Use promo code GLOBE for a 15% discount on your purchase at www.MotherTongues.com – valid till 8/30/2010.

Interview with Michelle Hamman of MotherTongues

The green community is blessed with many kind hearted and dedicated people eager and willing to make a difference. Every once in a while we are fortunate enough to meet a person and organization that really stands out in that crowd. One of them is Michelle Hamman and her company MotherTongues.

DS: Michelle, before we start talking about your business, please tell our readers about your background and home life including the transition from professional, to stay at home mom and entrepreneur.

MH: Dennis, thank you for letting me tell the MotherTongues story. I made the transition from electrical engineer to home based entrepreneur when our daughters were 1 and 3, and it was getting too difficult to keep up with changing diapers, coordinating naptime and working from home. As a bilingual person, language is important to me and so too the differences that are embedded in culture. MotherTongues began when my husband and I explored the riches different languages and cultures offer. The company has just grown from there.

DS: Your company is very unique in a market crowded with “message apparel” companies. Please explain to our readers how yours is so very different.

MH: I research words that have no direct English translation and print them with poetic and symbolic descriptions on t-shirts, socks, aprons, scarves, and tote bags. The values of community, peace, justice, and ecological well-being contained in the words are definitely unique! People wearing MotherTongues apparel show their “philosophy of life.” One’s worldview is not related to one’s age and MotherTongues clothing is worn by 4-year-olds to 80-year-olds!

MotherTongues is a fair labor, organic cotton apparel company. This combination is uncommon, but important to me since MotherTongues nurtures the earth as well as its peoples.

DS: That of course leads us to the story and meaning of your very first, and to date most popular tee shirt – Ubuntu

MH: Ubuntu is a very unique Zulu or Xhosa word from my “mother country”, South Africa. Ubuntu is a term for humaneness, for caring, sharing and being in harmony with all of creation. In “No Future Without Forgiveness” Archbishop Desmond Tutu says this about the concept of ubuntu: “Africans have a thing called ubuntu. It is about the essence of being human, it is part of the gift that Africa will give the world. It embraces hospitality, caring about others, being willing to go the extra mile for the sake of another. We believe that a person is a person through other persons, that my humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably, with yours. When I dehumanize you, I inexorably dehumanize myself. The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms. Therefore you seek to work for the common good because your humanity comes into its own in community, in belonging.”

Hospitality, humanity, community, belonging…. Aren’t these meaningful and beautiful values that we can all relate to and learn from? (more…)

Our readers know I am a sucker for a good, green story and I have a great one to share with you today. I know Allison as owner of Rogue Element, one of Chicago’s top green design companies. She is also a fellow member of Green America Business Network and the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance.

This interview, however, is focused on her new company called Squishy Press and the unique product line she and her husband Rob, just introduced at the Green America Green Festival held in Chicago last weekend.

DS: Allison, please tell our readers about Squishy Press and how you and Rob came up with this great idea.

AM: For years we’d been thinking that we should come up with some sort of retail product to sell that Rogue Element would design. Many designers make greeting cards, wrapping paper, gift tags, and the like to try something new and stretch their creative chops. But we could never think of anything to make that really combined our love of design and sustainability. We even had a section of our website up for a long time that kept saying “products coming soon” that we eventually took down!

Then in 2008 we had our son. As babies tend to do, he put everything in his mouth. We were able to find safe diapers, organic clothing, even nontoxic carpet . . . but not books. And what parent doesn’t want their child to have books? As he chewed on them, we were dismayed at how he would ingest the foils and laminates. We were talking one day in our kitchen about how we knew that the printing industry didn’t always use the safest materials. Then Rob looked at me and said, “We’re designers. We should design our own books!” And Squishy Press was born.

Design-wise, we knew we wanted to improve upon some of the picture books we’d seen, since many of them have terrible photography and illustrations. So we contacted our talented photographer friend Steven Gross to see if he wanted to work with us. We then engaged a printer that could deliver the greenest product possible. We even spoke with the ink and paper manufacturers directly about their processes and products so we could make informed choices.

DS: Tell us what you discovered about where and how baby books are made and how yours are different.

