Business Opportunities in Going Green

I saw an interesting program recently about the regeneration of a rust belt town thru green industries. The town is Braddock in Pennsylvania, just 8 or 9 miles outside Pittsburgh and the turn around seems due to the inspired leadership of their visionary Mayor, John Fetterman. I found an interesting report about this on the Web http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june08/greenjobs_05-12.html .

In the case of Braddock the town appears to be developing and attracting all sorts of innovative ventures, for example oil (from restaurants and every other conceivable source) is being treated and recycled for use in cars rather than treated as waste. As each new green industry starts it also spawns other - not necessarily green - jobs as the services of electricians, plumbers, welders and builders are involved. A town and a whole community that was dying can now be seen rising like the proverbial Phoenix from the ashes.

Across the world, innovative minds are seeking solutions to the problems facing us. No one has all the answers – but no individual’s efforts need be wasted if they work as part of a community. This does however take good leadership, with an open minded attitude to finding sustainable and innovative solutions to problems, along with an ability to keep everyone aiming at the same goal. John Fetterman Mayor of Braddock is clearly one example of such leadership.

Another example of innovation and inspired leadership in this area is I believe, to be found in McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry LLC with their ‘cradle to cradle’ approach to design, and it’s potential effect on supply chains and industry generally. See http://www.mbdc.com/c2c_home.htm

Innovation has always been an interest of mine. When problems are seen to be sufficiently major and as a result capable of attracting significant media attention, funding invariably becomes available for the necessary research. Al Gore was hugely instrumental in attracting people’s attention to the severity of problems we face in Global Warming. The subsequent release of the Stern Report and other scientific data has reinforced the message. Where previously people who espoused green credentials were described as ‘the loony fringe’ now it’s ‘cool to be green’ and that’s a healthy change of attitude. I just hope the current economic crisis doesn't push the need for truly sustainable business initiatives 'off the agenda'.

Perhaps you know of other innovative business and community initiatives involving green issues. If so I’d be interested to hear about them.

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