We’re very excited to announce that as of April 18th, 2011 Viv Biz Club members will have access to free shipping with all of our suppliers. Our members have always received free shipping on orders with Office Depot, but now all orders for World Centric’s compostable food packaging will also receive free shipping!

This is a big win for our members and it’s something we’ve been working on for quite some time.
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Buying printer paper used to be a relatively simple task for most small business owners & consumers. Increasingly though, it is getting much more difficult, and we are met with a huge array of options.

This is even more true for the environmentally-minded buyer who wants to purchase greener office paper and has to evaluate the eco benefits associated with each brand. In particular, it isn’t really clear to many buyers what “recycled content” means and what the best forms of recycled content are.

As such, I’ve put together a brief list highlighting two of the most significant eco attributes associated with recycled copy paper and various other goods. These are the things you should consider when making your purchase:

1) Recycled Content – This is one of the most significant factors to take into account. Whenever you’re buying copy paper, pens, filing folders, etc you should really look to see how much recycled material is in the product. Is it 20% or is it 80%? Normally, products with higher levels of recycled content will cost a bit more, but if you’re a savvy buyer or if you purchase in bulk you can still find really good deals on products with substantial levels of recycled content.

2) Post-Consumer Recycled Material – There are 2 main types of recycled content: post-consumer and pre-consumer. Post-consumer recycled content indicates that the content was used and thrown away (or placed in a recycling container) by a consumer (e.g., you or me) not a business. Pre-consumer recycled content means that the content in the product could have simply been discarded during the manufacturing process (e.g., trimmings from paper while slicing the paper into 8.5″ X 11″ size sheets). Post consumer content is considered to have a larger eco benefit than pre-consumer waste because post consumer waste is much more likely to end up in a landfill when it isn’t recycled.

To say it another way, companies are going to try and reuse all the copy paper trimmings that they can because it saves them money; they’re then going to recycle any remaining paper because they have a monetary incentive to do so; consumers, however, do not have these financial incentives, and thus are far more likely to throw away copy paper that they have used. So by purchasing products with large levels of post consumer content you’re providing more incentives for cities to run efficient curbside recycling programs and in the end providing more incentives for consumers to recycle.

Finally a product which is only tagged as having a certain percentage of “recycled content” (without stating whether it is pre-consumer or post-consumer) is merely stating that they either do not know whether the recycled material is post or pre-consumer or that the product is made from a mix of pre-consumer & post-consumer material and they do not know what the mix is.

The most eco-friendly choice is to use a type of recycled paper that is made of 100% recycled content and if at all possible a very large percent (e.g., 70%, 90%, or 100%) of post consumer recycled content.

Are you ready to eat some funnel cake!!

Well you better be because we’re getting ready to dive into some of the richest, moistest, most savory funnel cake this weeks green blogosphere has to offer – Welcome to the Green Business Blog Carnival, Contest #16!

If you missed last weeks contest, head over to Doc’s Green Blog to get your fix.

And without further ado, lets welcome this weeks top contenders:

In Green Washing we have Nick, from TriplePundit.com, who tells us about a not so sweet idea from the jokers over at the corn lobby to change the name of high fructose corn syrup to “corn sugar.” If you haven’t heard about this yet, it’s a must read. This has been all over the news and blogosphere and has completely blown up in the face of the corn industry.

In Green Energy we have Antonio, from EnergyRefuge.com, discussing the differences between renewable and sustainable energy and some of the controversies surrounding types of renewable power.

In Eco Awards we have Jeff, from SundanceChannel.com, who’s giving us the skinny on Alex Eaves, founder of Stay Vocal (a company that sells redesigned used t-shirts) who is promoting his Green America People’s Choice Award nomination with a US tour… along with singer/songwriter Dandelion Snow.

In Health and Wellness we have David, from TheGoodHuman.com, who’s put together a list of 10 toxic ingredients to avoid when shopping. You must be 48 inches or taller to ride this one folks – it can get a little scary.

In Social Resources we have Lorna, from GreenMarketing.tv, who’s assembled a meaty list of the best social entrepreneur blogs. If you run a socially oriented business or are thinking about starting one, get your bookmarking tool ready.

