Green Options » John-Paul Maxfield

“Do Your Part”- A Reflection

John-Paul Maxfield — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:09:50 +0000

I bought a pack of gum a few months ago. I paid with a credit card. I signed my paper receipt, was handed my duplicate paper copy of the transaction, expressed my gratitude for the exchange and walked outside. I unwrapped the plastic packaging surrounding the paper box containing the aforementioned gum. I opened the lid, unwrapped the tin foil around the packets of individually wrapped goodness. Then I carefully selected my piece, unwrapped it and set to chewing. As I chewed, I looked at the green gum package blankly when something caught my eye. In between the main paper packaging, the secondary foil packaging, and the shelves that held the remaining individually wrapped pieces, there was a small picture. It was a picture of a stick figure throwing the accumulated ball of waste into a garbage pail, with words underneath that read “Do your Part.”

“Do my part”, I repeated. I chomped my gum a few more times, chewing on my orders. It seemed simple enough. I am not great with directions, but I felt that I could handle that. The picture made it look easy. I was just to throw away the ball of accumulated spent packaging, which was made up of trees that took years to grow, plastics derived from petroleum, and aluminum extracted with great effort all with the sole purpose of being wrapped around something destined to be unwrapped, thrown away, and reburied in a hole or better yet, burned to make room for more people to “do their part.”

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Chinese Investors Showing Interest in Biodiesel Palm Oil Plants in North Sumatra

John-Paul Maxfield — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:08:43 +0000

Biofuels Digest reports that a group of Chinese investors are showing interest in palm oil-based biodiesel production in North Sumatra. The investment group has sent an exploration team and is investigating the financing of construction projects that would commence in 2009.

Berita Sore points out that crude palm oil and other animal/phyto oil exports in the January-October 2008 period were valued at US$3.947 million, up 66.18 percent from the same period last year. China was North Sumatra’s third largest export destination after India and Japan, which may in part help to explain the growing interest from Chinese investors.

Photo Credit: Films4Conservation via Flickr’s Media Commons

Carbon Market Evolves with Addition of American Carbon Registry

John-Paul Maxfield — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:27:24 +0000

If President Elect Barack Obama stays true to his campaign promises, federal cap and trade legislation may soon become a reality. In light of this, companies are competing to become the EPA ‘feeder’ greenhouse gas registries of choice. One company of note is the non-profit, American Carbon Registry. With 25 million registered offsets and stamps of approval from both Fortune 500 companies like Nike and mission-driven institutions like the World Bank, the American Carbon Registry enters the pre-compliance market as a leading domestic registry.

“American Carbon Registry is an imprimatur for low risk and high quality. We add value by helping our members position themselves to earn early-action credit towards future federal and international GHG regulatory programs,” says Wiley Barbour – Founder and Chief Technical Officer.

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Economic Security Measures Proposed for Major Banks

John-Paul Maxfield — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:24:14 +0000

Under Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) of the U.S. Treasury, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs received $25 billion each and Bank of America received $10 billion in federal bailout funds. It has been argued that much of the the global economic meltdown was brought on by the country’s largest financial institutions. In response to the recent bailouts, Harrington Investments, Inc., a socially responsible investment (SRI) advisory firm, announced that they have submitted binding bylaw amendments at Citigroup, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs that would create Board Committees on U.S. Economic Security.

The bylaw states that the board should consider the impact of bank policies on U.S. economic security as part of their fiduciary duty:

U.S. Economic Security’ impacted by bank policy may include, among other things 1) the long term health of the economy of the U.S., 2) the economic well-being of U.S. citizens, as reflected in indicators such as levels of employment, wages, consumer installment debt and home ownership, 3) levels of domestic and foreign control, and holdings of securities and debt, of companies incorporated or headquartered in the U.S. and 4) the extent to which our company holds securities of foreign companies or has employees or representatives holding positions on the boards of directors of foreign companies.

The shareholder statement argues that taxpayer efforts to stabilize the U.S. economic system were precipitated by “years of irresponsible lending and business practices. Unregulated trading in speculative derivatives and a general lack of management and board oversight at major U.S. financial institutions has brought the global economy to the brink of disaster.”

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The Economics of Urban Sprawl- What’s Happening to Our Farmland?

John-Paul Maxfield — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:00:28 +0000

If you are from Colorado and have made the drive along I-25 over the last five years from Denver to Fort Collins or Denver to Colorado Springs, you have undoubtedly noticed it. The irony of vast corn fields and pastures surrounded by construction sites and tract housing. Productive pastures once grazed by livestock replaced by bulldozers clearing the way for development and progress in the form of roads, houses, and malls. As one farmer put it, “we’ve gone from growin’ corn to growin’ houses.” Colorado is not the only state facing this issue, consider these facts from the American Farmland Trust,

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Ecopreneurist Named as One of the Top Green Business Blogs

John-Paul Maxfield — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:18:38 +0000

Congrats to our friends at Ecopreneurist, recently named by Green Eco Services as one of the “Top 20 Green Business Blogs”

Photo Credit: By Photo Credit: aknacer via Flickr’s Media Commons

Fighting Starts Again in the Congo Despite Efforts of UN Peacekeepers

John-Paul Maxfield — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:19:29 +0000

The BBC reports that fresh fighting has occurred between rebels and government troops in DR Congo as African leaders, and the UN’s Ban Ki-Moon began crisis talks. Click here to read the full article and learn more about the conflict.

