I originally wrote this article on GranvilleOnline.ca and thought readers would like to see it here too. Let me know what you think.

Locally made AspenClean green cleaning products won't damage health or happiness

Although they've been around for years it wasn't until last week that I had the opportunity to try AspenClean green cleaning products. Based in North Vancouver, Alicia and Chris Sokolowski have been on a mission to develop healthy cleaning products for the home that aren't going to harm one's family or the environment.

Besides developing a line of green cleaning products Aspen Clean also runs a home and office cleaning service, using their non-toxic products to clean your work or family environment.

With a new brand and packaging design it's a lot easier to notice AspenClean in what's becoming an increasingly crowded space, with other locally made Vancouver green cleaning products like Sapadilla and Live for Tomorrow all trying to get you to bring their products home. Although the packaging is still contemporary in design, it looks sharp and feels good in the hand.

I tried the microfibre cloth and the all-purpose spray around my place last weekend. The cloth worked amazing; it's like it's got all these little fingers grabbing at dust and dirt as you wipe, making it real easy to clean up. It's a big cloth that I can see being really good for large spills, though I found it a bit cumbersome in size. It would be great if they came in smaller sizes for smaller jobs as well.

The all-purpose spray worked real well, nothing too eventful, it just worked.

3 ingredients to watch out for in your cleaning products

1. Butoxyethanol (or 2-butoxyethanol) - ever wondered where that lemon scent comes from? This one's a suspect for inhibiting the development of a bunch of organs.
2. Ethoxylated Nonphenol - a known endocrine toxicant, this one is no good for the environment
3. Silicon Diocide (silica) - the dust that's created when using products that include silica can irritate the skin and cause breathing problems

Some jobs have their perks. One of mine is that I get to try all kinds of new local, organic and health food products for our Vancouver gift baskets. Yesterday I took a tour of one of our suppliers and got to try the newest flavour of Hippie Chips in Burnaby, BC. Tuscan Tomato is awesome, it's well spiced and savoury, not too sweet and nice and crunchy. It pairs real well with Aji (see 'Best Guacamole in Town') which is kind of tart and the combo is balanced and tastes nice. Some of the other flavours of Hippie Chips I found a bit grainy, a bit of overkill on those ancient grains with the Amaranth and Millet. Even though the Tuscan Tomato has red lentils and brown rice along with the stone ground corn, their texture is clean and not super earthy.

Top 3 things good about Tuscan Tomato Hippie Chips

1) The pink bag! It's the most vibrant of the group and grabbed my attention. Who'd a thunk it?

2) Not too sweet. I'm on a salty savoury kick and these are just right.

3) No shady genetically modifed hydrogenated ingredients. These chips are made with whole grains, organic roma tomatoes and spiced naturally with organic onion, basil and sea salt.

Today, everyone says they're 'green'. It's meaning is washed out. All too often overlooked is the social side of sustainability, the people who make up our organizations, the communities in which we operate, social justice issues, and building diverse constituents in all our stakeholder groups. It's the people who I find interesting in the work that we do as they make me feel the rewards of our labour. In Vancouver's downtown eastside and inner city there's one organization that's been doing a great job at bridging the gap between socially distraught down and out people and the businesses that inhabit the neighbourhood and drive the economy, Building Opportunities with Business, commonly referred to as BOB.

Last month I got a call from Brian Smith, the on the ground business and social enterprise developer at BOB, letting me know about their 'Consultant Fees' grant program available to inner city businesses working with consultants on various projects to green their operations. Opportunity knocks! At the time we were just negotiating terms with our brand and marketing consultant Andy Maier at Courageous B, looking at revising our brand and redeveloping our website (Scheduled to go live on Sept.15/10, stay tuned for some upcoming changes!). Given the green emphasis of our business, the product sourcing we do from DTES social enterprises and our participation in BOB's social purchasing portal we were awarded a $7,500 grant to contribute to this work we're taking on. If successful, it'll help us to grow our business and further the positive social and environmental impacts we're having on the community. I'm honored to work with BOB and receive their contribution, every bit helps and allows us to take some risks and leverage our marketing budget for the year. With the Christmas gift basket season approaching we're eager to see how our investment will pan out.

In total $36,000 was distributed to 8 Vancouver businesses. We're in good company with our neighbours at the Strathcona Business Improvement Association whom we collaborate with on the Strathcona Green Zone and other leading DTES organizations including Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, EMBERS, Recycling Alternative, Megaphone and Potluck Cafe. The Vancouver Aquaponics initiative received some funding as well which is an exciting opportunity to convert under utilized space in parking garages into highly productive aquaculture businesses to supply the local market demand for fish. Would love to see that happen! Thanks BOB!

I love it when things land in your lap. When you're on a path, putting energy in a certain direction, I'm always amazed how things find you. Over the last 4 years I've been on a search for the freshest, best tasting food products made in British Columbia. I was recently approached by Dyana Biagi the creator of Aji Gourmet Food Products to learn more about her line of products to be included in our selection of our Vancouver gift baskets.

First impression = Nice label!

