Worst Packaging Idea Ever!

"This is crazy!" How many times have you said that when you opened up a package that has been shipped to you? How many times is it an envelope inside a package, wrapped in bubble wrap, inside a box. It's enough to make

you crazy.

Note to people who ship things: If it's already in a box - try just putting a label on it! And there you have the shortest green post I'm capable of writing.

The Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, Profit

Those of you who have known me for awhile, know that I haven't always been the environment's best friend. Some of you will recall the joy with which I climbed into my new Range Rover (11 mpg) years ago. Things have changed a little for me, but it took a lot. It took the realization that making some changes would have an impact on my children's' lives, the planet (in a very small way), and my finances. And that's what sustainability is about for me. It's the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, Profit.

I know that business owners usually won't make changes just because it's the right thing to do for the planet. But when you combine that with employee health, improved productivity and cost savings, you have a compelling reason to make the change.

Here's a change you can make which fits all of the above criteria. I know I said I wouldn't talk about water bottles, but this is important (just ask my friend Ellen Volpe, from American Business Associates - see her comments to my previous post). You've heard this a thousand times, but many of you haven't yet made this simple effective change. Swap out the individual water bottles and even the big water cooler bottles for a water purification system that takes about the same space.

Here are just some of the benefits (people, planet, profit):

• No more lifting 42 pound bottles (people)
• No wasted office space for bottle storage (profit)
• Lower cost (profit)
• No landfill burden. Only 23% of water bottles are ever recycled (planet)
• Provides cleaner, purer water (people)
• Reduces carbon emissions from transportation and manufacturing of of water bottles (planet)

My friend, Alan Goldberg of WellSys NY can tell you a lot more about it (www.wellsysny.com or 1-866-681-AQUA (2782) ). He's knowledgeable and passionate about the subject and will show you how to do it right.

By the way, the Range Rover still sits in my driveway and is used very infrequently. My everyday car is now a Toyota Prius (averages 45 mpg). If you haven't already figured out the license plate, it's "Low Energy".

Thanks,

Ralph Benzakein

Lets Get Started

Here we go. I've been involved in the Green Movement for some time. I've also been involved in commercial real estate for quite some time. It makes sense for me to combine these two passions.

If you are a business owner and especially if you are a tenant, you should force yourself to read this from time to time. I promise to keep it brief and give you some tools for being green AND saving money. If you know me, you know there will be a healthy dose of sarcasm and cynicism. Not all green is good...I'll try to expose greenwashing whenever I can.
I promise to stay away from the painfully obvious ( " lets's get rid of plastic water bottles"). We'll focus more on the solutions ("the bottles are gone, but we're thirsty!, what's the best solution?")

I'm not sure how often I'll be posting, but if I become too prolific, you can dump me anytime and I won't be angry (hurt maybe, but not angry). Anyway, let's have some fun and do the right thing.

But for today, let's just start with a quick poll to see where you stand. See below