Hosted by Amy Woidtke (woid-key) & Jessie Upp, M.S. in Seattle, Washington
When: Monday, October 20 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Fee: Free
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Inspired by our own Lisa Bradley's Mastermind Mondays, and the desire to THRIVE, not just survive in green business, we are launching a green business-focused mastermind group!
This is the first of an on-going meet-up to discuss problems and successes, set and meet goals, have accountability held and help your colleagues do that as well.
It really does work when you put the principles into play!
Things to think about:
If you come up with some answers, bring them! If you don't, come anyway!
We'll start by introducing ourselves so we all get a chance to know a tidbit about who does what. Then the "masterminding" will take place in smaller groups. After that, we'll have opportunity to share with the whole group again any breakthroughs, ideas, inspirations, feedback, etc.!
This is a really powerful group. Putting our minds together to help each other has proven quite successful in the Mastermind Mondays with Lisa. And, we really have an opportunity to learn more about each other's businesses as well in the process.
So who wants THRIVE in green business, whilst also making a difference to our community and the world beyond! It's time to get down to some seriously fun business here!
*NOTE: Mosaic offers this room free of charge. The going rate for room rentals like this are about $30-50/hour. Please consider putting even a wee bit in the donation box at the coffeehouse counter!
I'm so excited about this event folks! I've been thinking myself about how I can package my services differently for people with smaller budgets so they get maximum results for minimum cash.
Be interesting to see what each person's challenge is and what amazing solutions we come up with for each other!
WOOT WOOT!
I would like to attend, but think I have to make pizzas for bizniks coming to Pizza Works
Now that you know I won't be there - there is one thing I would like to toss at you. I have a BA in Environmental Biology / Botany from the stone ages. So I will throw out something to consider along with green business ideas.
We have customers who ask about biodegradable plates and containers. I sometimes have to get into green economics with them. We can get biodegradable containers and plates, pretty easily. The problem is too many people equate things like biodegradable with green / environmentally friendly. What they don't take into account is the larger picture. In the case of products I have been looking at, they are all manufactured in China. The choice comes down to plastic products made in the US versus biodegradable products made in China. If one weighs the environmental costs, we would have to consider that China has very lax environmental controls on the manufacture of the products, plus the biological burden of shipping. Not only does the Chinese manufactured product cost more, but it's environmental impact on the planet is greater. In some cases selecting the option that does not appear to be green is the actual green choice.
Hi Bob- Thank you for your comment.
One great suggestion you could give to your customers as they comment on not having bio-D plastic takeout ware is that they consider keeping a set of washables in a small bag or container with them in the car.
For larger parties, they can have a larger set that they don't care if it gets lost - say bought at thrift store or even acquired for free from Craig's List or Freecycle - and they would just need to wash them at end of the day.
Bringing your own takes a wee amount of brain re-training, just as bringing your own grocery bag, but people are finally jumping on the bandwagon with the grocery bags. Why can't it be the same with utensils, and for that matter, take out containers? Maybe not for pizzas but the concept works great for leftovers!
Look forward to seeing you at the next green mastermind Bob!
Bob, I just went to the Food Services of America Trade show event at the Convention center in Seattle. They had a several versions of Green and compostable containers made from corn products. The only problem I have is that none of them can be used with food needed to be heated. They did have lots of options for deli takeout items, silverware and straws which would work well for some food places. They also have a 'garbage bin' type of container for food scraps that is compost and will be offering compost pick ups for restaurants.
Zenith NaturalZ is a brand that has all kinds of 100% compostable paper wraps and bags, good for delis and bakeries. I wish there were more options for hot food items or items that need to be heated, but presently I use a recyclable paperboard product and also pyrex glass for some clients.
Bob, I've also got your Pizzaworks event scheduled for right after this meeting, so I may be running a bit late, but I'll stay and chat with you afterwards to fill you in on the Green group.
Linen and 'china' rentals are more green but there are biodegradeable corn and sugar cane products that the woodland park zoo uses now in the cafeteria :)
It all does come down to a shade of green toward eco-friendlier. Eventually the culture influences the corporations and there is a shift in green awareness in all aspects of our lives.
Soon, it will be common to be a MasterMind in this area, if all goes well!
I'm in! Just have to go from there to Lisa's Mastermind. My brain's going to be sore after all this Masterminding!!
