What Is a Socially Responsible Limited Liability Company?

The Vermont Legislature has passed a bill that ensures they will be recognized.  Lobbyists and other supporters are confident that similar will take place in states across the US, as well as on the European Union level, and beyond.  They are called Socially Responsible Limited Liability Companies, and if I told you I fully understood how they work, I would be lying.

However in every analysis and in between all the fine print, what I do understand is that the purpose of having such legislation on L3C’s is to help clear the way for more community minded, people centered investment from diverse areas of civil society.  That means not just corporations, but also foundations, non-governmental organizations, and more.  An investment goal that sounds like something the world could definitely use more of.

Below I’m slidesharing a presentation from Americans for Community Development, no need to download anything, just click through the slides and learn more about L3C’s:

SlideShare | View | Upload your own
May 5, 2008 2008, Impact Investing, Investment, Sustainability No Comments on What Is a Socially Responsible Limited Liability Company?

US States Leading the Way

California and Massachusetts have become the leading US states investing in clean tech.  As a recent article in the CSMoniter points out,

Global investment in clean-tech research and enterprises approached $100 billion in 2007, and much of that money was invested in the United States. Of about $3 billion in “green” venture capital worldwide, half went to enterprises in California, and Massachusetts got about 10 percent.

The article goes on to point out that half of all US states have now launched initiatives to aggressively grow clean tech industries.  In terms of jobs alone, clean tech now employs more than 14,500 people in Massachusetts, growing at a rate of 20% per year.

Among the reasons listed for how some states have been able to successfully grow such robust clean tech industry: access to graduates from good universities, increased government support, access to local resources and raw materials.

April 24, 2008 2008, Impact Investing, Investment, Sustainability No Comments on US States Leading the Way

Renewable Plastic

By now you’ve run into some of the media coverage concerning potentially toxic plastics used for items such as water bottles. Particular concern was sparked in Canada, where the ministry of health even went as far as to ban certain bottles from being sold in the country.

As someone who drinks plenty of water from the tap, transported often via my nalgene bottle, this left me particularly concerned. Aspects like the age of my bottle, type of plastic used, and other details, have all become subject of extensive research and reflection; what is this thing I drink my water from?

So then at the Brooklyn Bridge office I get word about a renewable plastic company. Renewable plastic, the term itself sparks plenty of interest. I picture a non toxic, planet friendly plastic, both from how it is created, to when I make use of it, to after I’ve disposed of it… that is what I would hope for.

The company’s name is Cereplast. An initial look at how they describe their products is already encouraging,

All Cereplast resins replace a significant percentage of petroleum-based additives with starches made out of corn, wheat, tapioca and potatoes.

Exciting to anyone who doubts the ease with which such plastic could be produced, Celeplast says that their products can be made using conventional manufacturing equipment. When you add to that the fact that most, if not all, national governments as well as at the European Union level, are passing laws that will require health and environmental related reforms in the manufacturing and use of plastics, seems like Cereplast is exactly what I’d like my waterbottle to be made of.

To finish off the post for today, I recommend this list of documents released by the Biodegradable Products Institute in NYC. I think the plastic bottle of my dreams will be listed in there somewhere.

April 17, 2008 2008, Impact Investing, Investment, Sustainability 1 Comment on Renewable Plastic

Leaving Your Footprint

I’ve been spending time reading through the Global Footprint Network’s website. Their slogan, “Advancing the Science of Sustainability”.

Among the more interesting parts of their site, the section which features data in graphs and charts is particularly informative.  Here’s one example, global ecological footprint’s divided by region:

The site also allows you to view national footprints for a large selection of countries. Since the TBLI Conference Asia is coming up, I chose Thailand. Have a look at the chart broken down by component:

Thailand

April 8, 2008 2008, Impact Investing, Investment, Sustainability No Comments on Leaving Your Footprint