Photo Credit: By Photo Credit: Julien Harneis via Flickr’s Media Commons

Inspiring a Nation- The Full Text of Obama’s Victory Speech

John-Paul Maxfield — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:29:51 +0000

In case you missed it or want to read it again, here is the full text of the speech as prepared for delivery Tuesday night in Chicago by President-elect Barack Obama:

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

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Green Muck Has Biofuel Investors Chomping at the Bit

John-Paul Maxfield — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:33:36 +0000

When you visit the Khosla Ventures website, you are greeted with a quote that articulates the spirit of the movement that we are trying to capture at the Inspired Economist. It reads, “Innovative bottom up methods will solve problems that now seem intractable- from energy to poverty to disease. Science and technology, powered by the fuel of entrepreneurial energy, are the largest multipliers of resources we have to solve our many social problems.” Brilliant words from a VC firm that is helping to finance many of the companies of the New Economy. Vinod Khosla is the founder of Khosla Ventures, and was also the keynote speaker at the 2008 Algae Biomass Summit held last week in Seattle, WA.

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Mr. Buffett’s Buying American, How About You?

John-Paul Maxfield — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:17:59 +0000

The economy is in crisis, unemployment is on the rise, and there is a general feeling of fear in the market. Where some see despair, Warren Buffett sees opportunity.

In a recent Op-Piece in the New York Times, Mr. Buffett explains his reasons for investing in US Equities and urges others to do the same. He encourages investors to “be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.” Warren may be speaking from the perspective of a patriot, but he is also a pretty darn savvy investor, consistently ranking among the richest people in the world. He acknowledges that “people have a right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions. But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation’s many sound companies make no sense. These businesses will indeed suffer earnings hiccups, as they always have. But most major companies will be setting new profit records 5, 10 and 20 years from now.”

If Warren’s betting on the US Economy, deal me in.

Check out the rest of the article, on top of being an incredible investor, he is also a witty writer. It is well worth the read.

Photo Credit: By Photo Credit: One Trick Pony in FlickR’s via Flickr’s Media Commons

Mo Money, Mo Mileage

John-Paul Maxfield — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:21:34 +0000

Advantage Capital Partners, a venture capital and small business finance firm, has made an investment in SOMS Technologies LLC, the manufacturer of the microGreen vehicle engine oil filter. The microGreen filter utilizes a patented filter technology designed to keep engine oil cleaner, extending the oil life up to 30,000 miles.  Advantage’s investment will be used to support the company’s continued growth.

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I Wish They Could Figure Out a Way to Make Biofuels From Candy Corn. I Hate Candy Corn.

John-Paul Maxfield — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:30:30 +0000

In response to my previous post, Growing Food to Feed Cars Will Continue to Drive Up the Price of Food, one reader responded, “I wish they could figure out a way to make fuel out of Candy Corn. I hate Candy Corn.” Well said reader, that is one hell of an idea.

Fueled by my own dislike for this impostor candy, my love of the environment, and an earnest desire to make sure that no child ever has to experience the pain of receiving this “candy” during the Halloween season, I did a little research on the market potential for cars fueled by Candy Corn, a ”Feasibility Study”, if you will. At first glance, it seems like a win-win; energy independence, no more disappointed Trick-or-Treaters, and a captive market for Candy Corn producers around the world.

First step in the process, trying to gain an understanding of the existing Candy Corn market. In my extensive research, I discovered that more than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces, enough to circle the moon nearly four times if laid end-to-end. 75% of the candy corn produced will be consumed, or at the very least handed out to unhappy children by elderly homeowners, during Halloween. Interesting.  It appears as if there is no shortage of supply, seems promising so far.

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Growing Food to Feed Cars Will Continue to Drive Up the Price of Food

John-Paul Maxfield — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:43:13 +0000

As the demand for biofuels increases, so too will food prices around the world. The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s recent report notes that “the historic linkages between agriculture and the energy sector are becoming stronger and are changing in character. Biofuel demand will continue to exercise upward pressure on agricultural prices for considerable time to come.” Biofuel production based on agricultural commodities increased more than threefold from 2000 to 2007, and now covers nearly two percent of the world’s consumption of transport fuels.

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Creating Jobs and Reducing Our Dependency on Foreign Oil

John-Paul Maxfield — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:42:13 +0000

In a time when the domestic economic news is nothing but dismal, it is nice to have a bit of good news. This news come from Mariah Power, a company that recently announced its first high volume manufacturing site in partnership with MasTech of Manistee, Michigan. The plant is expected to begin production within the next 15 weeks. This partnership will create 141 jobs over the next three years at the Manistee site.

