Renew with environmentally friendly paint

The latest RENEW magazine has an article about paint by Daniel Wurm from GreenPainters. He talks about how many regular paints "release low level toxic fumes, causing health problems and breathing irritation" plus he adds that there is also an environmental impact whereby volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may react in the environment to form ozone.

Daniel explains that there are alternatives, and his article covers low VOC products and plant based paints, the benefits and some of the downsides. He says "the biggest advantage of plant-based paints is the fact that they largely contain renewable resources, and because the ingredients are biodegradable, almost all waste products can be composted".

For most businesses, painting is an essential when setting up a new premises, or revamping an old one. And it's just as important if you work from home. According to Daniel, "using greener paints doesn't have to add significant cost to the project". For more details check out Green Painters or to read the full article, pick up a copy of RENEW at your local Aussie or NZ newsagent.

Sustainable Future

How to achieve our sustainable future ? A big question but one that needs to be asked at all levels of our society. This week I asked it of some new business owners in my Future Business workshop. We reviewed trends in areas such as population, climate, and energy - to be part of the future, business owners need to consider changes in the environment where their business operates and global environmental changes. And business owners will have an advantage if they understand the new values and expectations of their clients, suppliers, and their staff, especially in delivering more sustainable products and services. Our model for what makes a successful business is changing and developing. Rigid business structures are causing the demise of many businesses, while business owners that adapt to this new sustainable direction are positioned for the future.

And for the magic formula for success, there's no guaranteed recipe -but my tip is to look ahead, and to plan for a sustainable future.

To Twit or not to Twit?

Yes, I too have now decided to test my twitter wings - see my twitter page

2009 - Year of the OX

We are soon to enter a New Year, according to the Chinese Calendar, and one that is ascribed to the OX, and to the qualities of "diligence, reliability, sincerity, strength and sound judgement". Sounds like some good parameters to start the year, and so I want to feature a business that may fit all these parameters that is solidly moving forward, and that's about getting more out of less - in this case, more out of our waste.

WSN Environmental Solutions, which operates in the south west of Sydney, offers a " shift from landfill to resource recovery with the use of technology solutions that treat waste as a valued resource, divert waste away from landfill and produce outputs such as compost and green electricity." As well, the company offers guidance on how best to manage a wide range of waste, including commercial waste such as bricks, timber and tyres.

This is one business that made sound judgement and is looking forward. As we move to this Year of the OX, and into a tough year financially, we can all stop to assess what parts of our business are important and what will take us more soundly into the future.

Pic Ex Flickr The Ox by Grumbler %-|

Go Meet Online

Change in society always brings new business opportunities - and I have been working on one of these opportunites over the past few weeks. I was contracted to help develop a case study for small businesses to connect online with other small business owners, with suppliers and with clients. There are a flurry of new online meeting products now available to allow users to see each other, share desktops, and work on documents together at different offices. Our parameters meant that we wanted a program that would work on both Mac and PC environments, offer voice over IP, and be fairly simple to use.

We used an online meeting program called Megameeting, which allowed ten or so business owners to meet online in a virtual meeting room where we could chat, share tips, and discuss business challenges. While there definitely are improvements still to come in this emerging area, I have been amazed how everyone liked (even enjoyed!) this form of communication. It was great to conduct a meeting without having to catch public transport or fight through traffic and hunt for parking places. And with high petrol prices and airfares on the rise, it makes huge sense for business owners to consider using online tools where possible.

So "going green" may be as simple as changing the way you connect with those you need to meet regularly - and that could be just one more way to put you ahead of your competitors.

Growing Your Green Business

If you are located in Sydney (Australia) and would like to join a group sharing business ideas about green and renewable businesses, then join us at our new GreenBizCafe group, Monday 14th July at 6pm, at The Fair Trade Cafe 33 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe. Our guest panel for the first meeting will be Alistair Duncan (Eco Living Centre) and Don Pyke (EcoLimo Australia Pty Ltd) and myself. Our topic is "How to start up a Green Business" and not just one that claims to be green!!

As long as we all buy a coffee/tea or hot chocolate, entry is free, so join us there to build and promote your green idea. See Sydney Talks

Symptoms of Success

Affluenza – it’s something we can catch anytime of year, and it’s easy to see someone who has the disease. Symptoms are an oversized or overpowered car, a home that could you could get lost in, a waistline that displays too many dinners out, clothes and accessories worn only to impress, a mindboggling entertainment schedule, and constant chatter about the latest travel destinations. The other main sign is stress, and a booking in the local Happiness Seminar, as if happiness were something to be added to the list of purchases.

Affluenza is a direct result of our value system, of what we as a society promote as “success” - success being one or all of the above symptoms. I am not by any way rejecting a well thought out moderately comfortable lifestyle, but we all need to think about our values, individually and as a society. How can we aspire to living well and not to excess, how can we each meet our needs and then contribute in a meaningful way?

For everyone, the mix is different, but as a society, we are beginning to hold up new values – those of community, of sharing resources, of moderate consumption, and of entertainment that is based around connection with others. And the major spin off of this mind-shift is happiness, not a few hours of temporary joy, followed by a crashing emptiness, a happiness that is an inner comfort, a feeling good with the world.

Business is about achieving through transactions to supply what others need. If you are thinking about going into business, think about the new values that are emerging in our society. Think about a business that connects people, and helps them re-connect with the world of the future. We stand at the door of a new energy era, one where affluenza will no longer be the driving force in our economy, and small business owners that understand this will position themselves for real success in the next few decade.

Oil prices - going up -going down - and up again!

Our economy depends on oil, and the recent price hikes in crude oil are sending shock waves around the planet.  Personally, I think the excessively high prices at this time are driven by market speculation, very akin to the tulip frenzy in Holland some centuries ago. But even if there is a correction, over the next few years, the price of crude oil will rise, prompted by the clear evidence that cheap oil is becoming harder to access.  And, although we still have huge supplies of the stuff -  it now often costs more than the market will reasonably pay, to extract oil  from areas that have peaked, and from new dangerous, remote or deep offshore areas.  

At the same time, the increasing use of vehicles adds to the pressure - in 2007, globally we had about 622 million passenger vehicles, well up from about 53 million in 1950 (according to WorldWatch).  Add emerging China and India to that equation and we have a situation of more demand, and this will seriously impact prices. 

 

There is really only one way out of this - and that is to move, with a degree of urgency, to a non-oil based way of personal and business transportation.  I doubt if the local plumber can turn up to your house, with your new toilet and pipes,  using a push bike or via public transport, so there will have to be an alternative for him and for all those who need to move goods and sell services.  

It's time to review your transport - look at optimising your driving and review your next vehicle purchases.  For short distance driving, consider fully electric, and for longer distances, hybrid cars, or converting your existing vehicles to LPG.  In some areas, biodiesel may be the answer.  Look at whether you could change some your business processes, eg quoting or training,  to online. Rethink your location, combine deliveries and find creative ways to share journeys with others in and around your business.  Take time to plan - work out your dependence on the oil habit and find creative ways to kick your oil addiction. 

Picture ex Flickr World of Oil by Unity.Project