Elemental Impact
| Welcome to the Ei Newsletter |
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Happy 8th Birthday, Ei! 2017 was a Year of Shifting Gears with the announcement Soil Health is the primary focus along with a changing of the guard in Ei Leadership. Read the newsletter below to learn about Ei’s new tagline, the first Ei-hosted Soil Health conference panel, an expanded perspective on waste, and much more!
Follow the Ei Blogs, The IMPACT and Zero Waste in ACTION, to keep current on project status and tales from the journey.
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| 2017: Year of Shifting Gears |
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| Happy 8th Birthday, Ei! |
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On February 5, 2010, Ei incorporated as a Georgia non-profit corporation and embarked on an incredible journey. The 8th birthday celebration was a culmination of integrating the plethora of evolution over the past year.
In 2017 Ei announced Soil Health, regenerating the foundation of life, was a prime focus, with Water Use |Toxicity playing a strong supporting role. Recycling Refinement, Ei’s primary focus since inception, was moved to the Mission Accomplished website section. Leadership experienced a changing of the guard and Ei welcomed new Strategic Allies.
The IMPACT Blog article, Happy 8th Birthday, Ei!, celebrates 2017: Year of Shifting Gears with a chronicle of the powerful year events.
Photo: Founding Sustainable Food Court Initiative Chair Doug Kunneman of NatureWorks with incoming Chair Tim Trefzer, Georgia World Congress Center Authority Director of Sustainability. |
| Regeneration in ACTION! |
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Since inception, Ei lived the tagline Sustainability in ACTION! Working with a powerful team of Ei Pioneers and Ei Industry Experts, Ei evolved into a respected national non-profit known for introducing sustainable best practices within a range of industries.
Over the past decade, sustainability moved from a buzz word to a movement to a culture within leading communities, universities and businesses. Significant strides were made in zero waste practices, renewable energy technology, and reduced carbon | water footprints. Yet the glaciers continue to melt, the ocean acidification levels are increasing, and desertification is escalating. Is sustainability enough? Is resilience enough?
The time is NOW to move beyond sustainability | resilience and embrace regenerative solutions that return the carbon cycles to a healthy, balanced state. The food and oxygen crisis is real and grounded in solid scientific research. Regenerative solutions are simple and align with nature’s perfect systems.
… and Ei’s new tagline is Regeneration in ACTION!
The ZWA Blog article, Regeneration in ACTION, announces Ei’s new tagline with commentary on the importance of moving beyond sustainability, resilience and the circular economy. |
| Sustainable Facilities Initiative |
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| Ei introduces the Sustainable Facilities Initiative |
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The Sustainable Food Court Initiative (SFCI) was launched in 2011 to address the zero waste challenges associated food courts and post-consumer food waste. When the National Restaurant Association purchased the Zero Waste Zones in late 2012, the SFCI emerged as Ei’s central Recycling Refinement focus through 2016.
In alignment with the new Ei Soil Health focus, the SFCI evolved into the Sustainable Facilities Initiative (SFI). Georgia World Center Authority Director of Sustainability Tim Trefzer joined the Ei Leadership Team as the SFI Chair. The ZWA Blog article, Changing of the Guard: Welcome Tim Trefzer to the Ei Leadership Team, announces Past SFCI Chairs Doug Kunnemann and Scott Seydel passing the leadership baton to Tim.
The ZWA Blog article, Ei Announces the Sustainable Facilities Initiative, is the formal program announcement.
With new Ei tagline, the SFI will eventually evolve into the Regenerative Facilities Initiative. |
| GWCC achieves LEED Gold certification |
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Recertifying two years early, on November 28, 2017, the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) was awarded LEED Gold certification, the second highest level in the rating system. In the recertification, the GWCC was thirteen points higher than the 2014 LEED Silver application and five points higher than the minimum Gold requirement. The majority of the additional points related to the energy-saving performance contract completed in 2017.
Atlanta is home to one of the densest (if not the densest) districts of LEED-certified event space in the world and is the greenest convention, sports, and entertainment destination in the world.
