Convincing hard nosed country folk clients that love fishing and hunting about sustainability can be a somewhat sensitive issue. Whiskey legend Jack Daniels has proven that old fashioned shrewdness still comes a long way. Offering tours through their distillery, it discreetly sells the "green message" to visitors by gently reminding them of their connection to nature and traditions passed on from grandfather to father to son.
From greenbiz: "...an excellent example of how to sell sustainability to the consumer segment we call cautious conservatives and skeptics. Here’s what we can all learn from the folks at Jack:
Without the natural, limestone-filtered spring from which the water for the product comes, there would be no Jack Daniels. So they bought up 1,000 acres to make sure they could protect the land around the spring and, thus, protect the quality of the product.
They don’t believe in wasting anything and make their own charcoal through which the product is filtered -- and when it’s time to replace that charcoal, it gets remade into briquettes you can buy in the store to throw a steak over. Same with the mash that ultimately becomes the whiskey. If there’s a quality control issue, they scoop it up and sell it to a bunch of local farmers who, in turn, feed it to some very happy cows and pigs.
At the end of the tour you can purchase some of the high end stuff in a special bottle -- and a portion of your purchase will go directly to fund the conservation efforts of Ducks Unlimited. Which means by buying Jack Daniels, Cautious Conservatives can help make sure there are plenty of duck hunting trips in their future."
Who would not get that message?
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/08/27/selling-sustainability-whiskey-drinkers?utm_source=GCX+Newsletter&utm_campaign=96a5391e1a-GCX_Oct_Newsletter_2010&utm_medium=email
www.globalcarbonexchange.com
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
David Graas - designing better garbage is not an old hat
How to best reduce and avoid waste has been discussed in some environmentally conscious countries already in the late 80s. I remember teachers in primary school urging to leave bulky boxes and the mass of plastic in the supermarkets to help put pressure on the retailers who should put pressure on to the producers to rethink materials used for packaging. Although the idea didn't catch on, it was worth a try.
Designer David Graas for example is all for making the package into the product. Below some interesting thoughts on the psychology of package design and our personal amortization system of products we buy.
"What do most of you do to the shoe boxes that you ‘bought’ together with your shoe purchases? Do you keep them or throw them away? For me, I generally keep them. I will use them to store my old shoes. In my shoe closest rests many shoe boxes with shoes that I no longer wear. The purpose of their existence now is no longer to provide comfort to my feet but to collect dust."
Economist Richard Thaler suggests:
“The more expensive they were, the more often you’ll try to wear them. Eventually, you’ll stop wearing them, but you won’t get rid of them. And the more you paid for them, the longer they’ll sit in the back of your closet. At some point, after the shoes have been fully ‘depreciated’ psychologically, you will finally throw them away.”
This is what Mr. Thaler calls “sunk cost”.
http://www.idasia.org/david-graas-designing-better-garbage/
http://www.davidgraas.com
Designer David Graas for example is all for making the package into the product. Below some interesting thoughts on the psychology of package design and our personal amortization system of products we buy.
"What do most of you do to the shoe boxes that you ‘bought’ together with your shoe purchases? Do you keep them or throw them away? For me, I generally keep them. I will use them to store my old shoes. In my shoe closest rests many shoe boxes with shoes that I no longer wear. The purpose of their existence now is no longer to provide comfort to my feet but to collect dust."
Economist Richard Thaler suggests:
“The more expensive they were, the more often you’ll try to wear them. Eventually, you’ll stop wearing them, but you won’t get rid of them. And the more you paid for them, the longer they’ll sit in the back of your closet. At some point, after the shoes have been fully ‘depreciated’ psychologically, you will finally throw them away.”
This is what Mr. Thaler calls “sunk cost”.
http://www.idasia.org/david-graas-designing-better-garbage/
http://www.davidgraas.com
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Laurie Anderson's Delusion
It was a real treat to finally see Laurie Anderson, live at the BAM with her latest piece Delusion.
Watching from a (far away) gallery seat she appeared like she had performed 'O Superman' or 'Mach 20' only yesterday. As if time in her personal cosmos never was of any relevance. The same (trademark) short hair, tie, smooth, cat-like movements, her familiar second personality - the sarcastic-electronic narration voice, her engagement with current affairs and human issues.
Delusion is an acoustic and poetic tale presented in short chapters. Sounds collected in Tibet, Arabic strings, a violin and a saxophone player behind two screens frame the minimal stage set. The audience appreciating the ‘built in’ humor featured in her keyboard-monologues that genuinely question why idioms like ‘get off my back’ have never been reversed into ‘get off my front’...or why nobody ever complains that one’s front hurts at all.
Sitting on a sofa covered in meditative visuals (reminiscent of 1980s stage use) Anderson intimately discusses the ownership of the moon, how the mother’s maiden name has become a code word used to log into your online banking; and catches those off guard who did not expect her show a somewhat difficult form of entertainment, in the most positive sense.
Delusion carried a note of a quiet retrospective of the artist’s personal live when telling about the familiarity of Iceland, exploring her Irish and Swedish roots in a kind of fairy tale. Not matter if tale or not, Laurie Anderson has long ago created and kept her superlative artistic truth.
Laurie Anderson at 2010 Next Wave Festival
http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=2225
Watching from a (far away) gallery seat she appeared like she had performed 'O Superman' or 'Mach 20' only yesterday. As if time in her personal cosmos never was of any relevance. The same (trademark) short hair, tie, smooth, cat-like movements, her familiar second personality - the sarcastic-electronic narration voice, her engagement with current affairs and human issues.
