Each of the sustainable leather bags comes with it’s own Passport, detailing the products sustainable credentials and traceability.

For decades, fashion designers have looked to wildlife and the natural world for inspiration. Today, however, they’re taking it one step further at Paris Fashion Week. Gucci, the renowned Italian fashion house, is launching the world’s first line of designer handbags made with leather from Rainforest Alliance Certified ranches. These ranches have committed to protect their forests, so purchasing these bags is actually helping to conserve Amazon forest and the wildlife it contains.

National Wildlife Federation has been supporting solutions to deforestation driven by cattle ranching in Brazil for many years. We ran a program of workshops for ranchers in the Amazon, encouraging better environmental practices with Imaflora, Rainforest Alliance’s Brazilian partner. We learned that there was a ranching group, Fazendas São Marcelo Ltda, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, aiming to be the first in the world to become certified by the Rainforest Alliance, which sets standards for ecosystem conservation as well as animal welfare, water quality and pasture management. The ranch became the first in the world to achieve this certification. However, there was not yet a buyer for the leather.

When we explained the significance of Rainforest Alliance certification to the founders of the Green Carpet Challenge, Lucy Siegle and Livia Firth, they recognized the opportunity and found a willing brand in fashion house Gucci. Once the ranches obtained certification, Gucci set to work producing a line of bags made only with leather traceable back to the certified ranches. The special line of purses announced in Paris includes Gucci’s iconic Jackie bag. They come with a “passport” explaining the journey of the leather and are going on sale in Gucci’s flagship stores around the world.

Stopping Deforestation

Cattle ranchers from the Sao Marcelo Ranch in Brazil. Photo credit: Pisco del Gaiso

Whether you realize it or not, many of the shoes, belts and bags of well-known brands today are made from leather that originates in Brazil and is exported to Italy and China for processing. Many consumers do not understand the link between wildlife, deforestation and the products they see at the store.

You may not be able to afford to buy this new Gucci bag, but you can still support the effort by letting your favorite brands know that you want products free from deforestation and asking where their leather comes from.

While Gucci is first (and only) designer selling products made from Rainforest Alliance-certified  leather, National Wildlife Federation believes this is just the beginning of an exciting new trend.

One of the most frequently asked questions about the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball is, “Do I have to eat before the Ball?” Well there is an easy response: “Come hungry!”  The evening will feature epicurean delights from Wolfgang Puck Catering. Yes, the Chef who built Spago and made it the hottest Hollywood celebrity destination provides the in-house catering for the Newseum, where his delectable D.C. restaurant, The Source, also resides. Attendees can expect the highest quality gourmet food from the catering kitchen, which is overseen by Executive Chef Tom Blundell. There will be gourmet food, drink and dessert offerings throughout the night, and even a delectable nibble for guests to take home at the end of the night. Chef Blundell has created a menu for the Green Ball that reflects the commitment and values of the green community to eat local, sustainable and organic foods while providing a signature gourmet flare.

Spicy Tuna Tartare in a Sesame Miso Cone, one of the delectable dishes in store for guests at the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball.

A Sustainable, Organic and Local Menu

The menu will feature vegetarian and vegan options as well as regional cuisine. Incredibly, 98% of the ingredients on the menu were procured from within 300 miles. This is truly a menu that pays homage to and celebrates local, organic and sustainable food.

Signature dishes include Wolfgang Puck Kobe beef sliders, Sesame Miso Cones with Carolina Yellow Fin Tuna Tartar, and a Charcuterie and Cheese bar.  The cheeses come from family owned farms and co-ops and use all organic ingredients. The fish, procured from ProFish, is MSC Chain of Custody certified, which is a comprehensive traceability program that tracks seafood from the point of sale back to an MSC-certified fishery.

There will also be a variety of vegan and vegetarian food offerings, including Locally Grown Organic Vegetable Crudités, Butternut Squash Shooters with Apple, and Vegetable Sushi Rolls with Soy Wasabi Drizzle. The evening culminates with scrumptious desserts around 11 pm, which will include Assorted Cheesecake and Truffle Lollipops, S’mores Parfaits, Mango pudding and Vanilla Bean Pudding Shots,and mini Chocolate Decadence Cakes & Cheesecakes.

Since the nibbles were so gourmet, we knew we had to create libations to match. If you need hydration after rocking out to will.i.am., grab one of the many featured flavors of Honest Tea, delivered in their Honest Tea-branded hybrid Saturn Vue. Feeling particularly patriotic? Reach for President Obama’s favorite flavor, Black Forrest Berry.

