Creator of "Carbon Neutral Bra" A Model Of Green Business

Creator of "Carbon Neutral Bra" A Model Of Green Business

Vidhura Ralapanawe is Mark and Spencer's Manager of Sustainability and Communications. He's also the head of a team that successfully manufactured what can be considered the world's first “carbon neutral” bra. What this means is that Ralapanawe and his group figured out the bra's carbon footprint, and then found a way to offset it. The bra is not brand new; it was first launched in April under Mark and Spencer's “Leaves” collection. Since it's release, however, Ralapanawe has been given a great deal of attention, and now has been nominated as a “cultural engineer” at the Honda Dream Factory.

So why is the Honda Dream Factory a big deal? The ten current members are all visionaries, who have all succeeded in making an impact on the world, in various fields. The 11th member will be determined by public vote and the election is being run by the UK's famed Guardian newspaper. Vidhura speaks candidly about his success, without being boastful. “A few times in my past I’ve worked in spaces where people come together. What that does for you is amazing. It just changes your perspective, your understanding of what is possible. For me sustainability is primarily a design question,” he says. “Every step of the way you have to keep re-visualising it. You have to ask why.”

The very factory in which Vidhura works is like something from an environmentalist's dream. Called “Thirulie”, the factory runs on sustainable energy from solar panels and hydroelectricity. Vidhura proudly explains, “We designed the factory to be a center for learning and inspiration. If you're serious about sustainability you have to share your ideas.” Thirulie is located in Sri Lanka, where Vidhura had previously helped set up the country's first mini hydroelectricity plant. Vidhura worked alongside colleagues at Columbia University in communication about environmental issues and how it relates when put in a Sri Lankan context.

Vidhura's own home is very eco-friendly and he and his family are no strangers to composting. The car in Vidhura's garage? A Toyota Prius. Outside of working for Mark and Spencer's, Vidhura is director of Co-Enerji, which focuses on sustainability and energy services.

Tom is a green blog writer and also does some computer repair NJ.

How Can I "Be the Change"?

How Can I "Be the Change"?

By Barb Kazmierczak

I keep hearing the phrase "Be the Change", as if everyone should realize that it's up to each individual to change our environment, our climate, our economy, our government, or whatever else is bothering someone at any given moment. The full Gandhi quote is "You must be the change you want to see in the world", but how exactly do you do that? As cheesy as it sounds, each one of us can take small positive steps toward being part of the change. When more and more individuals start taking baby steps away from what we've been programmed to believe we have to have; the snowball effect on our governments, the environment and yes, even Big Business will be astounding.

Let's face it; we let the media, our government, and Wall Street tell us what to think, how to behave, what to buy, and how to live. We've been told that if we care about our country, we need to spend our way out of this recession (or depression, use whatever term makes you feel better). We've allowed a couple generations of kids to be brainwashed into looking down on anyone who isn't wearing designer clothes, but those same kids don't even know how to do their own laundry.

But, there's hope. I generalized when I said "a couple generations of kids". There are a lot of young people out there trying to make a difference, kids who were probably raised by parents who've taught them to be empathetic instead of apathetic, taught them personal responsibility, and taught them to be self-sufficient. That's how to "be the change"; learning to be more self-sufficient, having empathy for those who can't be self-sufficient, and teaching these things to the next generation.

Take steps to become more self-sufficient by opening yourself up to living green. (I know, I know, you're rolling your eyes now. You're saying "Not another hippie-wanna-be spouting that green crap again"). Think about it. You wouldn't be reading this if you didn't think it was possible to change our direction. Do you have a better idea than trying to reduce consumption, produce some of the products yourself that your household uses everyday, support local businesses, and re-use some of the stuff that you'd normally just throw away?

Think of the ripple effect it would have on our country and the world if each person really tried to reduce their consumption of consumer goods, nonrenewable energy, and water; if people started making their own natural household cleaners, soaps, detergents, shampoos, and all the other toxins we spend money on and then wash down the drain; if they started to grow their own fruits and vegetables or bought only from local farmers or small businesses; if they started to make their own renewable energy; if people took even a small portion of the money they saved by doing these things and reached out to teach and help others who can't do it themselves. Just watch big business scramble to retrofit their companies and create green technologies to meet these new demands in order to cash in, and watch how many new green jobs will be created because of it.

We have to voluntarily "Be the Change" or we may reach the point where we're forced to change, and most people won't be ready. Meanwhile, our government will continue to pat our heads and tell us that everything will be fine; right up to the point where the oil wells run dry, our coastal cities are under water, and our farms and ranches are piles of dust.

I'm currently a WAHM committed to "spreading the green" one home at a time. I use and promote products that I feel will have the biggest impact on our health, environment, and economy. I used to think that any repercussions from how we're treating our planet wouldn't happen in my lifetime. Now I'm doing my best to be able to someday look my grandchildren in the eye and honestly tell them "I did everything I could." For more ideas on how to go green one step at a time and DIY projects to make your own energy, check out my lenses on Squidoo.com:

http://www.squidoo.com/green4cheap_ideas
http://www.squidoo.com/homemadegreen

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