Life Without Plastic Blog

Green Festival Fun and Connections

I'm now back in Wakefield and very much into the swing of daily life after an invigorating few days in San Francisco for the Green America Green Business Conference and Green Festival. I love the laid back and friendly energy of San Fran. Heck, I think I even left some of my heart there.

In my previous blog posts about this trip I've talked a bit about my travels to the city, the city itself, a few of the neat folks and companies I met, and some tidbits from conference presentations. In this final trip missive, I need to tell you about the fun fun time I had on my final day while taking in the Green Festival.

Since we discovered the amazing Beth Terry and her now legendary Fake Plastic Fish blog a couple of years ago, Chantal and I have been great fans of Beth and her mission. She is one of our heros. She is living with as little plastic as possible in the most tangible and vivid way. She tracks her monthly plastic consumption down to the last plastic envelope window - all weighed and recorded in a chart - and explains it in depth with superbly researched recommendations on how to decrease one's plastic use in everyday life and beyond. So it was a great honour for me to actually meet Beth in person at the Green Festival.

We met at the main entrance to the Festival where Cirque du Soleil performers were enticing folks to be filmed doing the 'bug dance' (neither of us knew what it was either - kind of like the macarena, but with a buggy twist here and there) and possibly win free Festival tickets. Beth and I both decided to pass on that one, but many others went for it.

While browsing through the Festival we came across the ChicoBag booth, and Beth was immediately drawn to a huge pile of plastic bags sitting to the side of the table.  "Is that the Bag Monster costume?" she inquired. Yes, it was! Next obvious question: "Can I try it on?" You betcha. I followed suit, and luckily we both had our cameras.

Strangely enough it is very comfy cozy, and one feels suddenly compelled to move in new ways and shake that plastic booty - well, at least that's how I felt. It also felt good to take it off.

For me, another highlight of the Conference and Festival was connecting with the lovely Lunaladies. Fellow Canadians, Suzanne and Madeleine run Lunapads - the web's finest collection of natural menstrual products.

 

So what's a guy doing talking about feminine hygiene? Just that, talking about it! Enough of the taboos - what these gals are doing is awesome and so needed. They are providing high quality, healthy, environmentally-friendly - and apparently very comfy - alternatives to the synthetic disposable pads many women still rely on. Unsure about switching? Check out this page of their website, which gives the low down (no pun intended) on why to switch to reusable products. At one point, the Lunaladies and Beth were talking in detail about pads and periods, and I was just sort of there, walking along with them. One of the three, I don't remember which, said she hoped I wasn't uncomfortable talking about this stuff. I assured her that no, I see it as part of life. And then I was thrilled when she said that I must be in touch with my feminine side. I certainly try to be - wow, what a compliment. I sometimes wonder what the world would look like if everyone was in touch with their feminine side. I do believe that day will come.

I left the Conference and Festival enthused and full of ideas. Here in Wakefield, we live in a community that is close and special. People help each other out. We party together. We share in each others good times and bad. We work toward social goals with local passion and global vision. It's good to know that there are similar communities out there in the business world working along the same lines.

Jay Sinha, Co-Owner
LifeWithoutPlastic.com

Full Head Syndrome

Wow. What a day. My mind is full of stimulating ideas and inspiration. Here are some paraphrased tidbits from speakers throughout the day...  (photo credits:  Green America)

Bob Johansen, Author of Leaders Make the Future
Distinguished Fellow
Institute for the Future

On the future:  In today's world of volatile-uncertain-complex-ambiguous global challenges "you should be confused. The most dangerous people are those who think they know what is going on." 
"We need to learn from our kids through reverse mentoring."
"Fun can change behaviour for the better."  Check out these initiatives spearheaded by Volkswagen to prove that fun can be a positive behavioural influence: The Fun Theory

Margot Fraser, Author of Dealing with the Tough Stuff
Founder & Former CEO, Birkenstock USA

"Running a business is hard. Running a socially responsible business is harder. Running a socially responsible business in a recession is as hard as it gets."

Joey Shepp
Founder & CEo, Earthsite LLC

On the power of social media tools like blogs, Facebook Twitter:  "Sharing happens fast, so 'if you're not transparent, they'll see right through you.'"

Jerry Stifelman
Founder & Creative Director, The Change

His talk about authentic branding - making the most of yourself by understanding the relationship between thinking, feeling, doing - was amazing. For me, the highlight of the conference so far. It's really very simple, just be yourself and tell the truth. Precepts at the core of our business. His three rules for branding in an authentic way: "Don't be an asshole. Don't pretend to be an angel. Don't pretend you have no self-interest." And his final words of wisdom: "Be the opposite of bullshit." The words may sound profane and flippant, but if you think about them in the context of this era of greenwashing, they are actually profound and meaningful. OK, maybe you had to be there. At any rate, the message was: just be yourself and tell the truth.

Theresa Marquez
Chief Marketing Executive, Organic Valley Family of Farms

Our barriers are not technological. We have the technology and energy necessary. "We are just not cooperating enough."

Libby Reder
Head of Environmental Initiatives, eBay, Inc.

"The greenest product is often the one that already exists."

Be yourself. Be well.

Jay Sinha, Co-Owner
LifeWithoutPlastic.com

Local Urban Passion, Green Vibrations, Mamalution, and the Golden Alchemy of Herbs

The San Francisco Green Business Conference began this evening with Jenny McNulty of Urban Solutions talking about how her organization works with businesses in disadvantaged areas of San Francisco to help them implement sustainable business practices.  The owners of three local businesses - Small Potatoes Catering, Miss Saigon, and the under construction Passion Café - each spoke passionately about how they have embraced sustainability in numerous aspects of their businesses, thanks to Urban Solutions.

I usually find that the best part of conferences like this - or any conference for that matter - is the people you meet.  Here are a few of the fascinating folks I met this evening:

• Imani and John, owners of The Green Vibration Eco-Boutique, and Alchemy Juice Bar Café, and founders of the Growing Green Co-op, all in Hartford, Connecticut.  And Imani is also the force behind the Mamalution movement and network/blog and soon-to-be book.  As her site explains:  "Mamalution is a a grassroots movement of moms taking back the planet! We are passionate about making a difference for future generations by living simply, making sustainable choices, and empowering others to do the same."  These are dynamic folks - especially given that they have six kids too!
• Ashley Beckman and her partner created Golden Path Alchemy, which is a holistic, handmade herbal skincare company "that combines Western herbs, therapeutic essential oils, flower essences, and gem elixirs to create powerful healing blends that transform your skin from ordinary to extraordinary."  Very cool.  And of course I love the fact that all of their magical products are packaged in glass! And some of them in that lush funky deep blue glass. No plastic at all!

Amazing what others are doing all over the place, following their passions, living their values, constantly creating. Even when they have six kids. Yeah, that really impressed me.

Jay Sinha, Co-Owner
LifeWithoutPlastic.com