IN BUSINESS WORLD

In Business, September-October, 2006, Vol. 28, No. 5, p. 4

REDEFINING ROLE OF THE COFFEE IMPORTER
IN SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
Pioneered by Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers in the late 1990s, Relationship Coffee is an economic and social impact-based system that depends on strong personal bonds between all entities in the coffee product chain - from source to consumer. “Our Relationship Coffee approach redefines the

role of the importer,” says David Griswold, president and founder of Sustainable Harvest. “Rather than allow coffee to be traded in anonymity, we strive to bring the growers and roasters on either end of the chain together and to cultivate their relationships and communication,” says Griswold. Sustainable Harvest is able to connect buyers and sellers with more transparency, but does so without fear of being cut out of the business as the company's innovative business model adds value to both sides of the supply chain.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Sustainable Harvest is unique due to commitment to reinvest profits into farmer educational training programs. “Grower assistance is at the core of our mission and therefore comprises nearly 50 percent of our annual budget,” says Griswold. “This includes services such as agricultural and business training, marketing, access to markets, pre-harvest crop financing and certification support,” he adds. “Let's Talk Coffee” is the hallmark event of the Relationship Coffee model. This four-day October event in Mexico is coordinated every year by Sustainable Harvest for getting growers and roasters together to discuss key coffee business and to build relationships. The 2005 event featured 130 participants representing 100,000 growers from 80 cooperatives from regions in Mexico, Central America, South America and East Africa.
The company imports millions of pounds of organic, fair trade shade-grown coffee annually from small farmer cooperatives in 12 nations in Africa and Latin America and sells it to leading specialty coffee roasters and retailers such as Counter Culture Coffee, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Peets Coffee and Tea, Caribou Coffee, Gloria Jean's, and Allegro/Whole Foods.
Sustainable Harvest has three supply divisions (Oaxaca, Mexico; Lima, Peru and Rwanda/East Africa) that provide Relationship Coffee Support services and training to the grower leaders. Visit www.sustainableharvest.com.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK ACHIEVES
A SOLID WASTE DIVERSION RATE OF 65 PERCENT
Eight years after Yellowstone National Park celebrated its 125th anniversary, as the world's first national park, a partnership was created with the EPA, the Montana and Wyo-ming Department of Environmental Quality, the National Park Service and park commissioners that implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS). In 2005, the team conducted surveys asking employees (and concessioners) what they thought were the most important eco-concerns. An overwhelming majority identified solid waste management. Two reasons were cited: 1. Mismanagement of solid waste would lead to grizzly bear habituation; and 2. They wanted to share in the success of the newly constructed compost facility.
A program was developed to promote point source separation. Recycling combined with composting have achieved a 65 percent diversion rate of solid waste in 2005. The goal of the EMS team is a 90 percent diversion rate by 2008. Additionally, more than 1,400 tons of compost were produced in 2005.
Jim Evanoff of Yellowstone has provided the following update on the program: There are currently 63 recycling bins in the Park; Between 2003 and 2005, commodities collected increased 70 percent as major outreach went to many of the million visitors for collecting paper, cardboard, steel, plastic, aluminum and glass. A pilot project for residents involves separating compostable materials. Notes Evanoff: The underlying reason for this success has been the partnering with public and private entities as well as surrounding municipalities.”
The Park and its concessioners continue using biodiesel and other alternative fuels in its vehicles; additionally, all diesel-powered vehicles use a 20 percent blend of canola-derived biodiesel. All public gas stations in Yellowstone sell only ethanol blended fuel. By using alternative fuels, the park has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 522 metric tons in 2005.

INNOVATIVE PROGRAM CALLED
“LOCALS CARE” LAUNCHED IN SANTA FE
As explained by its organizers, Locals Care is designed to support locally owned businesses, while at the same time providing a revenue stream for select Santa Fe nonprofits. Initiated in cooperation with the Santa Fe Business Alliance, the program provides incentives for residents to shop at locally owned firms through use of a Locals Care “customer loyalty card.” The new venture was launched by David Kaseman, Ann Kaseman, Carrie Gibbons and Jon Underwood. “Locals Care strengthens the local economy by supporting hometown businesses, which make positive, substantial contributions to the quality of life in our community. We are also helping to maintain the unique and diverse character of Santa Fe,” Underwood explains.
Economic studies confirm that locally owned businesses recycle a higher percentage of sales back into the local economy. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 continues to recirculate within the economy, while only $12 of that same $100 spent at a nonlocally owned business stays within the community.
Locals Care also supports nonprofit organizations, especially those that benefit children, education and the arts. In a time when many nonprofits are under considerable financial stress, fighting for the same dollars to keep programs running, Locals Care has devised a formula to provide a revenue stream for nonprofits whenever a Locals Care Community Card is used.
“This initiative offers a creative partnership that will provide some sustainable support to the community's valuable nonprofit service providers, and at the same time support local businesses that are critical to our community's economic viability,” said Sam Millington, Executive Director of Las Cumbres Community Services. “A strong aspect of this program is that individuals don't have to dig deeper into their pocketbooks to support our programs-all they need to do is register their Locals Care card, and show it when they shop. This program is a strong example of community collaboration for the common good.” Locals Care Community Cards are free to the customer and are available at all participating businesses and through participating nonprofit organizations, including program sponsors - Century Bank, Los Alamos National Bank and The New Mexican.
Here's how the program works: Santa Fe area residents receive a free Locals Care card from a qualified Santa Fe nonprofit organization, pick up a card at a participating business or use a Locals Care credit card issued by Los Alamos National Bank. They present the card whenever they make a purchase at a participating business (store, restaurant or service provider). The business, in turn, agrees to credit from 4 percent to 8 percent of the purchase amount to the Locals Care program. Of that amount, 50 percent goes back to the cardholder as Community Points to be used for future purchases at participating local businesses. Forty percent is donated to the nonprofit organization designated by the cardholder. The remaining 10 percent is directed to a Community Fund to further benefit participating nonprofit organizations.

