. During these years I have also mentored many team mates. I find a lot of GSK employees do not have a strong background on the environment. Over the last 4 months I have worked in a non-profit setting. The company produces environmental based videos for the city of Philadelphia. I have become very aware of the sustainable living conditions. I also can see why my colleagues in GSK might not have as strong an awareness concerning the environment. My proposal is to present GlaxoSmithKline a series of videos that they could be used to help their employees better understand how the company has begun its work towards becoming more sustainable.
What makes you an intrapreneur? What are the skills, capabilities, and personality traits that make you an intrapreneur?
I am a strong believer in educating others. I have mentored others over many years in areas of ethics, integrity, finances, business skills, and selling techniques. I have now become aware of the need to live a more sustainable lifestyle. My company was one of my motivators. They have decided to construct new buildings, along with updating their older facilities using LEED guidelines. I also have had an opportunity to work at GreenTreks Networks Inc over the last 4 months. My knowledge and skills related to educating others has grown 10 fold over this time period. I believe with the introduction of the multimedia tools GreenTreks produces, we will be able to change the behaviors and understandings of the environmental field with many GSK employees.
Company Country
United States, CT, Wallingford, New Haven County
Primary country where this project is creating social impact
United States, CT, Wallingford, New Haven County
Additional countries or regions
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
بدء (إصدار تجريبي قد بدأ تشغيله للتو)
The Need: What social or environmental problem are you trying to solve?
The primary area of need relates to GSK. They have been constructing LEED certified buildings; however, they do not publicize to the teams outside of the local areas that these building are being constructed. GlaxoSmithKline employees are very motivated with the GSK value messages. We can increase their knowledge by educating them about sustainable solutions. A second area of need involves my daughter who is an environmental scientist. One of her responsibilities is to explain stormwater management and sustainable lifestyles to employees of city governments and local corporations. She always utilized power point presentations to explain these lifestyles. One major thing I have learned is a picture tells a thousand stories. Power point presentations do not tell a very good story.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
GlaxoSmithKline has a great opportunity to explain their construction efforts to their employees using GreenTreks which presents a motivating communication method. Videos that GreenTreks provide give a foundational understanding for the general public and a more in depth multimedia resource for professionals. The films are short, between 5-9 minutes and can be utilized by GlaxoSmithKline as well as other corporations. These documentaries help educate employees, their family and friends about the need to clean up waste such as chemicals, fertilizers and excess storm water drainage which normally flow into the local sewers and waterways. All of the videos are available through the Vimeo or GreenTreks web sites. They can be added to a presentation on power point or a free standing presentation on a web cast. By keeping the teaching methods simple, we can draw more people into the programming because stories come alive through videos.
The Solution: Why is this solution innovative for your company and industry?
I had a discussion with the GlaxoSmithKline sustainability manager on November 14, 2012. We reviewed the different methods the company uses to explain environmental programs to the employees. She agreed that the use of a video communication tool would help open the eyes of the GSK community to gain a better understanding about the environment around them. At the present GSK does not use any videos to explain this topic.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities.
When the amount of rain falling exceeds the land's ability to absorb it, the result is stormwater runoff. Without treatment, most of the stormwater that runs from the land into our waterways is unhealthy for people and bad for the environment. Runoff can carry chemicals, metals, bacteria, viruses, organic compounds, and other pollutants directly into creeks, lakes, rivers, and streams. Stormwater runoff can cause severe erosion and flooding.
GlaxoSmithKline has recognized some of these problems and has now started to correct them. The company has decided to build LEED certified buildings along with increased sustainable work sites. They have presented and increased the awareness of programs like 2 degrees a sustainable website for their employees. We now can increase the way our colleagues gain a stronger education by the introduction of GreenTreks videos with graphic views concerning the problem of pollution. These films also explain the concepts related to decreasing stormwater waste. Some examples they provide include the cost saving methods of rain barrels and rain garden usage. The use of interesting multimedia and social networking can only increase the comfort level of the employees to watch these productions.
I had the opportunity to send one of the GreenTreks videos to my teammates in New England. The feedback was very positive. The primary comment was I did not realize that stormwater down a sewer could cause problems. This is the reason I would like this proposal to be recognized.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
GlaxoSmithKline has utilized the social media sites like email and Twitter to inform its employees. GSK also promotes a sustainability site but when I asked about 25 teammates in the field if they had ever viewed the site, no one even knew about it.
Throughout the world there are many companies which produce videos relating to the environment. Often they are for profit organizations. As a non profit communication based company, GreenTreks believes in educating others with a specific goal of inspiring people to take action. On the large scale, Discovery Education has a fee-based teacher resource center which provides access to videos online, but it is expensive, unwieldy, and does not provide the local content or Service Learning partnerships that GreenTreks offers.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
My personal “Aha” moment occurred when my daughter an environmental scientist asked me a question on sustainability and I did not understand what she was talking about. I realized that we view the world sometimes through rose colored glasses. I decided to become more aware of my surroundings and the environmental subject. Working with GreenTreks over the last 5 months and GSK over the last 29 years has opened my eyes. I have changed my way of thinking about sustainable living. I am very motivated about the topic; my goal is to motivate others.
GreenTreks’ Mission is: "To inspire people to take action towards a more sustainable lifestyle." The statement “Telling Stories that Change the World” was coined in the 1990's to emphasize the need to educate the community about the present and future environmental concerns. GreenTreks has helped me view the topic of sustainablility through the use of videos. I believe we can help others understand the subject with these same films.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
GlaxoSmithKline’s plan to show LEED concept buildings is exciting. With the introduction of new media formats such as; videos, Facebook and Twitter, GSK can now explain its new building techniques to its employees throughout the world. This can only increase the use of these important methods in local communities and households. One of GlaxoSmithKline's values is transparency. This gives the corporation an added form of education for their team mates.
Evolving from a one-page profile into an Emmy award-winning television series reaching into more than 5 million homes throughout Pennsylvania, the personal story became GreenTreks hallmark approach. GreenTreks has produced dozens of television programs that have aired on television and cable access stations in all major markets in the country. GreenTreks goal includes introduction of these concepts into corporate settings to better educate the whole community. We now can bring two important sustainable organizations together.
What is your projected impact over the next 1 to 3 years?
I believe that GSK can increase awareness of their employees about sustainable living with easy to understand videos. Communities change with ideas brought to them from their residents. This proposal will help change some future developments in these communities. The concept that a corporation can help their community is now opening other ideas. Let us educate our employees so they can inform their communities about these exciting topics. Over the years GreenTreks has focused their efforts on meeting the needs of teachers and those who are charged with protecting Pennsylvania's precious water resources. They utilized projects which engaged their target audiences through compelling content. We now have an opportunity to coordinate these projects into the corporate world.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
The outreach to the GlaxoSmithKline employees might be an issue. How will this material be presented to the teams? I propose that GSK use their internal website to offer these videos to the community.
A second issue is funding for the projects, this is always a barrier. Film production costs can be too high for some companies to absorb. GlaxoSmithKline has a great opportunity to use GreenTreks as a source of production. GreenTreks utilizes the same dedicated team for all their programs. These teams produce specific films on sustainable environmental products. Therefore they have the knowledge and techniques to cut down the cost of these productions.
The employees barrier is the lack of understanding of the problem . These short productions might open their eyes.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhat is the benefit or value you're creating for your business?
With the increased knowledge the GSK employees gain about the corporation, the prouder they will be over time. Transparency and integrity are values GSK strives for. These values open the door for more knowledge about important subjects like sustainability. Often corporations explain things utilizing email, web social media, or conference calling. I feel that the addition of short videos which explain specific topics like environmental sustainability will help employees become more aware and proactive with their use of products they learn about.
How are you leveraging internal resources (funds, time, knowledge, etc.) to support this initiative?
I have worked for the last 5 months at GreenTreks under an approved volunteer program through GSK. Some of my responsibility includes coordination of projects like this, with other corporations. I have added GlaxoSmithKline to the list of Greentreks potential clients. I will continue to have discussions on the easiest way to present these videos and topics to the corporate community.
GreenTreks Networks Inc has many videos in their library. These films show important concepts like rain gardens, rain barrels and stormwater management. Grants have been provided by the Philadelphia Water Department, EPA and other organizations to produce more documentaries.
Bringing the two organizations together opens a new form of dialogue for the employees of GSK.
Expand on your answer, explaining the long-term funding and support plan.
I believe as GSK reviews this project they will provide funding and guidance on the new LEED projects they are constructing. GlaxoSmithKline has many complexes in the world. They upgrade them constantly. It is common that they inform the employees and public about these changes. The idea of videography opens a new window for the company to provide a different view of the changes. I believe other corporations will have a strong interest in providing their employees a view of their corporate changes. More funding will be available for specific needs of each organization. Many of these corporations might just buy these videos directly from GreenTreks. GreenTreks will provide a new learning concept for the companies and an educational tool giving the employees priceless knowledge.
Tell us about your partnerships across your company and externally that are key to your project's success.
On November 14, I spoke with Celia Ponder, US sustainability manager for GSK concerning this project. She thought it would be a very feasible program for the company. My primary goal will include the initial use of one of GreenTreks videos on stormwater management. My secondary goal will be the production of new videos which GSK will fund. On an external level, I work with other corporations which believe in the education of their employees about these topics.
What internal support have you gotten for your project? What kind of push-back have you received?
Celia Ponder, the US sustainability manager for GSK and I spoke on 11/14/12. She commented that she thought the program could benefit the company. She has recommended me to Kate Bell UK Engagement Leader (GSK). I am in the process of contacting the whole GSK sustainability team. At the present the majority of comments have been positive. Having transparency as a value of GSK helps because we do believe in opening people’s eyes to programs like sustainability.
Our focus is on creating livelihoods and also ensuring environmental sustainability. We provide a variety of services to enable communities to expand their product line and develop new natural sustainable products. If we are able to utilize invasive species or other waste materials such as byproducts of a process the community currently has, we can also help them protect the environment. By creating a new product and standardizing the production process, we can work with the community to create jobs and increase income generation.
This project also has a Project where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: Adonya Imports.
Created on 11/6/2012 by Julia Chiriboga
Adonya offers handcrafted artisan jewelry and accessories which embody a cultural commitment to social and environmental justice for the global community.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءبلد المؤسسة
United States, CA, santa barbara, Santa Barbara County
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ أقل من سنة
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
بدء (إصدار تجريبي قد بدأ تشغيله للتو)
This Entry is about (Issues)
Summary: What specific issue or problem does your Venture address?
This world, where 2 billion people live in poverty partially due to lack of sustainable income sources, has a need for companies that provide solutions instead of problems. At Adonya Imports we are invested in more than just the beautiful jewelry and accessories we import, but the people and culture behind the craft. Many of our pieces are made from sustainable seed production in Ecuador which can be an effective instrument for reducing poverty and discouraging deforestation. According to the UN FAO Ecuador has lost 197,600 hectare of forest cover per year between 1990 and 2010. By providing a new source of income that encourages environmentally safe practices, we can provide a steady, lucrative and personally rewarding employment option that will greatly improve the lives of the artisans.
Misson Statement: What will your venture do?
We work with artisans of marginalized communities who are unable to create sufficient income in their local markets. We believe that fair employment is the most sustainable way for people in these communities to emerge from poverty. Our aim is to provide artisans with a steady source of income, so they can shift focus from immediate needs, such as where their next meal will come from, and begin to plan for the future. Every purchase represents a step towards a better life for artisans around the world.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
Adonya Imports aims to have positive social impact on varying levels. Most directly, we provide the artisans we work with a chance for a rewarding employment opportunity that is sustainable all year. Many of the artisans are those previously left out of the workforce, like women and disabled. By creating more demand than their local markets can provide, we are introducing new streams of income that will not only improve the lives of the artisans and their families but also the local community, We are also committed to supporting artisans that use low impact materials. There is an art behind turning nuts, seeds and plant fibers into amazing wearable works-of-art and Adonya Imports aims to share these treasures with the rest of the world.
By creating a brand that combines style and sustainability, we hope to create a rippling effect of opportunity and empowerment for the artisans and the consumers. We provide our customers with a convenient and fashionable way to contribute to positive social change. They will be attracted by the unique and practical products and will be engaged by the story and culture behind the craft.
The Community: Define your community, local or international, that you will work on behalf of. What population is affected? Are there other organizations working in this space?
Adonya Imports works on the behalf of the international artisans and claims a global community. While we will work to create economic stimulation in the developing nations we import from, we will also work with local communities to raise awareness about the living situation around the world and show how we can help. Social entrepreneurship is the core of Adonya Imports and we want to show others that they can "See the Need. Be the Solution." (A phrase I want to turn into an empowerment movement).
I am happy to say that this business model is currently being used by many companies; some have store fronts and even more are solely online, like Ten Thousand Villages. This means that more artisans are now able to create enough income to support themselves and their families.
Founding Story: What inspired your venture? Why?
My path is one that is just beginning, but one that I have been leading up to my whole life. I have always had a passion for helping people, a desire to make a difference but seeing where I belong hasn’t always been clear. It wasn’t until recently, that I realized how I would meet my potential; starting my own company. I started Adonya Imports with an idea in my head that has grown and developed into an insatiable desire to create not just a company, but a cause. While visiting family in Ecuador I was inspired by the impoverished artisans who find the resources to create such beauty despite the conditions in which they live. After returning to the states, I felt obligated to create something that would help these people and have a lasting impact. I dream of a world in which this socially conscious business model is how every company operates. A world full of global citizens that realize their potential to create positive change by their everyday decisions.
What is your long-term vision for your Venture?
My long term vision for Adonya Imports is to create a brand that represents passion, tradition and opportunity, be recognized as a leading style icon in the fashion industry and provide co-funding for innovative social improvement projects around the world.
Define your company, program, service, or product in 1-2 short sentences
Adonya offers handcrafted artisan jewelry and accessories which embody a cultural commitment to social and environmental justice for the global community.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءWhat do you want to accomplish in your first year?
Adonya Imports’s goal for the first year of operation is to profit $60,000 after all expenses and disbursements including a $30,000 social improvement project. We will look for a first project in Ecuador, where my mom, Maryanne Chiriboga, lives and works in development. She is the Fund Raising and Program Development Administrator for a group of artisans in the rural village of Muisne in Ecuador. “Manos al Coco” has 15 participants of varying levels of commitment, many of them single mothers, a few are disabled adults, all with unstable income of less than $2,000 a year. The needs of the participants are related to the situation of poverty and lack of opportunity in the area. The over-riding need is to feel in control of their lives, to feel they have the power to improve their lives and the lives of their children. The majority of the women in this project have electric service in their homes, but clean water is and has been a dominating problem for the community. Much of the poor live in areas susceptible to daily flooding that causes an accumulation of other problems. The water that is provided by the government is bacteria laden, the wells are filled with trash and other debris, the poor are forced to resort to rainwater collection without the knowledge and practice of sanitary containment (http://ccondem.org.ec World Wetlands Day 2008). Children are often absent from school due to illnesses or the need to work and contribute to the family income.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Consistently increase sales to reach 500 units per month by the end of June, including online retail and wholesale
المهمة الأولى
Attend local networking event and events in neighboring towns each week keeping a business contact spreadsheet of people I meet
المهمة الثانية
Use social media to attract traffic to our website with the goal of at least 400 views per month starting Jan 2013
المهمة الثالثة
Arrange face-to-face meetings with sales managers at possible wholesalers tracking the closing rate on a spreadsheet
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Spend $30,000 to co-fund a community improvement project and still have $60,000 cash left to use for the beginning of year two
المهمة الأولى
Extend promotion of Adonya Imports to other counties in Southern California
المهمة الثانية
Develop a line of mens jewelry and accessories to tap into new markets
المهمة الثالثة
Establish a team to travel and document the project in order to share the story
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءHow will your Venture define success in the short term (1-12 months)?
