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Sustainability in 2009December 30, 2008

It's that time of year again when many of us start to think about our potential New Year's resolutions. Some common themes tend to center around weight, cigarette use, and alcohol consumption. May I suggest some new ideas for 2009 New Year's Resolutions from the world of a Green Retailer?

The overall theme is dispelling illusions. Illusions like, the smell of new things, like furniture, cabinetry or window blinds, is a good smell. How about the illusion that all of our things that outgas small amounts don't add up and adversely affect the air quality in our tighter, more energy efficient homes? Or the illusion that buying products that outgas toxic substances for really cheap prices is something to brag about.

One magazine article spoke about the term, "sustainability", taking on the new meaning of simply staying in business. It's undeniable that we are in the midst of an excruciatingly painful economic situation, but let's not stop working to create practices and perform due diligence with product lines that we carry or buy. Together, retailers and consumers, by choosing sustainably produced products and paying fair prices, can impact manufacturing choices and act effectively as gatekeepers and stewards of our planet. One suggestion would be to take a look at the ww Green Guide and determine the green features and benefits that are most important to you and start buying your products based on them.

It is my 2009 New Year's resolution to do everything in my power to continue operating ww in a way that recognizes the importance of both definitions of sustainability.

Introducing Revolution BusinessDecember 19, 2008

I was inspired to start ww after I experienced the difficulty of doing my own green remodel. I quickly realized that while the design/build industry has developed standards for environmentally sustainable construction and seeks to raise consumer awareness of green building through the U.S. Green Building Councils' guidelines (LEED), there were no counterpart standards for the "stuff" we put inside these structures!

Incredible too since one of LEED's aims is to create healthier work and living environments. Until I began my own journey, I had no idea how significantly indoor air quality is impacted by the things we surround ourselves with. Most people are unaware that indoor air quality in the US is, on average 2-4 times worse than that of the outdoors - even including our most urban areas! This is a result of the cumulative effect of the off-gassing and other forms of subtle and not-so-subtle toxicity emitted by our furniture, flooring, carpets, paint, window treatments and cabinetry. If we're beginning to think carefully about how we build structures, shouldn't we be taking just as much care with what we put in them, the things we are exposed to on a daily basis?

workingwonders Green Guide:

I decided to form a company that would search the world for the best in green design, selecting products that were not only stylish, modern and high quality, but that would also contribute to healthier living environments. Along the way we created a set of eight simple eco-standards. For example, are the materials used renewable or sustainable? Does this product improve indoor air quality? Does the manufacturer protect the health of their workers? Do they have green shipping and packaging practices? We choose only products and manufacturers that meet these eco-standards, and post this information alongside all the products we carry. (Click here for more information about our green guide.)

We are just one retailer. If others would join us, imagine what a difference that would make. Consumers would begin to look for green information when they make purchases in the same way they look for nutritional information in the grocery store. Requiring this information has forced food companies to make significant changes to their practices. We envision a similar paradigm shift in the retail industry.

What is Revolution Business? It is a new way of buying and selling the things we surround ourselves with. Retailers who take part will do due diligence with manufacturers whose products they sell to make sure that, as much as possible these products are made in ways that: 1) Tread as lightly as possible on the Earth, 2) Do not harm those making the products, and 3) Do not harm the end users of the products. This information will be made transparent to the consumer. And consumers can join the Revolution by asking for green information wherever they make their purchases. Manufacturers will begin to change their practices when they are led by the market.

Instead of waiting for one of our large retail counterparts to make the first move, we decided to do it ourselves. Hey, somebody's got to start the revolution. Revolution Business starts now. It starts with workingwonders.

What exactly is Green Retailing?December 19, 2008

Green retailing is a fundamental transformation of the behaviours and expectations that go along with being a retailer. It is actively seeking to bring eco-conciousness to the consumers we sell to and the manufacturers with whom we work.

ww is a model of the change we would like to see in the retail industry. At ww we carefully select all the products we sell and the manufacturers we work with - and make this information transparent to our customers with our green guide. It is our hope that consumers will begin to seek out this type of green information and that manufacturers will change their practices as a result.

We encourage other retailers to join us in this effort. We call this Revolution Business.

Green retailers who join us in this Revolution will:
• Work exclusively with companies that disclose information about where and how their products are made.


• Make this information available to consumers and sales staff through an easily understood set of guidelines that outlines the ways in which individual products or companies are green. ww's green guide with its eight simple icons is one such example.


• Make ongoing efforts to become more knowledgeable about and advocate for better materials, manufacturing, packaging and transportation processes which, first and foremost, do no harm to people, animals and our planet.


• Seek to green their own business practices - administrative, display, cleaning, etc. - as much as possible and make ongoing efforts to reach higher levels of business sustainability.

Retailers do have the power to effect change! Become a green retailer and join Revolution Business.