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So that’s the lineup.

Thanks to all our contestants for sharing such wonderful content! I’ll speak for myself and say that after reading all that tasty cake, I’m feeling plump and happy – hope you are as well :-).

Are you a Green Business Blog Carnival Roadie?

Next week the carnival is heading over to CleanTechnica, so make a note and stop over for another dose of deep-fried goodies, whirly rides, and meaty green news. (the full schedule and past hosts are over at Sustainablog.com)

And green bloggers don’t forget to submit your posts to star in next week’s carnival!

I was down in Atlanta last weekend and I had the pleasure of getting together with Becky Striepe, editor of EatDrinkBetter.com and a fellow eco blogger.

Becky and I were chatting a bunch about the green blogosphere and our businesses, and she raised an interesting question / concern about compostables… one that I think a lot of the more liberal folks in the green space have.

She asked “I wonder sometimes whether compostables are a crutch for consumers who should really be using reusables?”

It’s an excellent question and given the fact that we (as Viv) are enabling businesses to purchase compostables at a discount, it’s one that we’ve definitely thought through.

Here are our thoughts:

1. For most consumers using compostables in their home, our answer is yes – compostables rarely make sense. Just as there’s no need to use disposable plastic cutlery or plastic cups in your home, there’s really no need to use compostables either. Most consumers will save money by using reusables as opposed to single use plastic items or compostables. Really the only argument for using disposables is that it’s more convenient, and even this argument is tenuous. Is it really that much more convenient to eat with a plastic fork then to pull a metal one out of the drawer and throw it in the dishwasher once you’re through? I think the vast majority of folks would say it’s no more convenient and for the few that say it is, that extra convenience should not outweigh the increased cost of having to purchase disposables.
2. For a few consumers using compostables for large events or social gatherings, our answer is maybe – compostables make sense sometimes. It honestly depends on how large your gathering is and what your appetite is for cost vs convenience. Example: say you’re having a big BBQ for 150 guests. Unfortunately, you only have enough plates & cutlery for 40 guests. Does it make sense to go out and buy another 110 ceramic plates just for the party? This definitely doesn’t make economic sense and it also doesn’t make environmental sense (the footprint of those 110 ceramic plates which are only getting 1 or 2 uses / yr is much larger than that of 110 disposables). You could try and borrow these items from friends, but that may be too inconvenient (you have to borrow from 3 different neighbors and send them home with dirty dishes?). You could also hire a catering service that could bring ceramic and metal tableware, but that may be too costly. In such a case, compostables are your best disposable option. On the other hand, if your BBQ only has 30 guests, you could just use your own items – no disposables needed. Sure it’s a little extra cleanup, but it’s also lower cost and a more enjoyable dining experience.
3. For most businesses, our answer is no – compostables are not a crutch and they make sense for to go food. Food service businesses that focus on take out move through very high volumes of food, and as such they use large amounts of food packaging & tableware. When you’re delivering food and beverage to potentially thousands of customers a day, two problems arise if you want to use reusables for your to go packaging: a) most importantly, reusables are more expensive and if you give someone their two enchiladas in a reusable container to take home… it’s very likely you’re not going to get that container back. This, I think, is fairly obvious and is the primary reason why most businesses can not use reusables for to go packaging, b) secondly, many to go focused businesses are small operations with limited space and limited employees. Even if customers were to return their reusable packaging (or say if they just ate their two enchiladas at a local park and then dropped the container back off before heading back to work) it may not be economically feasible for a taco truck to wash & store all these returned dishes. (PS – if it wasn’t clear, we always recommend food service businesses use reusables for folks that are dining in… it’s cheaper, better for the environment, and a better dining experience for the customer).

So that’s our take.

What do you think? Should people be using compostables in their homes, at large events, or for their businesses?

As you know, we’re big fans of killer recycling signage, and we believe the best type of recycling signs are large, 3 dimensional, and out of the ordinary.

Recently, Shefali Bhardwaj (an old Viv intern!), spotted these signs outside of a Trader Joe’s in Boston. They definitely fit our bill.

