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By Ayate Temsamani, Green America's Climate Fellow

A few years ago, a young boy named Kevin Brown made national news after pollution from an industrial factory near his home triggered repeated asthma attacks. Kevin was going to emergency rooms week after week. His mother, Lana Brown, said, "I would look outside and I would see him just leaning on a tree or leaning over a pole, gasping, gasping, trying to get some breath so he could go back to playing.” The Chicago neighborhood where Kevin grew up has some of the country’s most polluted air. Across the country many industrial facilities, including fossil fuel powered generators, are located in lower-income communities. Residents often seek help from activist groups and non-profit organizations to strengthen their voice and fight back against polluters, but these environmental justice groups are often under-resourced and can’t fight all the companies that poison low-income communities.  

Unfortunately, Kevin's case is not uncommon in low-income communities of color, specifically in Black and Latino neighborhoods where the asthma rate is extremely high. In the United States, asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease of childhood as it affects more than 6 million or 8.3% of the United States’ children. However, Black children are disproportionately affected compared to white children, as Black children are “79% more likely to live in neighborhoods where industrial pollution is suspected of posing the greatest health danger.”  

Impacts from fossil fuel plants are suspected contributing factors to higher mortality rates in these communities as they are more exposed to pollution. According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) report, “68% of African Americans live near a coal-fired power plant”. Latinos are also disproportionately exposed to these toxic chemicals. A 2016 report from the Clean Air Task Force states that “the air in many Latino communities violates air quality standards intended to protect human health” and Latino children are more likely to die from an asthma attack than white children.   

Fortunately, there are environmental justice solutions ready to be implemented to protect the planet and the most vulnerable communities burdened with fossil fuel effects. Let’s explore the problems, solutions, and how you can get involved.  

How Fossil Fuels Damage Communities 

The combustion of fossil fuels releases fine particles and ground-level ozone, which are harmful pollutants. Carbon dioxide and other gases emitted in this process amplify the greenhouse effect and spur climate change. The combustion of oil and coal releases nitrogen oxides, sulfur and carbon as well as hydrocarbons, lead, soot and heavy minerals. Surface mining of coal through destructive practices (e.g. strip mining and mountaintop removal) is responsible for releasing toxic chemicals including heavy metals and arsenic. These chemicals pollute waterways, contaminating community groundwater.  As for natural gas extraction, and in particular fracking for natural gas, the chemicals used are hazardous, and are usually stored in open-air waste pits, releasing toxins in the air. These toxic chemicals affect human health causing not only physiological damages to the lungs, kidneys and blood streams but also damages to the brain as well.  

Particles from burning fossil fuels may exist in the air for several weeks at a time and can travel miles. When we breathe, toxic particles invade the lungs and get carried into the bloodstream. The World Health Organization estimates that worldwide 1.6 million people die from lung cancer each year. In the US, heart disease, stroke, cancer and respiratory illnesses are among the leading causes of deaths, and toxins released through the combustion of coal are directly linked to these diseases. A United Nations organization has calculated that global climate change is already the cause of 400,000 premature deaths every single year; recent reports show that pollution kills three times as many people as AIDs, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. These health risks extend from our heavy reliance on fossil fuels. In 2017, 31.8% of energy came from natural gas, 28% from petroleum and 17.8% from coal, whereas energy produced by renewable energy was only 12.7%. Major users of electricity like the telecoms sector should be purchasing and demanding clean energy sources.  

The Role of the Telecom Industry in Environmental Justice 

The burning of fossil fuels presents a significant environmental justice issue: harming public health and contributing to premature deaths in our country. Switching to renewable energies would decrease air pollution from energy sources and the risks associated with it.  In identifying sectors which lag in clean energy use, the telecommunications industry stands out as a large entity with significant influence on the climate with its use of over 3 million megawatt hours (MWh) of energy usage, mostly from fossil fuels. This industry emits 16 million tons of CO2 every year from its heavy reliance on dirty energy.  

AT&T and Verizon, the two leading US companies in the industry, have a combined electricity usage that could power 2.6 million homes for a year. Most of the sector’s energy use goes to maintain networks and data centers. The telecommunications industry relies heavily on these centers and access networks running 24/7 so we can stay connected. That connectivity comes at a high environmental and human health cost as data centers and networks serving the telecom industry are powered by fossil fuels.  

