Nau, an eco-friendly retailer of high-end outdoor clothing has softly launched Changing Room, a layaway plan for the internet age. Changing Room enables customers to pay half of an item’s full retail price on the spot, while completing  the remainder of the purchase after 30 days. This is not necessarily a sustainable practice but it appears to be an innovative way to reach new markets and that is why we thought it was worth highlighting. Read the full story

As a university student who just geared up for a new semester, I had so much to think about: moving all my belongings into my dorm room, completing class registration, and buying all my textbooks. One process I dread is purchasing my books; the requirements for each class seem to drain my bank account of a few hundred of the hard-earned dollars I earned over the summer. Thankfully I found a new book resource that’s more convenient, easier on my wallet, and certainly much more green than the usual alternatives. Chegg.com allows me to rent my books at a cheap price, then return them at the end of the semester. For every book I rent, Chegg plants a tree. Many of Chegg’s practices exemplify how sustainability is a key driver of innovation, a concept that was introduced earlier this week on Padosa. Read the full story

Can you get support within your business for sustainability initiatives? Tough going.

Can you get support for innovation efforts? Much easier.

Would it be easier to get support for your sustainability efforts if you told your manager that one of the leading business gurus said, in the most prestigious business journal, that “smart companies now treat sustainability as innovation’s new frontier”? Read the full story

There is a concept called “social proof” that refers to our instinct to be influenced by what others around us are doing, without our being aware of it. This concept is being effectively applied to help individuals reduce energy consumption. Positive Energy, a Northern Virginia company, has developed tools and technology that help individuals reduce energy usage by revealing what their neighbors are doing. Read the full story

Japan is making great strides towards sustainable business practices. Local and state governments, companies, and individuals are all working together to make the country a more eco-friendly place to live and do business. Read the full story

The other day, as I was shopping for kitchen supplies for my new apartment, I came across a box of drinking glasses. The box was simple and utilitarian: it was made with cardboard and printed on with black ink, and it was labeled “Eco-friendly” at the bottom, proudly displaying the words, “Made with recycled cardboard and soy ink.”

Immediately I thought, “That’s great! Soy ink is a much more sustainable printing solution!” Then I realized that I had no clear idea of what traditional ink is made from and put the box back down, feeling too ashamed to continue shopping. Well, as it turns out, soy-based ink is indeed better for the environment and easier to recycle than the average petroleum-based ink, but the point stands that, at least at first, we all fall for the words on the package. Read the full story