Let’s not even consider all the fossil fuels wasted in producing the bottles and trucking them around the world.

The solution for a group of entrepreneurs out of Michigan? box up the water. Their motivation:

It started with the simple idea of creating a new bottled water brand that is kinder to the environment and gives back a bit—we found that it shouldn’t be bottled at all, but instead, boxed. So we looked to the past for inspiration in the century old beverage container and decided to keep things simple, sustainable, and beautiful.

Their argument for why boxed is better?

76 percent of the box is made from a renewable resource—trees—”making it one of the most sustainable beverage packages available.
Those trees come from certified, well-managed forests.
The boxes are shipped flat, which is significantly more efficient than shipping empty plastic or glass bottles.
The boxes are recyclable—where facilities exist.
The company plans on donating 10 percent of its profit to organizations working to improve access to clean water, and promote reforestation.

And it seems to be catching on. There isn’t a day that goes by where the words “boxed water” don’t appear on my twitter timeline, or pop up on my instagram feed. There’s much to be said for the concept, the simplicity of the packaging and the overall aesthetic. One thing’s for sure: Boxed water is definitely better-looking than the competition. And isn’t that what matters anyways?

There’s a list of Boxed Water Is Better outlets on the company’s Web site, www.boxedwaterisbetter.com .

Follow them on twitter @helloboxedwater

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The Honest Company launched today which manufactures and sells more than a dozen non-toxic, chemical-free baby products, from diapers and wipes to shampoos and detergents. The Honest Company controls the entire product lifecycle from design to manufacturing and distribution with most of the goods made in the USA.

Not only are the baby products safe and eco-friendly, they’re stylish. Alba wasn’t just annoyed at the chemicals in baby products, she was annoyed that they all have the same lame designs. Elmo is about as hip as diapers get. “That’s just not cool,” Lee says.

Moms in their 20s and 30s grew up with MTV and listening to hip-hop and no one is speaking to them. Nobody! Seventh Generation is the best eco-brand out there, and their diapers are just brown. There’s nothing exciting about them. This is really about redefining the family brand.

Honest Company’s designs have things like lollipops and ice-cream on diapers for girls and little skulls-and-crossbones on diapers for boys. (#want.) Designs will vary every month, with a special Valentine’s Day theme for February and a St. Patty’s Day one for March.

Another bonus, the Honest Company offers subscription plans. For $35.99 a month, you get to pick five products– think things like detergents, shampoo and baby sunscreen. For just under $80 a month you get a month’s supply of diapers and wipes.

Check it out HERE

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We thought the partnership was a great fit says, Fraser Avey, at Stussy. The companies have a lot in common from our organic and grassroots beginnings to our military-inspired designs. Holden is well known for the quality of their outdoor garments and we thought it would be great to partner for a project together.

In correlation with the collection, Holden will choose ten people (three athletes, one filmer, one driver, and five lucky individuals from all walks of media) to embark on an epic journey from the high peaks of Oregon to the sandy shores of Southern California. Embarking in March 2012, the crew will pursue an active, healthy lifestyle of snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding, fishing, camping, and adventures in city life, all in one week. The roadtrip will be documented by five invited media attendees, specifically chosen from varying walks of life to show a wide perspective.

Additionally, Holden is supporting the collection with an short video by Shelby Menzel that features former-professional-snowboarder Russell Winfield modeling the “Stussy by Holden” collection. The video showcases the line’s integrated technical features and performance in contrasting environments and can be viewed at

Check it out HERE.

Please contact info@holdenouterwear.com for more information.

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To support Nike’s strategic evolution and better enable Nike to transition to sustainable business models, we have transformed the corporate responsibility function into something altogether different. It’s now called Sustainable Business and Innovation (SB&I). SB&I’s mission is to enable NIKE, Inc. to thrive in a sustainable economy.

For more on the lab’s function, here’s an excerpt from a Nike job posting (for the lab’s manager) that circulated in June 2010: The Sustainable Business & Innovation (SB&I) Lab is a new strategic investment program to enable and accelerate Nike’s disruptive growth and innovation through sustainability.

The Lab will invest in two portfolios to simultaneously accelerate Nike’s sustainability vision and long-term business growth:

(i) Closed loop – a vision for zero waste of natural resources in a product’s journey from raw materials to finished state to post-consumer stage, and

(ii) Activating the inactive – motivating and inspiring inactive populations to lead more active and healthy lives. The SB&I Lab will use multiple tools, primarily equity investments in early, mid and growth stage businesses. But also, as required, will invest in partnerships and alliances with institutions, governments and NGOs. Depending upon the need and opportunity, the SB&I Lab will serve as creator and manager, sole funder, lead investor, co-investor, general partner or limited partner in operating companies and organizations.