One of the effects of climate change is an increase of intensified storms that pose severe threat to human life and widespread devastation. Natural disasters leave in their wake destroyed communities and costly recovery efforts that are both labor and resource intensive. Telecom companies, particularly Verizon, call attention to the assistance they lend to impacted areas. These efforts are commendable, however when companies fail to take direct action to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions, they are neglecting the most impactful way they can curb climate change.  

Consumer interest and pressure urging these telecom giants to move to renewable energy sources is having an impact. In just the past year, T-Mobile committed to 100% renewable energy and AT&T has made commitments to purchase wind power that equal about 30% of its energy use.  But, Verizon, which is the largest player in the industry, only gets 2% of its energy from renewable sources, and is only committed to doubling that, to a paltry 4%, over the next few years.  And Sprint derives less than 1% of its energy from renewables. As the demand for energy from telecoms grows, they need to do more.  All telecom companies in the US need to commit to reaching 100% renewable energy by 2025. 

Environmental Justice: Pushing for Equitable Solutions  

The long-term consequences of pouring greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants into our atmosphere are dire, and there are also immediate impacts, which often afflict the poorest people worldwide. Studies have shown that the effects of climate change affect communities differently, and that minorities and marginalized groups are the most affected. The question of environmental justice then becomes that of the distribution (among individuals, social groups, countries) of the burdens related to environmental policies (risk prevention, changes in practices, restoration of degraded environments). Who will pay for the environmental degradation? and how? The burden is usually felt by the most vulnerable, known as "frontline communities". We could prevent 7,000 deaths a year caused by heart disease just by cutting pollution in communities of color to the same level of white neighborhoods. There are many climate justice organizations including Hip Hop Caucus, California Latino Water Coalition, Center of Race Poverty and the Environment, Indigenous Environmental Network, among others fighting daily for equal protection against climate change.  

Fossil fuel projects impact communities nationwide, including both “Red” and “Blue” states. This is a problem that cuts across political party lines. In 2016, the state of Maryland issued a permit for the construction of a new power plant in Brandywine, rural southern Prince George’s county, which is a majority Black community. The Panda Mattawoman power plant would be a new gas-fired power plant expected to increase the already high level of air pollution in the area, where a total of five power plants will be operating by 2019. According to the American Lung Association, Prince George’s county violates air quality standards, mostly due to the highly polluted air in Brandywine, where power plants are clustered. A coalition of environmental groups and activists are outraged by the state’s decision to permit another power plant to open near their homes. Residents of Brandywine filed a federal civil right complaint as they believe state legislators discriminate against their community, where 72% of residents are Black. Kamita Gray, president of the BTB Neighborhood Coalition stated, “we deserve a healthy quality of life, and we don’t deserve to be disproportionately and adversely impacted in our daily lives as it pertains to air quality, traffic and noise.”  

Legislators of Prince George’s county firmly believe that the new power plant will raise millions in tax revenues and will be economically beneficial for the state, ignoring the community's concerns altogether. The neighborhood coalition has taken action refusing to be the victims of another fossil fuel power plant’s hazard, and has partnered with Earthjustice to assess the impacts the project will have on their community. Most importantly, the power plants are clustered around an elementary school that suffers from the pollution and is surrounded by heavy black smoke. Brandywine’s residents count on the members of the BTB Neighborhood Coalition and nonprofits mainly because the town is not incorporated in Prince George's county and thus, doesn’t have a mayor to advocate for the issue. The situation in Brandywine caught the attention of Thriving Earth Exchange, a non-profit organization that has been helping Kamita Gray and the rest of the coalition collect scientific data on the town’ air quality. Without rigorous scientific data, the EPA and the state won’t consider even looking at the issue.  

Despite the hard work of Kamita Gray and the rest of the BTB Neighborhood Coalition and the help of these nonprofit organizations, lack of funding remains a major roadblock and the ongoing fight between the residents and the power plants is far from ending. Fred Tutman, the head of another nonprofit advocating for Brandywine, says this is an environmental injustice on a vulnerable community that lacks power, stating “by power I don't mean electricity, I mean political power. I mean economic power”. Community-led efforts to block or shut down polluting power plants result in varying outcomes. Unfortunately, these efforts are not always successful in blocking a plant however they can spur companies to retrofit facilities to limit pollutants. But, the health of vulnerable communities should not be compromised in order for us to keep watching our favorite movies or sharing memes.   

The fight over the Brandywine power plant is just one example of the many low-income communities nationwide that are  fighting the impacts of coal mining, gas fracking, power plants, and pipelines that threaten their air, water and lives.  These are the same communities that are often last to benefit from clean energy sources – such as solar and wind – and the well-paying jobs that come with clean energy.   