In the short term, success will be when monthly expenses are paid for and profits are realized so we can begin to save for our first year social improvement project.
In the long-term (1 year?)
I will view Adonya Imports as successful when we are able to provide funding for entrepreneur and financial classes for the artisan groups we work with.
How will you measure success?
For me, success is not an obtainable goal, it is a mind set. I feel successful today, even without sales. I feel calm, I feel taken care of, I feel lucky. I am surrounded by amazing people who have shown so much support and love for what I am trying to achieve. Ive got this opportunity to potentially benefit communities around the world and will ultimately be getting paid to shop! While I am always looking to grow and do better, personally and in business, I am happy with where I am and know that every sale I make, small or big, is one step in the right direction.
Why?
I don't want to chase this idea of "success" my whole life when I can feel it NOW.
Victory Gardens is worker co-operative that helps people grow food! We are a team of urban farmers for hire whose solution transforms urban space and provide education for food production.
Portal for sustainable living, commerce and investment supported by advanced search functions and linkages to channel partners to drive traffic and content.
My Garment is an online educational and behavior change tool used to educate consumers about the life-cycle impacts of a typical garment in a simple, interactive and engaging way. Based on selected information on the users garment (where it was made, and what it is made of) consumers learn about the steps and impacts along the global fashion supply chain: from harvesting the raw fiber materials used to make the garment, the manufacturing process, global transportation, retail & brand marketing, to the use and disposal of the garment.
Created on 09/11/2012 by oursocialfabric
We're a nonprofit rescuing excess fabric from manufacturers, the film industry, and more. Through monthly sales, we get the fabric to creators in our community.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءCountry where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver.
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
نمو (إصدارك التجريبي في حالة جيدة ويعمل ويبدأ في التوسع)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Access, Cost.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
Textiles and fabric comprise 4% of the waste stream in Canada (Alive! Magazine October 2009). Currently, we have more potential supply from industry and wholesalers than we are able to house and move. As of 2017, new legislation will ban textiles from our landfill, and we hope to be positioned to act on this opportunity with a successful retail outlet for repurposing and selling fabric.
Our community is largely female, aged 20-35, and passionate about the current zeitgeist for handmade clothing and products, matched with rising environmental concern. Our community is engaged and empowered by creating their own works, and access to low-cost textiles helps them create while diverting fabric out of the landfill. We have faithful volunteers who believe in our goals.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Our Social Fabric is pioneering textile waste reduction by collecting unwanted, reusable textiles from factory outlets, film companies, industry related companies and individuals and selling them at below-market value to the local, creative community such as designers, students and everyday crafters in Metro Vancouver.
Our solution is to bring these otherwise landfill-bound fabrics to a location where the public can access them for a low cost. Our Social Fabric holds monthly sales to move this reusable fabric which provides revenue. Because we are lacking a long-term accessible storefront space, we are unable to efficiently receive fabric drop-offs, host as many sales/events as we need to in order to move inventory in a financially viable way, and grow as an organization.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
A manufacturer dyes a fabric lot the wrong colour. A film production wraps up their work and has bolts and bolts of fabric they don’t need. Whatever the case, unused fabric is looking for a home—and that home is usually the landfill.
That’s where Our Social Fabric comes in. We ask for the unused excess fabric, collect it, and store it. Once a month, we open our doors and sell it at reasonable rates to the creators in our community, connecting them with raw materials they would never otherwise pick up. The funds go to collecting and recycling more fabric.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
There is no other organization collecting and redistributing unused fabric in the Lower Mainland. We are the sole group in Vancouver that is diverting unused textiles from the landfill to be repurposed by people in our community.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
One of the founders of OSF, a film industry professional, observed a textile recycling and repurposing initiative in Montreal. Upon relocating to Vancouver - with its booming film industry - he was dismayed to see how much fabric was heading for Metro Vancouver landfills. His vision was a fabric repurposing project that could eventually evolve into a storefront: hosting workshops, employing residents of the local area (DTES) and even the full recycling model seen in Montreal.
Going forward, the big picture could include a coffee shop with a drop-in sewing area to make your own repurposed and upcycled projects and help others with theirs; corporations getting on board wanting to donate time, energy and resources; holding workshops on textile waste and issues around “fast fashion”.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
Textiles make up over 12 million tonnes of the solid waste stream in North America and a total of 120,000 tonnes in Vancouver. All textiles OSF receives are unused and ideal for production and resale. With 2 years of irregular monthly sales events under our belt, our goal is to open a retail space for fabric sales. We also plan to provide a space for sewing classes and workshops. Our Social Fabric aims to reduce textile waste, create inclusive employment, connect and engage the local creative community, and work to inspire and support further initiatives of its kind. Eventually, we would like to raise enough capital to start actual textile shredding and recycling.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Redirecting fabric waste: in the first year of regular monthly sales we diverted approximately 1500lbs/4500 metres of fabric from landfills. This year we’re forecasting an increase to 2400lbs/7200 metres of fabric in the course of less than 12 sales events.
Community: we have brought together over 50 individuals in the community to support the initiative through volunteering their time at fabric sales and pick-ups.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
- divert 100,000 lbs of fabric from landfills
- be top-of-mind for students, designers and crafters as a go-to course and fabric outlet
- help build a stable and reliable creative community
- employ 4-5 part-time staff
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
Challenge: product is bulky, takes space, requires housing and inventory
Solution: locate and secure a suitable long-term location. Upon securing financial capital we can solidify the retail operation of OSF which will employ staff and fulfill all ongoing OSF organizational objectives
Challenge: quality and supply not reliable (eg: local film industry could wane/flux)
Solution: build and maintain diverse supply chain of textile manufacturers and end-users to maintain a constant supply
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Secure a storefront space to begin our retail operations. Employ staff to run our storefront.
المهمة الأولى
Locate and secure a space for our retail operation
المهمة الثانية
Expand our current ties and outreach with the textile producers and end users in our local area to build and increase supply li
المهمة الثالثة
Employ a staff person to operate store on a part time basis
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
We want to operate a store open 5 days a week, accepting large fabric donations and providing a creative space.
المهمة الأولى
Develop a strong donation supply chain
المهمة الثانية
Hire two more staff to operate store
المهمة الثالثة
Raise awareness of our organization and its goals
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
We have partnered with Common Thread, a sewing collective, to produce a line of yoga bags. We have also partnered with FrogBox, who provides our storage space, as well as promotional partnerships with the Hastings-Crossing BIA, Saul Good Gifts, Kdon, FairJake, Pure Magnolia and many local BC designers.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
We are a dedicated organization with a strong base of volunteers. We currently operate on sales revenue only and are able to be very responsive to market forces. As well, there is the current zeitgeist for handmade work and environmental concerns that makes our product especially attractive. We have created partnerships to help cover operating needs with minimal cost.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
For Our Social Fabric to grow successfully in the future, we will need robust guidance in all our areas of competence, to increase our effectiveness and ensure a sustainable future for our organization.
We’re also willing to help others with the resources we have, especially with fabric-related donations/sponsorship (within reason).
Created on 09/11/2012 by kevinh09
We are transforming the consumer-to-business feedback loop to demonstrate real-time value for Asian businesses to take leadership for sustainability.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءCountry where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver.
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
فكرة (أنت متأهب للإطلاق)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Access, Equity.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
Metro Vancouver is home to the second largest Chinese restaurant industry in North America (CRFA, 2009). More notably, it is internationally known to serve the best Chinese cuisine in the world (Condé Nast, 2010). Although our Chinese restaurant industry has achieved global recognition, they are radically underdeveloped in the competitive advantage of ‘sustainability’. Using the topic of shark finning to initiate dialogue with restaurants, our solution will increase accessibility of opportunities for Asian restaurants to green their businesses. Our solution will develop a business network and produce quantifiable results through case studies to demonstrate to the broader Chinese and Asian restaurant industries that greening their operation benefits both their business and the environment.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
We will launch a lighthouse Program to transform an Asian restaurant that will be our Pilot Business (PB) who will be the first in Canada’s Asian restaurant industry to shift to these Green Initiatives (GI) 1. sourcing local produce, 2. removing all unsustainable seafood items from their menu, 3. reducing energy consumption, and 4. committing to zero-waste goals.
Working with our partner organizations Ocean Wise (OW) and Green Table Network (GTN), we will publish, distribute, and publicize a bilingual Case Study (CS) detailing the business analysis for each Initiative. The CS will increase accessibility for other businesses in the Asian restaurant industry. Moreover, we will demonstrate business value by using positive consumer reinforcement through public celebrations and events. This will directly creative a competitive advantage for the PB, showcasing to competitors that there is financial and social value in operating sustainably.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
This Program is not only significant for the restaurant industry but for local Asian businesses in general that are looking for strategies to gain a competitive advantage - this will be the spark that will create a demand from local consumers for green business.
Each of the PB’s GIs will be rolled out individually to collect data independent of the other Initiatives. Consumer data will be conducted to gauge demand, support and awareness.
Timeline as follows:
Pre-change/ adoption of Initiative
- Work with partners and PB to secure suppliers needed to implement the change
- Measurement of pre-change data
Implementation of GIs
For three months post-transition:
- Survey consumer demand, support, and awareness
- Measurement of post-change data to assess PB's triple bottom line
- Assessment of change in relation to goals and ff needed, make further changes to meet goals
Fourth month post-transition:
- Writing, designing, and publishing of this Initiative’s Case Study; highlighting challenges, Asian restaurant specific changes, and consumer, business, and environmental impact data
Throughout the implementation of the PBs GIs, we will be:
1. Publicizing their business leadership to illustrate to the public a new market niche;
2. Demonstrate value by organizing events where we will leverage our and our partner organizations' social networks to support the PB’s business leadership by “voting with their dollars” and creating positive reinforcement;
3. Coordinating meetings to encourage and consult interested restaurants in implementing similar GIs
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
Across Canada, there are currently a few organizations working on “greening” restaurants and filling specific niches, ranging from supplying green material to consulting restaurants on their operations. What sets Shark Truth apart from our peers is that our Program will be to first to be a cross-cultural bridge for these organizations to break into and have access to the Asian restaurant industry.
Shark Truth will provide the network, relationships, and communications support for our partners to continue building long-term partnerships with the businesses on board.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
Kevin: While working with Chinese restaurants in Metro Vancouver to get them to remove shark fin from their menus, Shark Truth also set a goal of having these restaurants provide sustainable seafood options as alternatives. Many of the restaurants we talked to knew about the shark fin issue but were unwilling to remove the item citing losing competitiveness and seeing this change as a risk as reasons why they maintained the status quo.
The “Aha!” moment was when one restaurant that Shark Truth has been working with agreed to remove shark fin from their menu but also expressed that they wanted to become the Greenest Chinese restaurant in Vancouver. This was a pivotal moment as this presented the opportunity to implement green changes in a traditional Chinese restaurant beyond shark fin and obtain measured (versus theoretical) data to show others that these green changes for any restaurant will result in a competitive edge that is a smart long-term investment - not a risk.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
Goal 1: Engaging Businesses
-To increase awareness, exposure, and accessibility of green solutions for the Asian restaurant industry. Quantitatively, to have an increasing number of Asian restaurants actively greening their operations.
Goal 2: Creating a Market Niche & Competitive Edge
Giving consumers tools such as Green List maps to make informed decisions about what kind of green alternatives are and how their choice can make a difference
Working with English and ethnic media to create a public narrative for the emerging field of “green Asian restaurants”
Goal 3: Transforming the Feedback Loop
Integrating Goals 1 and 2, we will create one of the first public, accessible consumer-to-business feedback loops for the Asian restaurant industry for continued positive reinforcement
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Having worked on the shark conservation issues for the past three years, we are witnessing that consumers are not only staying away from shark fin products but are also actively requesting sustainable alternatives to shark fin at restaurants. We have activated a dialogue with consumers about “sustainable consumption” when dining out, and now we’re ready to turn that dialogue into action.
The PB will be the first Asian restaurant in Metro Vancouver to provide sustainable menu options and publicly announce that they committed to greening their business for reducing their environmental impacts. With the Program being in its final planning stages, it has already had positive impact as the PB has committed to:
1. Removing shark fin from their menu
2. Signing on as our Pilot Business to further green their restaurant
2. Willing to be a spokesperson for shark fin issues, and GIs they adopt
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
Short-term Impact (1 year)
• The transformation of the first Asian restaurant to “Go Green”
• 500 restaurant clientele concerned about environmental issues given opportunity to show demand and support for green alternatives
• A consumer-business feedback loop created to demonstrate real-time and tangible value for businesses that implement GIs
Medium-term Impact (2-5 years)
• Dramatic increase in demand for green alternatives among restaurant clientele
• 5-10 Asian restaurants participating in greening operations
• Development and growth of a green economy to serve the needs of the Asian restaurant industries
• Restaurants increase transparency by publicly reporting a triple bottom line
• Competitive niche for sustainable Asian restaurants is developed and profitable
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
1. Green business network needed to support this Program: We have identified this as a potential barrier as a network of organizations with services for greening Asian restaurants has not yet developed. A key role for the Campaigner will be to build business relationships among partner organizations and restaurants as a way to foster this network and help existing organizations extend their work into Asian restaurants.
2. Language and cultural barriers: This will be overcome by facilitating meetings with bilingual team members who understand the language, culture, and the business perspective, in addition to production of bilingual materials.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
The successful completion of one GI at the PB and a public celebration of it through positive consumer reinforcement.
المهمة الأولى
Secure funding to implement the Program.
المهمة الثانية
Research and implementation of GI and organize public event to celebrate it.
المهمة الثالثة
Publication of one CS showcasing the result of the implementation of the first GI.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
4 separate GIs at the PB and interest from 3 or more additional Asian restaurants in implementing and publicizing their own GIs.
المهمة الأولى
Develop and grow a green business network to facilitate additional restaurant’s GIs.
المهمة الثانية
Research and implementation of GIs. Collect data, analyze, and write reports.
المهمة الثالثة
Writing, design, publication, and design of CS.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
The Program’s main partners are:
“The Original” ChongQing Restaurant on Broadway
• Pilot Business for this Program; willing to invest in green initiatives to meet Program goals
Ocean Wise (OW)
• Research and knowledge of seafood options
• Connect restaurant(s) with sustainable seafood suppliers
Green Table Network (GTN)
• Support in consulting and connecting restaurant(s) with suitable suppliers for green materials and equipment
Both OW & GTN will support the Program and restaurant partners in marketing and promotion of their participation in respective initiatives.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
The City of Vancouver has the goal to be the Greenest City in the World by 2020 and Metro Vancouver is home to some of the best Chinese food in the world. We are strategically working with a PB in this area to amplify the first announcement, and to set an international stage for sustainable leadership in the Asian restaurant industry.