I'm a big believer that things need to look real nice for people to pick things up in the store. I know, its superficial, but it's true. If you're packaging isn't spot on, not many people will ever try your product, even if it tastes amazing. Back to Aji ...

So I sat down with Dyana and tried her products, and there's nothing ordinary about them. So this 'salsa' Aji that I tried tasted great on a chip by itself. Check, nice, I'm down with salsa, but wait .... she mashed up some avocados and mixed them with the Aji and voila ... a super tasty guacamole! Boooom! And that's not all. If you add ketchup to Aji you get a zingy cocktail seafood sauce and if you add a mayo or sour cream and get a flavourful tarter sauce. Definitely not ordinary!

You'll be able to find Aji products in our Office Party gift baskets in the near future.

Top 3 things we like about Aji

1) Tastes like its made from fresh vegetables. That's because it is.

2) Lots of ways to use it. Not just a salsa or condiment, Aji can be used to make guacamole, seafood sauce, tarter sauce, on ribs, etc. For more ideas see the Aji site.

3) Local. Local producers, local food and the local economy. That's how we roll!

This Saturday, June 26th, the culmination of thousands of hours of hard work and creative brainwaves will take shape in the form of The Cheaper Show No. 9. It's a project that I'm very proud to have helped out in a small way as a volunteer. As the finish line nears, and final preparations for the Show are made, I've been thinking about the community focus that's a principal driver behind the show and the relationships that develop with volunteering.

First, about the Show: The Cheaper Show is a one-night only event that has grown leaps and bounds since its original inception ("Cheaper Than A One Night Stand") ten years ago. However, the concept has always remained the same. For one night, a collection of artists showcase their work to the community, and agree that everything displayed will be sold for one, accessible, price. For the past two shows, that price has been $200. While this represents a remarkable a bargain for the work that's available, the Show is not about being a fire sale for art. Rather, the act of sacrifice (on the part of the artists, some of whom regularly sell their work for many times the asking price) shows a concerted willingness to engage everyday people with the arts and offer them a chance to own a piece that sings to them. With the cost barrier lowered, many more people can participate in the normally rarefied air of art collection, which in turn, promotes a different level of interaction with what's in the gallery. Even for those not looking to buy, the strength of the show and the chance to commune with so many talented people promises an extraordinary evening for everyone passing through the doors.

As a volunteer, I've had the chance to appreciate the talent and dedication behind this show first hand. A small corps of staff and volunteers have completely transformed the W2 Storeum into a gallery space to be proud of. Behind the scenes, the Cheaper staff have marshalled funds, recognition, and artistic support to make this the largest art show in Western Canada. I've met incredible people through the Show (many times working back to back painting, mopping, or measuring hanging points) and I know we all share deep feelings of pride and satisfaction as the night approaches. I've felt similar feelings working with the Strathcona Business Improvement Association and their green zone initiative in the Downtown Eastside. It's no accident that the Show is located on the edge of Vancouver's most challenged neighbourhood. The motivations behind bringing art to the public echo the efforts being made by innumerable groups to improve the quality of life of many of the DTES's residents.

Saul Good Gift Co. is proud to be the gift sponsor for the Show. We will be recognizing the efforts of the volunteers by putting together unique customized gift boxes for everyone who helped make this event happen!

I first learned about B Corporations (B Corps) in June 2007 as a delegate at the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) international conference in Berkeley, CA. Up on stage stood the founding B Corp members including some of the grandparents of green business. Guys like Jeffrey Hollender of Seventh Generation, Jeff Mendelsohn of New Leaf Paper, Jason Salfi of Comet Skateboards and Peter Strugatz of Icestone, people there from the beginning figuring what it means and how what how to run sustainable businesses. So why did all these deep green businesses commit to joining, and creating for that matter, the B Corp community? I argue that it's a way to support fundamental changes in how business is run. Beyond the financial bottom line, successful businesses also add value in the communities in which they operate, empower their employees and constantly find ways to be innovative with materials and processes, making them more efficient while also limiting their impact on the environment. That's why I became interested in business and see how it can be competitive advantage.

What makes a business green?

Green claims are easy to make. All a company needs to do is source some organic baby clothing and a BPA free sippy cup to claim they're a green gift basket business. How are consumers able to know who to trust? 3rd party certifications are a solid start as they put the onus on professionals to follow up and audit companies to verify their claims and hold them to a meaningful set of standards. B Corporations are evaluated on 5 key areas including accountability, employees, consumers, community and environment. Certified B Corps need to meet minimum standards in multiple categories, thus if a company only sources eco friendly promotional products they're not eligible for certification. An advisory committee of the leading sustainable business minds, the leaders of the most successful green businesses, continually revise what it means to be green and raise the bar as we continue to improve. Although the survey is self administered, B Corp staff review and go over the survey with applicants to ensure that questions were answered properly. In addition, companies are required to submit documents and data that substantiate their claims. Click here to see how we did!

Audited sustainability claims

Every year B Corp audits 20% of their certified companies to verify the claims they've submitted in their surveys. This assurance is important as it creates meaning to the certification. It means something to be a B Corp and sets us apart from greenwashers in the marketplace. B Corps are audited every year to ensure that standard remains meaningful and also give us the opportunity to review our policies and processes to find ways to improve.