How You Can Help 

Green America urges large corporations to do their part in shifting away from fossil fuels to clean energy. Our Hang Up On Fossil Fuels campaigns urges the telecom industry to switch to renewable energies and set an emission target, which could have a significant impact in reducing environmental justice issues and human health risks that disproportionately affect marginalized groups. Switching to renewable energies not only fights climate change, it also saves lives and promotes social justice. 

1.  Support the work of environmental justice organizations and search for a local movement near you to support. 

2.  Explore our climate justice resources to learn more about organizations and experts on the frontlines as well as legislation to support. 

3.  Sign our petition urging telecom companies to Hang Up on Fossil Fuels. Take a step further by contacting companies directly via social media or phone. 

4.   Search our Get a Better Bank database to find community development banks and credit unions that support people and the planet. Our Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign  provides resources for divesting more broadly from fossil fuels through your mutual funds and stock holdings, including lists of financial products and service providers who can help create fossil-fuel-free portfolios. 

5. Take action directly by cutting your own carbon emissions through energy efficiency measures and switching to clean energy sources. 

Take an action above to contribute to environmental justice, reverse climate change, and get your telephone company or bank to do more for people and the planet!

Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)—also called sustainable investing; impact investing; Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing; mission-based investing; faith-based investing; and other names—is a powerful tool more investors are using both to meet their financial needs and to make their money work toward their social and environmental goals. The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (US SIF) reported that in 2016 the market for sustainable, responsible and impact investing reached $8.7 trillion in assets under professional management in the US, a 33% increase since 2014. [Update: On November 1. 2018, US SIF reported that SRI assets now total $12 trillion.]

Key concerns of socially responsible investors include climate change, human rights, weapons avoidance, and corporate governance issues.

At Green America, we believe the increase in SRI assets comes as good news for people and the planet. As SRI assets grow and with a significant portion of U.S. households investing in mutual funds, it is important to understand how mutual funds are being evaluated in terms of social and environmental responsibility also called "sustainability". This blog addresses two mutual fund rating systems, one from the leading investment research and investment management company, Morningstar Inc., and the other from the socially responsible investment advisory firm--and Green Business Network (GBN) member--Natural Investments. 

This May, Natural Investments released the report, Rigor In Ratings: A Comparison of Morningstar’s Sustainability Rating and Natural Investments’ Heart Rating, which compares and contrasts the methodologies used by these two firms to evaluate the sustainability of mutual funds.

What Do These Ratings Rate?

As more investors become involved in SRI, it is imperative that everyone, from financial professionals to curious investors, understands how the SRI landscape is evolving. One aspect of this is understanding the difference between various mutual fund rating systems that address the environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors that mutual funds may or may not address, or address to varying degrees.

The key to using mutual fund rating systems effectively lies in understanding what the rating actually evaluates. A key part of  Natural Investment’s Heart Rating is that it considers a fund’s intention to create a more socially and environmentally just  society through actions like shareholder advocacy, extensive company screening, and community investing to support lower income populations. Morningstar’s Sustainability Rating differs in that it uses a best-in-class approach, measuring the overall sustainability performance of the holdings in a fund’s portfolio relative to the fund’s peers, without regard to “intentionality” (i.e. a stated commitment to ESG goals).

Funds in each Morningstar category, such as International Equity funds, are scored based on a bell curve in which those in the top 10 percent of scores (the best) receive five globes and the bottom 10 percent receive only one globe.  Morningstar’s Sustainability Rating uses data from the global research firm Sustainalytics.  That firm scores ESG criteria for over 6500 companies as well as “controversies” or events associated with the company that have negative ESG impacts. Morningstar uses this combination of ESG data and “controversy” data to determine a score and award globes -- the symbol for their sustainability score.

Unlike Morningstar’s Sustainability Rating, the Heart Rating does not use a bell curve but rather scores on “absolute terms of breadth and depth” of a fund’s ESG factors. In addition to awarding extra points for certain sector exclusions such as fossil fuels, the Heart Rating also considers engagement in shareholder advocacy, community investing and research capacity as part of the scoring process which also entails questionnaires and interviews with fund managers. Funds are awarded a score of 1 to 5 hearts depending on their SRI commitment and activity.