There is potential to expand the Program to the Greater Toronto Area where there is also a significant Asian restaurant industry, after 2-3 years of launching our model here.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
In only three years with less than $100,000, we have diverted 80,000 bowls of shark fin from consumption through our consumer campaign, saving 8,000 sharks from being eaten. We are in a strong position to be the cross-cultural bridge between existing foodservice-related environmental organizations and the industry: we have built expertise on how to effectively activate consumers using a cultural lens, and now are poised to move up the supply chain to work with the industry directly.
Perhaps most importantly, the staff and volunteers involved in this Program are genuinely passionate and dedicated to helping the Asian restaurant industry transition into greener operations as *we are* their clientele, and we want to support businesses that align with our personal values of sustainability.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
Created on 09/10/2012 by bikehub
People who bike shop more frequently and take fewer sick days at work. HUB Bikeability Assessments help businesses actively attract this market.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءاسم المؤسسة
HUB: Your Cycling Connections
Country where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver.
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ ما يزيد عن 5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
نمو (إصدارك التجريبي في حالة جيدة ويعمل ويبدأ في التوسع)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ ما يزيد عن 5 سنوات
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Access, Cost.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
People on bikes stop and shop more frequently than those in cars and employees who bike to work take fewer sicks days and are more productive. However many businesses and workplaces don't know the benefits of cycling: many businesses even fear the expansion of the bicycling network.
We want to support businesses to become as bikeable as possible: both so that they can reap the bottom line benefits of having more customers who spend more money more frequently, but also so that they can retain a competitive edge by having a healthier workforce. We want to work with businesses to assess their current facilities (buildings and parking facilities) and/or their workplaces to ensure that they have the information they need to attract the best and brightest.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
We have developed the bikeability standard for the region and we want to get the word out. Our expert assessors can work with any size business to determine its current bikeability and offer clear recommendations to help the business, workplace or building to improve its bikeability rating and retain its competitive edge.
We also have launched a regional Bikeability Awards program to ensure that the businesses participating in this program receive as much positive press as possible. We want to grow the number of businesses that understand the importance of attracting cycling customers and cycling employees.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
A most recent example is an assessment we have underway with the Vancouver Airport. They are committed to increasing their bikeability and the usability of their facilities: they want to increase bike access to their buildings--terminals and beyond.
We have conducted a standard assessment of their infrastructure (buildings, location, parking facilities) to determine where they have hit the mark and where/how they can improve their bikeability socre. Additionally, we are working with them on a custom assessment to do a route mapping analyis to ensure that the bike route bringing folks to and from their facilities are optimal.
This assessment will have an impact on their future expansion and building plans, and is demonstrative of a real commitment to sustainable transportation options.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
There are very few competitors in this field. LEED has a very small bicycling component in their rating system and there are some programs internationally that support businesses. Bike Long Beach for instance, encourages bike-friendly business districts and bring attention to businesses that actively attract cyclists. http://www.bikelongbeach.org/
However, in our landscape analysis we could not find any program or business that was providing bikeability assessments.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
In 2010--a great furor was created in Vancouver over the installation of separated bike lanes through the downtown core. HUB, having always worked with the business community through Bike to Work and educational workshop programming, recognized that much of the concern that businesses were expressing was due to a lack of information, consultation and support. We knew that the moment had come to create tools, resources, and services that would provide businesses with the information they needed to become bike-friendly and accessible. We wanted them to view the opportunity at hand for us all: healthier, happier, more connected communities.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
HUB's Bikeability Assessments provide bikeability ratings,customized reccomendations and innovative solutions to businesses to increase bikeability in the region, and recognizes businesses for being supportive of cycling.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
To date we have worked in 3 municipalities, with 6 different businesses and conducted 8 assessments. We plan to work with 6 more businesses, conducting up to 12 more assessments by the end of 2012. That amounts to being able to have a positive impact on hundreds of cycling customers and cycling employees around the Metro vancouver region.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
We would like to double the number of businesses and assessments within the next 2 years and within 5 years be conducting assessments in half of the municipalities that make of the Metro Vancouver region (about 11). This would increase the impact from hundreds of cycling customers and employees to thousands.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
The vision for this program is that it will run as a social enterprise however at the moment we have are in the middle of our pilot year and are developing our contacts, networks and reach. Thus, s significant barrier is limited marketing resources and staff capacity. We have a modest budget that only allows us to retain a part-time Program Manager who must work on business development,program management, and marketing in 20 hrs/week.
We keep costs down by running a lean organization, with minimal overhead and leverage our resources well. Additionally, the assessments are fee-for-service and we are able to recoup some of our expenses that way. The plan is to continue to generate revenue by booking more assessments and creating more partnerships with BIA's and municipalities.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
المهمة الثانية
Fulfill pilot funding requirements of booking a minimum of 12 assessments in 2012 (YTD: 6 booked and/or completed)
المهمة الثالثة
Honour Bikeability participants with regional awards: press releases and event
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
المهمة الأولى
Secure support funding for 2013: City of Vancouver, Translink, City of Surrey, City of Richmond, and City of Burnaby
المهمة الثانية
Create marketing and outreach plan
المهمة الثالثة
Book and complete asessments
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
Along with having excellent working relationships with munipalities and TransLink, we also have partnerships/sponsorships with many local businesses, BIA's, media outlets and schools. We are a key player in the cycling community and have over 1000 individual members, in 11 municipalities.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
We are a regional organization focusing on the Metro Vancouver district. However we are considering adding a consulting arm to our Business for Bikes program that would allow us to work with other organizations on increasing bikeability around the province.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
Having solid and committed staff helps to ensure that our programs are successful. We have excellent senior leadership (at a Director and Board level) and are working to ensure that program staff have the hours and resources they need to stay with the organization.
We also are based in a region that has growing public and political support for cycling. There is currently a push to have universal bike education in schools and more munipalities are expanding their cycling infrastructure. We are here to ensure that the community can take advantage of these opportunities fully.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
Created on 09/10/2012 by earthmatters
Earth Matters seeks to provide an avenue for youth to be inspired, direct change and share a vision of sustainability for the future.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءCountry where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Columbia Basin.
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ ما يزيد عن 5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
Established (past the previous stages and has demonstrated success)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ ما يزيد عن 5 سنوات
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Access, Cost.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
Youth need access to local programs and projects. Earth Matters provides a unique solution by offering youth-driven and youth-focused projects in the community of Nelson. We have been creating and delivering youth programs for over 15 years. We target youth between the ages of 15 to 30 years old, providing opportunities for leadership, skills development and community involvement.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Earth Matters will engage youth with developing an Earth Matters Youth Group in partnership with local community organizations. Current partners include LV Rogers Secondary School, Self Design High, Nelson and District Youth Centre and the West Kootenay ECO Society. Our solution is to provide an avenue for youth to explore environmental issues pertaining to waste reduction and the 3R movement in a community-based format, demonstrating the power of partnerships and social activism.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
Earth Matters has provided many opportunities for youth through leadership in training programs. In the fall of 2012, Earth Matters began a new youth group focused on waste reduction. Our primary focus is to engage with youth and determine youth-driven projects that inspire youth to take action. Our goal for the future is to develop a clear partnership with community organizations so Earth Matters can be a way that youth develop independent studies projects and can receive school credit for their contributions. Through our community partnerships we see a vision of sustainability and a longstanding solutions for youth participation in the community of Nelson.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
Earth Matters partners with local organizations. The Nelson and District Youth Centre provides opportunities for many types of youth groups. We are different in the sense that we offer an environmental and sustainability-focused mission. Additionally, other partners like the local secondary schools are our peers and through creative programming our programs are no longer competition but symbiotic in nature. We all want to provide valuable resources for youth involvement and skills development and it is through partnership that youth will feel supported, involved and part of a holistic community rather than a segregated community.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
Earth Matters started with a group of like-minded, environmentally responsible youth who came together to make local changes. Since its start in 1995, Earth Matters has changed people's lives and the face of Nelson. Youth speak about how they gained self confidence, leadership skills, the ability to problem solve and the rewards of team work. In 2012, community members agreed that Earth Matters continues to offer valuable opportunities for youth and through partnership, we can significantly impact local youth and their connections to the local and global community.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
Our goals of the project:
1. To inspire youth volunteers to be leaders in our community and continue to be local environmental leaders in the future.
2. To engage the community with sustainable and functional solutions for reducing waste.
3. Create community partnerships for sustainability of youth-directed projects.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Earth Matters has successfully initiated a school and community based composting program, where local organizations and classrooms can borrow indoor compost bins and learn about composting solutions. The impact is that over 300 youth have learned about composting to date. Prior, Earth Matters has engaged youth to work together to build the first urban straw bale house in the City of Nelson, a site that is still used to meet with local gardening enthusiasts.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
We aim to provide youth-based and youth-directed projects that impacts youth of all ages with the Nelson area. The impact will be inline with local goals to be a zero-waste community. We project that our project will continue to reach over 500 community members annually, and within 5 years stretching our message to over 2500 people.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
The main barrier to Earth Matters is ongoing financial support. We plan to overcome this barrier through clear and specific community partnerships. For example, through partnerships with local secondary schools, we can provide sustainability to our projects and ongoing youth group support. Additionally, with our partnership with the local youth centre, potential staffing support can augment our programming needs. Earth Matters advocates for partnerships and team work, so growth and success occurs within a web of support.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
المهمة الأولى
Engage with youth with our current Waste Reduction Youth Project.
المهمة الثانية
Host regular stakeholder meetings for community involvement and a venue for youth to voice their ideas for growth.
المهمة الثالثة
Create a local and youth-directed priority plan regarding waste reduction to focus our activism on areas of environmental need.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
المهمة الأولى
Host community engagement activities that reach out to the large community to inspire change.
المهمة الثانية
Nurture partnerships within the community to establish sustainability plan for future youth-directed activities.
المهمة الثالثة
Seek out additional funding options for specific project development and youth-directed activities.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
The West Kootenay ECO Society, Nelson and District Youth Centre, and Self Design High have been ongoing support for Earth Matters. These partnerships provide us with options for gathering youth, providing meeting space and connecting with local environmental experts. The Regional District has also supported recent projects by funding community education resources.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
Earth Matters is targeting school-aged youth, primarily between ages of 15 to 25, but also including participants up to 30 years old. We are focused in the Nelson, BC area, which includes other communities such as Salmo, Balfour, and Crescent Valley. We are targeting youth to provide various opportunities and skills development that will lead to further employment opportunities, educational pursuits and local leadership development.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
Earth Matters is a program of Nelson CARES Society, a local non-profit organization which has been in operation for 37 years. It provides a strong organizational framework for creating successful, innovative programs.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
It is imperative that Earth Matters receives funding to expand upon our youth-based activities, such as the development of a youth group based within the community, such as at a school or local youth centre.
Created on 09/8/2012 by Mobility Pass
The Mobility Pass will create a pathway for transforming a fragmented regional transportation system into an efficient alternative to single occupancy vehicles.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءCountry where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver Island.
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تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
فكرة (أنت متأهب للإطلاق)
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تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Access, Cost.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
With an enormous infrastructure deficit, going up at $5 billion a year – our roads, water pipes, sewage systems, civic buildings and parks are not being maintained and current reserves cannot replace them at the end of their life cycle. Add to this increasing health care costs due to an aging population and climate change that will damage that infrastructure 3-5 times more than seen historically and we have some huge challenges facing us in the near future. One of the problems facing us is our current reliance on single automobile travel. Our solution would benefit government, corporations, and the public...not to mention the environment, making British Columbia a leader in innovative transportation design and implementation.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
The Mobility Pass builds off our current university bus pass system. We propose to create a transit network based upon existing infrastructure which will tie fragmented transportation alternatives together harmoniously in order to decrease the use of single automobile travel.
The convenience of the Mobility Pass is built around the use of a smart card payment system that can be utilized for any number of different modes of transportation. The smart card is a reloadable card having a chip allowing it to be refilled automatically or on-line. The card can be charged varying fare amounts, based on its settings, as the users swipes it at any fare box If a user only requires one card to access the various transportation modes and is only required to pay one monthly bill, many users will find it easier to associate with the idea of the Mobility Pass replacing a personal vehicle and making the idea of utilizing fast, seamless public transit 'sexy', 'hip', convenient, a 'no brainer'.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
The Mobility Pass has the potential to help our government and universities meet their commitments to greenhouse gas reductions, increasing public health and safety, as well as contributing to the social economy.
It is both a smart card that provides access to a network of sustainable transportation options, from buses, rapid transit, car shares, and taxis to bike-shares and car rentals, and an online system for Mobility Pass users to plan trips and coordinate activities like ride-sharing. While there will be obvious major environmental benefits, current research suggests there will also be some key social and economic advantages that could provide solutions to current issues and improving our communities. Primary activities include further research and analysis, a business and financial plan.
How?
What makes the Mobility Pass so convenient, is that you use one smart card to access all of your transportation options. This would be a reloadable card, which has a chip allowing it to be refilled automatically, or online, similar to personalized cell phone payment systems permitting pay as you go or monthly plans, offering choices like unlimited bussing.
The website associated with the card would also provide intermodal trip planning and up to the minute rideshare options.
Users will have the option of choosing the mode of transportation they desire, from a wide range of alternatives. Some of the options will include busses, rapid transit, ride share, taxis, ferries, car share, bike share, car rentals and other city-to-city transport options.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
The Mobility Pass is similar to Washington State's Orca Pass which combines travel by ferry, train, rail, or bus – with a single card. London, England also has a similar card, the Oyster Card, introduced in 2003, aimed at keeping London's public transport moving faster and more efficiently. The Oyster card is a permanent reusable electronic ticket which is topped up from time to time by its owner. San Diego, Atlanta, the San Francisco Bay Area , Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington all have transit systems that utilize smart cards. The Mobility Pass plans differ from other systems by being built around successful smart phone design, utilizing proven technologies.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
The Mobility Pass is inspired by the U-Pass, a universal bus pass provided to students at some post-secondary institutions for a discounted price. The idea of the U-Pass came out of a successful project from Washington State University. The University of Victoria U-Pass has shifted so many students from cars to busses that the total number of car-trips to campus has gone down significantly while the total number of students on campus has increased dramatically. The shift from car to bus service provided by the U-Pass represents social, environmental, and economic benefits. The economic advantages came in the form of cost savings for students and the university which no longer required the building of additional parking facilities and has reduced congestion on the roads to campus. This program was so successful it is now being mandated by the provincial government to be implemented in all universities in British Columbia.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
On the community level, benefits of more public modes of transportation include reducing traffic congestion, traffic accidents, air quality related health problems and levels of pollution. Greater use of public transit results in greater amounts of walking, contributing to increased physical fitness and lower health care costs.