What do you think? Would these signs make you more likely to recycle your aluminium cans and plastic bottles?

Looking to make a purchase? Check out our 100% compostable utensils.

Plastic cutlery is used around the world by restaurants and food service businesses. Unfortunately, it wastes a lot of resources and is rarely recycled.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way.

Today, we’d like to share 2 quick reasons why you shouldn’t be using plastic cutlery, the 2 reasons why most people & businesses do use it, and then a few recommendations for both consumers and businesses who would like to reduce their plastic cutlery consumption.

Why you shouldn’t use plastic cutlery

#1 – The vast majority of plastic cutlery can’t be recycled

First of all, only 6% of all plastic waste in the US is recycled. Let me repeat that – only 6% of all plastic waste in the US is recycled. That’s a very low number.

Most plastic cutlery is made from a type of plastic known as polystyrene¹. Polystyrene or expanded polystyrene is more commonly referred to as Styrofoam. It is very difficult to recycle Styrofoam. Most municipalities simply do not offer Styrofoam recycling and thus plastic cutlery that is put into a recycling bin is usually just sorted out at the recycling facility and sent to a landfill.

#2 – It creates waste

This is a bit of a no-brainer, but I want to paint the full picture here. If you use plastic cutlery and don’t or can’t recycle it, then it’s sent to a landfill.

If you use compostable cutlery however it can be composted and instead of piling up in a landfill it can be used as fertilizer in your garden (or in someone else’s garden).

If you’re using re-usable cutlery or metal cutlery, even better. You completely avoid the process of creating a single use item, and again – no solid waste is created.

But solid waste isn’t the only thing that’s wasteful about plastic cutlery. Plastic cutlery also takes energy and water to create. Some compostable food packaging manufacturers for instance can make 2 compostable forks (made of PLA derived from corn) using the same energy used to make 1 polystyrene fork.

Why plastic cutlery is so widely used today

#1 – Cost

The simple fact is that compostable utensils are one of the few compostable food packaging items where costs have not come down significantly, relative to available plastic options. A case of compostable cutlery can be 3x or 4x the price of a case of plastic cutlery ($10 for a case of 1,000 plastic forks vs $30-$40 for a case of 1,000 compostable forks). This can be tough to stomach, particularly for small business owners of restaurants & cafes who operate on very thin margins.

The trouble is that the cost of plastic cutlery doesn’t account for its full environmental cost. It doesn’t account for the landfill space needed, the increased energy used to manufacture it, and it sure doesn’t account for the BP Oil Spills of the world.

#2 – Convenience

Plastic cutlery makes life easier on businesses, who instead of having to wash a host of metal forks, spoons, and knives, can simply ask cutomers to discard their cutlery once they’re done eating.

It also makes life easier on consumers who are hosting events or parties with a large amount of guests. No clean-up involved – simply toss the utensils in the trash.

This factor I take serious issue with however. Most households and businesses have dishwashers that make the cleaning process very quick and efficient… and even if they don’t, how long does is really take to clean a big batch of utensils?

Recommendations

For consumers, I’d like to recommend the following:

1. Use re-usable metal cutlery whenever you’re eating at home with your family.
2. If you’re throwing a big event and must use disposables, please purchase compostable cutlery.
3. If you’re offered plastic cutlery by a business (e.g., you’re picking up some to go food), ask yourself if you really need it. Over the past few years, I’ve started turning down almost all plastic cutlery that I’m offered. It’s a bit awkward at first with cashiers, but you get used it, and it’s the only way we’re going to educate businesses that they don’t need to hand out plastic cutlery in every to go bag.