GBN spoke with Morningstar Director of Sustainability Research, Jon Hale to learn more about the thought process behind the Sustainability Rating:

“The Morningstar Sustainability Rating came from an idea I had in 2015, that company-level ESG data had become more robust over the past decade but was only accessible to a few asset managers,” says Hale. “I thought it would be useful for investors to use those company ESG scores to analyze the sustainability of mutual funds based on their holdings and do it at scale so that many funds across the world could be compared with each other.” Hale says that anyone using Morningstar’s Sustainability Rating should understand that it is a best-in-class category rating, meaning it ranks companies in the same business sector (i.e., agriculture, finance, retail, entertainment, etc.), by measuring them against each other’s combined ESG and controversy scores as noted above.

 What’s Behind the Scores

The Rigor in Ratings report highlights how the different methodologies used by the Sustainability and Heart ratings affect how funds are scored. Invesco Energy, (FSTEX), a fund with top holdings in fossil fuel companies, provides an example that could be confusing to investors who do not understand what’s behind different sustainability scores. In this example, we have a fund that received 4 out of 5 globes from Morningstar – a good sustainability rating. Many SRI-inclined investors may think a 4-globe rating would mean that this fund focuses primarily on renewable energy companies when it does not. Rather, it receives a high Morningstar rating because of its best in class score among fossil fuel-holding funds. Natural Investments, on the other hand, does not even evaluate this fund because it has no expressed intentionality regarding SRI. Interestingly, a fund dedicated to renewable energy holdings could actually have a low Morningstar score, as Hale notes: “On the flipside, a lot of the funds that do focus on renewable energy don’t get great ratings because they’re not really taking any steps to select particular stocks based on overall ESG performance of the company.”  In other words, a clean energy fund might not pay attention to a range of ESG issues and thereby receive a low Morningstar rating even though clean energy investments are in keeping with SRI values.

For Natural Investments, the intention to make progress on ESG issues is what makes or breaks a fund’s score on the Heart Rating. It’s this intentionality that researchers at Natural Investments believe is a key, missing factor in Morningstar’s Sustainability Rating.  “We don’t recommend that Morningstar only score SRI-mandated funds, we simply suggest that the highest level of their rating system be reserved for those funds that do have an SRI mandate,” says Natural Investments Managing Partner and Rigor in Ratings co-author, Michael Kramer. Kramer added: “SRI managers have explicit exclusionary screens in terms of both sectors and corporate practices and simply won’t hold certain types of companies. This is a higher standard because it takes a stronger stand about what’s ok to own and what’s not.”

Natural Investments recommends that the Sustainability Rating award more points to funds with an SRI mandate, replace the best-in-class approach with absolute criteria for all sectors, and establish minimum requirements for receiving four or five Globes.

Working Toward A Common Vision

Hale points to several significant contributions that the Morningstar Sustainability Rating has made to sustainable investing. First, he notes that the Sustainability Rating has expanded the scope and consideration of ESG criteria by a wider audience: “By in some ways, expanding the scope of what sustainability means in an investment context, I think we’ve helped expand that field for those who may not see sustainability or SRI as something that they want to make a comprehensive orientation but do want to see it reflected in their portfolio.”

The Sustainability Rating has increased awareness of ESG issues particularly among mainstream asset managers who previously, without this tool, were not, or only very minimally, integrating sustainability issues into their work with clients.

A second contribution he cites is validation of intentionally-SRI funds, since the vast majority of SRI-mandated funds receive high Morningstar ratings. Hale believes the Sustainability Rating’s methodology further confirms or validates that SRI funds are indeed walking the talk. And a third contribution is that the development of the Sustainability Rating provides an opportunity for SRI-dedicated firms, like Natural Investments and others, to clearly articulate their stance that funds should not only provide competitive returns but should also benefit society and the environment.

As it turns out, we will actually see more commonality between Morningstar and Natural Investments in the near future, as Morningstar will soon update its database to provide a closer look at what certain intentionally-SRI funds do.

“Right now in our database you can’t find information about what intentionally SRI funds do. So, we’re going to have information for the intentional funds on what screens they use, whether they engage in shareholder advocacy, and if they have any kind of impact orientation. I think that will be a really interesting improvement to our database,” says Hale.

“We’re going into a more granular assessment so people who want to look for funds that are fossil free or are impact-oriented can search for them and get a list. The results would not be an assessment of, for example, what funds are doing impact investing better than others, but it would help investors figure out where to go with intentional funds.”