~Kirsten
Neat bit is, you'll already be there! Same place, same room!
Amy - for a restaurant, bringing one's own container wouldn't work well. It would have to be washed by us before use, and in our case would introduce the possibility of cross contamination into our environment.
For their own leftovers, however, that is an excellent idea. And you are correct, this does require some brain retraining. Actually, I appreciate when a customer suggests we wrap that last piece of pizza in plastic or foil instead of using a box, but all too often, they request a box.
Remember 100 years ago taking leftovers would have meant bringing your own container. We have become a wasteful society.
Debra - I will have to check out those brands. I talked to quite a few vendors about green food containers at the Restaurant show at the convention center and found out that all of them had products made in China - nothing made in the US. For my customers I have to look at not only my costs, the Total Environmental Cost Of Ownership for using them, but also safety. The recent problem with milk based products tainted with Malamine is of real concern. Not only are their environmental controls lax, but also product safety. Since a lot of our customers (20%+) are wheat / gluten free and usually have other food allergies, product contamination is of concern. A corn based with a gluten or wheat binder or tainted with either wouldn't work for us.
Amy - for a restaurant, bringing one's own container wouldn't work well. It would have to be washed by us before use, and in our case would introduce the possibility of cross contamination into our environment.
For their own leftovers, however, that is an excellent idea. And you are correct, this does require some brain retraining. Actually, I appreciate when a customer suggests we wrap that last piece of pizza in plastic or foil instead of using a box, but all too often, they request a box.
Remember 100 years ago taking leftovers would have meant bringing your own container. We have become a wasteful society.
Debra - I will have to check out those brands. I talked to quite a few vendors about green food containers at the Restaurant show at the convention center and found out that all of them had products made in China - nothing made in the US. For my customers I have to look at not only my costs, the Total Environmental Cost Of Ownership for using them, but also safety. The recent problem with milk based products tainted with Malamine is of real concern. Not only are their environmental controls lax, but also product safety. Since a lot of our customers (20%+) are wheat / gluten free and usually have other food allergies, product contamination is of concern. A corn based with a gluten or wheat binder or tainted with either wouldn't work for us.
Yeah, I figured about the take home issue for food. That is why I only mentioned it as an option for leftovers :)
I actually dont go to places where they use styrofoam still. Even if I do love their food. If I can retrain my brain - yes, even I have retraining to do - then I can go to those places with my take home container with me!
I used to have an aversion for styrofoam too, but if you've even been around a pulp & paper plant, that aversion quickly dies. As a inde business, we have to take the dollar cost into account too.
The alternative is china, and there is an environmental (and labor) cost there too. I guess the most green alternative would be going back to the days of bread trenchers to eat our meals off of. I guess that is kind of what pizza is LOL
Bob - Compost-a-ware is so new it will be launched in November. Its made in the USA and all of the products are turned back into compost and sold as Cedar Grove. They do have some paper pulp products that may work for take out pizza containers - not like boxes for whole pizzas, but for small amounts of slices. They even provide compost boxes that they pick up weekly also. It's something that will take a while to implement but if lots of restaurants started using them, it could make a difference and also reduce the garbage pickups.
We deliver in canvas coolers with blue ice. Most of the other Meal delivery places use styrofoam boxes. Its much more expensive for me to do it in the reusable coolers but I refuse to use styrofoam.
I will not be able to make it to this event, but certainly will in the future. Great idea. Thanks for getting this started.
I'm looking forward to brainstorming at this event. Amy, we have a mutual friend (Gina Diamond) and similar businesses (I'm an interior designer) so I'm especially looking forward to meeting you.
I'm going to have to cancel. Sorry to miss you all and your creative brains, but I have an online project that will need my attention in the morning.
Thank you so much for starting this. It's great to see what discussion has already come out of it, and the event hasn't even happened yet! I'll look forward to it in the future.
Looking forward to meeting and playing with everyone tomorrow!
Still space for last minute joiners!
Bummer, Allison!
I was looking forward to meeting up again.
Good luck with that online project ~
Thank you Amy and Jessie for organizing this event. I found it to be a great use of my time and I look forward to this group expanding. The concepts are great and I think everyone added a unique input that I probably could not get anywhere else. See you at the next meeting.
4401 2nd Ave NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:00 AM
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