Celebrating the Green Third Time Around by Colleen Morgan
T
he best efforts in sustainability will be celebrated at the Third Annual Green Natties Sustainability Awards on May 15th, ushering in a night of celebration of those who have successfully incorporated sustainable practices into their businesses and organizations. The Green Games is the annual competition for businesses to show off their sustainability efforts, and LifeCity is the company that guides them to a greener existence. The Games were started in 2012 as a partnership of LifeCity and Natural Awakenings to foster a network of sustainable businesses and a friendly competition to motivate participants to go greener. “The Green Natties is one of those pinnacle annual events for the green community,” said Casey Roberts, Director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy. “It brings together a diverse group of people who care about the future of New Orleans, and are trying to do something about it, something positive. It is a celebration of the positive.”
Natural Awakenings caught up with some longstanding Green Games contestants. They looked back on the program and how far they have come in reducing their environmental footprint over the years. The consensus is that being part of a network of like-minded organizations has been invaluable. They have looked to each other for inspiration and support and found amplified benefits by working together. “It motivates us to keep improving together,” said Demetria Christo of EcoUrban, a sustainable landscaping company. “It helps to know that there are other businesses trying to reach similar goals - that we are not in a bubble.” “It gives us that sense of community – something bigger to be a part of,” said ZukaBaby owner Erin Pelias. “And it’s beneficial to make connections and learn from other entrepreneurs. It’s reassuring to have someone to go to to ask questions – someone who is also thinking about the triple bottom line,” said Pelias. One tangible benefit of being a part of the network is that some companies
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have found ways to dispose of their waste material with another company that can use it as a raw material. For example, Tchoupitoulas Industries, which manufactures city-to-swamp backpacks with local materials out of their French Quarter studio, sends scraps to a toy maker who uses them for stuffed animals. The firm also uses misprinted rice bags, wool draperies and sails, among other materials. LifeCity has also gathered member companies around specific issues or community needs, such as the Green Schools Initiative. These forums were intended to create conversation around a topic, but they have also allowed for business opportunities for the members that got involved. Similarly, they helped members save money by working together to achieve a common goal, like the Green Restaurant Group’s endeavor to buy in bulk. LifeCity connected Christo with member Project Lazarus, which got a grant to do a rain barrel system with EcoUrban that now saves the nonprofit a good bit of money. Projects like that and the new energy efficiency system the organization installed for the threebuilding historic stone complex in the Marigny, have shown funders that the organization is cutting costs where it can. “In today’s climate, we need to find ways for our organization to stand out,” said Project Lazarus Facilities Manager Kathleen Welch. The nonprofit houses residents afflicted with the HIV/