AM: It’s hard to truly discover how most baby books are made, since they are all printed overseas. We actually couldn’t find one printed in the USA. Some claimed to be nontoxic, but when we tried to find out how or why, there was no information available to back up those claims. Many print on recycled paper, and that’s a start, but the positives of that choice get negated if the coatings, inks, and glues are unsafe. Additionally, the shipping of books over great distances hardly helps the carbon footprint.

In February 2009 all toys sold in the United States were required to meet the safety requirements of ASTM F963, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). But children’s books are exempt. We sent our books to an independent laboratory to perform substrate and surface tests for lead and the seven other heavy metals covered under ASTM F963 Standards for Toy Safety. The lab told us that we weren’t required to have tests done, but we asked them to run the tests anyway so we knew where we fell in line with the standards. We are pleased to say that we fell well below the government standards for safety!

DS: One of the first things I noticed is that your books have no text and show photos only. How did you decide to take that approach?

AM: Babies love to look at pictures of other babies. So we thought that by using great photography and our illustration skills to fill in the backgrounds, we could provide pictures of babies done in a different way. As a bonus, it also allows us to get away with not writing any copy.

DS: You’ve launched with two titles. Tell us about those and when we can expect to see additional titles added to the product line.

AM:The first title, Silly Faces, is literally just a book of young kids making silly faces. It’s really fun, and kids love to mimic what they see and try to come up with their own expressions. The backgrounds are illustrated with colorful shapes and patterns.

The second title is Opposites, where we demonstrate the concept of opposites, like hot and cold, wet and dry, etc. Here we used the background illustrations to help reinforce the word that was being demonstrated. For example, the “wet” kid is soaking wet with goggles and a snorkel, and her background has waves and fish. We added the words in the background, so the word “wet” appears as waves. For a more universal appeal, the words appear in three languages — English, French and Spanish. (more…)

We are proud to announce that Mark Harrell and his company, Bad Axe Tool Works, is the first 2010 recipient of the highly coveted Globe Guard Eco-Consistency Award. The fact is that they have been on our green radar screen for some time — ever since we highlighted their very sustainable packaging in an ISP post last June.

Even at that time, we knew Mark and Bad Axe were special. However, we had no idea just how committed they were to walking the eco-walk until we saw their new and improved Web site and a surprising addition they chose to make.

The Globe Guard Eco-Consistency Award Cannot Be Bought

Please note that most Globe Guard Eco Consistency Award winners are not customers. In fact, the only two recipients during all of 2009 were not customers at all: They were Home Depot for their plastic flower pot recycling program and Unilever for their club store Axe Deodorant three-pack.

There are so many companies that fall short in terms of eco-consistency that we feel obligated to point out the ones that do try harder and are successful.

When the Packaging Application Gets Tough, the Tough Turn to Globe Guard

Mark Harrell makes best-of-class cutting tools so sharp edges are a desired end result on every product, not just an occasional packaging problem. At the same time, Mark also understands that his customers care about the environment and expect their suppliers to respect eco-friendly solutions in everything they do. This philosophy, combined with a tremendous personal commitment and belief, is why Mark works so hard to make sure his packaging is effective and as green as possible.

Green and Proud of It

We were blown away when we saw the “About my green packaging” page on his new and improved Web site. After all, we have a lot of great customers who are eco-consistent all the way through their secondary packaging, but none (that we know of) devote a page to it on their Web site. Please note that we are only one of three vendors Mark utilizes to get the job done in a very green way.

During a round table discussion at a sustainability conference I attended last week, a few people mentioned that sometimes companies are reluctant to bring too much attention to their sustainability initiatives. The reasons cited included the possibility of raising unrealistic expectations, inviting criticism, starting something that can’t possibly finish, etc. That is part of the reason we love companies like Bad Axe Tool Works. They eagerly and enthusiastically put their green solutions on display and challenge others to follow their example.

Excellent work, Mark Harrell and Bad Axe Tool Works! Thank you for your eco-consistent green message and for the great plug for our Globe Guard products.

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The opportunity to get to know people and their businesses is one we truly appreciate and value. It goes far beyond social media — it is truly connecting with people on a one to one basis when they share their dreams and passion with you.

One who freely shares is Linda Stein, the founder of Zosimos Botanicals. We clicked while working on a recent custom-printed shipping box project, and I am very pleased to be able to share her story with ISP readers.

