Why we’re trying to conduct business NOT as usual (as a Certified B Corp):

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Occupy Wall Street: A Powerful Demand for Something New—Like This

by Andrew Kassoy on Forbes.com, 10/20/2011

While some say the movement’s message is diffuse, it’s clear protesters favor capitalism with purpose, not profit, at its center.

The Occupy Wall Street movement has captured a great deal of attention while spreading beyond New York City to major cities across the globe. Although some criticize the protests as diffuse in message or lacking in substance, it is clear that the movement represents a powerful demand for something new. Occupy Wall Street is an expression of everyone’s frustration with business as usual, where financial profit comes at the expense of everything else.

What’s also clear from the videos, e-mails, and posts we’ve seen is that many of the protesters don’t just want to stand against Wall St.; they want to stand for something. There is an alternative.  A movement of inspiring entrepreneurs and their investors, consumers, and workers are creating a better way to do business. In in the process, they are transforming capitalism to create value for shareholders andsociety at the same time.

These inspiring leaders are creating a new sector of the economy that redefines success in business. This new sector comprises a new type of corporation, the B Corporation.

You’ve heard of traditional C corporations and S corporations.  These traditional corporations are required by law to maximize profits for shareholders, no matter the impact of their decisions on their workers, our communities or the environment.

B Corps are different.  B Corps believe in capitalism with purpose, not just profit, at its center.

Business is the most powerful force on the planet and can be a positive instrument for change. However, current corporate law makes it difficult for businesses to take employee, community, and environmental interests into consideration when making decisions. To address this, B Corporations have a different legal DNA that requires them to make decisions that are good for society, not just for their shareholders.

There are nearly 500 of these B Corporations in more than 60 industries across the country.  There is even a national movement to pass legislation creating formal legal recognition for this new type of corporation.  B Corp legislation builds the needed legal infrastructure for an economy that is more inclusive, resilient and sustainable, an economy that meets the needs of Main Street, not Wall Street.

B Corp legislation has already been passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in six states, California, Maryland, Vermont, New Jersey, Virginia, and Hawaii. Similar legislation now sits on the New York governor’s desk and has been introduced in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. More than 15,000 citizens have shown their support by signing petitions atCare2.com.

Another barrier to the growth of a new economy is the lack of transparent standards. This makes it difficult for all of us to tell the difference between a good company and just good marketing.  All B Corps have to report publicly on their overall social and environmental performance, measuring themselves against an independent third-party standard.  Some B Corps choose to get certified as having met the highest standards of performance.

Some of these Certified B Corps you know, such as national brands likeSeventh Generation, King Arthur Flour, or Dansko. Some you don’t but should, such as a beautiful bank like New Resource Bank, amazing manufacturers like Cascade Engineering, or an incredible insurance company like Freelancers Insurance Company. Anyone can access these Certified B Corps’ performance data by looking at their B Impact Reports. This enables consumers to support businesses that align with their values, investors to drive capital to higher-impact investments, and all of us to bring our whole selves to work.

The Occupy Wall Street movement signals a collective dissatisfaction with the status quo. B Corporations and their supporters are offering an alternative.

Susty Party taster sample cups enjoyed by Best Life Organics! This is what they have to say:

“WOW! What an amazing time we had at the San Carlos Art & Wine Faire: )

THANK YOU SUSTY PARTY FOR THE FABULOUS COMPOSTABLE SUGARCANE SAMPLE CUPS for our certified organic DeepGreen samples!!!

So many people came to check out Best Life Organics booth, sample the awesome certified organic Deep Greens Alkalizing Superfood and Inliven Probiotic AND “Spin the Wheel!!!” Many in San Carlos will be enjoying a certified organic beauty spa, nutritional “smoothie spa” and our ever popular Green Teen Spa! So much excitement around the NEW Lifetime Member special that is running through the end of November! Don’t get left behind - send me an email if you would like to know more: bestlifeorganics @ gmail.com

Thanks Susty - We LOVE you!” 

“This is exactly how women and girls are treated in mass culture every second of every day. The messages are simple: you aren’t good enough, you are never going to make it. Abandon your personality, abolish your dreams. Go home. Let go. Sad puppy face.

 I created Up and UP to be ONE SHOW that sends a positive message to women. That says you are good enough. You do have what it takes. You should go for it and you should never stop. Isn’t it about time women hear this, and actually see themselves living it? Isn’t it important that people see something positive in media, especially in times like these?”