The transportation sector is responsible for the largest single share of Green House Gas emissions (37%) in British Columbia. Public Transit produces a third of the greenhouse gas emissions of automobile travel per passenger mile. This single project expanded across the province has the potential to reduce B.C.’s total emissions by up to 25%; a substantial portion of the current commitment to reduce emissions by 33% before the year 2020.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
The University of Victoria U-Pass has shifted so many students from cars to busses that the total number of car-trips to campus has gone down significantly while the total number of students on campus has increased dramatically. The shift from car to bus service provided by the U-Pass represents social, environmental, and economic benefits. The economic advantages came in the form of cost savings for students and the university which no longer required the building of additional parking facilities and has reduced congestion on the roads to campus. We hope to translate these benefits to a much greater demographic.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
Projected impacts include social, health, environmental and economic benefits. Social benefits exist through providing increased accessibility of transportation for an increasingly elderly population, keeping them active and mobile. Health benefits for all citizens through a reduction in traffic congestion, fewer traffic accidents, air quality related health problems and increased amounts of walking which contribute to greater physical fitness necessary for health. Environmental benefits are obvious: the transportation sector is responsible for the largest single share of Green House Gas emissions in British Columbia. The Economic advantages of the Mobility Pass are numerous: transportation, health care and infrastructure savings.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
A barrier to implementation of the Pass is the complexity of the system. A number of different agencies and organizations that will need to be coordinated. The Mobility Pass could be operated as an extension to the current BC Transit service, with BC Transit expanding its current governance to include an additional sector to manage additional services. It could be run under a mobility trust, as an extension to BC transit, or as a private corporation utilizing infrastructure aready in place.
Start-up costs are another barrier. Initially the Mobility Pass could be sold to large employers and educational institutions, providing the system with sufficient funds to begin the improvements and expansion of services making it novel and attractive to early adopters and then the broader public.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
المهمة الأولى
Register organization and obtain start up funds
المهمة الثانية
Create project proposal and continue with research
المهمة الثالثة
Set up meetings with motransportation
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
المهمة الأولى
Proposal of work and funding presentation
المهمة الثانية
Registration documentation
المهمة الثالثة
Implement proposal of work
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
Municipalities and stakeholders require reestablishing but future partnerships would include BC Ferries, BC Transit, University of Victoria, Saanich, Victoria, Pacific Coach Lines, Cab companies, car share and bike share associations.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
We will look to larger markets to expand to - such as the lower mainland (current Vancouver mayor is progressive) and the rest of British Columbia as feasible.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
Very high level of planning and organization through the project manager as well as an enormous network of interested organizations (including government and corporate funders) for input and eventual support.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
Columbia Community Dollars puts the power of money in the hands of community, gives solutions to the debt crisis, re-localizes business, and fosters local food security.
You can create a Project from this competition entry in order to gain access to new partnership and funding opportunities!
Create my Project.
Created on 09/5/2012 by
Collect & recycle soap discarded by the hospitality industry & distribution of these to impoverished people, prevent deaths caused by hygiene-related illness.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءاسم المؤسسة
Clean The World Foundation
Country where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver, Coast and Mountains, Vancouver Island, Thompson Okanagan, Northern British Columbia, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Kootenay Rockies, Columbia Basin.
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تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
تطوير (ستكون الخطوة التالية تأثيرًا متزايدًا على النطاق الإقليمي أو حتى العالمي)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Equity.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
With the donations of these discarded soap and shampoo products, Clean the World is a step closer to reaching our goal of preventing the millions of lives lost each year — and we're doing it one bar of soap at a time.
Children that have died to diseases preventable with proper hygiene since 4/1/2009
10,829,269
Soap distributed by Clean the World since 4/1/2009
11,694,265
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
"The good news is that hand washing with soap, a low-cost intervention...reduces the incidence of one of the largest killers of young children worldwide."
AJPH, Luby, 2001
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
Each month, hundreds of thousands of hotels and motels across the world discard tons of slightly-used soap and shampoo. These products often end up in already overflowing landfills and can potentially contaminate fragile groundwater systems. Through our Hospitality Recycling Partners Program, Clean the World collects and repurposes these products using environmentally-friendly and hygienically-safe recycling efforts.
With the donations of these discarded soap and shampoo products, Clean the World is a step closer to reaching our goal of preventing the millions of lives lost each year — and we're doing it one bar of soap at a time.
See the actual impact that your property will have on the environment and in the lives of so many by implementing the program: http://cleantheworld.org/hppfulloneca.asp.
We need your support and your partnership today!
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
No competitors of any significance. Clean the World is the biggest participant in the sector with 8% market share in USA and 3% in Canada. So much blue-sky!
Did you know that for $1 per guest room monthly, you can Protect our Planet and Save Lives! It’s True!
Canadian Business Journal: http://www.cbj.ca/features/aug_12_features/soap-proud_to_be_canadian.html Authored by R. Brent Lang, details the movement that is spreading across Canada – hotels are joining Clean the World’s Global Hygiene Revolution to recycle soap and save lives. Please click here for more information on Clean the World’s Hospitality Recycling Program: http://cleantheworld.org/Hotel-Program.asp.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
It was while conducting an enormous amount of business travel that Shawn Seipler and Clean the World, co-Founder, Paul Till, began to think about the concept of recycling hotel soap, shampoo and other amenities.
In January 2009, they began investigating how to recycle bar soap and what, if any, uses of recycled bar soap may exist. It was then that the purpose and cause of Clean the World was clearly defined and understood as the research led to two very deadly diseases, acute respiratory illness and diarrheal disease. These two diseases, the leading and third leading cause of death respectively amongst children under the age of five, can be dramatically decreased through proper sanitation with simple bar soap.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
Mission at Clean the World is very simple- to lead the creation and implementation of a national hospitality soap and shampoo recycling program that has a two fold mission: to both prevent needless landfill waste AND, most importantly, to assist in saving millions of lives.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
· In 3 years, we have distributed over 11 million bars of soap to children and families in 55 countries worldwide
· We have diverted over 750 tons of waste from Canadian and U.S. landfills
· We partner with more than 1,600 hotels, operating in 10 Canadian Provinces and 50 U.S. States
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
Recycle Ounces (000) 171 2,886
Recycle Tons 5.3 90.2
Bins per Month 311 5,262
Monthly Cubic Feet 933 15,785
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
Awareness (marketing budget to reach corporate / franchise purchasing manager / General Manager)
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Room Count Month 1 = 15,574 Month 2 = 18,689 Month 3 = 22,427 Month 4 = 26,912 Month 5 = 32,Month 6 = 38,753
المهمة الأولى
Reach early-adopters (hotels ready to be green) and cultivate the ready, willing and able participants
المهمة الثانية
Build the brand of CTW in Canada, Nationally. Utilize media, associations and grass-roots volunteers
المهمة الثالثة
Show proven effect of diversion from landfill into hands of children and families domestically and internationally.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Soap-press acquired (or donated) to facilitate maximum operative impact for mission.
المهمة الأولى
Expansion Capital / Funding Secured
المهمة الثانية
Brand and Marketing Roll-out
المهمة الثالثة
Announce major corporate partnership to show massive adoption of program
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءAre you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
Yes, we are in 50 US states, 10 Canadian Provinces and now expanding globally.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
This is a high-demand product, where NGO's can obtain for a fraction of normal market cost for these products, while diverting from landfill!
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
We are creating a shared use facility to enable those with skills in time honored practical skills in home maintenance and economics to develop businesses while educating and serving others with less skills who want that knowledge or products.
Created on 09/4/2012 by North Country Sustain
Approximately 50 words left (400 characters).
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءاسم المؤسسة
North Country Sustainability Center, Inc.
بلد المؤسسة
United States, MA, Ashburnham, Worcester County
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
United States, MA, Ashburnham/Fitchburg/Gardner, Worcester County
Gender of Innovator
Female
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تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName Your Entry
Rural Strengths/Urban Skills
حدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
نمو (إصدارك التجريبي في حالة جيدة ويعمل ويبدأ في التوسع)
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تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
We have no major employers in this area, and our unemployment rate is higher than 10%. Our region is among the highest foreclosed upon towns in the State, and there are few options for people to earn more money. We need a facility that will allow people to teach and use traditional skills, such as cooking, woodworking and sewing, so that they can increase their income. We also need to educate young adults in these basic skills, so that they can make informed decisions, and have options, in how they manage their finances and resources.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
We have identified an old set of buildings that could house a commercial kitchen, a creamery, educational and community gardens, and still have space for sewing and woodworking studios. We want to build our local economy by building urban and rural connections to the knowledge and resources at NCSC so that we create a sustainable region, both economically and environmentally. Senior citizens and others will teach classes, on site and in outreach. Others can start food-based businesses, and a sustainability hub can grow, giving the region a sustainable future based upon the resources we have on hand.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
We have already started a crafter's co-op which allows area farmers to develop value-added products that are non-edible. It has brought income to two farms and ten other vendors, and that is growing. People are recognizing the value of local agriculture and their on potential abilities to "save, make or stretch a dollar." We have operated our co-op less than a year, but it is growing. Food always makes things grow faster.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
We don't have a lot of competition in our area. We try to collaborate with existing farmer's markets, and existing groups, rather than compete. There are some artist's groups near us, and another "sustainability center," about an hour away, but their focus is more toward teaching organic farm skills to those newly released from prison. Though we plan to teach many of the same skills, our audience and purposes are very different. North of us, in New Hampshire, there is a growing network of Sustainability, and while they may draw some of our audience away from that state, it will eventually be advantageous as we connect Boston, Worcester and other urban areas to farms in the North Country. The more producers, the stronger the offerings.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءThis Entry is about (Issues)
What solution(s) does your initiative address to help emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses grow and thrive in underserved communities? (select all applicable)
Access to supply chains, Access to technology, Policy change/advocacy.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Residents of the surrounding are starting to look at what they can do to improve their economical lot. This is an area that has felt very sad for decades and they residents are now focusing on potential, rather than feeling left behind. We have brought more than $10,000 to the town in our rent and
user fees, brought income to more than a dozen artists and farmers, from just a few dollars to a hundred or more, for different vendors. It's a start, but there's a long way to go.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
We anticipate providing kitchen space and creamery space for more than dozen small businesses. We anticipate a "food hub," that will allow access to new markets for several dozen farmers and access to fresh food for hundreds of consumers. We also expect to bring cooking skills to 200 new cooks and sewing skills to 300 new sewers. We also plan to bring advance technology to sewing with embroidery, quilting and serging machines, making them available to those who might consider growing a business, if they had the skills before they made their personal purchases.
We are also starting a podcast to fill the void of no local newspaper. This will bring the youth into the community and begin connecting them with positive civic engagement, which is crucial to a sustainable future.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
Our major barriers are our apathetic citizenry, lack of publicity and the funding. Once we have the buildings and start offering on site classes,we believe that people will start engaging. The podcast and our increased web presence, combined with more visible programming, will increase our public profile, bringing more people into the facility. It truly comes down to needing those buildings, and we can grow at a reasonable pace.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
المهمة الأولى
Purchase the stable complex.
المهمة الثانية
Clear and start garden beds.
المهمة الثالثة
Plan and begin construction of the kitchen.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
المهمة الثانية
Build the commercial micro-creamery.
المهمة الثالثة
Start offering classes and rental time for the kitchen and creamery.
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
As a small farmer I've seen a long growing disconnect between the consumer and source of their food. I've also seen a number of farmers who have great ideas but they cannot complete it because they don't have access to the facilities. When an ice storm devastated this area two years ago, it became obvious who had the necessary skills to sustain themselves, and who was too reliant upon others for their necessities. We decided to put those needs together and bring a facility to the farmers, and a "place to go" to those who want or need to learn it. It is not unique to us, but it is easily reproducible. We just have to get it started in its most needed form, and show others that they can do it too.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
We work with area Agricultural Commissions by sharing market information.
We work with regional planning commission on two fronts, first the cultural component of the region, and secondly, assisting in the development of a food system infrastructure.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
We asked our school children what their definition was of sustainability. Among the answers came our favorite one, "It's what it takes to keep living here." We use that answer as our guide to developing initiatives, finding the gaps that need addressing and learning how they used to be addressed. These answers will help us move forward in a truly practical, sustainable way.
Created on 09/4/2012 by ihsanadi
Es Air Laut is a mangrove product which produced by coorporation of perkumpulan petani mangrove and Consaut. Es Air Laut is a commercial product that sell drink from manrove's fruit which healhty for human body. the coorporate company just act as a association that produce profit oriented product for supporting the conservation activity.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءاسم المؤسسة
Executive Comitee Veterinary Airlangga University. "Conservatipreneur Students Association"
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ ما يزيد عن 5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName Your Entry
Conservatiopreneur, conservation and developing small economy in coast area
حدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
تطوير (ستكون الخطوة التالية تأثيرًا متزايدًا على النطاق الإقليمي أو حتى العالمي)
كم مضى على عملك؟
لا تزال في مرحلة الفكرة، لكنك تتطلع لإطلاقها قريبًا
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Wonorejo district is one of the coast areas which have bad condition in mangrove habitat. The case about mass deforestation which happened in Wonorejo last year has been decreasing the habitat of mangrove plants rapidly. The risk is, the coast citizen will be threaten by sea flood. Although the deforestation is forbidden by the government, the damage of mangrove tree is still happen. Indeed we have to make movement quickly to decrease the damage of mangrove habitat. The economy of wonorejo’s citizen is also low so the people cannot life in the right standart.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
we know that low economy rate of people make them do everything to survive. in that case, people in wonorejo do the same thing such as sell the wood of mangrove and destroy the habitat to make fish pond. the best solution to make people care from herself is from economic aspect. conservatiopreneur is a new way of entrepreneurship which combine the entrepreneur and nature conservation. the idea is making syrup from mangrove fruits which usually thrown as rubbish. the research about syrup mangrove it is finish and the result is good but many people still unknown about it.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
Conservatiopreneur is a way that combine economic and conservation aspects. The first model is making a forum joining the native citizen that concern in developing mangrove tree. I know that many mangrove habitat is near the fish pond so I make corporation with the fish pond guide to make association. The association is “Perkumpulan Petani Mangrove” which headed by mr. Muhson Soni. The goal of the association is to take care mangrove tree until they can life without problem such as rubbish and destroyer. The first step of my plan can have result to make entrepreneurship condition in wonorejo people.
Second, Me and my team have a big influence about explain the beneficial of mangrove tree and the importance of mangrove tree to human. So, we plan to make students association to make coorperation with wonorejo people association. In the easy way, we (students) act as a marketer from mangrove product to sell all of the country. We consider that the present world is dominated by young people. We named our association as “Consuat. Conservatiopreneur Students Association”.
As we know, we have to make brand from our product so we can compete with other commercial product in real market. The last, both organization combine as one organization named “Es air Laut” that only have goal to sell product about syrup and making franchise.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
we have several peers such as drink company and booth maker. the all of our peers is coorporate to succed the "Es Air Laut" brand.
we have a lot of competitor with the same product. in the other city in indonesia some people have same product like us. but our superior is way of marketing that drive by teenagers. so, we have special marketing to reach all market especially in the 18-30 in age. the franchise model that we use also make us more known.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءThis Entry is about (Issues)
What solution(s) does your initiative address to help emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses grow and thrive in underserved communities? (select all applicable)
Access to financing, Access to talent, Access to supply chains, Access to technology, Access to economic opportunity.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
the present impact is people in wonorejo district don't difficult to looking for money because the product is easy to make and have big benefit. people in wonorejo just be as technical service such as cooking, packing and guide. the branding and marketing is managed by students. and the important things is the habitat of mangrove tree is not destroyed anymore bacause of people care. the conservation of mangrove also have fund source from the profit of "es air laut" selling product.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
in the next 1-3 years the product will spread all of the country. because the franchise system facilitate indonesian people to be an entrepreneur. the product will dominate the unique drink market in indonesia. furthermore, mangrove conservation can be held in all of our country because the money can we get from the profit. our city also have special souvenir that show the trully surabaya.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
the big barrier is the people's care about our project. many coast citizen still have traditional mind to past the problem. we also little blocked to drive this project because of government rules.as a student we have to determine our time between project and study oriented. but, all barrier can be overcome if we have high motivation and spirit to heal the nature and bring entrepreneurship spirit.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
the plan is regulate, coorporate and selling.