ISP Readers: Linda has graciously offered us a discount code on her site www.zosimosbotanicals.com. Use promo code GLOBEGUARD for a 15% discount on your purchase.

DS: Linda, we have to begin with your company name. Can you please tell us how you decided on Zosimos and give us your “elevator speech” on what your company does.

LS: First of all, thank you for taking an interest in my company, Dennis. Zosimos refers to a third century alchemist, Zosimos of Panoplis. Because most people have never heard of him, they only think of us when hearing or seeing the Zosimos name. It’s a strong trademark, which helps build brand recognition since there are no competing associations to overcome.

Basically, we make healthy cosmetics by hand. We use only natural or certified organic ingredients like essential oils, floral waters, natural waxes and nut butters. Part of our mission is educating people on the ability to create effective products without harsh chemicals.

The studio is environmentally conscious, right down to the last detail. It matters to me that the shipping envelopes are 100% recycled content and that our boxes are Globe Guard 100% post-consumer waste content.

Plus, there are social responsibility projects we are involved in throughout the year.

DS: Your personal story is a fascinating one because I know you were a practicing Trademark attorney when you became interested in personal care products. Tell us a little about your background and what drove you to become a “green entrepreneur.” (more…)

ISP readers know I enjoy a good green story and Nick and Kimber Christensen and their company, Little Sapling Toys, is one of the best. Little Sapling Toys has been the subject of articles in numerous publications and blogs including Treehugger, Daily Candy, Etsy’s Storque and Grass Roots Modern. A brief conversation with Nicholas made me realize they would be a great interview for our blog.

DS: Please give us a little background on your family and your company.

KC: Nick and I met in the Army, traveled the country remodeling hotel bathrooms, moved to liberal Humboldt County, had little saplings of our own, started Little Sapling Toys and finally moved to friendly Boise to put down roots and develop our business.

Nick made me a few pieces of furniture that used the natural contrast of beautiful, quality wood while working as a cabinetmaker. When Little Sapling Toys was conceived, we never considered using paints, stains or dyes to cover up something so naturally striking. Now, using Maple, Cherry and Walnut together with our own beeswax and organic jojoba oil finish is our way to reconcile modern and natural beauty.

We try and live a conscientious lifestyle and that naturally translates into our business as well. As Little Sapling Toys has grown, so have our opportunities to make eco-friendly choices.

DS: I was especially impressed and intrigued by your commitment to plant a tree for every toy you sell. How does that work?

NC: We are member partners of Trees for the Future. It’s an extremely inspiring organization that is helping communities throughout the world help themselves. We participate by making a commitment to help fund their tree planting efforts around the globe.

DS: Most eco minded people love wooden toys but how did you decide to start making teething products out of wood?

KC: We saw the demand for basic wooden grasp and teething shapes and recognized that we could bring a whole new level of design to the chubby little hands of children.

DS: Please answer any safety concerns about slivers, how the wood is sealed, etc. (more…)

There are now many green e-commerce sites available who sell green products ranging from soy candles to organic cotton diapers, but few are as successful in niche marketing as LetsGoGreen.biz. Their CEO and founder, Kyle Jodice. is a bit of a celebrity in Georgia where his products and company have been the subject of numerous TV interviews and articles. We appreciate Kyle taking the time to meet our readers.

DS: Kyle, please do us a favor and give us a little background on you personally. How did you end up involved and as most agree, leading the green movement?

KJ: I had a 25-year background in sales and distribution, working mostly for myself as a defense contrator, selling everything from toilet paper to tank parts to the US military. The industry was declining, though, especially for small businesses, and I was looking to get into something new. While watching a Diane Sawyer Earth Day special a few years ago I had what can only be described as a “lightbulb moment,” and the idea for LetsGoGreen.biz was born. I wasn’t “greener” than the next person at the time, but thought with my sales and distribution background that I could help the average person “make a difference” in their homes and businesses by making green products available to anyone living or working in the USA. “Leading the green movement” is very kind of you to suggest. Let’s just say there are lots of great companies promoting green products, and we’re happy to be one of them.

DS: When I talk about niche marketing I am referring to the household products you feature on your site. How did you determine that this is what people were looking for, and please give our readers an idea of the range of products they will find on your site.

