photo credit: blmurch

In case you haven’t caught up to the latest of the environmental catch-phrases, “Green Supply Chain” is a relatively important concept that everyone will eventually discover. We live in the early side of the environmental project, and it is common to find businesses ramping up to offer “Green Products” and “Green Services.” Green is, after all, a marketing concept as well as a environmental issue. So, we find a bevy of businesses selling Green believing that they are environmentally conscious as well as reaching out to a growing market of buyers.

What is under developed in these newly-christianed, Green businesses is the follow through that asks whether they are committed to buying and hiring Green in their business dealings. This often creates an unseen and embarrassing realization that their Green commitment is superficial. The Green Supply Chain concept is really part of the greater sustainable issue. Sustainability seeks to create a deeper and more complete cycle of Green actions. The Supply and Demand principles require that every seller needs buyers, and every buyer needs sellers. Consumerism is the yang of the vendor’s ying.

Green Supply Chain, therefore, asks for the commitment to include more than representing your business or product as Green, but that your business also prioritizes Green purchasing when possible. It won’t happen in a single decision, but it will happen in a progressive series of Green decisions. The Green Business League is a national association of Green businesses who have the fundamental commitment to “Buy Green, Hire Green.” This mentality will drive the businesses who wish to sell Green because the buying piece is being promoted.

The Green Business League also certifies Green Businesses through a point-earning system that requires more than paying for a membership in a name-sake-only listing. To Green the Green Business certification, a business must earn points through Green improvements to their business and by purchasing from other Green Businesses. This is certainly a step in the right direction. This program also allows a kind of Green networking to occur where it is easier to find a certified Green Business by providing a league of Green businesses that are ready to sell and buy with other Green businesses.

Beware of the Green hype, also known as Greenwashing, as many businesses try to add a Green branding of their own creation to their marketing efforts. The word “Green” is an unregulated word that can be appropriated by any eager marketing-minded person. The validity of their claims and hype may not be honest, and many consumers will one day have a bad taste in their mouth having been fooled by this practice. The Green Business League acts as an independent third party to encourage fair play and fair business among Green businesses. Ask the businesses that you do business with if they are Green Business Certified, and if not, ask them to start the certification process because your company intends to follow the sustainable practices of the “Green Supply Chain” program.

Learn more about Green Business Certified at Green Business League, find a Green Consultant at Green Consultant Directory

photo credit: Unhindered by Talent

It’s a good thing that “going green” is finally a trend. Big businesses are going green with environmentally safe products, environmentally safe fabrics and environmentally safe packaging. But, the trash isn’t entirely off the streets yet.

There are still companies cutting corners and not only that, but we our starting to feel the crunch from the lack of valuable resources. Worrying about the environment is not just worrying about maintaining safe guidelines on resources we use. But, it also includes making sure we have resources to use in the future.

With new natural gas cars and gas plus electric models entering the market, our reliability on oil will be considerably lower in the near future. But, having a natural gas car means that you won’t be able to take a cross country trip just yet. Natural gas facilities aren’t everywhere like gas stations are now. Plus, filling up can take up to about sixteen hours as reported by Rex Roy, a Detroit-based automotive journalist who has recently released his first book, Motor City Dream Garages.

While gas consumption is a major concern, we also need to look at other issues we face. Taking gas consumption as a warning, it is imperative that we look around at other issues like pollution. Looking at a country like China can help us understand what could possibly happen to anyone else if eco-friendly measures aren’t taken.

Hearing the numbers from China’s present consumerism habits is almost breath taking. To watch what can happen to a country in need and devouring everything it needs is an eye opener and to think that those problems manifested out of its emulation of the American lifestyle is scary. We need to start setting a better example?

Remember when there were rules like take what you need and make sure you use all that you take? Waste is intolerable. But, until we feel the crunch from the lack of resources do we understand why those basic principles were so important.

The vicious cycle of consumerism becomes compounded by the waste left behind. If it doesn’t go in the air, it goes in the ground. Either way, it’s another issue to be resolved. So, we are burning both ends of the candle. And we need to learn how to do one major magic trick before our candle burns up completely.

We need to learn how to slow our consumption to a pace where everyone is full and nothing gets wasted while we maintain a healthy growth of future resources. Plus, we need to learn how to better manage the exhaust rate even when our consumption level is healthy. But, the major problem we face is making each individual understand that consumption is entirely up to them.

You can look at big business. But, supply and demand are actually dictated by the consumers. The more we want, the more big business will supply. If we could actually get our wants under control, they would become predictable. Predictability would mean that supply and demand meet. Waste goes away. So, while you might want to blame all of our problems on big business, it really does come down to one person…you.

So, start using natural cleaners like Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. Use organic pesticides like Citronella. Buy locally produced organic foods and have more barbecues with natural gas rather than charcoal. Recycle everything you possibly can and heat this winter with alcohol based gel fuel. You’ll be very green and leading by example is the best way to get everyone else around you involved as well.

Jessica Brylan has been a student of construction all her life, under her father who retired in 2004. Her passion turned to interior design and strangely evolved into becoming a fireplace expert. Her latest report DIY Fireplace demonstrates her knowledge and love of fireplaces. Read further details about The Ventless Gel Fireplace Reports.

photo credit: Photo Mojo

Women nowadays are turning in to entrepreneurs – both big time and small time – with a vengeance to prove their detractors wrong and becoming successful as well, thus silencing their critics. But to kick start any business, even if it is small, or to give a financial boost to an existing small business concern, a woman will require money – either loans from the banks or grants.

I would recommend a woman entrepreneur to ditch the predilection for loans which you have to repay with high rates of interest within a fixed schedule and to opt for small business government grants which eliminate the necessity of recurring monthly expenses of high rates of interest or repayment of the principal amount.

In this article I will provide 3 tips to women entrepreneurs who would like the applications of their small business government grants approved.

Tip # 1 – Gauging the Competition

The US government is keener to shell out large amounts of grants on tech related businesses to encourage and facilitate technological advancement of the country than on crafts and arts industry. You have to understand this difference between demand and supply for government grants.

Where the competition is low, chances of the availability of grants are higher, despite the red tapism. You will also require showing less effort when trying to impress the panel if competition is not as stiff.

Tip # 2 – Searching Thoroughly Through All Categories

Women can apply for as many small business grants as they want, you must apply in all the sub categories under the broad category of “business and commerce”. However the sub categories need to be relevant for your business.

You have to carefully read through all the terms and conditions that are listed for each of the grants and whenever you find a grant the conditions or rules of which comply with your small business, you should apply for it.

Always revisit and recheck the application page from time to time for availability of new grants declared by the government.

Tip # 3 – Expenses Upfront Planning

In order to convince and gratify the panel who will approve your application, you should present a moderate realistic budget and have to behave almost as if government money/grant is like your own money and you are careful about its expenditure.

Appear in front of the panel with your homework regarding advanced detailed planning about your intended expenses. This will give you an extra edge over other applicants.

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All you need to pay is a shipping fee of less than $3 to get the database shipped to your doorsteps. Apart from that, you are going to get a list of tricks that others have been using to get their grant applications approved over and over again. Click on http://www.supergreatoffer.com/apply-for-free-government-grant-free-us-government-grants/ now to get the guide for FREE.