Looking for a libation with a bit more zing? Sip the Green Ball’s signature cocktail, the OM-Bama, created by professional mixologist Natalie Bovis (aka the Liquid Muse), author of Edible Cocktails: Garden to Glass. Natalie crafted the OM-Bama using a host of unique ingredients and OM (which stands for Organic Mixology) Cocktail, a new product that is bursting on to the market and into the hands of eco-minded consumers. See if you can identify the secret ingredient!

Looking for a sophisticated sip?  Check out our featured wine from New York’s Hunt County Vineyards. Not only do they use sustainable farming practices and compost residual harvest to make soil, but the heating and the cooling for the warehouse, tasting room, and production facility is generated with eight geothermal wells and a vertical-axis wind turbine.

Still hungry at the end of the night? Stonyfield Farms has shipped over frozen yogurt treats, including their chocolate dipped frozen yogurt bars. All food waste and waste from food prep activities will be composted, and all unused food will be used by the Newseum.   It is going to be a delicious night!

If you haven’t purchased your 2013 Green Inaugural Ball tickets, purchase them soon before the event sells out.
Heading to the Green Ball? Don’t forget to tweet using the #GreenBall2013 hashtag.

Shelley Cohen is Chair of the Greening Committee for the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball. Ms. Cohen is an urban eco-mom with eighteen years of experience in environment and energy-related fields. She currently serves as a Senior Project Developer for Ameresco where she specializes in developing renewable energy and energy conservation projects, and is responsible for developing over 15MWs of renewable energy. Prior employment included jobs with EPA, the White House, and the office of Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT). Ms. Cohen’s green home includes eco-friendly materials, 12kw of solar PV, a cool roof, rain barrel, organic garden, and has been featured in local and national media. Ms. Cohen serves on the board of the National Wildlife Federation, and in 2012 was trained as a Climate Leader through the Climate Reality Project.

Just like the 2009 star-studded Green Inaugural Ball, this year’s event will bring together top leaders in the environment, energy, and green-technology communities to honor President Barack Obama. With such a broad and diverse audience, we knew our Green Ball lineup had to have a little bit of everything.

This year’s talent will be led by Onree Gill, Musical Director for Grammy Award-winning recording artist Alicia Keys; famed Latin percussionist Sheila E.; and singer-songwriter Mayer Hawthorne. Additional music talent will be announced in the upcoming days.

Onree Gill

Leading off the show will be Onree Gill, who has taken the music industry by surprise with his multi-talented abilities. His talent has led him to work with top artists such as Beyonce Knowles, Jay-Z, Alicia Keyes, John Mayer, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Timberlake, and more.

Sheila E.

Aside from being one of the most talented percussionists in the world, Sheila E. is known for her collaborations with Prince and Ringo Star. We’re excited to have her on board and to see her in action at the Green Ball. Here’s a video of when she performed on Dancing with the Stars:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mayer Hawthorne

Mayer Hawthorne, whose music has been used in the hit show Ugly Betty and Kanye West’s short film “We Were Once a Fairy Tale,” will bring his vintage sound to the Green Ball. Listen to one of our all-time Hawthorne favorites here:

Click here to view the embedded video.

We hope to see you there! Don’t have your tickets yet? Act now, before the event is sold out.

Already set to attend the Green Ball? Don’t forget to tweet using the #GreenBall2013 hash tag.

Shelley Cohen is Chair of the Greening Committee for the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball. Ms. Cohen is an urban eco-mom with eighteen years of experience in environment and energy-related fields. She currently serves as a Senior Project Developer for Ameresco where she specializes in developing renewable energy and energy conservation projects, and is responsible for developing over 15MWs of renewable energy. Prior employment included jobs with EPA, the White House, and the office of Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT). Ms. Cohen’s green home includes eco-friendly materials, 12kw of solar PV, a cool roof, rain barrel, organic garden, and has been featured in local and national media. Ms. Cohen serves on the board of the National Wildlife Federation, and in 2012 was trained as a Climate Leader through the Climate Reality Project.

The Newseum, site of the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball, is centrally located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of D.C. and all of the inaugural action. Choosing the Newseum as our green venue provides attendees with access to multiple green transportation options.

The 2013 Green Inaugural Ball Greening Committee encourages attendees to evaluate their options and choose the greenest mode possible for travel to the event. Transportation pollution is one of the environmental concerns where attendees can make a tangible difference. Small behavioral changes, such as riding public transportation or carpooling, can have a huge impact.

Washinton’s Metro system is one of the best options for getting around during Inaugural festivities. Flickr photo by Paulo Ordoveza.