The IMPACT Blog article, Atlanta: the greenest convention, sports, and entertainment destination in the world, gives details on the GWCC’s impressive sustainability achievements. In addition, the article lists the LEED-certified facilities in the downtown Atlanta hospitality district. |
| Soil Health & Water Use | Toxicity |
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| Redefining WASTE |
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Over the past decade, zero waste grew from a grassroots movement to a buzz word to a common term for reducing waste across the spectrum of commercial, government and private facilities. Traditionally, zero waste referred to materials used within daily operations and lifestyles.
It is time to further redefine zero waste by addressing the impact on urban wildlife, especially pollinators, songbirds and other small creatures.
Eventually, the tremendous cost of waste will invoke simple economic laws and demand corrective action. Yet, will the timing be too late to regenerate the Earth’s resources and restore balance?
The ZWA Blog article, Redefining WASTE: impact of common landscape & grounds maintenance practices on urban wildlife, introduces an expanded view of waste and its far-reaching implications. Park Pride’s Pollinators in Parks program is featured. |
| Welcome SouthEast LINK! |
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 SouthEast LINK (SEL), an Atlanta-based custodial supply company dedicated to renewable cleaning programs and systems, is the first Ei Partner within the Soil Health and Water Use | Toxicity regime.
SEL VP Education & Training Jack Adelman is the Ei Conscious Cleaning (CC) Chair. The CC platform is under development and staged for a spring announcement.
Ei welcomes the SEL Team!
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| U.S. Composting Council Conference |
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On January 22 – 25, 2018 Atlanta hosted the 26th Annual U.S. Composting Council (USCC) Conference & Tradeshow at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel. As a pioneer in the commercial collection of food waste for compost via the 2009 Zero Waste Zones launch, Atlanta was an ideal host for the empowering conference.
MILESTONE: the Ei-hosted panel, Compost’s Empowering Role in Sustainable Soils, was the first Soil Health hosted panel! … and it was one of the most popular conference panels with a near capacity audience!
The ZWA Blog article, GAME WON: 2018 composting council breaks records, gives a conference overview and showcases Atlanta’s prominent role in the successful conference. For a pictorial conference recap, visit the Ei FB album, 2018 USCC Conference. |
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Support Ei through AmazonSmile!
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop
Amazon, with no extra cost to the shopper. With the exact same shopping experience, AmazonSmile donates
0.5% of the purchase price to your charitable organization of choice.
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| Ei is an AmazonSmile charity! Click HERE to choose Ei as your designated charity & support Ei with no cost to you! |
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| Join the Ei Team |
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Ei’s primary funding is from the corporate community via the Ei Partner | Supporter Programs. Through active participation, Ei Partners work with industry leaders on establishing sustainable
business practice standards.
To join the close-knit Ei Team and commit to active participation, contact Holly at holly@earth-impact.org or 404-261-4690.
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| Follow Ei in Cyberspace |
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Ei invites you to join our influential network…
  
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AgAtlanta
March 27 – 28, 2018
Atlanta, GA
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The AgLanta Conference is a two-day urban agriculture conference, hosted by the City of Atlanta’s Office of Resilience and designed to bridge the gap between Smart Cities and Smart Agriculture. This year’s theme is “smart ag for smart cities” and will bring together top industry leaders in tech, urban farming, and city planning.
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BioCycle West Coast
March 26 – 29, 2018
San Diego, CA
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| BIOCYCLE WEST COAST18 is the only National Organics Recycling Conference focused on accelerating adoption of composting and anaerobic digestion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate impacts … action steps that build healthy soils, decrease reliance on fossil fuels, and create jobs and successful enterprises. |
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Thank you for your enthusiasm & support!
Holly D. Elmore
Founder & CEO,
Elemental Impact
404-261-4690
holly@earth-impact.org
ZWA Blog
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© Elemental Impact, 91 Rumson Rd NE Unit C33, Atlanta, GA 30305
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