Both the Heart rating and Morningstar rating provide useful information to investors seeking to better understand their mutual funds’ sustainability scores. What’s crucial is to understand the meaning of these ratings. For Green Americans seeking funds that are “intentionally SRI” and that align with their values and social and environmental goals, the Heart Rating is more likely to meet expectations. Green America is pleased to feature the Heart Rating on our website at www.greenamerica.org/socially-responsible-investing .

To find Socially Responsible Investment firms, financial advisors, and SRI mutual fund companies that are members of Green America’s Green Business Network, visit the Green Pages Online.

If you prefer online reading that feels almost like reading a paper magazine, you've come to the right place. Browse through our current and past publications, including the Green American, Your Green Life, and Guide to Social Investing and Better Banking. For articles that are easier to share online, head to our full magazine archive. 

Program Manager, Clean Electronics Production Network

Hours: full-time (4-days, 32 hours/week) 

Salary: $46,000 - $53,000/Grant Track Position

Benefits: medical, dental, sick days, holidays

Supervisor: Director, Clean Electronics Production Network   

Green America is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a just and sustainable society by harnessing economic power for positive change. Our unique approach involves working with consumers, investors and businesses. Our workplace reflects our goal of creating a more cooperative, environmentally sound economy. We have a participatory decision-making process, which aims to build consensus within the departments and teams.

The Clean Electronic Production network (CEP) is a multi-stakeholder, cross-industry collaboration (Innovation Network) that launched in 2015. The goal of the network is to move the electronics industry towards zero exposure to toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process.

CEPN is an Innovation Network (IN) of the Center for Sustainability Solutions, which brings all of Green America’s green economy supply-side work into a powerful new flagship program for Green America. The Center convenes multi-stakeholder initiatives dedicated to accelerating the shift to environmental sustainability and social justice, while eliminating environ­mental and human abuses in key areas such as energy, agriculture and manufacturing.

The Center builds on Green America’s work over the years, where we’ve brought together industry groups across supply chains to create major shifts in such areas as solar, community investing, recycled paper procurement, and sustainable agriculture. Our innovation network methodology is effective, compelling, and attracting significant attention as a faster and more effective way to solve some of society’s most challenging and complex problems. 

The CEPN Program Manager is responsible for providing project management, coordination and technical development support for CEPN’s ongoing Initiatives, and assisting with management of biannual Network meetings. The Program Manager also assists the Director in stakeholder engagement and recruiting, working group facilitation, and facilitation design for Initiative Group and full Network meetings.

The position involves travel 2-4 times per year for 2+ days to working group meetings and events, to be negotiated. CEPN is a virtual Network – the position may be housed in Washington, DC at the Green America offices but may also be filled remotely (with a preference for location in the Bay Area if remote).

Duties and Responsibilities:

Communications

1. Participate in new participant and CEPN member engagement, including conducting interviews (and pitch meetings, with Director approval) with potential participants.
2. Work closely with team to ensure that CEPN members are effectively and efficiently engaged in Initiative Group work (and market initiatives, if any).
3. Support and engage in the development of key project deliverables, including prototype tools (e.g. database development, spreadsheet tool production, survey drafting), meeting reports, fundraising materials and other outputs.  
4. Lead and coordinate select Initiative Groups.
5. Assist with content and materials development for CEPN’s web and print presence, and supervise contractor execution of such work.
6. Provide general operations support to Center for Sustainability Solutions as needed.

Meeting Logistics & Team Coordination

1. Responsible for planning CEPN meetings and related events for up to 60 participants in a remote location, including securing meeting venues, hotels, meals, and staff transportation; communicating with event participants; procuring A/V and meeting materials; and other aspects of event production (with assistance from Green America staff).
2. Support program team during all-Network meetings as needed – documentation, site owner communication/coordination.
3. Coordinate the work and participation of contract researchers, designers/developers and facilitators as needed.
4. Support and engage in the development of meeting strategy, design, and tools.

Project Management Support

1. Support the CEPN Director in managing the Innovation Network and its priority initiatives.
2. Support the CEPN Director in securing funding and project commitment from new and returning participants.
3. Assist with coordinating program team and working group meetings.
4. Support the Director in ensuring knowledge gained is converted into “knowledge capital” for the Center for Sustainability Solutions, including documenting work processes involved in managing INs, and successful strategies used in CEPN operations.
5. Participate in Green America staff meetings and processes and other duties as required.
    

