The past few days 2nd Green Revolution has written about The Natural Step and companies in Oregon that are working to implement this sustainable approach to business. In today’s post we are highlighting a few more businesses and the steps they are taking to be more in line with natural systems. They include a cleaning company, an auto repair shop, and a pizza delivery place. On first glance, companies in this line of work would seem to have a difficult time running a sustainable business, but as seen in the documentary, Passion for Sustainability, they take into account numerous factors in their everyday decision making. All of this leads to more sustainably managed businesses.
TerraClean, a cleaning company whose trucks and cleaning systems run on vegetable oil, uses non-toxic, bio-based materials. Patricia Uber, founder of the company, uses three questions when assessing whether or not to purchase products
- Does it work well?
- How far does the product travel from manufacturer to product floor?
- Are the values of the manufacturer in line with the Terra Clean philosophy of not using any toxic substances?
Jim Houser, owner of Hawthorne Auto, has eradicated the use of petroleum based solvents to clean greasy engine parts. He instead invested in a hot water washing system, which he acknowledges requires energy to run, but prefers the new system. Plastic, one quart bottles of motor oil have been replaced by an “Air Boy”, a dispenser of oil (much like a soda machine). In addition, freon has been replaced by a CFC free refrigerant.
Portland’s Hot Lips Pizza has taken a unique step to deliver their pizzas in a quick and efficient manner. They use electric cars to deliver orders. To keep the area economy healthy, they purchase local and organically grown produce in and around Portland. Owner David Yudkin prefers to buy from neighborhood producers, which decreases the distance traveled, keeps money in the local economy, and supports food that is grown for its flavor, not its ability to withstand long distances.
All three of these businesses show that thinking about sustainable practices can be a major component of a company’s ethos. These three have set themselves apart as leaders in a burgeoning field and stand as innovators in their respective areas.
[image source: Explore the Pearl]
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