For businesses and restaurants, I’d like to recommend the following:

1. For customers that are dining in, please use metal re-usable cutlery. Plastic just doesn’t taste good in your mouth and you’ll find most of your customers would much prefer to eat with metal cutlery (I know I do). The improved dining experience should be well worth the cleaning, and in the end you’ll end up saving money as you’ll only be paying for a little water and soap to wash your cutlery… as opposed to paying for a new fork for each customer.
2. For customers that are getting their food delivered – they’re at home! What home does not have metal cutlery in the drawer. These folks do not need disposables.
3. For customers that are taking their food to go, please ask them if they need disposable cutlery before simply putting it in their to go bag. Many customers are heading home or back to work where they have access to re-usable cutlery and will simply throw away your plastic cutlery (I know you’ve seen this happen just as many times as I have). Save the cutlery and the money and ask the question first.
4. And lastly, in the event you do have to give out disposable cutlery – use compostable cutlery. Not plastic.

Are you finding ways to reduce the amount of plastic cutlery you use in your home or business? Let us know in the comments!

References:
1) Wikipedia: Plastic

There are a lot of things folks don’t know when they’re purchasing paper coffee cups. Here’s what you should be looking for if you’re trying to make sustainable choices when purchasing your paper coffee cups.

#1 – Do you need to be using disposable cups in the first place?

A lot of folks who purchase paper coffee cups simply don’t need to be buying them. They’re purchasing the cups for an office or an area where there is just not a large throughput of traffic. If this is the case, you should be using a re-usable mug or container. Paper coffee cups are needed for “to-go” purposes at cafes where they can’t be handing out ceramic mugs that cost $1 a pop to folks who aren’t going to return the mugs. They’re also needed at some events and venues where there is just such a high throughput of people that it’s not economically feasible for a business to carry & maintain (i.e. wash) re-usable mugs.

Studies have been conducted to compare the environmental footprint of re-usable cups vs. paper coffee cups. Typically, manufacturing a re-usable mug takes more energy then manufacturing a paper coffee cup. The break-even point at which a re-usable coffee cup becomes more environmentally friendly than a paper coffee cup is actually quite low though – just 24 uses.¹

If you’re in an office space, we definitely recommend pushing your co-workers to use a re-usable mug. You’ll be doing some good for the environment in less than a month :-).

#2 – Is the paper in the cup recycled or is it FSC certified?

Virgin paper has a significantly higher environmental footprint than recycled paper. Run a few calculations over at the Environmental Defense Fund’s Paper Calculator to see the numbers for yourself. Increasing recycled content in your cup results in a direct 1:1 drop in the amount of wood used (e.g., using cups with 50% recycled content as opposed to 0% requires 50% less wood) as well as reductions in the amount of energy used, waste water, and solid waste (these reductions are not 1:1, but are still significant at anywhere from 1:5 to 1:3).

Similarly, paper that is FSC certified comes from well managed forests which means that the forests are managed according to the strictest sustainability standards, which include:

• Strong forest and environmental protection standards
• Requiring protection of old growth and endangered forests
• Establishing limits on large-scale clear cutting
• Encouraging forestry practices that reduce toxic chemical use
• Strong community protection standards
• Consistently protecting native peoples rights

And that’s just naming a few.

#3 – Is the Paper PCF or ECF?

PCF standards for processed chlorine free. ECF stands for elemental chlorine free.

Why is it important to purchase paper that is PCF or ECF? White paper bleached with Chlorine and Chlorine Dioxide emits dioxins and other organochlorides into the air and water. These toxins get into the food chain and accumulate in the fat cells of animals. Through consumption, dioxin moves up the food chain and reach their highest concentration in the animals who are at the top of the food chain. As you would guess, humans occupy one of these slots. Once in our bodies, dioxin help cause diabetes, endometriosis, immune system suppression, infertility and cancer.

#4 – Are the paper coffee cups compostable?

If you can compost your paper coffee cups than you are eliminating the solid waste created by these cups.

Paper coffee cups can be certified compostable according to standards ASTM D6400 and EN13432. The simplest way to check whether a brand of cups is certified compostable is to check the Biodegradable Products Institute’s list of approved food service products.

It’s also important to note that cups that are lined with PE, polyethelyne, are not accepted by 90% of composting facilities that accept food waste (as the PE contaminates the compost). There are cups out there that are lined with PE and have been greenwashing and claiming to be compostable (see Perfectouch Hot Cups). Be sure to steer clear of these cups if you’re planning on composting your paper coffee cups.