Qualified Candidates should have the following skills and qualities:

• Demonstrated project management skills, with experience managing several projects simultaneously.
• A passion for and strong knowledge of sustainability and the electronics industry
• Strong technical skills at a level that enables development of working tool prototypes for Initiative Groups -- i.e. mastery of Excel, proficiency with simple database development familiarity with common web platforms (SquareSpace, Wordpress)
• Strong interest in and willingness to conduct group facilitation
• Strong research and writing skills.
• Bachelors degree required
• Master’s degree in sustainability, engineering or chemistry helpful
• Experience with business development or fundraising a plus.

How to Apply:

Send cover letter and resume to centerjobs@greenamerica.org or to Green America, 1612 K Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006

No calls, please.

Green America is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination regarding: actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, or reproductive health disorders), age (18 years of age or older), marital status (including domestic partnership and parenthood), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, or credit information. Harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic is included as a form of discrimination.

WASHINGTON, DC – October 11, 2018 – This Halloween, much of the candy that trick-or-treaters will receive will have been produced by their own peers — child laborers working halfway around the world. More than 2 million children in Western Africa work in often hazardous conditions growing the main ingredient in chocolate, cocoa. That is why Green America updated its Chocolate Scorecard, which grades major candy companies on social and environmental practices, including certifications for forced labor, child labor and discrimination. The Green America Chocolate Scorecard can be found here: https://www.greenamerica.org/end-child-labor-cocoa/chocolate-scorecard.

Only one “F” was assigned in the scorecard and that went to Godiva. Other laggards include “D” graded Ferrero and a “C-” to Mondelez (maker of Cadbury products and the more upscale Green and Black’s chocolate bars). Six companies got “A” grades: Alter Eco, Divine, Endangered Species, Equal Exchange, Shaman and Theo Chocolate.

“Every Halloween, there’s plenty to be scared of in the candy aisle,” said Todd Larsen, executive co-director of Consumer and Corporate Engagement at Green America. “That’s why Green America provides the Chocolate Scorecard, so consumers know which of their favorite chocolate brands are using ethically sourced, high-quality ingredients.”

“Child labor is a global problem, and there is a cruel irony in the fact that it is used to produce candy for other children,” said Caroline Chen, social justice manager at Green America. “When shoppers hit the stores to purchase candy to hand out on Halloween, they should consider the other children of the world that are affected.”

The Chocolate Scorecard identifies ethically sourced, certified sweets. The scorecard will also help consumers understand what the major chocolate companies are — and are not — doing to combat child labor in their supply chain.

The scorecard also identifies which companies have employed innovative programs and projects to address other underlying issues of child labor in cocoa-producing countries. Such programs include:

• Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems, which work with communities and families to address why child labor is happening on farms;
• Farmer income generating programs;
• Traceability mechanisms for fuller supply chain transparency.

Consumer also should consult Green America’s The ABCs of Food Labeling guide, which defines common food labels and identifies those that are authentic, those that are mere marketing tricks, and many that fall in between.

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Green America is the nation's leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides economic strategies and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems.

To start, our plant requires air permit compliance, therefore we implement multiple dust control measures throughout our site to reduce opacity. This includes spray nozzles at any transfer point of dry material throughout the entire plant and anywhere rock is being crushed. We also use a 12,000 gallon water truck, filled with onsite fresh water, to saturate our dirt roads and areas that pose high dust emission opportunities. 

We also protect any and all natural occurring springs, rivers, creeks and lakes. Many measures are taken to keep natural waters flowing and clean such as:

- constructing protective berms to keep contaminated rain water out

- never mining where natural bodies of water are established

- installing culverts/bridges where traffic may have to cross natural creeks

- helping sustain natural wildlife that uses the water

We also have multiple programs to keep the environment clean. These include our Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) as well as our Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) program. Our SWPPP outlines regulations pertaining to the quality of the storm water that leaves our property. Our site designs outfalls (exact area where storm water crosses our property line) with maximum filtration in mind. These outfalls are regularly monitored and updated as needed. We use various products to filter the runoff, including but not limited to, vegetation, straw waddles, and a conglomerate of limestone. In addition to the measures, we also collect water samples at lease twice a year and send them to be tested for suspended solids and pH levels. When it comes to maintaining the environment with fuels and oils on site, we implement our SPCC plan. This plan outlines prevention of any kind of chemical spills and the countermeasures to take if any substance comes into contact with the environment. We utilize concrete containment around our fuel and oil storage and fueling stations. We also supply readily available spill kits across the site and regularly review countermeasures with all employees. It is insured that all hazardous substances are clearly labeled as well. These standards are maintained by myself personally as the Safety, Health and Environmental Coordinator. 