المهمة الأولى
regulation to establish students organization that concern in nature conservation with entrepreneurship way.
المهمة الثانية
make coorporation to all things that we need to run the project
المهمة الثالثة
establish the brand to government and make regulation about bussines licensse
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
المهمة الأولى
make the product permission to the professional food licencer
المهمة الثانية
coorporate with entrepreneur to bring this product as their frinchise
المهمة الثالثة
coorporate with nature conservator to heal the mangrove habitat in all the world
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
i often seen at the coast area when i pass the street there is like a rubbish area that not worth to live there. i also see lot of rubbish that trap in surabaya coast area from TV. then when a walk again cross the coast area myself i see alot of potential aspect in this area. for example i see mangrove fruits just trohwn away as a rubbish, whereas according to the researcher the mangrove fruit have many benefit for human body. and i say "eureka" the combination of economic aspect and conservation is the best solution to heal the coast area. from that project i can get profit and way to conservate mangrove tree. the fruit is free parts so i don't to pay for the modal.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
the partnership rule by the frinchise rule. so, partnership can be done by buy our royalty product. we also open partnership with spnsor that care with mangrove habtat.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
Created on 08/31/2012 by Chris36
CSI is here to get the EVCS installed at your local parking lot. Our goal is to make sure there is a EVCS every 30km. There will be so many charging stations installed that the consumer won't have to ask "where do I charge my car?"
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءالبلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
Canada, BC, Vancouver island
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ أقل من سنة
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
بدء (إصدار تجريبي قد بدأ تشغيله للتو)
كم مضى على عملك؟
لا تزال في مرحلة الفكرة، لكنك تتطلع لإطلاقها قريبًا
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
All we need is the equipment to get started. We have a large customer base ready to have EVCS installed. The potential for this to become huge is there since all the auto manufactures and govenments are on board to make this A reality and not a bust.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
The average person only travels 30km a day which make Electric cars the new phase of transportation. We would like to make a regular customer not have to worry were the next charging station is. We would like to see in 15yrs the same amount of EVCS as normal gas stations.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
There are a few other electric companies on the island that can sell and install the EVCS but none have pushed or marketed it like we have.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءThis Entry is about (Issues)
What solution(s) does your initiative address to help emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses grow and thrive in underserved communities? (select all applicable)
Access to financing, Access to supply chains.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Having the customer base ready for us to install the stations throughout there property
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
Within the first %yrs we hope to have the island connected and then move to the rest of bc as well as canada
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
Getting funding to start up. We have tried to get funding through the governments but they only give funding for the stations not the installer.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
المهمة الأولى
Purchasing the equipment we need
المهمة الثانية
Installing stations throughout the large company base we alreday have
المهمة الثالثة
expand our cliental throughout Vancouver island
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
المهمة الثانية
Move on to installing in b.c.
المهمة الثالثة
Have a wrehouse built to store the equipment
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
I just got sick of watching other people get started on making money with ideas that i have thought about in the past. watching T.V onenight and seeing a company get funding from the government so i thought i should give that a try.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
we ahve two electric companies that have partnered.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
Funding is the only thing holding us back.
This project will provide a much needed boost for the City of Cranbrook in terms of sustainable image, job opportunity and local food supply.
Created on 08/30/2012 by PeoplePowerProductions
We want to provide portable green power and renewable energy education to events, concerts and festivals of all sizes.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءبلد المؤسسة
Canada, BC, Salt Spring Island
Country where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver, Vancouver Island.
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
نمو (إصدارك التجريبي في حالة جيدة ويعمل ويبدأ في التوسع)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Access, Cost.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
The bikes and solar power unit is a huge attraction at events, concerts and festivals. It's an interactive way for people of all ages to understand how alternative energy works and how it can be used in a community gathering setting.
When the bike/solar unit is setup at a festival it can reach thousands of people per day.
We can demonstrate that events of all sizes can embrace alternative energy, as well as teach people how they may be able to use bike and solar power at home, work or elsewhere in their lives.
There is a need for sustainable energy at events and the current options are next to none. Our system can provide power for any aspect of events- stages, cooking, lighting, sound, music, operations etc.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
We have an 8kw bike/solar trailer that can provide alternative energy at events, concerts and festivals.
The trailer is 14 feet long and is towed by our biodiesel truck.
There are 4 solar panels on top of the trailer totaling 900W. They go through a charge controller to 12 batteries weighing a total of 1900lbs. The current then goes through our 2 4KW inverters, through our breaker panels and can power 120V or 240V standard AC.
We also have 2 bike power units that take 3 bikes each. The bikes turn a pipe, which then turns a generator and puts out 24V electricity to the batteries in the solar trailer. 6 cyclists can all ride at once generating electricity.
The trailer is open for people to see how the power is inverted from DC to AC, how the batteries work, what the readings are on the displays etc.
We also have bike blenders to use for food vendors, for sampling smoothies or as demonstration of other uses of bike power.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
Most events that take place in parks, forests or remote locations need to use generators for electricity. These generators are noisy, smelly and use fossil fuels to run.
Our system is 100% renewable energy. We harvest solar power from the sun and generate power with bicycles. The system is silent and user friendly.
There is informative signage and information available for people with questions. Plus we have staff on hand to do system support and talk to people all day and night. Our bike power system has staff and volunteers to help people on and off the bikes, as well as answer questions.
Our system is capable of putting out 8KW of power. This is enough to power a medium size stage, an entire small festival or a large family home. We have long outdoor rated extension cables able to cover long distances so the trailer can be parked with optimum exposure to the sun and still provide power up to 250 feet away.
Upon approaching the solar/bike power unit for the first time the average person has many immediate questions.
"How does it work?"
"How much power are you getting right now?"
"How much power can it put out?"
"How much power can the batteries hold?"
"How much power are the bikes putting out?"
It's our goal to not only answer these questions but to engage the patrons to the larger questions of: "What is possible with sustainable energy?" and "How can I support sustainable energy in my life?"
The response from people at events is overwhelming in support of sustainable energy and our system.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
The marketplace for portable green power is very small.
We are unique in our approach to creating a system that is portable with large enough capacity to be widely used at events.
We collaborate with Energy Alternatives from Victoria BC. They provide materials and technical support for our system as well as refer clients to us. We also refer clients to them who are looking for typical household or business systems.
We have come across a couple of businesses in Vancouver with pedal powered blenders (Vancouver Convention Center) and some small scale bike power units, mostly used for demonstration. We have collaborated with PEDAL, a non profit organization who have bike blenders, coffee grinders and small power units.
We welcome collaboration and competition providing green power.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
I produce concerts and festivals for a living. I'm also living as sustainably as possible by growing my own food, burning biodiesel in my vehicles, riding my bike etc....
I wanted to find a portable green power solution for events I was working on and after extensive research I discovered there were no options.
I worked on a design and collaborated with Energy Alternatives to create a portable green power system capable of providing sustainable energy at events, concerts and festivals.
We wanted to create a system that was capable of bike and solar power. The bike power is very interactive and provides a physical way for people to contribute to the event.
Our goal is to provide as much portable green power as possible for events, concerts and festivals. The difference we can make by using less generators or grid power is enormous. Renewable energy is an investment, then the power is clean, quiet and sunlight or people power is free!
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
Our goal is to provide portable green power to events that can benefit most from the service.
In our experience the events working hardest to achieve the highest standards of sustainability cannot afford the costs of our power system.
We would like to be able to choose a handful of events most inline with our values who could most benefit from portable green power.
We also want to provide greater education for our activations. Printed material, signage and interior decorating of the trailer are all on our list of upgrades to enhance people's understanding of our renewable energy system.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Our greatest impact has been providing power for festivals or certain areas of festivals that would have otherwise had to pay for generator power.
We were able to take a small festival in Victoria BC off the grid. They had a stage, some exhibitors, inflatables etc. It was all able to be powered by our system.
In Surrey BC we were able to provide green power for the City's 3 car fleet of electric vehicles at a big Earth Day Festival.
At the Folk Fest in Vancouver we were able to take a stage entirely off the grid for 2 days.
We have been able to demonstrate that portable green power is possible. We have interacted with tens of thousands of people at many events and answered endless questions.
We have provided information and education about solar power, bike power and bike blenders. We have provided an interactive experience where people can ride the bikes and generate power while watching a giant screen with the Stanley Cup Finals or a festival stage.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
Our impact over the next 5 years will be to expand the portable green power business to take more events off the grid.
We aim to collaborate with other businesses and events to develop new systems and custom systems specific to some uses. By working with festivals year after year we can help them reduce their power needs by finding more efficient equipment and optimizing our system for their event.
Our goal is to each year double the amount of events we are at to reach more people each year. Education is a priority for us and our staff are eager to introduce more people to green power.
We aim to have more events make portable green power a priority in their budgets and operations plans.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
The main barrier to our success are working with event organizers to have them make portable green power a priority. While most events are initially very positive, once they crunch the event budget numbers they determine that our system is too expensive compared to a generator rental.
Most of our events have been large events with many corporate sponsors where we interact briefly with large crowds.
We would like to expand our market to include more large events, smaller events, community events and schools.
We aim to overcome our challenges by working far in advance with event organizers to find funding for our system. We can help them by efficiently routing to their area and ideally have a subsidy program that sustainable events can apply for where we can offer them a discount.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Develop plan to provide portable green power to sustainable events and provide renewable energy education.
المهمة الأولى
Create comprehensive list of potential events who could benefit from our system.
المهمة الثانية
Contact potential events with questionaire about what services they would like to have and their budget for green energy
المهمة الثالثة
Develop educational printed materials, signage and decor of the bike and solar power system
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Provide portable green power and renewable energy education to events, concerts and festivals of various sizes.
المهمة الأولى
Confirm 20 events for spring/summer 2013
المهمة الثانية
Devolop educational program for events by having materials, trained staff and volunteers at each event
المهمة الثالثة
Create system of tracking impact at events for amount of people reached, amount of energy used and seek feedback.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
Our partnerships have been with the City of Surrey and BC Hydro.
The City of Surrey secured BC Hydro as a sponsor for the bike and solar powered stage at events in 2011 and 2012. We worked with BC Hydro on the activations.
We also worked with BC Hydro as they sponsored the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2011 in conjunction with CBC and the City of Vancouver. We provided bike power for the large video screen and worked with BC Hydro on that activation.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
The bulk of our work has been in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.
We have been contacted by events in Alberta and the interior of BC. We have done 2 events in the interior of BC in the past 2 years.
It's our goal to expand to all of BC and Alberta. The interior of BC has many festivals of all sizes which could benefit from portable green power. Alberta also has many events which could benefit from our system and there is a strong appetite for innovative solutions in renewable energy.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
James and Shannon have extensive experience over the past 15 years in leadership, communication, facilitation, teaching, research and event management.
Relationships are a priority for us. It's not easy being a new business with new technology that is constantly changing and needing maintenance. We work closely with our staff to make sure they are comfortable in their roles and make sure they know they can come to us with questions, concerns, ideas and feedback.
We inspire our staff to be leaders and empower them to make decisions, while offering support along the way.
We also work with our clients to help them understand our system and the benefits of renewable energy.
It's our goal to educate our staff, clients and event patrons.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
We enjoy collaborating with other organizations. Renewable energy and especially the bike power is a high maintenance system that requires a lot of manpower and cooperation with event organizers.
We would love to collaborate with businesses on different funding models and activation ideas at events.
We are also interested in working with other events on collaborating on site at events.
Created on 08/30/2012 by Bárbara Wolff Dick
Mineo is a system for co-creation of sustainable products based on low-impact materials, shared value for the community and collective intelligence.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءالبلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
Gender of Innovator
Female
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName Your Entry
Mineo - Design for a sustainable world
حدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
بدء (إصدار تجريبي قد بدأ تشغيله للتو)
كم مضى على عملك؟
لا تزال في مرحلة الفكرة، لكنك تتطلع لإطلاقها قريبًا
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Since I have started working with design, I have noticed some failures in the methodologies for creating new products. Most industrial designers don't listen to what people want, and sometimes it is not their fault, the industry requires this type of behavior. Also, being tied up with industrial and markets requirements, people who design products for a living don't have the opportunity to try new organic or low impact materials. And when people are attached to industrial creations, they usually don't know from where their raw material comes, and the communities which produce this material does not get much benefit for doing this.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
I realized that if we built a platform that could give these creators a place to create new products with a constant feedback of the consumer and the guarantee of sales, and if they had access to a library of low impact material, we could start a process of industrial design with purpose.
Also, I realized that we could make a more fair price, and divide the revenue with everyone involved in this process: from the community that provided the raw material until the person who contributed in some part of the creation process.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
I am building a software on the web, together with a team of 15 people, that will be a platform for this process. Anyone who has an idea for a product can go to the platform and open an ideia page. She or he will first fill a form similar to a common market briefing proposal, explaining what is this idea, which and how problems will be solved, and why the regular market solutions are not good yet. After this is done, the person can publish the ideia, and it will be available for 45 days for people to contribute, passing through three stages of a specific methodology, which includes: Conceptual phase, Viability phase and Refining phase. Our main differential will be on conceptual phase, which will be totally crowdsourced, and on viability phase, in which our design team will project the product as sustainable as possible, using only low-impact manufactured materials produced by local communities. After this three stages are done, the product will enter a pre-sales stage at Catarse.me, and will only be produced if the minimum goal for producing with low impact is achieved. When the product is sold, the revenue of the product will be divided among everyone who was involved in any part of the process, accordingly to the importance of this persons involvement.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
There is one platform simliar in the USA called Quirky. They have three years of market, and huge revenue sales, but they dont have a conscious industrial process. Their products are made in China, mainly with no environmental care at all. They could become our competitors if they decided to come to Brazil, or we decided to go global. I also know that there is one similar platform being launched in Brazil, but they work with Industrial waste and they are not focused so much on the process of co-creation. They are our competitors since the market share in Brazil for this kind of product is still small.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءThis Entry is about (Issues)
What solution(s) does your initiative address to help emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses grow and thrive in underserved communities? (select all applicable)
Access to talent, Access to supply chains, Access to technology, Access to economic opportunity.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
I have put together a team of 15 people, from software developers to industrial engineers to start this project. Everyone is contributing the way they can. Mostly with their time in building methodologies and software.
We, the Mineo team, already have access to the low-impact materials in an online library called materiabrasil.com.br. These materials come from local suppliers, usually from rural zones, and are made from organic materials.
In the team, we have a group of designers that had already worked with co-creation of sustainable products, with 4 succssefull launched projects.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
The project will be a benchmark for sustainability, since it possess direct partnership with Materia Brasil, using only renewable materials. Projects undertaken through crowdsourcing processes removes the need to travel, reducing carbon footprints. It will also act as an agent educator - shown that new solutions can be thought rather using only sustainable materials.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
We have two mainly issues that might be bad for us:
1. People not collaborating: For this, the project has a strategy to create community around our issues, and for engaging people. It is in our intention to promote media campaigns online and offline.