Delusion is an acoustic and poetic tale presented in short chapters. Sounds collected in Tibet, Arabic strings, a violin and a saxophone player behind two screens frame the minimal stage set. The audience appreciating the ‘built in’ humor featured in her keyboard-monologues that genuinely question why idioms like ‘get off my back’ have never been reversed into ‘get off my front’...or why nobody ever complains that one’s front hurts at all.
Sitting on a sofa covered in meditative visuals (reminiscent of 1980s stage use) Anderson intimately discusses the ownership of the moon, how the mother’s maiden name has become a code word used to log into your online banking; and catches those off guard who did not expect her show a somewhat difficult form of entertainment, in the most positive sense.
Delusion carried a note of a quiet retrospective of the artist’s personal live when telling about the familiarity of Iceland, exploring her Irish and Swedish roots in a kind of fairy tale. Not matter if tale or not, Laurie Anderson has long ago created and kept her superlative artistic truth.
Laurie Anderson at 2010 Next Wave Festival
http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=2225
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Maxim Velcovsky / Design Indaba
Porcelain and humor are the main ingredients for the clever-quirky objects of acclaimed designer Maxim Velcovsky. Nice to see he has not lost the latter. Spinning off ideas from beliefs and misbeliefs reigning in the communist era of his childhood country he extracts the favorite Czech heritage, porcelain, from its past with a twist. He lets common sausage trays star in subtle elegance. Some of the designer's table wear are a clear invitation to try and crack the mystery behind his (country's famous) dark humor that could be described best as a mix between a conundrum and an equation: On an immaculate white plate garnished with "Zwiebelmuster"(onion patterns), essential to the traditional Czech porcelain decoration, there lies a delicate, broken swan's head.
Listen to Velcovsky in the Design Indaba's Speaker video series
http://www.designindaba.com/speaker/video/maxim-velčovský-part-2-6
Next Design Indaba Expo and Show coming up in February 2001 in Cape Town.
Listen to Velcovsky in the Design Indaba's Speaker video series
http://www.designindaba.com/speaker/video/maxim-velčovský-part-2-6
Next Design Indaba Expo and Show coming up in February 2001 in Cape Town.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
South Africa's private public business
Concerns about the infringement of press freedom in South Africa were being voiced after the arrest of a Sunday Times journalist who uncovered a dodgy property deal signed off by a police official. The documents were forged so the story goes. The police, yet again, felt unfairly stepped on its toes.
The government, especially the president who certainly has not enjoyed being scrutinized in public about his private life and many wives, rather than encouraging a constructive debate, has threatened with 25 years of prison for cheeky members of press.
Observations are made that the current government seems to use censorship rules applied during the apartheid regime. Why would the government of a New South Africa go back to a cruel past? Do the successors of the great Madiba, who sacrified his life for a better future for his family, the nation, are just trying to get a free high on the trust and power he has earned by endurance and education?
The latter values will without a doubt outlast the instant glory of an event like the World Cup. Bad news like punishing the press for acting as a watchdog will easily diminish the reputation of a country which a few months ago was proud to show the world what it can do. Good.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/south-africa/100824/press-freedom-under-threat?page=0,1
The government, especially the president who certainly has not enjoyed being scrutinized in public about his private life and many wives, rather than encouraging a constructive debate, has threatened with 25 years of prison for cheeky members of press.
Observations are made that the current government seems to use censorship rules applied during the apartheid regime. Why would the government of a New South Africa go back to a cruel past? Do the successors of the great Madiba, who sacrified his life for a better future for his family, the nation, are just trying to get a free high on the trust and power he has earned by endurance and education?
The latter values will without a doubt outlast the instant glory of an event like the World Cup. Bad news like punishing the press for acting as a watchdog will easily diminish the reputation of a country which a few months ago was proud to show the world what it can do. Good.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/south-africa/100824/press-freedom-under-threat?page=0,1
Friday, January 15, 2010
The food we eat
The list of non-nutrients discovered on the back of a packet of Pretzel Twists BBQ flavour since there were no plain ones available ... just a reminder to myself of you are what you eat.
Wheat flour, vegetable oil with antioxidant (TBHQ), glucose, yeast, sugar, salt, maize, permitted colourants (E150, E124, E110), emulsifier (E1450), monosodium glutamate, (E621), flavour enhancers (E627, E631), herbs & spices (garlic and paprika - but where?), free flowing agent (E551), permitted flavourants (that instantly make you think of getting another packet), maltodextrin, acidifying agents (E330 - bad bad bad), soya, eggs (definitely not free range I would say...).
Wheat flour, vegetable oil with antioxidant (TBHQ), glucose, yeast, sugar, salt, maize, permitted colourants (E150, E124, E110), emulsifier (E1450), monosodium glutamate, (E621), flavour enhancers (E627, E631), herbs & spices (garlic and paprika - but where?), free flowing agent (E551), permitted flavourants (that instantly make you think of getting another packet), maltodextrin, acidifying agents (E330 - bad bad bad), soya, eggs (definitely not free range I would say...).
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Smoking laws Finland vs Egypt
Soon the "new racism" in Finland could pose a complete ban of smoking and smokers.
If clandestine smoking in the lounge of honest Helsinki citizen will be prosecuted or if apartments will be intercepted with a big brother smoke detector and cigarette smuggling will emerge as a viable source of income for daring locals remains to be seen.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8458347.stm
Whereas in Egypt the men puff away without having much to worry about their tobacco input.Blame it on the sun...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8433000/8433428.stm
If clandestine smoking in the lounge of honest Helsinki citizen will be prosecuted or if apartments will be intercepted with a big brother smoke detector and cigarette smuggling will emerge as a viable source of income for daring locals remains to be seen.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8458347.stm
Whereas in Egypt the men puff away without having much to worry about their tobacco input.Blame it on the sun...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8433000/8433428.stm
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