Other conservation methods you will find here are wildlife conservation measures. We have a Wildlife Habitat Council Certification and have maintained its status for many years. To keep this certification we are always looking for ways to keep the wildlife at our site safe and healthy. One of our projects is housing for a flock of Purple Martins. These birds are supplied with three birdhouses for mating and shelter. They are actual very particular birds to monitor. In fact, during a storm one year, one of the houses was blown over by the wind. The house was righted and peculiarly all of the birds seem to prefer the two houses that were not damaged. They are thriving none the less. In addition to the Martins, we have also had bird boxes on our freshwater ponds in the past. We are currently working on getting this project up and going again. Another project we are introducing will be strategically place food plots for deer in the area. The hope is to keep them on the property and thriving, while also diverting them away from coming into contact with any dangers in the area (ie. - large mobile equipment, plant equipment or contractors). 

Our plant also regularly stores used oil for recycling, recycles light bulbs, batteries, scrap metal, tires, and has a certified waste company pick up and properly dispose of any other material we do not have the means of disposing. 

To star, our plant requires air permit compliance, therefore we implement multiple dust control measures throughout our site to reduce opacity. This includes spray nozzles at any transfer point of dry material throughout the entire plant and anywhere rock is being crushed. 

We also protect any and all natural occurring springs, rivers, creeks and lakes. Many measures are taken to keep natural waters flowing and clean such as:

- constructing protective berms to keep contaminated rain water out

- never mining where natural bodies of water are established

- installing culverts/bridges where traffic may have to cross natural creeks

- helping sustain natural wildlife that uses the water

We also have multiple programs to keep the environment clean. These include our Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) as well as our Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) program. Our SWPPP outlines regulations pertaining to the quality of the storm water that leaves our property. Our site designs outfalls (exact area where storm water crosses our property line) with maximum filtration in mind. These outfalls are regularly monitored and updated as needed. We use various products to filter the runoff, including but not limited to, vegetation, straw waddles, and a conglomerate of limestone. In addition to the measures, we also collect water samples at lease twice a year and send them to be tested for suspended solids and pH levels. When it comes to maintaining the environment with fuels and oils on site, we implement our SPCC plan. This plan outlines prevention of any kind of chemical spills and the countermeasures to take if any substance comes into contact with the environment. We utilize concrete containment around our fuel and oil storage and fueling stations. We also supply readily available spill kits across the site and regularly review countermeasures with all employees. It is insured that all hazardous substances are clearly labeled as well. These standards are maintained by myself personally as the Safety, Health and Environmental Coordinator. 

Other conservation methods you will find here are wildlife conservation measures. We have a Wildlife Habitat Council Certification and have maintained its status for many years. To keep this certification we are always looking for ways to keep the wildlife at our site safe and healthy. One of our projects is housing for a flock of Purple Martins. These birds are supplied with three birdhouses for mating and shelter. They are actual very particular birds to monitor. In fact, during a storm one year, one of the houses was blown over by the wind. The house was righted and peculiarly all of the birds seem to prefer the two houses that were not damaged. They are thriving none the less. In addition to the Martins, we have also had bird boxes on our freshwater ponds in the past. We are currently working on getting this project up and going again. Another project we are introducing will be strategically place food plots for deer in the area. The hope is to keep them on the property and thriving, while also diverting them away from coming into contact with any dangers in the area (ie. - large mobile equipment, plant equipment or contractors). 

Our plant also regularly stores used oil for recycling, recycles light bulbs, batteries, scrap metal, tires, and has a certified waste company pick up and properly dispose of any other material we do not have the means of disposing. 

Regenerative agriculture is being explored as a solution to climate change and declining soil health around the world. In Ethiopia, where the majority of farming is practiced by smallholders, production is important for livelihoods and food security. Ethiopia leads Africa in rates of soil loss and degradation and is most vulnerable to drought, crop failure and famine. It is vital that Ethiopia’s smallholder farmers work towards restoring one of their most vital resources: soil. 

In our interconnected world, local agricultural methods and production have global significance--not only for our shared atmosphere and mutual responsibility for the changing climate, but for industries and economies that rely on abundant and affordable raw materials, such as flowers. Consumers also play a vital role with their everyday purchasing decisions.  