KJ: As I mentioned, I wasn’t “greener” than the next person. I considered myself the average consumer. I think most people want to do their part to help the environment but don’t know where to start and certainly aren’t going to start by going solar or putting a windmill in their yard. So to me it was all about the little changes everyone could make at home or work, starting with myself. At LetsGoGreen.biz we carry the everyday products we all use that can add up to make a big difference. We all use trash bags, toilet paper and paper towels. We all use cleaners and laundry detergent. We all use light bulbs, paper plates, hot and cold cups, etc. At LetsGoGreen.biz you can get all of the everyday items we all use, except now you can get the “green” version. Plus, it doesn’t matter where you live in the country as we ship nationwide every day.

DS: Kyle, how do you decide if a product is “green enough” to be offered on your site?

KJ: It’s true that a lot of companies are stretching things by calling their products “green.” We get lots of offers to carry products these days and honestly we turn most of them down. It starts with the idea that if I wouldn’t use the product, we won’t sell it. Also, if you have to explain your product to me for me to understand why it’s “green,” it’s probably not an item for us. Again, we’re all about the everyday items we all use. Once a product line has caught our eye, then we check closer into the company to see if they are someone whose products we would want to represent, and if their products really do what they are intended to do and are made out of what they say they are. I personally sample every product before it is added to our site. My simple rule of thumb has served us well so far. If I wouldn’t use it, we don’t sell it. Simple as that.

ISP Readers: Kyle has generously offered us a discount. Use coupon code “FRIEND” at check out to receive a 25% discount on your LetsGoGreen order.

DS: I know water conservation is extremely important to you and most people in Georgia. Talk to us about that and some of the products you carry to help combat that growing problem.

KJ: We had a serious drought a couple of years ago in the southeast. At LetsGoGreen.biz we carry a full line of water conservation products from low-flow showerheads, toilet tank banks, kitchen and bath aerators and shower coaches. Over 75% of the water we all use in our homes is used in our bathrooms. It goes down our tubs, toilets and sinks. By changing to a low-flow showerhead and adding low-flow aerators and toilet tank banks, you can dramatically lower your water usage and your water bill at the same time. These really are products that pay for themsleves. I appeared on numerous TV shows in Georgia and around the Southeast showing folks the little changes they could make to save and conserve water. Again, if we all do a little it can really add up.

DS: One of the things I have noticed about your company is the way you advocate Green as a fundraiser for organizations like churches and schools. I think that is a marvelous idea, so please tell us how you started down that path. (more…)

From the beginning we promised to bring our readers interviews with difference makers in the fast moving, rapidly changing world of sustainability and few have as firm of a handle on it as Deborah Fleischer. Deborah is president of Green Impact and whether she is serving as a consultant or as a writer for various outlets, including her own blog, she is a busy lady and we are fortunate to be able to interview her.

DS: Deborah, please tell our readers about your company and the consulting work you do?

DF: Green Impact helps companies walk the green talk. We support businesses and organizations committed to sustainability design and implement new green programs, and create green communications that engage, inspire and change behavior. Our promise is to deliver real, measurable results.

DS: You are considered an authority on “green messaging”. Give us some idea of what you suggest to your clients.

DF: Wearing my Green Maven hat, I offer three suggestions to promote a stronger, more authentic green message:

1. Walk the talk and implement in-house goals and programs before you tell the world you are green (see If You’re Going to be Naked, You Better Be Buff);
2. Target Audience: Be clear on who you are trying to reach, what they care about and communicate directly to them where they are. Be it Twitter or Facebook, you need to integrate social media channels into your strategy; and
3. Tell simple stories: Share both your successes and challenges in an engaging way. You need to go deep and identify real areas for improvement, yet go simple with your communications.

DS: You do a lot of work with governmental agencies as well as and non-profit organizations. How has the recession affected their green programs and initiatives?

DF: Over the past year, I have seen a significant drop in budgets to execute new green programs for non-profits and governmental agencies. There are many cutting-edge programs in these sectors, but smaller budgets for consultants to support the efforts. (more…)

Green and organic products come in different forms and many different ways. One unique way I recently became aware of is the “affiliate marketer”, such as Erin Ely of Ely Organics who is a seller of ONEgroup products called miessence. I was intrigued by the dedication of Erin to the products she represents as well as this different “way to market” so I was pleased when she agreed to allow me to interview her.