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Is green Nascar an oxymoron? After all, the sport is all about watching gas guzzlers drive at high speeds in circles for hours. Until 2007, race cars used leaded fuel. Tens of thousands of fans still drive to races in recreational vehicles and other gas hogs.

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Blake Mycoskie is the brains behind TOMS, a for-profit company with a feel-good twist, that aims to make philanthropy fashionable, while growing a global brand.

Before launching TOMS Shoes, thirty-four year old Mycoskie already had five other startups under his belt, including a laundry and dry cleaning service, an outdoor billboard company, a 24/7 cable TV network and an online drivers education firm.

Fun fact: Between business ventures, Mycoskie competed in the CBS primetime show, “The Amazing Race” with his sister, and came within four minutes of winning the $1M grand prize.

It was during his globe trekking adventures, in Argentina, that he first stumbled across the idea for his next venture, a farmers shoe called the alpargata. He figured the American fashion market would clamor for this sturdy, yet simple shoe.

While developing the brand and securing his manufacturing partners he had the revelation of a business concept he calls “One for One” – for every pair of shoes purchased, a new pair would be donated to a child in need around the world.

And so with less than $5,000 startup money, and a small Venice, California apartment turned office, he sourced and sold 10,000 pair of shoes, and gave away an equal amount, over the course of just one summer.

Fast forward to the present, TOMS has over 185 fulltime employees and sells shoes in more than 20 countries worldwide, through retail channels includingNordstrom’s [JWN  44.05   -1.09  (-2.41%)   ], Neiman Marcus, Whole Foods[WFM  64.48   -1.28  (-1.95%)   ] and Urban Outfitters [URBN  24.56   -0.40  (-1.6%)  ]. To date, he’s given away two million pairs of shoes, and sold countless millions more. TOMS recently expanded into eyewear, sold under the same One For One principle, and Mycoskie tells CNBC he plans to branch out into other products as well.

His new book “Start Something That Matters” (Spiegel & Grau, September 6, 2011) says “Conscious Capitalism” is not just good for society, its good for business, good for customers.

Giving builds loyal customers and turns those customers into supporters…You can find passion and profit and meaning all at once, right now. ” Most people yearn to contribute, make the world a better place and have success….all at the same time…Make sure to give your business a background, a mission and a story. That might be the most important step part of any venture. And remember, giving may be the best investment you ever make.

Conscious Capitalism is about more than simply making money. Although it is about that, too. Mycoskie adds that, Supporters, more than customers, have bought into your story because it taps into something real, and they want to be part of that.

At TOMS, I truly believe we’ve started something that matters.

Another key to a successful startup is think local but act global. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Start your idea small scale, make sure it works in your local community, then take it to the next level. Not only does it take away some of the anxiety and fear of going too big, too soon, it also allows you to test the waters and try your product or idea out on a manageable community. If it doesn’t take off down your block, it will never work in 20 countries either.

What about plans to go public?

One thing I’m so grateful for is sidestepping the usual venture capital, private equity route. My friends who have gone that way are many times beholden to their boards of directors, to ‘sell’ ideas to a team.So far, we are much more flexible and free to do what we want to do, and give where we want to give.That said, Mycoskie adds, the more successful your company, the easier it is sometimes to give back and be a change agent for good.

My goal is to grow my brand globally. This is a new model for success, to share with your children, students, coworkers, and members of your community.

HIT FROM: CNBC

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You can research eco-friendly banks on sites such as coopamerica.org. You can also use your shareholder power to influence corporate policy, even if you only own one share of stock.

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As author Edward Humes describes it in his new book, Force of Nature: The Unlikely Story Of Wal-Mart’s Green Revolution, the motivation for Wal-Mart’s eco-transformation was pure business. The lingering question, though, is whether all this will help Wal-Mart maintain its dominance for more than one generation. Part of the reason that Wal-Mart’s U.S. sales and its stock price have been stagnant is Wal-Mart’s image. “Wal-Mart has a generational problem. They are not cool,” Humes said. “Moms shop at Wal-Mart. Their daughters go to Target.” Wal-Mart is hoping that becoming the leading green, sustainable retailer will, in essence, make it cool. “They want to be the greener choice for the next generation,” explained Humes.

Wal-Mart’s efforts to consume less packaging, less diesel fuel and less energy in its stores all make good common sense. But I wonder whether those steps alone can really make it cool. What do you think?

Hit From: Forbes Blog

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