All businesses are different

Depending on the type and size of your business, you complete a different B Corp Assessment Survey. This better allows one to see how they actually compare to other similar businesses and give consumers the ability to compare apples to apples. It also doesn't overwhelm small business owners with factors not relevant to them. As we're developing LoCo BC, a business network in Vancouver that promotes the benefits of local purchasing and sustainable business to local SMEs, we've been finding it valuable to look at the B Corp model for how we define our membership criteria. The goal is to engage businesses where they're at and help them move toward sustainability, not exclude and sit pretty while we sit back and congratulate each other on how great we are.

Corporate DNA, culture and capitalization

B Corp requires one to make changes to the corporate charter that imbed social, community and environmental responsibility. This means that directors of the corporation must consider these factors when making decisions and acting for the company. A corporate charter is a document that binds Directors to the Shareholders, and ensures that the Directors will act with the shareholders best interest in mind. It may seem minor but it's a big change in the game and affects how businesses grow and capitalize. Most businesses need to grow to succeed and reach the size they need to be to be optimally profitable. Although its yet to be proven, as B Corps raise money to grow their businesses they should attract investors that view sustainability as a competitive advantage. We found that becoming a B Corp gave us the opportunity to document not only the work we're doing but the mission, vision, and values in what we do and how we do it. By creating an office manual that includes this we're taking steps to building sustainability into our corporate culture.

What do you think?

What makes a business socially and environmentally responsible? Do you believe a businesses green claims? In what ways do you want to learn about what businesses are doing in the sustainability space? What do you think about our business? Is there anything we could do better? Do you find anything we do misleading? Let us know what you think, we're always looking for ways to improve.

Meet Starworks Packaging and Assembly, a fantastic social enterprise providing employment for adults with developmental disabilities in Vancouver, BC. Part of the Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) Starworks generates much of its operating expenses from their pick and pack assembly and fulfillment business. I originally met with Starworks over 3 years ago when I launched Saul Good seeing great potential for a social enterprise partner to take on various fulfillment tasks in our Vancouver gift basket and corporate gift business.

Attention to quality

On our tour we conducted a few spot checks to make sure the corporate gifts looked as per our specifications, all the products we defined were included and the placement of our greeting and story cards were all in the right places. It's no surprise that organizations such as BC Hydro, Finning, Tourism BC and VISA all work with the social enterprise for various fulfillment needs.

Efficient operations

Starworks is fast! They were able to go through 21 pallets of product and fulfill our 750 gift order in just 2 days! They turned our order around very quickly to meet our schedule. Starworks employs a couple production coordinators who manage the assembly teams, ensuring that everyone understands their tasks and is well suited to it. They understand lean manufacturing strategies and develop simple, clear and balanced production between the team members to ensure the production line flows. They definitely know what they're doing and I'm confident in their ability to perform.

Everyone was so friendly!

Both Alex and I had a great time talking with the staff and employees on our Starworks tour. Some of the employees were quite chatty and engaged us in interesting conversations. We got to practice our German and Hebrew which took us both by surprise and left us with the understanding that its a mistake to underestimate the capabilities of developmentally disabled individuals.

Top 3 things we like about Starworks

1. Creates social good with every gift assembled. Starworks creates meaningful employment for adults living with developmental disabilities in Vancouver, BC. The workers were really happy completing their tasks and enjoy their work, even the sometimes tedious and repetitious work of the assembly line.
2. Friendly atmosphere. We felt really comfortable on our tour of their facility and found everyone very personable.
3. Delivery on time. No over promising, Starworks pulled it off, without a hitch!

Looking forward to our next opportunity to work with the team at Starworks!

Naked Soapworks is one of those companies you just want to love. Based on Bowen Island, BC Laurel Bailey runs a business based on the basics of a better mouse trap. If we care about our health and the health of our families then we should think twice about the products we use to clean ourselves. Naked Soapworks was founded on this principle and uses only natural and organic ingredients to make soaps, salves and lotions for our personal care.

Besides running a shop in Snug Harbour on Bowen Island, Laurel runs an amazing B and B, The Treehouse Bed and Breakfast, on the Island with her husband Rob. They've got a sweet pad with an amazing view, the kind of place you'd love to live and enjoy your breakfast day in and day out. It's not hard to live in paradise and I feel lucky to have spent a couple days with them in the early spring this season. Values are the kind of thing that are hard to hide from and Laurel and Rob gave it away with the Sloping Hill Farm natural meats and duck eggs gathered from their garden. 

Top 3 things I'm down with gettin' Naked

1) Local! There are many reasons why local purchasing is all good. Learn more here. There is a trend towards supporting locally owned businesses and organizations rising to support the transition.

2) The hand and body wash works great, we're going to add it into our natural spa gift baskets

3) High quality ingredients that are friendly to the fishes and our preference for environmentally friendly products.

If you’ve received a Saul Good gift box recently, you’ve probably noticed that there's some unique shredded paper inside. Well it’s more than just pretty confetti, it’s an example of sustainability in action!