• METRO: The Newseum is located near three metro stations. The has a Washington Metro Area Transit Authority website can help travelers plan their trip.
  • Archives/Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Station (Green and Yellow Line)
  • Judiciary Square Station (Red Line)
  • Gallery Place-Chinatown Station (Green Line, Yellow Line and Red Line)
• BUS: There are multiple bus lines that travel within walking distance of the Newseum.  Attendees can view schedules and plan their trip by visiting the WMATA website.
• BIKE RENTAL: New to the D.C. area are bike-share kiosks. You can borrow a bike almost anywhere in the city and return it to an alternate location. To engage this service, a traveler must purchase a membership, which provides access to hundreds of bikes across the city. Find bike and kiosk locations by visiting Capital Bikeshare.
• EFFICIENT WHEELS: Secure facilities will be available for eco-friendly transportation devices, such as bicycles and scooters, to be stored during the event.
• WALK: The venue is conveniently located in downtown D.C. and is walkable from many hotels, restaurants, and metro stations
• DRIVE: If you must drive a car, consider carpooling or driving a hybrid or plug-in vehicle to reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion.

The 2013 Green Inaugural Ball is also investigating options to offset emissions for attendee transportation to the event. More details about carbon offsets will be detailed in future posts.

If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, we strongly urge you not to wait till the last minute! General admission tickets can be purchased here.

Let us know how you plan to head to the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball. Tweet your answer to #GreenBall2013 or leave a comment below.

Shelley Cohen is Chair of the Greening Committee for the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball. Ms. Cohen is an urban eco-mom with eighteen years of experience in environment and energy-related fields. She currently serves as a Senior Project Developer for Ameresco where she specializes in developing renewable energy and energy conservation projects, and is responsible for developing over 15MWs of renewable energy. Prior employment included jobs with EPA, the White House, and the office of Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT). Ms. Cohen’s green home includes eco-friendly materials, 12kw of solar PV, a cool roof, rain barrel, organic garden, and has been featured in local and national media. Ms. Cohen serves on the board of the National Wildlife Federation, and in 2012 was trained as a Climate Leader through the Climate Reality Project.

The 2013 Green Inaugural Ball will bring together diverse groups from among the energy, environment, conservation, and clean-tech communities. The attendees are  among those on the front lines of addressing the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. That is why we are putting together an event that showcases our core environmental and conservation values while celebrating our past four years of accomplishment under the Obama Administration. Hosting as eco-friendly an event as possible sets the right course forward for our community for four more years of progress.

In 2009, the Green Ball was considered one of the greenest events ever produced. Held at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, everything from the food to the event lighting to waste disposal was done sustainably. Even event and travel emissions were addressed through the purchase of carbon offsets. Combined, all of these elements helped the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball become one of the greenest events around. And this time we are going to be even greener.

The first step in producing a green event is all about finding that sweet green spot.

Flickr photo by Sherry Main.

The site of the 2013 Green Ball features:

• Exterior solar shading devices that reduce the building’s cooling load
• Day lighting strategies in the exhibit spaces to reduce the electric light load
• Lighting strategies such as occupancy sensors, controlled dimmers, and energy efficient lamps to further reduce the electric light load
• Plumbing strategies such as radiant floor cooling and heating, low flow faucets and flush valves to conserve water and electricity
• A building automation system to help the equipment operate at maximum efficiency

It also utilizes sustainable materials and waste reduction practices, including:

• Metal panels on the ceilings and walls that use 98% recycled content and were cut to order to minimize waste
• Flooring that  is made from recycled automobile tires and sustainably harvested wood
• Extensive programs to recycle cardboard, plastic, aluminum and glass
• Use of all eco-friendly products cleaning products, tools, supplies and methods

Looking out of the Newseum Atrium. Flickr photo by Mack Male.

Buy tickets to the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball now!

Heading to the Green Ball? Tweet using the #GreenBall2013 hashtag.

Shelley Cohen is Chair of the Greening Committee for the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball. Ms. Cohen is an urban eco-mom with eighteen years of experience in environment and energy-related fields. She currently serves as a Senior Project Developer for Ameresco where she specializes in developing renewable energy and energy conservation projects, and is responsible for developing over 15MWs of renewable energy. Prior employment included jobs with EPA, the White House, and the office of Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT). Ms. Cohen’s green home includes eco-friendly materials, 12kw of solar PV, a cool roof, rain barrel, organic garden, and has been featured in local and national media. Ms. Cohen serves on the board of the National Wildlife Federation, and in 2012 was trained as a Climate Leader through the Climate Reality Project.

