Green America’s mission is to build the green economy, one grounded in social justice and environmental sustainability. To do so, we promote responsible, sustainable economic actions, from supporting green businesses to helping individuals bank and invest with financial institutions that support people and the planet. This summer, Green America joined a coalitional letter to five regional…

Originally published on business.com by Bryan Pena | August 30, 2019 Getting certified can help your small business. There are more than 40 million independent workers in the U.S. today, and that means a competitive market for the attention and eyeballs of your desired clients. Becoming an effective networker, honing your social media presence, and developing a comprehensive marketing strategy…

Recycling has been used for years by companies in an attempt to reduce their negative impact on the environment. Recently, many businesses have been turning to upcycling to achieve this goal in an alternative and more impactful manner. What is recycling? Recycling primarily entails breaking down old items into their raw materials to create new items, such as plastic, glass, paper, etc…

Green businesses adopt principles, policies, and practices that improve the quality of life for their customers, employees, communities, and planet. But just because a business claims they are “green” doesn’t mean they uphold the standards of social responsibility and sustainability. So how can you determine what is in fact a sustainable business, or how can your business achieve that high…

The days of single-use plastic is numbered. In 2018, Seattle became the first US city to ban single-use plastic cutlery. Starbucks followed suit with a plan to eliminate plastic straws by 2020, and several airlines joined by phasing out single-use plastic straws and stirrers. The anti-plastic movement became so prolific that “single-use” was named the word of the year by Collins…

The Green Business Network is pleased to share the following news from our member Naturepedic: When environmental engineer Barry Cik went to a baby store to buy a crib mattress for his first grandchild in 2003, he was concerned by what he found in the products: a wide variety of toxic chemicals including vinyl and PVC with phthalates, polyurethane foam with flame retardants, formaldehyde, glues…

Green Business Network director Fran Teplitz submitted the following letter to the Natural Resources Committee of the California Assembly in support of new “Skip the Slip” legislation. The bill was inspired by Green America’s Skip the Slip campaign urging businesses to use electronic receipts rather than toxic and wasteful paper receipts. Progress! On March 25, 2019 the Skip the Slip…

March is celebrated as Women's History Month to commemorate the accomplishments and contributions of women to American history. It originally began as a local, week-long celebration in Santa Rosa, California after the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a Women's History Week celebration in 1978. Other communities caught onto…

Big companies have a history of oppressing small businesses and putting a heavy burden on low-income communities, including Black communities and Black-owned businesses. For example, Amazon’s presence in Seattle caused rising housing costs and pushed out local mom-and-pop shops. But diversity builds economic vitality, uplifts communities, and promotes productivity and resilience. For a green…

By Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens, a member of our Green Business Network My family and I have a Climate Victory Garden in the suburbs of Washington DC. I wanted to give you a tour of our tiny garden with the hopes it will inspire you. Permaculture designer Geoff Lawton is known for saying, “All problems can be solved in a garden.” The real problem of climate change is no…