2. Impossibility of achieving a large scalability for production: Making partnerships with industries that are willing to change their production methods. Also, partnerships with Universities so we can access more intellectual capital.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Produce and sell at least four different products coming from different raw materials
المهمة الأولى
a working online platform with the minimal features that allow co-creation
المهمة الثانية
increase of low-impact materials library
المهمة الثالثة
an engaged community of 1.500 people
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Produce and sell at leads eigth different products of different raw materials
المهمة الأولى
a fully working online platform with all features for co-creation
المهمة الثانية
an engaged community of 4.000 people
المهمة الثالثة
at least 5 major industries engaged in producing our projects
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
After a few years working with Design for Social Innovation, I've started to see the possibility of this system becoming a reality when I met many other designers and producers who share the same views like individual autonomy and shared profit. I spoke with some of them and invited to come aboard this project I had in mind. I have been working on this for a year now, and is finally starting to show great results!
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءPlease elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
This project also has a Project where you can read more about its latest progress.
Go to Project: GreenPages Directory.
Created on 08/29/2012 by Leslie Goodson
Portal for sustainable living, commerce and investment supported by advanced search functions and linkages to channel partners to drive traffic and content.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءCountry where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver, Coast and Mountains, Vancouver Island, Thompson Okanagan, Northern British Columbia, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Kootenay Rockies, Columbia Basin.
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المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
بدء (إصدار تجريبي قد بدأ تشغيله للتو)
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Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Access, Equity.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
The sustainable business market is expected to hit $60 billion by 2013. Only 40% of US adults believe green products/services just getting started, yet 69% purchase green products/services. Just 21% believe most businesses make efforts at sustainability, and fewer trust companies to be transparent even with independent verification. In NA, 65% of consumers believe products have a positive impact on the environment, 61% of small and mid-size businesses are trying to go greener and 70% anticipate becoming more environmentally conscious in the next two years. Digital marketing spending increased by more than 14% as traditional advertising spend declined 161% over the past year. We need to align businesses and consumers interested in sustainability by supporting access and behaviour change.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Consumers and supply chain managers seek companies and brands with genuine commitments to environmental and social issues. GPD advertisers manufacture, sell, distribute or promote eco-friendly products and/or services. In addition to retailers that exclusively sell organic, fair trade or eco-friendly products, many major companies are adding sustainable products. LOHAS (the group that already purchase sustainable products and services) represents approximately 16% of adults in NA and is expected to double within 5 years. GPD provides the platform to link information seekers with solution providers, their products & services, associated certifications and locations. Key to our solution is the searchable data and criteria that end users can leverage to obtain the specific information they need. Information such as certifications, where the product is made, ratings, environmental & social attributes are important for decision-making and can be seen at a glance in search results.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
GPD provides end users access to easy-to-use streamlined information about relevant products, services and information – all evident at a glance to help consumers and procurement specialists find the most appropriate resource and/or certification closest to their geographical location. GPD owns the ECO-FLYER trademark for North America and "Where Good Things Click" and "GreenPages Directory" trademarks in Canada. Listing companies can manage their listing in real time, post their own ads, ECO-FLYER® and in the next phase, their coupons.
Step 1
End user goes to portal address: www.greenpagesdirectory.net (also accessible on other greenpages websites, such as www.bcgreenpages.com, www.albertagreenpages.com , www.ontariogreenpages.com, www.manitobagreenpages.com )
Step 2
End user can choose to BROWSE by category (i.e. Resources/Products/Services/Service Providers/Retailers/Business to Business/Community Blog etc.) Or they can enter SEARCH criteria, such as their location AND choose from the ADVANCED search criteria such as within a specified DISTANCE, if the product or service is in an ACTIVE ECO-FLYER®, by specific CERTIFICATION(S), BRAND, WHERE THE PRODUCT IS MADE etc. Search results can be organized in order of ratings, relevance, or closest geographic location. Clicking on the desired result will lead to the profile of that result.
Step 3
If the product or service is in an Active ECO-FLYER® it will be identified in an advanced search where that is one of the criteria OR it will be identified by the ECO-FLYER® logo during the search result.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
Although there are several competitors, there is currently no dominant green search directory market leader with unique features such as those in GPD. Unique features of GPD's platform include the ECO-FLYER, advanced search criteria such as certifications, distance, ratings, brand, and where a product is made. Most green directories focus on a local market which limits the ability to find innovation, which may be one-of-a-kind and not in close proximity but relevant for implementing a sustainable solution. With GPD, end users can find the closest solution and also others that may be outside their immediate geographic area. Another unique feature is the sustainable attributes that can be associated with products/services that show at-a-glance what makes it sustainable.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
In an age where people reluctantly accept the “thunk” of the Yellow and White Pages on their front steps, Connie decided what was needed wasn’t yellow or white, but green. Connie, a former stockbroker with an MBA and owner of a leading sustainability consulting firm, understood that while people could easily find companies through the Yellow Pages, both in print and online, they couldn’t easily find companies that were specifically “green". Also, there wasn’t a platform for companies to discuss, in an obvious way, what good they do for people and the environment. And yet, according to her research, there was a growing body of consumers who want to buy specifically green products and services but don't know where to go to find them. So she spent several years gathering a global team of experts to create the first directory and search tool of its kind specifically to highlight environmentally-aware companies in North America.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
GPD’s goal is to provide the largest database and most efficient online platform to facilitate the shift to a more sustainable economy. There are many entrepreneurs who have developed cleaner & more efficient processes, practices & products as cradle-to-cradle businesses. When these are implemented vertically into the supply chain, the final outcome can dramatically reduce the waste generated and the resources required to produce and distribute goods, plus generate goodwill & social equity to enhance quality of life & provide financial stability for all stakeholders. GPD believes most people are good & will be part of supporting solutions if it's easy to better understand what they are looking for and find it. The design of GPD's platform allows this information to be readily found.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
To date, there are just under 2000 companies listed on GPD. Connie has not yet marketed to a larger audience beyond this initial content, and needs to begin marketing for content that will attract users and advertisers. From the listed companies’ feedback, they appreciate the exposure they have already gained and GPD’s portal to feature their unique and sustainable products, services, and the good they do. The GPD team has consistently received positive feedback at public meetings and conferences. The message that “this is really needed” has been a recurring theme. End users continually reinforce the need for a way to find out the closest location and latest technologies to implement healthier consumer choices. The GPD team recognizes where must improve and is committed to making these changes this year.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
GPD’s projected impact over the next five years includes hosting hundreds of thousands of listed companies with hundreds of thousands of products and services that support healthier living so end users have meaningful results to their search criteria throughout North America. GPD’s goal is to support the green economy while generating measurable increases to advertisers’ ROI and measurable increases in the demand for this new generation of entrepreneurs’ products and services. GPD gives a voice to consumers who demand that companies act more responsibly in making and delivering their products and services. In turn, as companies respond to this demand, “green” business becomes the norm, not the exception.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
There are always risks with any early stage company and GPD management has worked to mitigate these risks. The major stumbling block was a lack of talent to drive content and traffic, and knowing which supporting technologies need to be added to the current GPD platform. The recent addition of Ross Carriere to the management team will ensure that this is addressed and implemented in the next 12 months. Ross was instrumental in helping define standard revenue models for online companies and GPD is fortunate to have him. Lack of capital has also been a barrier. GPD is currently reworking its business plan and financial pro formas to launch a fund-raising effort. Connie has financed the company for the past several years.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
المهمة الأولى
Identify social networking & ad revenue modules to facilitate channel marketing partners
المهمة الثانية
Update business documentation & revenue model to reflect new functionality, marketing and business plan.
المهمة الثالثة
Raise funds required to realize 12-48 month plan.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
المهمة الأولى
Integrate updated modules with current GPD website & test for QA to ensure seamless integration.
المهمة الثانية
Hire additional staff required to actualize new plan. Continue technology testing & client feedback.
المهمة الثالثة
Identify & manage new strategic partnerships to drive content and traffic, develop agreements etc.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
GPD will identify channel marketing partners who are leaders in their sectors, can share leading edge information, identify content leading to healthier solutions to support a shift in end users' purchasing behaviour, and drive content and traffic to the site. These partners are being identified, but official relationships have not yet been formally established.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
Consumers and supply chain managers seek companies and brands with genuine commitments to environmental and social issues. GPD advertisers manufacture, sell, distribute or promote eco-friendly products and/or services. In addition to retailers that exclusively sell organic, fair trade or eco-friendly products, many major companies are adding sustainable products. LOHAS represents approximately 16% of adults in North America and is expected to double within five years.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
The GPD team is comprised of award-winning entrepreneurs who have combined expertise in online marketing, finance, social media, sustainability and technical development. Each member has reached a level of business maturity and the team works extremely well together. As shareholders, each is committed to seeing this project through to its successful implementation. GPD has a very fluid and flexible organizational structure and is able to respond to issues quickly without going through layers of management. The GPD is supported by staff that can be relied on as the company experiences high levels of growth. Connie owns 78% of the company shares and is able to make quick decisions as to the direction of the company as required.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
Connie has been a business mentor for over 8 years with UBC, Women's Executive Network, Women's Enterprise Centre and the Minerva Foundation.
Created on 08/28/2012 by SlowFashionFwd
My Garment is an interactive behaviour change tool used to educate fashion consumers about the impacts of clothing in a simple, fun and engaging way.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءCountry where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver.
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المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
فكرة (أنت متأهب للإطلاق)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Access, Transparency.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
The time has come to slow down our wardrobe. Thanks to the ‘fast fashion’ phenomenon, consumers are encouraged to buy more and more trendy garments. Our clothing has become cheaper, the quality reduced and clothes are typically worn for a short time before disposal. This over consumption contributes to textile waste in British Columbia and is impacting ecological and social systems worldwide. With fashion consumers disconnected from the garment-making process, they are unaware of how their choices have either a positive or negative impact.
This tool aims to change that by 1) triggering behavior change in 200,000 fashion consumers aged 16-40 across Vancouver 2) scaling the tool and behavior campaign to reach fashion consumers across Vancouver and major cities worldwide.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
My Garment is an online educational and behavior change tool used to educate consumers about the life-cycle impacts of a typical garment in a simple, interactive and engaging way. Based on available information on the users garment (where it was made, what material it is made of) consumers learn about the steps and impacts along the clothing supply chain: from harvesting raw fiber materials used to make the garment, the manufacturing process, global transportation, retail & brand marketing, to the use and disposal of the garment. To trigger behavior change, the consumer learns about what the slow fashion movement is and how to adopt a sustainable fashion lifestyle through simple tips and local options in Vancouver.
This online tool will empower consumers to make conscious choices and it will showcase these sustainable fashion choices. It aims to create a greater demand for sustainable fashion in Vancouver, and in turn strengthen the local economy and community-based solutions.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
A young female expresses her personal identity and creativity through fashion. But she is also influenced by marketing and the media and feels compelled to stay on top of the latest trends to fit in. She shops at low cost, chain retailers weekly and buys more than she needs. She finds herself replacing worn out or out-of-style garments often, and the clothing piles up.
After a trusted friend shares ‘My Garment’ on Facebook she is intrigued. An incentive entices her to use the tool and share it with friends. After learning about the pair of jeans she is wearing, such as how much water is used to grow the cotton, the pesticides that were used on the cotton crops, the low wages of the garment workers, and how far they travelled before she purchased them, she is aware of the bigger picture.
She now makes the connection between how her individual consumer choices impact ecological and social systems globally. She then learns that it can be easy and fun to make a difference and help support sustainable fashion. She decides to buy less, learns to look for versatile & quality garments, repairs & restyles existing pieces and supports local fashion designers. She now washes her clothing in cold water, hangs them to dry, and donates any used pieces to charity. She uses the Smartphone app to direct her to local secondhand and vintage stores, boutiques carrying sustainable fashion, community clothing swaps, tailors and sewing workshops. Through this fun lifestyle switch she has also inspired her family and friends to follow suit, and together they are making a difference!
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
In Vancouver Eco Fashion Week is a runway show that showcases sustainable fashion designers. This event tends to draw industry professionals and media, while the average consumer does not attend. More than 20,000 conscious consumers attend the EPIC Sustainable Living Expo annually where fashion shows and trade booths display sustainable clothing. Consumes can also access information on where to purchase sustainable clothing through websites such as Eco Fashion World, Fashioning Change and others. This tool is more comprehensive than any of these. It educates consumers about the clothing lifecycle and provides a number of solutions beyond just purchasing sustainable fashion. This tool is interactive, engaging, and reward incentives will be provided for sustainable lifestyle choices.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
Knowledge is power! Together, we wrote a collaborative thesis on the Slow Fashion movement during our Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability in Sweden. After months of learning about the global fashion industry, and how it negatively impacts the people working in it and the planet, we were empowered and wanted to make real, positive change. We each had our own “Aha!” moments during the Master’s program, and knew that we needed to shift our fashion consumer behavior and lifestyles if we wanted to inspire others to do the same.
With backgrounds in sustainability planning, communications, art and design, we started to develop this robust, creative and engaging behavior change tool and campaign.