Hope they’re helpful!

(PS – Do you have a 5th question we should be asking? Drop it in the comments and share it with our community)

References:
1) Ask Pablo. Disposable Cups vs. Reusable Mugs.

If you haven’t seen them yet, we’ve been busy the past few weeks creating a series of educational videos on topics related to compostable food packaging.

We’ve noticed over the past several months that a very serious knowledge gap exists amongst purchasers of compostable food packaging. Many buyers are unclear or confused about: 1) how to purchase compostables that are truly green, and 2) how and where to compost compostable packaging.

As a result, we decided to explore some of these issues through a few in-office Viv shorts. Hope you enjoy!

Viv Video: Biodegradable Packaging vs Compostable Packaging – DON’T get Greenwashed

Viv Video: 4 Tips To Ensure Your PLA Corn Cups Are Actually Composted

Viv Video: 4 Tips to Buying Truly Green Biodegradable Coffee Cups

Viv Video: Bagasse Products & Packaging – Why We’re Big Fans of Bagasse

(PS – I’m thinking a blue collared shirt for the next videos :-)… need to keep up this solid colored golf shirt motif)
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Last week we highlighted a major issue that eco-minded businesses are facing:

Plastic food packaging is preventing many of them from recycling more, composting more, and moving toward zero waste.

One of the recommendations we discussed to increase your businesses waste diversion was to eliminate or dramatically reduce the size of your trash can.

Today, I’d like to go into more depth here on this issue and why I think this is one of the most powerful and under utilized tactics to increasing your waste diversion rate as a business.

4 reasons why you should eliminate or dramatically reduce the size of your trash can

1. Eliminating your trash will dramatically increase your recycling & composting rates. Why is this true? Well, changing a person’s behavior is not an easy thing to do. If unmotivated, people tend to do what they’re used to, what’s easy, and what’s comfortable. Most people are used to putting all of their waste in 1 trash can. So long as a trash can is available, that will continue to happen. That’s why you need to do something that will force behavior change. If you’re used to putting all your trash in a trash can and all the sudden there is no trash can… well, now you have to figure out what to do with that waste.
   • *ENTER OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR*. Now you’re confused. You have a bunch of waste, but no trash can, and you’re looking for someone to tell you what to do with your waste. This is where amazing recycling and composting signage + trained employees are key. These signs & people educate you and tell you to put your recyclables in the recycling bin and your compostables in the composting bin. And as a result, you change your behavior and divert more of your waste to recycling and composting bins.
2. Cut down on your waste hauling costs. Many municipalities and waste haulers charge money to take away your trash. If you have less trash, then that’s less money spent having it hauled away. Further, some cities (e.g., San Francisco) offer businesses rebates if they shift their waste from trash to recycling & composting.
3. 

   The DIY Bin Solution Constructed by Rigolo

   Save space in your store or office. Many of the small businesses we’ve worked with have told us that they have trouble finding space for 3 bins: trash, composting, and recycling in the front of their house. The simple solution – eliminate your trash can and move to a 2 bin system for recycling & composting only.
4. 3-compartment waste containers can be hard to find. We’ve also heard this from multiple business owners. One of the businesses we’ve worked with, Rigolo, in Laurel Heights in San Francisco, CA had such a difficult time finding a classy 3 bin system that he eventually had to go forward with a DIY approach (shown to the right), where he sawed holes into the lids of these bins. If you only need 2 bins, there are more options available and you don’t encounter these problems.

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As you know, we cover a lot of innovations in the food packaging space. We’re big fans of compostables and all the innovation that’s taking place in that industry, but a new product is really taking the idea of compostable to a whole new level:

Meet Jelloware – an edible concept cup made entirely out of agar agar (a vegan gelatin derived from red algae that’s often used in Asian deserts).

The cups are designed by The Way We See The World, a New York based design consultancy. They’re available in various flavors to compliment your drink, including: lemon-basil, ginger-mint, or rosemary-beet. They are disposable and are meant to be thrown in the grass to biodegrade after you’re finished (and as TWWSTW points out, agar agar actually nourishes the growth of plants).
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