DS: Erin, for those who are new to the term “affiliate marketer” can you please explain that to our readers? Also, please explain how it differs from traditional distributors or redistributors of product who buy and resell?

EE: An affiliate marketer is someone who does not manufacture their own product. I do not manufacture the miessence products, I sell them. I am like a conduit for people to find the products. I advertise and bring business to the ONEgroup as an affiliate and I am paid a percentage of my sales. I do not stock or ship the miessence products myself, that is all done by the manufacturer, ONEgroup.

DS: Please tell us about ONEgroup and your relationship with them.

EE: ONEgroup is a company that is called a multi-channel enterprise. Their business model includes network marketing, direct sales, and traditional retail. My website is like a portal to my “parent” site where orders are taken and processed. This is an affiliate marketing type of relationship.

DS: Does the fact that ONEgroup is Australian-based create any unique issues from an order process and fulfillment perspective? (more…)

Every green business has a story and few are as interesting as Maggie Mohs, who was driven to create her own line of cleaning products because of her own health issues. She was kind enough to agree to share her story with our Inside Sustainable Packaging readers.

DS: Maggie, let’s start out with a little background on you, your partner Sara and your company.

MM: In 2003, I left the banking industry to spend more time with my family. To supplement my household income, I began cleaning homes part time.

After several months of cleaning, I developed severe skin sensitivity. At the height of my illness, my skin would itch and my eyes would burn whenever I used any type of skin product. Around the same time, my daughter was diagnosed with asthma and allergies. I began researching asthma “triggers” and discovered the number one air pollutant was household cleaners. It was my “ah-ha” moment. I realized I had been exposing my skin (our largest organ) and lungs to toxic cleaners on a daily basis. I decided to start making my own natural cleaners. Together, with my sister-in-law, Sara, we founded Simply Neutral in August of 2007 and developed our line of non-toxic, plant-based cleaning products.

DS: Please tell us about your health issues and allergies to “standard” cleaning products. (more…)

A lady who has gained the attention of the green community with cool products and her enthusiastic marketing style is “Alix” Gnoske, maker of Recycle Me ™ tee shirts. We have gotten to know and appreciate Alix and are eager to share her with our readers.

DS: Alix, please begin by giving us a little back ground on you and your company. What first got you interested in going down this relatively narrow green path?

AG: Dennis, thank you for this opportunity to let your readers know about Recycle Me and learn about the quality of their clothing.

The environment, conservation, and wildlife are things I’ve been interested in since I was a child. I have a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and a J.D. in Environmental Law. In 2007 I first learned about how heavily sprayed cotton was. I looked for organic cotton clothing for my three children, but had a hard time finding anything. In 2008, I had the opportunity, through the support of my business partners, to start Recycle Me, an organic cotton clothing company, so I took it. I found it a simple way, through clothing, to make a huge difference for the environment and human health and safety.

DS: You are very concerned about the widespread use of chemicals within the textile industry and specifically on cotton. Please share with our readers some of the statistics that you have gathered on this serious problem.

AG: Cotton, corn and soy are the most heavily sprayed crops in the world, and now, commonly genetically engineered. Twenty-five percent of the world’s insecticides are sprayed on cotton. It takes about 1/3 lb. of chemicals to grow enough cotton to produce a t-shirt. The World Health Organization estimates that 20,000 cotton workers die annually due to exposure. Now, only 1% of cotton is grown organically (the U.S. only produces 2% of that). Here is where consumers can have a huge impact. We have a lot of room for growth, to change that 1% into 2%, and then 5% and so on.

I am also concerned about the chemicals, including heavy metals and plastics, that go into the dyes and inks on our clothing. That’s why we use only water based dyes and inks. I feel it is the safest and best quality way to decorate our clothing. There are three places to be concerned about these chemicals (as well as with conventional cotton): there’s the worker who is exposed to them, nature (where the chemicals leak into the water supply, air, and land endangering wildlife and humans) and finally the consumer, who puts these products directly on their skin.

DS: Please tell us what makes organic cotton, organic and how do we know the strict organic requirements have been met?
(more…)