Its potential is endless. The more consumers that become educated and inspired though this platform the better! It will also bring together designers, retailers and many others working towards sustainable fashion solutions in every community and city that it is exposed to.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
Our goal is to invigorate a paradigm shift from our current fast fashion culture to slow, sustainable fashion. By demonstrating to consumers that each of their positive actions do matter, we hope to help create a conscious consumer culture within the realm of fashion. We have seen the movement towards local and organic food through awareness, education and individual actions. We would like to see a similar shift in consumer behavior when it comes to our clothing. Ultimately, this tool will educate consumers and create a greater demand for an environmentally and socially sustainable fashion system. Instead of continuous clothing consumption, this tool will help create a culture that emphasizes personal garment-making skills, satisfying human needs, reuse, swapping, and supporting local.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
This solution is currently in the R&D phase. We have used our knowledge of strategic sustainability planning, and The Natural Step framework specifically, to undergo research into the environmental and social impacts of garments- taking a life-cycle thinking approach. We are in the process of seeking industry endorsement and sponsorship funding to continue the research, develop the online tool & Smartphone app, and to successfully market it as a behavior change campaign.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
The projected social and environmental impacts of shifting the behavior of consumers towards a slow fashion lifestyle, will be:
-market demand for sustainable textiles (organic cotton, hemp, linen, tencel and others) and fashion
-more transparency from fashion brands on the sustainability benefits & impacts of clothing
-decrease in energy use during washing and drying of clothing
-reduced landfill waste from consumers buying less and buying higher quality, classic and versatile pieces
-reduction in GHG emissions from transport due to more localized supply chains
-more resources being invested in local economies from consumers supporting local fashion designers, pattern makers, tailors, retailers and others
-community building from more skill sharing workshops and clothing swaps
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
It may be difficult to measure the social and ecological impact linked directly to the behavior change tool. We will need to put in place specific indicators that can help measure the impact of consumer behavior change. For example, we will be able to quantify how many people have used the tool, where they are geographically, and what the age demographic is. We can also quantify how many people have committed to changing their behavior. But, it is difficult to measure specifically how each individual behavior change has an impact on the specific environmental, social and economic goals listed above. We intend to undergo more research on these ecological and social indicators and how they can be measured with respect to the behavior change.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
المهمة الأولى
Gain endorsement for the tool from trusted non-profit organizations such as the Textile Exchange, Center for Sustainable Fashion
المهمة الثانية
Secure funding from fashion industry sponsors, grants and crowd funding campaigns (such as Kickstarter)
المهمة الثالثة
Complete research of social and ecological life cycle impacts of clothing (materials, manufacturing and processes)
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
المهمة الأولى
Develop the online tool and Smartphone app
المهمة الثانية
Develop a communications and marketing strategy for the tool an behavior change campaign
المهمة الثالثة
Carry out the marketing campaign and create buzz for the online tool/ app though community launch events, media and incentives
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
We have strong relationships within the sustainable fashion industry with designers and non-profit organizations. We are building partnerships with Textile Exchange, a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating sustainable practices in the textile value chain. We also have a relationship with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and NICE Fashion. We will be offering these organizations an opportunity to endorse or sponsor this tool. We will be reaching out to local Vancouver businesses and organizations to become partners on this endeavor, so that we can in turn promote them to the users.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
The initial target market is 200,000 fashion consumers in the City of Vancouver and Vancouver businesses that offer sustainable fashion.The Slow Fashion Forward team is based in Vancouver, Ottawa, Chicago, Portland, and Barcelona. Once this tool is successful in Vancouver, we will be targeting fashion consumers and businesses in these cities in the second phase of the project. The end goal is for as many fashion consumers as possible to use this behavior change tool to adopt a sustainable fashion lifestyle and support their communities and local businesses.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
-Slow Fashion Forward has a flat organizational structure that is highly collaborative and encourages innovation
-The project team is multidisciplinary and consists of sustainability strategists and creative communicators
-Our core team has proven sustainability experience and success delivering projects together
-We are skilled at building alliances, strategic partnerships and communities of action
-We all have a solid understanding of social and environmental sustainability and we are trained in The Natural Step sustainability planning framework
-We have hands-on experience working in the fashion, design & retail industry
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
We are seeking investment from BC ideas to help launch this initiative. We will also be seeking sponsorship from other investors and organizations in the community. We will need help identifying these, and being put in contact with the appropriate people and organizations that are interested in financing or supporting this project in other ways.
Created on 08/27/2012 by enventure
ENVenture aims to create and expand sustainable goods ventures (SGV) in developing countries in order to increase access and distribution of low cost, low carbon technologies including solar lights, non-electric water filters, improved cookstoves, and energy-saving briquettes that advance the health and sanitation of current living standards while improving the environment.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءبلد المؤسسة
United States, NC, Raleigh, Wake County
البلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
Gender of Innovator
Female
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المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName Your Entry
Empowering youth to launch sustainable businesses through local organizations
حدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
بدء (إصدار تجريبي قد بدأ تشغيله للتو)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ أقل من سنة
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Target market: 1.3 billion people in developing countries live without access to energy; 884 million people still use unsafe drinking water sources. 2 million die each year from inhaling unsafe fuels for cooking.
Many grassroots community based organizations (CBOs) have a real desire to start sustainable goods ventures that would distribute safe lighting, cooking, and drinking products for the rural poor. However, in setting up social ventures they face three hurdles: labor, knowledge, and financing. First, CBOs tend to have a large program of activities. Second, CBOs have been working within the non-profit field their whole existence and learning how to run a business requires a different kind of skill set. Third, CBOs generally do not have a lot of funding to operate their programs.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
High quality low-cost eco-friendly household health products such as solar lights, water filters, and improved cookstoves are being manufactured, but there is real lack of supply chains for the populations that desire these products the most. The most sustainable way to bring these products to the rural poor is through retail, especially through organizations that rural customers know and trust. Thus low-income populations, especially women, become empowered by being able to make household consumer decisions.
Currently, ENVenture is piloting in Uganda with Joint Energy and Environment Projects to replicate its original project in India with the Auroville Village Action Group. The solution is four pronged: 1. Hire a local and international youth for 1-year to launch together a sustainable goods venture (SGV) with our partner. 2. The youths teach the partner the skills needed to sustain the business 3. A wholesale inventory loan is provided to the partner 4. The partner owns the SGV
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
In short, ENVenture creates low-carbon technology supply chains in rural areas through retail, offers exciting entrepreneurial fellowships for youth, and empowers local community-based organizations through business knowledge.
a. ENVenture is the convener, providing entrepreneurial young people with challenging professional opportunities where out-of-box creativity and problem solving is required to succeed. ENVenture Fellows serve for one-year in an advisory capacity to the CBO, and have specific workplans and supplemental training to ensure their success in the field.
b. ENVenture has developed a proven open-source retail model that can be replicated and taught by ENVenture Fellows to local CBO partners on how to distribute healthy low-cost eco-friendly technologies. ENVenture and Fellows develop best practices for delivery systems. ENVenture also has a list of approved manufacturers for distribution.
c. Local CBOs are in the best position to serve their communities and provide targeted rural distribution networks in developing countries. They host and ultimately manage the SGV.
d. Located at the CBOs offices, SGVs are the central point for
distribution of these products. This is the end-result of connecting the ENVenture Fellows to the local CBO, having created a sustainable business operation distributing healthy eco-friendly products for the years to come.
We want to replicate this model through all interested organizations that want to launch SGVs throughout the developing world, where villages lack access to these household-improving technologies.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
There are a number of successful distributors of low carbon technologies. However, our approach is to partner, not compete. Any low carbon technology manufacturer that wants to sell their technologies to rural communities can distribute through ENVenture, provided that their products pass quality checks and are approved by standard committees, such as Lighting Africa. The market and need is extremely large, and other organizations that are working in this space could potentially host ENVenture Fellows to create retail outlets on-site in rural areas.
Similar organizations that work on low-income product distribution are Living Goods, Solar Sister, and ONergy. The difference is ENVenture empowers youth by giving them real life entrepreneurial opportunities in the energy access space.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءThis Entry is about (Issues)
What solution(s) does your initiative address to help emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses grow and thrive in underserved communities? (select all applicable)
Access to financing, Access to talent, Access to supply chains, Access to technology, Access to economic opportunity.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
In 2009, the founder and another volunteer traveled to the village of Irumbai, Tamil Nadu to set up a SGV called the EcoLife Store with the Aurovile Village Action Group (AVAG). AVAG specializes in social services; business was a totally new concept for them. Yet they desired the ability to provide sustainable goods to the villagers that wanted to buy them. This store services about a target market of 90,000 households and is a focal energy access hub in the community. Sales have brought extra revenue for the AVAG, which allows them to continue their large program of activities. Notably, after Cyclone Thane devastated the area, people were able to access solar lights whereas they would have before needed dangerous kerosene. The volunteers left after only six months, and as a result, roughly 6000 products have been sold through the SGV since. Emboldened by their success in social enterprise, AVAG has planned to open up two new SGVs in neighboring villages on their own for 2013!
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
ENVenture will continue to map out where sustainable goods ventures have been established and identify new regions to operate. This includes expansion into new countries, with plans to grow in terms of size and operations. Impact will be quantified by the sales of sustainable goods, starting in Uganda and India. Impact will also be the number of new sales channels opened up to villages for product distribution. Qualitatively, fellows will be impacted by their experiences and can bring that challenging business mindset and experience to their future careers. The field partners will also be impacted by having additional revenue to continue their projects. Within three years, we hope to have at least five sustainable goods ventures up and running with partners in Uganda, and two in India.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
As ENVenture will be a registered non-profit, it will have to continue to rely on donations and fundraising to continue operations. Though carbon markets may be involved in the future, these require high upfront investment and takes time to receive a payout. Donations are solely to fund the fellowship program, while the initial wholesale inventories of SGVs will be loaned at low-interest to our partners.
Also, the partner must be fully willing to operate the SGV on their own during the long-term, or risk business failure at a later stage. However, due to the ENVenture Fellows’ yearlong presence, enough awareness and demand should be stimulated to keep the business running long after their departure. ENVenture staff also will provide free business advice to our partners in the long-run.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
The pilot sustainable goods venture: JEEP store will be launched within six months in Gayaza, Uganda
المهمة الأولى
Employ an ENVenture Fellow to begin work on the JEEP store
المهمة الثانية
Set up a physical store along with sales infrastructure run by Joint Energy Environment Projects to host the products for sale
المهمة الثالثة
Wholesale inventory from multiple distributors to stock the store
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
The JEEP store will be earning profit and is sustainable after 1-year
المهمة الأولى
Heavy marketing towards the target villages (fliers, radio, door to door, campaigns)
المهمة الثانية
Training of local staff to bring them on full-time to the project
المهمة الثالثة
Maintenance of all sales records, warranties, receipts, etc
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
The founder launched the EcoLife Store in rural India at the age of 24. EcoLife was not her idea, but rather the community's, yet the community did not know how to launch a sustainable venture. Utilizing her natural business abilities and what she has learned in college, she was able to launch this venture with the partner Auroville Village Action Group, along with an MBA student. Seeing the potential in scale, she wished she could stay on to replicate this model to other villages in India that needed these life-saving technologies. Years later, while reviewing the sales success from the project and receiving speaking opportunities to promote EcoLife, young people from the audiences questioned how she entered this field. She realized that the energy access space needs more youth entrepreneurship, but through addressing the challenge of
distribution. The Aha! moment came by realizing that a fellowship program was needed to foster young professionals to create sustainable businesses.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
Partner CBOs must provide housing, lunch, and a work transport stipend for the fellow. In return, ENVenture provides the flights, health care, visa costs, and a small living stipend for the fellow, and a seed investment loan for inventory. As a prerequisite for entering into a partnership with a CBO, the CBO must be willing to invest time, commitment, and some money to their SGV. This is important to demonstrate the sustainability of the project. Our pilot partner is Joint Energy Environment Projects in Uganda. Other partners include product manufacturers that have been vetted internationally.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
We'd love to crowdsource investment for the pilot, gain media exposure, and collaborate with potential partners on the fellowship program.
Created on 08/24/2012 by Carbonvoyage
We exist to reduce the cost, congestion, pollution and carbon output associated with transport usage. We are an online marketplace that rewards efficiency by giving users competitive quotes from trusted providers, providing additional savings through sharing and the ability to advertise spare capacity.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءالبلد الذي تعمل به هذه المؤسسة على إنشاء تأثير اجتماعي
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءName Your Entry
Collaborative transportation for SMEs
حدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
نمو (إصدارك التجريبي في حالة جيدة ويعمل ويبدأ في التوسع)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ 1-5 سنوات
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Carbon Voyage has developed a scalable online exchange that connects those who require transportation with transport providers who have unused capacity. The platform, similar to other disruptive online marketplaces like Go Compare or Moneysupermarket, also leverages aspects of the sharing economy to generate financial and environmental savings.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
Carbon Voyage provides its customers (transport users):
• the opportunity to reduce transport costs through sharing, utilising empty return journeys and choosing providers through an online auction process that incorporates user ratings
• help in reducing pollution and carbon impact of transportation through collaboration
• capacity sharing through the use of social networks where trust exists between users
• association to green/ ethical transport
• ability to consolidate financial and carbon reports from their journeys
Carbon Voyage provides its suppliers (transport companies):
• additional revenue generation from otherwise empty journeys or unused capacity
• spare capacity advertising tools
• ability to subcontract otherwise unprofitable jobs via Carbon Voyage platform
• increased fleet utilisation (which has greatest impact on companies with small fleets)
Carbon Voyage benefits society and hubs by:
• reducing congestion in urban areas
• reducing pollution (CO2 and gas-engine particulates)
• increasing operational efficiency at transport hubs, venues, and other areas
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
Although there are several relatively large players in the car sharing sector the penetration of the service is still relatively low: the penetration of car club usage does not exceed 2.5% of the total population in the UK.
Return taxi journeys (not collaborative by definition, but similar) are only getting traction in the market. Two innovative services were launched recently – Uber and Hailo, but the primary purpose of these services is not collaborating (sharing), but increasing the booking numbers by offering better availability of service.
Large logistics operators, such as Wincanton are increasingly looking at providing collaborative transportation solutions to their large corporate customers, but offer only cargo operations and for large customers only. Examples of such projects
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءThis Entry is about (Issues)
What solution(s) does your initiative address to help emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses grow and thrive in underserved communities? (select all applicable)
Access to supply chains, Access to economic opportunity.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
Carbon Voyage has built and implemented a first in industry sustainable transport scheme for Earls Court Olympia to reduce the impact of more than 2.5 million visitors and 40,000 exhibitors per year.
Together with Tech City/ RDC Carbon Voyage is taking part in a high profile initiative to help SMEs recycle, and recover asset value from their IT hardware (our software will consolidate small cargo utilising our green transport network).
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
Significant reduction of congestion in the hubs we operate, significant increase in average load per vehicle for transportation companies that are in our network, significant savings (both money and carbon terms) for SMEs and individuals on transportation when they use return journeys we offer through our platform or share rides with other SMEs or individuals
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
We are currently working on uncovering the potential of partnerships we currently have and are pursuing new ones in order to build the network of hubs and channels to a broad base of SMEs and environmentally conscious professionals.
The major barrier to growth for us is currently lack of initial financial resources to upgrade the IT system we have to the standard users require. We also see an obstacle of getting traction on the market, but we are sure this will be resolved sooner, rather than later. The more companies and transport providers there are in our network the more savings we deliver, both in cost and carbon.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
We need to have more than 1000 requests for rides in the system per month and 3-5 transport companies bidding for every request
المهمة الأولى
Build a mobile application
المهمة الثانية
Sign up 100+ transportation providers into the system (currently 20)
المهمة الثالثة
Attract 200 active users into the system (currently 10)
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Expand into the US (partnership is with large on-line "green" social network with more than 4 mln users), revenue 2 mln GBP
المهمة الأولى
Raise funding round of not less than GBP 500K
المهمة الثانية
Establish presence in the US and start operations
المهمة الثالثة
Reach 5000 requests per ride in a month
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
The founder is a Former Australian Army officer and serial entrepreneur. Currently serves in the UK Territorial Army (reserves). Served in intelligence and leadership roles in Iraq, East Timor, Malaysia and Afghanistan. Founded three businesses in Australia in the gaming, trading, and telecom industries, and later became CEO of European Young Professionals. When he moved to the UK he started looking for opportunities, and became engaged with green community, did some consulting work on sustainability for large corporates, including TESCO. He understood that there are significant inefficiencies in transportation sector and actively searched for ways to help bring more sustainability into the industry. This is how Carbon Voyage started
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
Earls Court and Olympia Venues. CV has built and implemented a first in industry sustainable transport scheme to reduce the impact of more than 2.5 million visitors and 40,000 exhibitors per year. Web-page http://eco.carbonvoyage.com/
Tech City/ RDC IT hardware recycling initiative: CV is taking part in a high profile initiative to help SMEs recycle, and recover asset value from their IT hardware (our software will consolidate small cargo utilising our green transport network). We have completed 2 pilots. Initiative is launching in September
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
Created on 08/22/2012 by Green Chamber of Commerce BC
An organization of businesses that collaborates to grow a green economy in British Columbia.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءاسم المؤسسة
Green Chamber of Commerce BC
موقع الويب
greenchamberofcommercebc.org
Country where this solution is creating social impact
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver, Coast and Mountains, Vancouver Island, Thompson Okanagan, Northern British Columbia, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Kootenay Rockies, Columbia Basin.
