Going Green: 45 Educational Resources
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – David Brower
If you borrow a lawn mower from your friend, will you return it full of caked-on grass and mud with no gas left in the tank? What about that $5 you borrowed from your co-worker? Will you return it shredded into tiny pieces of paper? And, if you borrow a cup of sugar from next door, will you return it in a broken cup, with shards of glass inside? I didn’t think so.
I was taught that when you borrow something, you should return it in better condition than when you received it. If you believe the quote above, attributed to environmentalist David Brower, then you likely understand the need for environmentally sustainable practices. That’s where the simplicity ends.
Learning about sustainable practices can be a daunting task. The list below is a compilation of internet resources that I have encountered during my own learning process. It is in no way complete. That said, I hope you’ll enjoy the array of topics that these sources provide . . . and perhaps learn a thing or two along the way.
Note: Descriptions listed under each link were, for the most part, taken directly from the website listed. I have elected to omit descriptions from the Certification Programs/Agencies section because I’d like to explore certifications and labels further in a future post.
Resources Specific to the Design & Print Communities
AIGA Center for Sustainability: AIGA is the oldest and largest membership association for professional designers. The Center for Sustainable Design website provides a discussion forum, green design news, event information, case studies, and information on sustainability.
Design by Nature: Design by Nature is a site based in Australia that seeks to inspire, educate and empower designers in that region to work toward more environmentally sustainable practices. It also acts as a shared resource where designers are invited to share opinions and ideas.
Design Can Change: Design Can Change is an initiative aimed at uniting the world’s graphic designers to use their influence and purchasing power to combat climate change. It was developed by smashLAB, a design firm based in Vancouver, BC.
Green Press Initiative (GPI): The goal of the Green Press Initiative is to help those in the book and newspaper industries better understand their impact on endangered forests, indigenous communities and the Earth’s climate. GPI also works with those in the industry to implement solutions, and to provide the tools and resources necessary to support industry transformation.
Institute for Sustainable Communication: The Institute for Sustainable Communication’s mission is to raise awareness, build capacity and foster the widespread adoption of economically viable, environmentally restorative and socially constructive uses of print and digital media.
Lovely as a Tree: Lovely as a Tree aims to enable and inspire graphic designers to make more environmentally friendly choices in their work. This site from the UK also lists the steps you can take to reduce your design footprint, demonstrates the process of choosing a recycled or more sustainably sourced paper and shows what to look for when choosing a greener printer.
Print Buyers Online—Going Green: Print Buyers Online is a free community for those who buy print. Their “Going Green” section includes sustainable printing tips and educational articles. They also offer a certification program in Best Practices for Sustainability in Print.
PrintLeadership: PrintLeadership is a sustainability and environmental marketing consultancy focused on the graphic communications industry. PrintLeadership’s mission is to help printers, paper companies, packaging firms and designers translate environmental performance into powerful market positions, increased market share and better bottom lines.
Re-nourish: Re-nourish is an independent online toolkit for sustainable graphic design. They provide reliable, accessible sustainability tools to empower graphic designers to implement sustainable decision-making in their day-to-day work.
Sustainable Printing: Sustainable Printing offers news, tips and information on environmentally friendly printing in a digital world.
The Designers Accord: The Designers Accord is a global coalition of designers, educators, and business leaders working together to create positive environmental and social impact.
WhatTheyThink.com—Going Green: The “Going Green” section of WhatTheyThink.com contains stories, reports, commentary, and interviews that highlight how a company can reduce its environmental footprint and become more sustainable.
Resources from the Paper Industry
American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA): The American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) is the national trade association of the forest products industry and advances public policies that promote a strong and sustainable US forest products industry in the global marketplace. They are committed to a sustainable, thriving forest and paper products industry that continues to improve tomorrow’s environment today.
Conservatree: Conservatree is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the tools, strategies and collaborations needed to transform paper markets to environmentally sustainable products.
