Upcoming Events
Responsible Packaging Awards: Call for Nominations by Sept 1, 2010
The Responsible Packaging Awards will be presented October 14th at 4pm at Natural Products Expo East & All Things Organic.
Please submit nominations here (your company and/or peers) by September 1, 2010. Awards are given bi-annually to companies with leading-edge responsible packaging practices.
Previous recipients include Organic Essence, Eden Foods, Straus Creamery, Nature's Path, Gaia Herbs, and others.
Background:
The Responsible Packaging Project is a collaboration across the organic and natural products industry that seeks to drive environmental and socially responsible packaging innovation and raising the bar across our trade. Key activities include:
- Drafting and vetting Responsible Packaging Guidelines for the organic industry to guide action and catalyze innovation
- Coordinating Responsible Packaging Forums - interactive learning and dialogue enabling a zero waste future
Responsible Packaging Guidelines Three Legs:
- Transparency: In determining guidelines, and preferred materials and inputs
- Extended Producer Responsibility: Companies assume responsibility for addressing the lifecycle impact of packaging to reach zero waste
- Ecological Principles: Define what is truly recyclable through manufacturing processes ('technical nutrient'), or compostable in nature ('biological nutrient')
We invite you to learn more and join us in these efforts.
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Provender Conference, Oct 6-8, 2010, Hood River, OR: FTSLA Co-sponsored Workshops
Social Sustainability: Giving Back in the Workplace & Community
Healthy workplaces and communities are key pieces of broader sustainability.
As businesses we have lots of opportunities to give back to employees and
communities, locally and globally, but we're not always sure what the best
approach is, how to assess the results of our social investments for our
businesses and people. In this session, you'll learn from experienced peers
who are using different approaches to identify and meet key needs in their
workplaces and communities, including aligning total compensation with
living wages, unique employee benefits, in-kind donation programs, financial
giving, foundations, volunteerism, and more. You'll leave the session with
new insights to establish or evolve your own programs and focus areas, and
evaluate outcomes.
Speakers
- Annie Hoy, Ashland Food Co-op
- Jason Boyce, Nature's Path
- Additional speaker TBD
Moderator: Natalie Reitman-White, FTSLA
Sustainable Supply Chains: Retooling Consumption for Good
The social and environmental footprints associated with our businesses are
spread across our supply and distribution chains, from materials sourcing to
the store. Consumers and business partners increasingly expect businesses to
align with responsible vendors and improve the social, environmental and
economic impacts of their products and services. Businesses also face risks
and cost increases from unchecked problems in supply chains. Doing what we
can to understand and improve our supply chains offers an opportunity to
build revenue by meeting growing demand for sustainable products while
reducing costs and risk. In this panel, we'll share different strategies for
success, such as developing purchasing criteria to screen potential vendors
and items, using 3rd party audits and certification to verify and improve
supplier practices, and partnering with suppliers to develop more
sustainable products and services.
Speakers/topics
- Hummingbird Wholesale
- Ron Leppert, Sundance Natural Foods
- Additional speaker TBD
Moderator: Natalie Reitman-White, FTSLA
See the Provender Alliance website for more details
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FTSLA at Expo East & All Things Organic, October 13-16, 2010
FTSLA will be at Expo East/All Things Organic this fall, taking part in an OTA session on "Sustainability Spectrum, Philosophy to Metrics," coordinating the Responsible Packaging Awards and hosting a gathering for members and others interested in learning a out FTSLA. Details to follow. You can find conference details and registration information online. http://www.expoeast.com/expoeast2010/public/enter.aspx. Information on the Responsible Packaging Awards and networking session will be posted shortly.
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Save the date – Organicology Conference, Feb. 10-12, 2011!
We're partnering with Orgeon Tilth, Organic Seed Alliance and Organically Grown Company to produce Organicology 2011. It will take place from February 10-12, 2011 in Portland, OR. Mark your calendars now to attend this well-received, engaging and informative event. The conference will focus on sustainable business, farming, seed issues, the impacts of climate change on agriculture, the farm bill and other policy issues.
FTSLA will be organizing a Sustainable Business Intensive on 2/10/11, building on our well-received Intensive in 2009. We're also organizing several workshops on sustainability issues and policy during the main conference. Check out the conference website for details on speakers, workshop, events and intensives, entertainment and more.