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ أقل من سنة
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
فكرة (أنت متأهب للإطلاق)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ أقل من سنة
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Access, Cost.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
It is apparent there are numerous businesses in BC that have committed to sustainable business practices that support people, planet and profit – the 3 Ps of a sustainable economy. Many business leaders have realized that the traditional model of ever-expanding consumption is unsustainable. They want to change yet there is no organization to support them.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
To establish a Green Chamber of Commerce of BC (GCCBC), just such an organization that responds to a desire to network and build relationships with others who share the view that businesses can be green and profitable. Our plan with the GCCBC is to provide a space for businesses to network within the community of persons and companies committed to building a sustainable economy. The GCCBC will be a repository for ideas and information. We will listen, learn and conduct seminars, speaker presentations and networking events to attract an expanding array of innovators in the new economy of sustainability – an economy considerate of people, planet and profit.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
Networking: Presently a business selling a sustainable product or service must persuade the client on the merits of sustainability while the marketplace foremost reflects transactions on price first, then merit – sustainability or other ‘quality’ issues. The GCCBC provides the desired opportunity to conduct trade with an ‘educated’ buyer (fellow member) who will buy at a competitive price after evaluating comparative merits
Education: The GCCBC will conduct seminars and classes on how to successfully use sustainable business practices while making a profit and cutting down on cost. Our goal is to also encourage businesses that are already practicing sustainable business practices to help and educate other businesses that are just starting to utilize them. The GCCBC will be a space for peers to discuss among themselves and learn from each other the, “How To”, of sustainability in BC.
Idea repository: GCCBC is a clearing house for sustainable business practices enabling all commerce (and government) a ‘one stop shop’ for conducting business with sustainability objectives. GCCBC supports and promotes commerce and sustainability in all its forms.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
Our peers are our sister organizations, fellow Green Chambers of Commerce, across North America (USA only to date) and around the world which share our objectives.
Our competitors are those existing organizations that support business and commerce and are inactive or insufficiently active in the sustainable economy arena, or they mute the triple P message by burying the activists in internal committees or provide token ‘sustainability’ projects while arguing that their green members needs are being met. Tokenism begets green-washing.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
As an advocate for a construction industry trade sector, I was introduced to a contractor who was a founder of North America’s first Green Chamber of Commerce (San Francisco Bay Area). His presentation to an industry conference convinced me that we (mechanical contractors) are in the ‘sustainability business’ – we build and service energy efficient heating and cooling and water conservation systems for buildings. I also realised in BC that there is nowhere to sell this industry leadership unless a) we educate our customers, and/or b) find potential customers who are already educated but are unaware of our services. If this is our experience in our single area of activity, then others must share a similar perspective. That California contractor convinced me that a Green Chamber of Commerce can do both – and his experience proves it.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
Our goal is to become the sustainable business organization for British Columbia and to attract all businesses looking for an organization that supports their individual company efforts to be a sustainable business in their chosen fields.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
The impact of the solution is that many local businesses have found a place to connect with like-minded individuals and are excited in the idea of what the GCCBC can become. We have been approached by several businesses, non-profit organizations and local government officers, both from the City of Vancouver and Burnaby, who want to be involved with the GCCBC.
We are also currently partnered up with BCIT’s Sustainable Business Leadership Program, and sponsored by Vancity for our upcoming Founders’ Club Workshop on Tuesday September 25th, where invited businesses and sustainable leaders will be involved in developing the programs for the GCCBC. Our partner organization, the San Francisco Bay Area Green Chamber of Commerce (GCC), has also offered to do a joint membership between our two organizations, where GCCBC members will be able to attend GCC events at their member prices.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
To grow a self-sustaining organization that holds bi-monthly educational programs and networking events. To have group buyouts and discounted rates across Metro Vancouver and elsewhere in BC for credit card processing fees, and similar other programs that would benefit small to medium businesses. Ongoing educative programs on how businesses can utilize up and coming technologies to cut down on cost, lower their carbon footprint and maximize their business efficiencies. To support our local Chambers of Commerce and Board of Trades in their environmental programs, and to help advocate for better and stronger sustainable programs.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
Lack of paying members and programs.
Our plan to overcome both barriers is by having our potential members create the programs that they most want implemented by the GCCBC and by giving out discounted membership rates in our first year of operation.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
To commence the sale of memberships to our target enterprises in order to become a wholly self-sustaining organization.
المهمة الأولى
Launch our organization in January
المهمة الثانية
Have 125 companies across a spectrum of provincial industries registered and paying dues.
المهمة الثالثة
Produce a 3 year organization and membership development Plan.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Have a regional and BC level partnership and alliance with like-minded organizations and businesses.
المهمة الأولى
Develop a stronger online presence in order to reach all our members and perspective members
المهمة الثانية
To negotiate and implement an agreement in support of the City of Vancouver's Greenest City Plan
المهمة الثالثة
To collaborate with the local Board of Trades and Chambers of Commerce on a mutually beneficial program.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
We are currently partnered with the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Sustainable Business Leadership Program from the School of Business. BCIT has been integrally involved with supporting local sustainable business development and our organization fits in perfectly with their mandate to promote a green commerce in BC.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
For the first few years we will be targeting Metro Vancouver, but are hoping to eventually expand to support all business organizations in British Columbia. Our target population is very diverse as many different sectors of the economy supports and utilizes sustainable business practices, and our goal is to unite all of those individuals, companies and sectors in one organization.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
To have a centrally located headquarter and a staff of 10 people who will help to network the GCCBC, plan programs and events and help build a stronger relationship between our organization and the local Chambers of Commerce and Board of Trades.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
Have influential sustainable business leaders either sit on our Steering Group Committee or be members of the GCCBC.
Created on 08/21/2012 by Green Coast Rubbish
Green Coast Rubbish provides environmentally conscious disposal services by employing sustainable waste diversion & recycling practices at a competitive price.
مزيد من المعلومات ↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءبلد المؤسسة
Canada, BC, North Vancouver
Country where this solution is creating social impact
Canada, BC, The Greater Vancouver Area
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver, Coast and Mountains.
كم مضى على عمل مؤسستك؟
تعمل منذ ما يزيد عن 5 سنوات
المعلومات التي تقدمها هنا ستُستخدم لملء أي جزء من أجزاء ملفك الشخصي التي تم تركها فارغة، مثل الاهتمامات ومعلومات المؤسسة وموقع الويب. لن تتاح أية معلومات اتصال بشكل عام. الرجاء إلغاء تحديد المربع هنا إذا كنت لا تريد حدوث هذا..
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءحدد الهدف الذي ينطبق بشكل مثالي على الحل الذي تقدمه:
Established (past the previous stages and has demonstrated success)
كم مضى على عملك؟
تعمل منذ ما يزيد عن 5 سنوات
Which of the following best describes the barrier(s) your solution addresses? Choose up to two
Transparency, Quality.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
Canada is among the highest producers of solid waste per capita in the industrialized world, BC alone hauls over 2 million tonnes of waste per year.
Increasingly, the human population is in need of a solution for junk removal in many capacities - not only large/small scale businesses, but also, personal consumption waste. Materials from commercial/residential demolition & deconstruction, tree work, composting, hoarder & tenant clean-outs, work site clean-ups, electronics, automotive waste and garbage are all dumped into landfills, polluting our soil, air and earth. This is not a viable, sustainable waste removal plan for our future or for the safety of our communities. The consequences for burying/burning waste are more damaging than the solution. DIVERSION.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
DIVERSION. Green Coast Rubbish (GCR) is an environmentally conscious junk removal and recycling company that thinks globally and acts locally. The mandate? NO WASTE IS WASTED. GCR strategically partners with communities and local businesses on the North Shore and in the Greater Vancouver Area providing service to Residential, Construction and Trades, Commercial, Strata and Property Management market segments diverting and recycling waste materials that would normally be taken to the local landfills. In 2010-11, GCR diverted over 315 tonnes (t) of the 420(t) hauled – A 75% diversion rate! (14% higher than competitors) Approximately 6.89(t) of furniture, clothing and other materials were donated to the Salvation Army or Habitat For Humanity and 7.5(t) of electronics and TVs were recycled refurbished or reused. With a goal of 100% DIVERSION by 2020, GCR continually strives to improve its reach and recycling practices, program development and active involvement in govt policy formation.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
Example 1: GCR organized an event called The Metro Vancouver Indian Arm Disposal Event. In September 2010, Green Coast Rubbish in partnership with Metro Vancouver offered the residents of Indian Arm a one-time, water access only, free debris disposal and recycling drop-off event.
This first of its kind event enabled Indian Arm residents to recycle and dispose of waste responsibly, conveniently and economically. This initiative recovered and recycled nearly 5 tonnes of metal and garbage, 90 litres of paint, 18 litres of used oil and 32 industrial and marine batteries.
This clean up event coincided with the national Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up and was held at the Cates Point Park dock facility in the District of North Vancouver. Cabin owners had the opportunity to bring in various types of debris by boat where it was appropriately sorted and disposed, and recycled.
Example 2: Following the City of Vancouver’s Summer Live Festival, held July 8-10th in Stanley Park, Green Coast Rubbish was called in by the City of Vancouver to dispose of 1155 pounds of polycoat milk cartons, in addition to approximately 45 pounds of plastic that had been left behind by party goers the day before. We are please to have been able to divert and recycle 100% of the material we hauled.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
Our biggest competitor is 1-800-Got-Junk & other similar companies. What sets us apart is our business model & dedication to DIVERSION rather than waste removal ONLY. GCR is progressive & environmentally conscious, we remove waste by hand sorting onsite and recycle it. We think globally & act locally! Our number one goal is to minimize waste going into our landfills by building strategic local partnerships to support from within. In 2010-11 we diverted over 315t of waste from landfills (420t total). A 75% diversion rate, (14% higher than competitors). Our goal is 100% DIVERSION by 2020. We specialize in 4 distinct market segments; Residential, Construction & Trades, Commercial, Strata & Property Management. We donate substantially to Salvation Army and The David Suzuki Foundation.
This Entry is about (Issues)
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءFounding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
Green Coast Rubbish was founded in 2006, when Eamonn was attending the University of British Columbia. Frustrated with the way waste was being managed in their communities, the boys (Eamonn and his brother Cein) founded GCR on the principles of NO WASTE IS WASTED and THINK GLOBALLY AND ACT LOCALLY. They devised ways to offer more environmentally conscious ways to deal waste and fell back on a support system from their past. The little red wagon. This logo is very symbolic for Green Coast, having it been used throughout their childhood and now some many years later as a vehicle for their dreams of ensuring a greener future, globally and in their own backyard. The Green Coast Team firmly believes change starts with one.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
100% Diversion By 2020. Green Coast Rubbish has conceived a goal of 100% Diversion of all waste/junk materials hauled – meaning; all the materials that GCR hauls will be recycled, donated or reused instead of going to the landfill. Upon reaching this goal, we plan to expand our business to include all of BC and then Canada. This is something that has never been done before and is a true testament to excellence and dedication in our team and awareness in our communities. A major part of our philosophy is not only servicing ones’ community, but also playing an essential role in it. We are providing sustainable solutions to current environmental issues, improve energy efficiency and ultimately reducing our collective carbon footprint, leaving behind healthy, green communities.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
We believe tracking is an essential part of our business especially in light of our goal. In 2010-2011 GCR hauled just over 420t of waste, we diverted 315t from the landfill by reusing, recycling & donating. (Approx 6.89t of furniture, clothing and other materials were donated to the Salvation Army/Habitat For Humanity.) GCR also participates/partners in many local charitable events, donating GREEN waste removal services, creating awareness and partnerships in the community and volunteering for a cause. For example: In September 2010, Green Coast Rubbish in partnership with Metro Vancouver offered the residents of Indian Arm a one-time, water access only, free debris disposal & recycling drop-off event. This first of its kind event enabled Indian Arm residents to recycle & dispose of waste responsibly, conveniently and economically. This initiative recovered and recycled nearly 5 t of metal and garbage, 90 litres of paint, 18 litres of used oil and 32 industrial and marine batteries.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
In 2011, we experienced a 54% increase in sales over 2010 and truly believe it is because we see our clients as partners, treat them as friends & work with them to improve our community together. Our impact over the next 5 years is an increased hauling tonnage and higher diversion rate. Keeping in line with our 2020 goal of 100% DIVERSION, we hope to haul a substantial 40% more than we currently do by 2016 and to be at a diversion rate of approximately 90%. This would equate to hauling approximately 700 t of junk per year and diverting 630 t from the landfill. GCR is currently developing a food scraps compost program for commercial businesses & multi-family buildings that will provide solutions for the 2015 composting legislative changes. GCR is also part of the Climate Smart program.
What barriers might hinder the success of your project? How do you plan to overcome them?
One of the largest barriers that we foresee in the near future is the rising cost of fuel. We hope to overcome or at least mitigate this issue by running alternative fuel sources on all vehicles. It is a large expense that we are planning to take on within the next 5 years, however, we feel it is necessary for our moral, environmental and financial fruition. GCR has also been planning to expand our operations by leasing warehouse space locally. This would allow for storing waste/recycling materials etc until such time that we could maximize truck capacity instead of transporting materials after each job. We have installed GPS in each vehicle for trip planning efficiency and we work with local recycling partners to limit transport as well. Other barriers include technology barriers & costs.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Identify a location for a warehouse.
المهمة الأولى
Contact a property manager/realtor to begin searching for a viable location.
المهمة الثانية
Adjust the operating budget and plan for the initial added expense.
المهمة الثالثة
Cost/price the set-up of the location if needed to serve our workability needs specifically.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Lease warehouse space and begin working the set-up plan
المهمة الأولى
Increase secured yearly waste removal contracts (budget allowance for the space).
المهمة الثانية
Plan strategic partnerships to maximize functionality and efficient use of the planned space.
المهمة الثالثة
Hire 1 employee to manage the daily operations of the warehouse.
مزيد من المعلومات↓↑ إخفاء↑ إخفاءأخبرنا عن شراكاتك:
One of the most important parts of our business are our partnerships. We rely on local businesses and municipalities & they rely on us. Using local recycling and donation partners is essential for us because we want to support local growing businesses/communities and also for our own diversion rate. We want to do as little driving as possible. We continually make new strategic connections in the communities that we work in, we like to keep a personable, friendly feel and get to know not only our clients but our partners as well. We support their initiatives and also help to make them green.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
Currently GCR is working on the North Shore and in the Greater Vancouver Area. We are focusing on increasing our market share here at home and getting our Diversion Rate to 100%, at which point we will look to replicate our business model in other parts of the province.
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
We feel that a major part of this philosophy is not only servicing ones’ community, but also playing an essential role in it. Not only are we keeping Vancouver & its surrounding communities greener & cleaner, we are advocating for healthier & safer places to live. Our team is very close, responsible & dedicated to our cause. Each & everyday we consciously strive to become better at what we do & to provide better service. We are active in our community, our industry and keep on top of reaching our goals. The GCR team takes pride their work and work hard together to make it happen.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