DROUGHT-RESISTANT FRONT LAWNS MAY
REPLACE “WATER GUZZLERS”
Mayor Rocky Anderson's front yard is landscaped with ornamental grasses and purple sage shrubs and covered by red bark. But it is illegal. The legal front yards are covered with green grass that requires frequent watering. “Our zoning ordinance is ridiculous,” Anderson told a reporter for The New York Times, “It needs to be changed to reflect that we're in a desert, and native plants reflect our identity.”
The mayor is working on an amendment that would require vegetation on only one-third of a front lawn (possibly drought-resistant vegetation, and the rest covered with mulch or gravel.) In some Southwest cities, low-water landscapes called veriscapes, are the norm. Adds the mayor: “Having the native plants is reflective of the identity of our place. We're in a desert and maintaining our identity can be extremely beautiful.” Plus, the plants are so much more affordable - after planting, his water bill dropped 65 percent.

FIVE CITIES HAVE “BRIGHT IDEAS” ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY
The July-August 2006 issue of Sierra has a special report on “Green Streets” - cities that have bright ideas about transit, recycling, energy and food. They particularly cite the following cities:
Chicago (pop. 2,862,244) - A rain garden atop City Hall, bike-commuter station downtown, and a green roofs program with more than 2.5 million sq. ft. Chicago is the the first city to charge higher vehicle-registration fees for SUVs and requires all new city-owned buildings to meet green design standards.
New York City (pop. 8,104,079) - Two-thirds of New Yorkers get to work without cars. The city has one of the largest hybrid-bus fleets in the nation. Eighteen percent of NYC's land area is devoted to parks.
Portland, Oregon (pop. 533,492) - Protected surrounding farms and open space fitting new developments onto half the usual land area. First major city to tackle global warming, Portland saves $2 million annually on city energy bills, has strict green building standards, and creates less greenhouse gases than it did 15 years ago.
San Francisco (pop. 744,230) - Purchasing policies phase out toxic products; studies potential for renewable energy from waves off its shores; has acclaimed recycling program and sends compost from food scraps to region's vineyards and farms.
Seattle (pop. 571,480) - Launched Climate Protection Agreement, mandatory recycling, retrofits diesel vehicles that cut particulate pollution in half, invests in renewable energy while reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to zero.

SCHOOL PROGRAM FUNDS ZERO
WASTE TO MAXIMIZE REUSE
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is soliciting applications from schools to fund reuse programs and achieve zero waste status. Grants may be used to purchase collection and composting containers, shredders, etc. With a November 1, 2006 deadline, a district must submit only one application for the total number of schools participating in the project with a maximum grant request of $10,000 per school.
To be eligible, for Level II financing, the participating school must implement five source reduction activities, collect white paper and recycle two additional items, and/or compost all school generated organics, and conduct audits. Additional funding will be decided by types and volume of items being reduced, recycled or composted. To receive an application, visit: www.illinoisrecycles.com; or www.istep.org. or phone (217) 524-1838. Or write DCEO, Bureau of Energy and Recycling, 620 East Adams St., Springfield, Illinois 62701-1615.

CALIFORNIA AND SWEDEN SIGN AGREEMENT
TO ADVANCE RENEWABLE FUELS
Reported in the Summer 2006 issue of Terrain (published by the Ecology Center), in mid-June California signed an agreement with Sweden to advance use of renewable fuels, with a particular emphasis on biogas. Sweden's energy goals are called “ambitious”, as the country plans to end its dependency on fossil fuels by 2020. California hopes to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. State legislators saw mutual opportunity: California can benefit from Sweden's biogas expertise while Sweden can benefit from the sale of products and research to California markets.” Thousands of cars and buses in Sweden are currently powered by biogas, while California has millions of tons of biomass that could be converted if we only had the know-how,” Terrain observes.

Copyright 2007, The JG Press, Inc.