Digital regenerative agriculture crowdfunding platform Grow Ahead talked to Hussen Ahmed of Soil & More Ethiopia about recycling waste from the flower industry and turning it into compost, which he provides to smallholder farmers to help regenerate their land. For Hussen, soil building with compost was an obvious solution to recycle green waste and regenerate land in a country plagued by drought and desertification.

How did you become interested in farming?

Hussen Ahmed (HA): I was born in Goro, Ethiopia, where the natural beauty is stunning. I picked wild fruits, foraged organic cereals, and fished from my backyard. For someone like me who appreciates and is easily inspired by the natural world, it was very easy to become a nature enthusiast. Since my youth, I have been committed to preserving the environment and its sustainability. 

Why is regenerative agriculture important to Ethiopian soils and the future well-being of farmers? 

HA: The current state of Ethiopian soils is very worrying. Organic matter is depleting rapidly. A study conducted by the federal Ministry of Agriculture shows that severe degradation of soil is affecting the country’s economy. Ethiopia is losing more than half a billion dollars in harvests of barley and wheat due to underproduction each year. In the Awash Basin alone, where I live, more than 4,000 hectares of irrigable land is no longer farmable because of salinity. This contributes significantly to food insecurity and hunger. 

Considering Ethiopia’s population and current growth trajectory, soil health and farming are very important. Regenerative agriculture supports the wellbeing of smallholder farmers, society, and the environment because it builds soils and productive farmlands for the very food and nutritional security of Ethiopia.  

When did you learn about regenerative agriculture and begin putting it into practice? 

HA: After I completed university in Addis Ababa, I went home to visit and what I saw was alarming. Farmers were using vast quantities of chemical fertilizers. The natural smell and taste of the food was not as it used to be. For me to see this level of change in farming and the quality of our food in a decade was really shocking. That was when I intuitively understood that farming and building soil health without chemicals was important and decided to start working on regenerative agriculture.

Tell us more about your compost operation.

HA: My business, Soil & More, has an annual production capacity of 25,000 to 30,000 tons of compost. Our operation provides solutions to two major issues. The first being agrowaste produced by the flower company that we work with, which totals more than 200 tons per day of mostly green leaves that are usually dumped in a landfill. Soil & More also addresses nearby smallholder farmers’ serious soil depletion and fertility problems. Our initiative offsets the social and environmental challenges of agrowaste by converting it into compost. 

Our compost is rich in nutrients and free from pathogens, weed seeds, and chemicals. We sell around 65% of the compost back to the flower growers. The remaining compost is provided to the smallholder farmers at a reasonable rate with demonstrations and hands on trainings so that they understand the benefit and long-term impacts of healthy soil. 

Are there any other regenerative agriculture techniques you’re using on your farm and teaching to other farmers? 

HA: I use as many regenerative techniques as possible on my farm to demonstrate and promote regenerative agriculture. I prefer teaching by example more than giving lectures and seminars. Farmers are knowledgeable and can easily become inspired and learn when they see tangible results from regenerative practices. I combine permaculture, aquaculture, and organic goats, sheep, and local dairy cows on my farm to show the collective potential of regenerative farming. 

What do you see are the biggest challenges in getting farmers and consumers on board in the regenerative agriculture movement?

HA: Regenerative agriculture provides long-term benefits and environmental security, but it also takes time to build soil health. The biggest challenge to getting farmers on board in a country like Ethiopia, where more than 80% of the population consists of smallholder farmers, is to create a mechanism for these farmers to be compensated in the short term, until the regenerative practices start paying off. 

On the other side, consumers need to know where their food comes from and at what environmental cost. True cost accounting of food production should be done and communicated to the consumer for a better understanding and to promote regenerative agriculture. 

What suggestions do you have for individuals hoping to fight climate change through regenerative agriculture in their daily lives?

HA: Regenerative agriculture is the only means for food and nutritional security for farmers and individuals in developing countries. It is also a key component in combating climate change, because crops grown regeneratively have the potential to sequester huge amounts of atmospheric carbon, a known greenhouse gas.

Why are your daily farm practices relevant for people on the other side of the world?

HA: We’re living in an interconnected world. The good practices of one will positively impact the other, while the bad actions of one affect all of us. For example, people on the other side of the world have invested in businesses assuming a guaranteed supply of raw materials that come from my side of the world. If people in Ethiopia are not operating in a sustainable way, businesses on the other side of the world will be at risk. We need to check our supply chains and make sure they are sustainable. 

To learn more about Grow Ahead’s work with farmers like Hussen, visit https://growahead.org/