Tuesday, April 21

What I am reading right now

I can't put this book down!

It is funny, informative, easy to read, and inspirational! I think the CEO & president of Stonyfield Farms said it best, "Warning, reading this book will cause you to quit everything to become an eco-entrepreneur."

Who knew that reading about worm poop could be so entertaining. As soon as I am done with the book I will pass it along to one of you. I just can't keep it to myself.

If you want to get an idea of what the book is like/about you can watch Garbage Moguls.

The first episode runs on Earth Day Wednesday, April 22 at 9PM ET/PT on The National Geographic Channel. (Click on the hyperlinks for snippets)

Here is the promo that The National Geographic Channel put out:

Garbage Moguls is a fun, energetic look into one of the world's most eco-friendly manufacturers: TerraCycle. Right before our eyes, these young mavericks make really clever products that turn trash into cash. In the course of this special hour, the TerraCycle team successfully develops, creates, tests and sells two unique products to two major retailers, OfficeMax and Walmart: They turn used billboards into messenger bags, and Oreo cookie wrappers into kites. In September Garbage Moguls will return with a full season.

The kind folks at TerraCycle sent me a copy of the show to watch (and the book to read. Thanks guys!) which I did, with my children. My 8yr old son was so engrossed in the show that he was actually shouting out ideas along with them for what they could make out of cookie wrappers. My son came up with a waterproof jacket and matching hat but was equally impressed with the kite idea (which he now wants).

I loved the show almost as much as the book. I just love what these "young" folks are doing! I so want to go work for them!

CLEANING UP THE EARTH:

TerraCycle was conceived in 2001 by two Princeton University students competing in a business plan contest. Since then it has become a major player in the eco-friendly business world. Tom attended Princeton, but dropped out to start TerraCycle. TerraCycle’s first product was a fertilizer made from worm poop and packaged in used soda bottles.

TerraCycle has twice won the Home Depot Environmental Stewardship Award from Home Depot Canada.

A 2006 Inc. Magazine cover story named TerraCycle “The Coolest Little Start-Up in America.” That same year, Tom was named the “#1 CEO in America Under 30” in the magazine’s “30 Under 30 Awards,” beating billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Since its inception, TerraCycle has salvaged over 10 million drink pouches, 50,000 energy bar wrappers, two million plastic bottles, and one million cookie wrappers.

It is hard not to get excited when you see stats like this, watch first hand how they do it, and see the awe on your own child's face when he sees a kite made out of cookie wrappers flying through the air.

Tune into to Garbage Moguls and let me know what you think of it!

3 comments:

marina villatoro said...

That sounds like a great book! When i go back to the states i'm going to order it. It's too much of a hassle to get it over here!
The Travel Expert(a) - Living and Traveling Central America

Over Coffee - the green edition said...

It really is! I am almost done with it and then I will do a complete review and give-a-way. Maybe you will win it. ;-0

Scott Jones said...

Here’s the link to a preview of another show about green technologies set to make its debut on Earth Day. Check out our myth-busting video “What’s Your Big Green Lie?!” which gives a taste of the widespread ignorance of green issues at http://www.biggreenlies.com.