Down To Earth: Down to Earth covers topical issues in a thought-provoking manner that helps to dispel myths and misconceptions.
Environmental Paper Network: The Environmental Paper Network represents organizations working together to accelerate social and environmental transformation in the pulp and paper industry.
Greening Business
Environmental Defense: The Environmental Defense Fund partners with businesses, governments, and communities to find practical environmental solutions.
Global Environment Management Initiative (GEMI): The Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI) creates tools and provides strategies to help business foster global environmental, health and safety excellence and economic success. GEMI provides a forum for corporate environmental leaders throughout the world to work together and learn from each other.
GreenBiz.com: GreenBiz.com, the business voice of the green economy, is an excellent source for news, opinion, best practices, and other resources on the greening of mainstream business.
Greentech Media: Greentech Media is an integrated online media company designed to deliver the highest-quality content in the industry, whether it is research, news or critical networking events.
Rainforest Alliance: The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.
SustainAbility: SustainAbility is a strategy consultancy and think tank working with senior corporate decision makers to achieve transformative leadership on the sustainability agenda.
Sustainable Life Media: Sustainable Life Media is a producer of sustainable business conferences and educational events, with supporting products and services that include targeted e-newsletters, an online learning resource and community and more.
The Inspired Economist: The Inspired Economist highlights the individuals and companies applying passion and innovation to economic, social, and environmental challenges.
Worldwatch Institute: The Worldwatch Institute is an independent research organization recognized for its accessible, fact-based analysis of critical global issues. Its mission is to generate and promote insights and ideas that empower decision makers to build an ecologically sustainable society that meets human needs.
Greener Living
Alternative Consumer: Whether it’s eco-fashion and home decor, eco-travel, hybrid cars, organic health and beauty products, organic food and wine, sustainable design or recycling — The Alternative Consumer delivers the hottest news, trends, products and services to today’s style-conscious, earth-friendly consumer.
Earth911: Consider Earth911 your one-stop shop for all you need to know about reducing your impact, reusing what you’ve got and recycling your trash. Their recycling database can help you find over 100,000 recycling locations across the country.
green@work: Green@work is the essential guide to the business world’s growing embrace of sustainability. It covers corporate responsibility from a positive point of view, relating best practices and demonstrating the growing business case for green strategies.
Greener Choices: GreenerChoices.org, launched on Earth Day 2005 by Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, is a web-based initiative to inform, engage, and empower consumers about environmentally friendly products and practices.
Sustainablog: Sustainablog covers the world of green: the people, companies, technology, and ideas that are moving us towards a more sustainable future. Whether you’re searching for information and inspiration, or for eco-products for your home and family, this site will guide you in taking your next steps towards a greener, healthier lifestyle.
The Daily Green: The Daily Green’s mission is to broaden the audience for earth-friendly living by showing how going green is relevant to everyone.
TreeHugger: TreeHugger is a media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. They strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information.
Certification Programs /Agencies
Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
International Organization for Standards (ISO)
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
More Resources
Ecorazzi: Just for fun . . . this site features news and gossip on celebrities and notables in support of the environment and humanitarian causes.
EnviroLink Network: The EnviroLink Network is a non-profit organization that provides access to thousands of online environmental resources.
Green Maven: Green Maven is a search engine that showcases green, conscious and sustainable websites.
World Changing: World Changing is a media organization that comprises a global network of independent journalists, designers and thinkers covering the world’s most intelligent solutions to today’s problems. World Changing “inspires readers around the world with stories of the most important and innovative new tools, models and ideas for building a bright green future.”
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP): UNEP is the designated authority of the United Nations system in environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.
United States Postal Service (USPS): The USPS is working with customers to reduce mail that’s undeliverable. This site also features calculators that encourage the use of their online services.
As a bonus, consider following these green gurus on Twitter:
Let me know in the comments section what sites I’ve missed. I’d love to check them out!
Photo Credits: Flower – courtesy PhotoXpress.com, Leaves – http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/3337237809/
