The Sustainability Consortuim Takes On The Tower of Eco-babble

A scant 5 months ago, The Sustainability Consortium was formed. Administered jointly by Arizona State and the University of Arkansas, it is an independent group of scientists and engineers from leading academic research institutions around the world. Their purpose is to develop the science to support the indexing of consumer products from cradle to cradle.

The impetus for creating this non-profit organization is the unprecedented growth in globalization, urbanization, affluence, consumption, and population. Although the seed money came from WalMart, The Sustainability Consortium Co-Directors Drs. Jay S Golden and Jon Johnson steadfastly maintain that they are independent scientists and researchers.

The four primary project areas to be examined are: food and agriculture, home and personal care, electronics and apparel (pending). The Sustainability Consortium’s proximal goal is the creation of the framework and tools to make their findings available. They expect to have Life Cycle models developed by late spring 2010. Looking farther, Earthster, whose website is home of a new system that is web-based, free, and open source (non-proprietary), will be up and running. The Earthster Project will be providing zero-cost access to markets.

We can expect a “white paper” documentation of their findings based on sound science. The Sustainability Consortium is not going to be creating certification or labels, nor will they be validating or auditing everyone else’s life cycle analysis (LCA). Rather, their hope is to integrate LCA data sources by having the single place for data reporting and extraction, where access to developed prototype metrics drive innovation to improve consumer product sustainability, and set the stage for supply chain innovations.

Although the consortium is trying to harmonize efforts globally, their initial priority is in the United Kingdom and the European Union, as that is where many of their current members are headquartered. Asia will be the next targeted location.

The Sustainability Consortium currently seeks members (the application is on their website), experts, and people interested in being in a working group. Skeptics, especially those in the sciences, are welcome.

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ReusableBags.com Wins Green America’s People’s Choice Award

Chosen For The 2nd Time By Voters Across America

Last month at the San Francisco Green Festival, ReusableBags.com received Green America’s second-ever Longtime Leadership Award, which honors businesses that take the top spot in the People’s Choice contest more than once.

ReusableBags.com previously won Green America’s People’s Choice Award in 2007. Since launching in 2003, the company has grown to provide hundreds of high-quality reusables in more than 30 categories, has empowered 210,000+ customers to save an astounding 800,000,000 use-and-toss items and has been an important catalyst in the broad reusables movement. ReusableBags.com also serves as an information hub, providing myth-busting articles, news and more on issues related to over-consumption.

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New Class For Start Up Businesses In Chicago

Register Now, Class Begins 11 January 2010

Start Up! Chicago, a business start up class offered by the Lincoln Park Business Development Institute NFP with support from DePaul University’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center. The Institute is affiliated with the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce.

The class starts January 11th. Early registration ends December 30th. Registration closes January 8th.

For questions, contact Katie Freese, Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, at (773) 880-5200 or katie@lincolnparkchamber.com

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Loans For Chicago's Small Businesses

City Treasurer Revamps SBDF

The City Treasurer's office revamped the Small Business Development Fund (SBDF) and folded it into the loan pool used by ACCION Chicago to provide loans to Chicago's small businesses - and a business need not be in a TIF, Enterprise Zone, etc. to be considered for a loan from $10,000 - $150,000.

Contact Jill Stephens, VP of Lending and Marketing at ACCION Chicago at (312) 275-3000 x103 or Jstephens@accionchicago.org
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City Facade Rebate Program Round #2

Applications due 12/29/09

City of Chicago, Department of Community Development launched a second round of the CDBG Facade Rebate Program. Applications are due by Tuesday, December 29, 2009.

Contact Dionne Baux at (312) 744-744 x0678 or dionne.baux@cityofchicago.org with questions.

Application.
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Consolidated Printing Named The 1st SGP Printer in Illinois

Consolidated Printing Certified as a SGP Printer

Chicago, Illinois: December 15, 2009 - The Sustainable Green Printing PartnershipSM
has certified Consolidated Printing as the first SGP Printer in the State of Illinois.

A certified SGP printer meets all program standards. These include encompassing a holistic approach to sustainability going beyond materials and their environmental impact. They must meet all health, safety, and environmental regulations, implement a sustainability management system, take specific steps to reduce the facility's environmental footprint, implement pollution prevention activities, and commit to social and ethical norms.

Additionally, SGP printer status includes annual reporting and a biennial certification audit requirement. Certified printers are assigned a certification number and logo for use on their printed products.

Consolidated Printing is a full service commercial printing company located in Chicago, IL. They are 100% petroleum and toxin free and have eliminated all carcinogens from their facility - both in the plant and in the office structure itself.

Their solvents and inks are made from 100% vegetable ingredients, including the ink pigments, and their ink does not migrate. Inspected by numerous agencies, Consolidated has been told their natural based system is unique in the country.

No hazardous solid waste. No toxic waste water. No poisonous air pollution. FSC Certified, Consolidated produces multi-colored Annual Reports, Corporate Identities, Direct Mail Packages, General Printing, Product Boxes, Project Printing and Sustainable Promotional Items. Consolidated Printing has won national awards for its quality as well as its sustainability. Consolidated has also won environmental awards from four Illinois Governors, two awards from Mayor Daley and the Chicago Department of Environment and the nations highest environmental accolade from the Printing Industry of America the William D. Schaeffer Environmental Award.

Consolidated is proud to be certified as a SGP Printer.

For more information contact Marilyn Jones, President of Consolidated Printing Company:
(773) 631-2800 or Marilyn@consolidatedprinting.net