1. Purchase live trees, flowers, and plants instead of cut varieties

Beautiful bouquets of flowers are hard to resist, especially in winter when it seems so little is blooming. But, there are a variety of winter-blooming favorites that would be happy in your home, either year-round or temporarily. Three that come to mind are cyclamen, Christmas cactus, and, if you like to have a tree up at this time of year, a live, native tree that you can plant in the spring (or return to the store for them to plant).

Why it’s eco-friendly: live plants sequester carbon, purchasing locally-available varieties reduces fuel consumption for transport, supports local economies

Planting a native tree supports our iconic forest ecosystems. Image: Darius Kinsey (1927) / flickr / UW Digital Collections

2. Bring your own containers to the grocery store

We are all familiar with the “Bring your own reusable bag” movement, but you can bring your own containers too! If your grocery store has a bulk section, bring in those tupperware, old yogurt containers, or whatever else you have on hand and fill those babies up! Be sure the containers are clean and try not to touch the scoop to the container – a watchful attendant will appreciate your attention to public health. Then, just write the code on the tags they make available, snap it between the lid of the container and the container itself, and you’re good to go. Easy!

Why it’s eco-friendly: reduces the consumption of packaging materials, fewer plastic bags are used for bulk items, reduces food waste because you can buy as much or as little as you want, encourages the market for bulk buying (reinforcing the previous three points)

Seattle stores with bulk areas: I especially like the Ballard Fred Meyer and Uptown Metropolitan Market.

Bonus tip: If you want to save a few extra pennies, weigh your container and write down the weight on the tag so the cashier can subtract it from your purchase. I find that a larger plastic container such as the 64 oz. tub of Nancy’s yogurt weights about 1/8 lb. (0.125 lbs).

3. If driving, get warm and cozy in the car before starting your trip

With chilly weather the norm these days, a toasty car always brightens my spirits. I love to sit there as the car warms up: shoulders hunched, hands snugly ensconced in mittens, radio on, shivering a bit as the car’s engine moves from a somewhat-noisy rattle to a low, purring hum. Once I hear that hum, both my car and I are warm and ready to go!

Why it’s eco-friendly: a car’s emissions-control equipment performs best when the car is the right, warm temperature

Do you have eco-tips to brighten the darkest time of year? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Campuses nationwide are making great strides to green their operations and curricula, but one green topic seems to be especially popular for 2011 – campus gardens. Colleges and universities are planting gardens on campus for a few reasons: they provide experiential learning opportunities for agriculture students, a source of local food for dining halls, and green space for the campus and wider community. Several campuses were featured in the 2011 case study database for their campus garden projects, a few highlights include:

Dominican University - Kristen Peterson

• Dominican University (IL) In May 2011, a community garden was launched, engaging volunteer faculty, staff, and students, along with members from the community and children from the campus daycare facility. The garden is an ongoing educational and recreational project blooming before its volunteer’s eyes. It is watered each morning, and shift leaders take a day or two each week to teach others about gardening.  Organic gardening methods are used (compost, in the form of coffee grounds, eggshells and other leftovers, is collected from staff lounges weekly and dispersed around the garden as needed.  As produce ripens, volunteers can take whatever they will use. The remainder is brought weekly to the local food pantry.  Learn more about this project.

• George Mason University (VA) The Potomac Heights Vegetable Garden was introduced in April 2009 with the help of George Mason’s Office of Sustainability. A student club, the GMU Organic Garden Association, oversees the garden and is responsible for outreach and education as well as coordinating volunteer efforts. Mason Dining Executive Chef Peter Schoebel and Auxiliary Enterprises and Campus Retail Operations Executive Director Mark Kraner worked together to arrange vegetables grown at the garden to be sold to Southside, a central dining facility at Mason’s Fairfax campus. Learn more about this project.

University of Minnesota Morris Alumni Relations

• The University of Minnesota Morris has partnered with local businesses, student groups and representatives of Native American nations to establish a garden adjacent to the campus to honor the knowledge and  cultural practices of traditional Native American farming. The garden provides access to fresh, organically-grown traditional fruits and vegetables on campus. The garden was tilled and planted this summer and the fruits and vegetables are being harvested this fall. Learn more about this project.

University of Texas at Austin - Daniella Lewis

• The University of Texas at Austin Concho Community Garden, the first of its kind on campus, provides students and staff with the opportunity to garden, learn and share knowledge about food production, pursue sustainability-minded projects and participate in free classes and events. Food at the garden is grown for individual consumption, for use in UT’s dining halls, for donation and, organizers hope, eventually to supply an on-campus garden stand.  Learn more about this project.