Welcome to The Inspired Economist

John-Paul Maxfield — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:44:25 +0000

Editor’s note: We’re pleased to launch the fifteenth blog in the Green Options Media blog network today: The Inspired Economist. A counterpart to Ecopreneurist and other blogs in our Business & Technology channel, The Inspired Economist will cover the broad world of green and conscious business. Please welcome lead writer and founder John-Paul Maxfield to the GO Media family!

It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to The Inspired Economist (IE). The goal of this blog is to highlight the individuals and companies applying passion and innovation to economic, social, and environmental challenges.   Our intention is to create a resource that serves as a bridge between idealism and capitalism, profit and passion, iconoclast and industrialist, right and left, and all of the other dichotomies that serve as distractions from the serious issues that face the world. We aim to foster creativity, and to rally both emerging and established business leaders around the goal of creating a more just and sustainable society.

Above all, we want the Inspired Economist to do just that: inspire. We have no use for “gloom and doom.” The world needs hope, and the Inspired Economist will profile business leaders who’ve embraced progress and optimism as their primary motivations.

It is my genuine hope that the Inspired Economist will continue to grow and become a leading resource for the New Economy.   Thank you for stopping by and we look forward to seeing you often.

(PLEASE NOTE THAT MY OLD POSTS WERE MERGED WITH THE CURRENT FORMAT. THE OLD IE SITE SERVED AS A RESOURCE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS AND AN AGGREGATOR OF INFORMATION, INCLUDING INTERESTING SITES, PRESS RELEASES, ETC. THE OLD POSTS WERE NOT WRITTEN FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, RATHER, MY ROLE WAS THAT OF A CONNECTOR BETWEEN IE READERS AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION. THIS IS ALL TO SAY THAT THE OLD POSTS IN THIS NEW FORMAT SHOW MY PICTURE AND SAY “BY JOHN-PAUL MAXFIELD”, BUT THIS IS MISLEADING AS THEY MAY BE PRESS RELEASES OR LINKS TO SITES THAT ARE PROPERLY CITED, BUT NOT WRITTEN BY ME.)

Good Business International (GoodB)

John-Paul Maxfield — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:04:54 +0000



Good Business International (GoodB) is a free access public service information and research center dedicated to documenting the social, economic, and environmental trends in the Good Business movement nationally and internationally.

The Site features:

Wall Street Walk: “Green Action” & “Purpose & Profit” on Wall Street
Better World Business Leaders: Gates, Buffet, GE’s Immelt & more…
The Buzz: What Good Business Newsmakers are reporting
Academic Trends: Better World Business School updates & programs
The Board Room: Changing corporate law and shareholder activism

Plus: The Latest News on GREEN Business law, business & human rights, Good Business book & blog reviews, “better world” business editorials, social investing, social entrepreneurship, & faith-based business trends, the GoodB Blog, and hundreds of Good Business organizations, blogs & event listings

IE Thought of the Week

John-Paul Maxfield — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:32:09 +0000

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”
— Marianne Williamson

Sustainability: Leadership Required

John-Paul Maxfield — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:55:45 +0000

November 4-7, 2008- Grand Hyatt- New York, NY

With sustainability at the top of the world’s agenda, the global business landscape is changing fast. Staying ahead of the curve requires dynamic leadership and systemic solutions that deliver solid financial, social and environmental results.

The BSR Conference will equip you to tackle the sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow. Interact with innovators in responsible business, like Jeffrey Immelt of GE, IKEA’s Anders Dahlvig and John Anderson of Levi’s—plus dozens of other thought leaders in six plenary and 35 breakout sessions.

Connect with more than 1,300 leaders from 50 countries at one of the world’s largest and most influential event dedicated to corporate responsibility, and put your sustainable business strategies into action.

Investors’ Circle Seeks Values-Driven Companies for Fall Venture Fair

John-Paul Maxfield — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:39:04 +0000

Investors’ Circle, a premier source of funding for early-stage social entrepreneurs, seeks to feature the next generation of mission-driven ventures at its 2008 Fall Venture Fair. Its 225 members and 400 active affiliates are high net worth individuals, professional venture capitalists, family offices and foundations, who have invested over $130 million in more than 200 early stage companies and venture funds.

Who Should Apply?
Investors’ Circle is seeking submissions from mission-driven companies. Typically these companies are focused in the following sectors: energy & environment, food & organics, health & wellness, education & media, and community & international development. Companies in seed, early, and expansion stages are encouraged to apply. For more information about our application process and who should apply, click here.

Benefits of Presenting
Companies selected to present will:

Have the opportunity to engage with an exclusive audience of angel and institutional investors.
Receive pre-event coaching on their presentation from IC investors.
Take advantage of extensive formal networking opportunities with investors

Via: (Investors’ Circle)

The Climate Registry

John-Paul Maxfield — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:17:08 +0000

The Climate Registry
is a nonprofit partnership developing an accurate, complete, consistent and transparent greenhouse gas emissions measurement protocol that is capable of supporting voluntary and mandatory greenhouse gas emission reporting policies for its Members and Reporters. It provides a verified set of greenhouse gas emissions data from its Reporters supported by a robust accounting and verification infrastructure.