-Kristen Dolle, creator of Up and UP

Up and Up: A New York City Webseries

mothernaturenetwork:

Looking for a costume that’s sure to get people talking? Try one of our original costume ideas and make a green statement this Halloween.

Halloween Product Giveway! 

Ecopreneurist.com partnered with us to bring you this givewaway and an interview with Susty Party founder Emily.

Get an insiders view into how we made our Star Stamped and Heart Stamped sugarcane cups!

Video from the up-coming web-series Up and UP.

Our buddies at Cheeky Monkey Party (Brooklyn-based creators of handcrafted themed kids party kits!) posted an interview with Susty Party founder Emily! 

Here’s the full interview below:

Eco-friendly Party Items – A Conversation with Susty Party

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Joanna

A Conversation with Emily Doubilet, Founder and CEO of Susty Party.

Susty is all about eco-friendly parties. How did you get into this business?

I am a musician & a performance artist with a degree in environmental studies. I was always looking to incorporate sustainability practices at the events and parties where I performed! I worked as a sustainability coordinator and event planner, and that’s where I got the idea to start sustyparty.com. My goal is for people to have fun while also positively impacting the environment.

What products do you sell that would be good for children’s parties and why should parents buy these products?

Organic Cotton Party Crowns are one of my favorite kids’ (of all ages!) products. It’s handcrafted in the USA from non-toxic materials and it’s re-usable. It comes with felt numbers that you can attach to the front of the crown – so it can be worn every year for your child’s birthday party, replacing the number with the next year’s age!

I think the toxic free face paints are fantastic. Parents are so worried about their children’s exposure to chemicals. Do you specifically look for toxic free products?

Yes! This is one of the criteria that our products need to meet in order to be sold on our site.

When you talk about your products you mention the “cradle to cradle” principle. I am only aware of the “cradle to grave” principle. I’m intrigued, can you expand on this for me and what it means to Susty Party?

Cradle to Cradle is a seminal book by William McDonough and Michael Braungart (http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm). It is a call to redesign human industry and commerce into a system that creates ecological, social and economic value. Rather than a system that “takes, makes and wastes” and then sends products to a grave, can we create products that create value throughout their lifecycle and then return to a cradle rather than a grave – to “give birth” if you will to another product! For example - we choose renewable materials like vegetable starch rather than non-renewable finite raw materials (like plastic from oil) for our products.

Finally, do you have a “toe curling” story of an event where the waste was the main guest?

I was at a conference where Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability was a theme. But the catering had provided individual mini-plastic water bottlesfor the refreshments, and the hot-cups were styrofoam! Tableware often gets overlooked, even when people are trying to focus on sustainability.

Thank you Emily. 

Posted in Running a party at home, Uncategorized | Tagged Birthday party at home, ecofriendly party, partyware,sustainable party, susty party, tableware, themed birthday parties | Leave a comment

Yum! 10 Green Halloween Treats Your Kids Will Love is an article that features the advice from our  friends Corey and Lynn who founded Green Halloween and wrote a book about it too.

These treats are a step in the right direction. On the greenness scale it’s more of a light green (rather than dark green), but it was featured in People Magazine so I think they had to focus on easily accessible, baby steps towards greening the celebration! 

I would add these treats to the list (all from organic, fair-trade, sustainability-focused companies:

* Kopali Organics: dried fruit & dark chocolate snacks!

* Raaka Chocolate: brooklyn-produced dark chocolate mini-bars!

* Liddabit Sweets: nyc-produced local, artisanal, seasonal candy!

And I’d also emphasize DIY Halloween treats! Though perhaps you aren’t supposed to give kids things that aren’t wrapped in plastic these days for safety reasons? But if you’re hosting your own Halloween party, make healthy treats yourself! I personally love the always-simple Ants on a Log.

Bonus Material: for a funny inspiring take on veggie treats check this out.

Happy Greeeeeeen Halloweeeeen!

Love,

Emily

Calling all cool mamas, papas and costume lovers! National Halloween Costume Swap Day is THIS SATURDAY!

If you’re in Brooklyn check out this costume swap hosted by a bunch of awesome folks including our buddies at Raganella who, incidentally, love our edible face paint! 

Our friends Jill and Josie have published a cookbook - it’s called Party Like A Culinista and it’s a guide to throwing dinner parties and cooking using fresh, minimally processed whole foods and lots of greens and grains! Of course they love keeping things sustainable too, so they teamed up with us for their launch party this October 5, 2011 to tantalize the tastebuds of their guests on Susty Party tableware.

Congrats Jill and Josie - keep the party going and we can’t wait to taste some of their recipes!

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