There were regular commands of us to close the refrigerator door and turn off the lights. And on very hot days – to cool down – we would close out the light and place a block of ice in front of the fan. Translation? Sustainability, conservation, recycle and reuse.

Earth Works Community Garden in Detroit | flickr / Jessica Reeder

African Americans were green conscious before green was vogue. Our culture, geography, religion and economic reality dictated it.  Today our health, life quality and community viability depend on it.  Simply put, going green for the African American community means going back to our traditions.

Today we hear terms like compostable material, back in the day we knew it as fertilizer.  Things like discarded vegetable ends, eggshells, coffee grounds and lawn clippings.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that these items account for 26 percent of our total municipal solid waste stream.  When homes, restaurants, stadiums, hotels, convention centers, schools and other places toss these otherwise environmental assets into the trash, they end up trapped in oxygen-starved landfills.  Packed tightly and not able to fully breakdown (or decompose), methane -  a gas that’s more damaging to air quality than car exhaust (carbon dioxide) is released into the air.

Often when I am speaking to communities of color about what it means to be green, it never fails to hear someone push back, “you mean a tree hugger”?  We don’t have to become tree huggers, not that anything is wrong with that.  But we can begin right where we are.

For instance, my granny use to call ‘em ‘croker sacks’.  She would tell me to grab hers as she headed off to the Detroit Eastern Market – an open farmers market.   Today, they are known as canvas sacks (reusable cloth bags) you carry to the grocery store to cut down on the use of plastic bags.

Instead of using wood or charcoal during the family reunions and BBQ’s, consider propane, it burns much cleaner and prevents carbon monoxide from entering the atmosphere, our food and lungs.

Let go of the foam cups, plates and plastic utensils.  First, be clear Styrofoam cups do not exist! But a polystyrene cup does – aka a foam cup. A chemical called styrene can migrate into your food from these items.  Studies show that if you eat or drink beverages from foam products Styrene migration happens.  This transfer of chemicals to your food or drinks happen faster as the fat (in a bowl of chili), heat (in a cup of coffee), alcohol content or acids (in tea with lemon) rises.

The urban centers in the Great Lakes region are burdened with more than its share of environmental risks and polluted industrial zones.  A green lifestyle is an ethical awareness of what we consume and its impact on our environment. Just as we didn’t move away from traditions over night, we won’t return to them over night either but if we begin one step at a time, we can get there and bring our children with us.

This year, at the Energy Action Coalition’s national Power Shift 2011 conference, the Midwest brought a huge delegation of motivated young leaders ready to fight and win the battle for a 100% clean energy economy and a more sustainable future.

IL, MI, MN, MO, and OH alone brought over 1200 youth, together with the other Midwest states the region brought just over 1500 attendees to fill the halls of the DC Convention Center, and on Monday 4/18, the streets of the city itself.

Throughout the four days of the conference, it seemed every which way you turned there was another Midwesterner not merely attending the event but participating in various leadership roles such as leading a training, handing out pamphlets, leading a workshop or participating on a panel.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Midwest was also instrumental in helping Power Shift 2011 pull off the largest grassroots training in history. Back at the beginning of April, the Midwest put together the largest regional training for trainers and even recruited over 70 additional facilitators during the training just by phone banking! Those who went through the regional training for trainers went on to lead one of the many Power Shift 2011 Organizing trainings that occurred both Saturday and Sunday morning of the conference and gave students the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to create any grassroots movement.

All the hard work of the Midwesterner’s did not go unnoticed, much of the media coverage on the Power Shift 2011 conference included quotes from Midwest students and organizers.  Many of the quotes were centered on disappointment and disagreement with president Obama’s energy policies thus far.

Michigan State University student, Ashley Hall was quoted in The Nation article saying “Obama really needs to address the urgency of getting [the country] off coal and fossil fuels if he wants us to get out the vote for him in 2012.” And Brandon Knight of Detroit Energy Network shared a similar sentiment with the writers of The Los Angeles Times even mentioning the slogan he and his friends came up with regarding president Obama- “With or without you.”

Additionally, two Midwesterners, Connor Klausing and Matt Kazinka, both students from Minnesota, were quoted in The New York Times article on the conference.

All in all, the Midwest youth clearly showed their dedication to the national green energy movement and now these leaders stand inspired and ready to create real change in their local communities all working towards the goal of a 100% healthy, clean energy economy.