Ei Newsletter 2017 Spring

Micro level contamination yields tremendous hidden costs to communities, the environment and food chain systems. Though often not seen by the human eye, fragmented microplastic pieces are poison to our soils | water microbial communities as well as to fish, mammals, birds and most life forms.

Ei Partner Rick Lombardo of NaturTec along with Lia Colabella of Five Gyres introduced The Macro Cost of Contamination in an Ei-hosted panel of the same name at the 2016 National Zero Waste Business Conference (NZWBC).The ZWA Blog article, The Macro Cost of Micro Contamination, is an in-depth recap of the powerful NZWBC panel. Rick and Lia’s PPT presentations are available for download on the Ei-Hosted Conference Panels website page.

One of Ei’s valuable industry roles is connecting colleagues | organizations together who share synergistic missions and programs. Often introductions evolve into important Ei initiatives. Other times introductions result in powerful alliances yet do not directly involve Ei in subsequent programs.

A prime example is the March 8 Ei-orchestrated meeting of Atlanta’s sustainability leadership hosted by Affairs to Remember Caterers (Affairs). The overt meeting purpose was to introduce new City of Atlanta Director of Sustainability John Rutherford Seydel to Affairs. In addition to John and Boyd Leake from the City of Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium General Manager Scott Jenkins and Ray C. Anderson Foundation Executive Director John Lanier joined the meeting. It was an inspiring lunch filled with empowering conversation and amazing cuisine.

The ZWZ Blog article, The Power of Connection, documents the significant Ei introductions over the years, featuring U.S. EPA, Georgia World Congress Center, SC State Government, U.S Zero Waste Business Council, Zero Food Waste Journeys, Affairs, Food & Beverage Packaging Value Chain Meetings, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium connections.

In addition, the Ei Connects website page lists empowering introductions in reverse chronological order.

At Ei’s invitation Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS) General Manager Scott Jenkins gave an empowering Sustainability: an economic driver presentation at the February 15 Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Atlanta Chapter luncheon meeting. LAI is a land economics honorary; Ei Founder Holly Elmore was inducted in 2013 and serves on the local chapter Board.

It was inspiring to learn the intricacies of how “MBS will be the Heart of Atlanta and home to the biggest championships in the United States.” Throughout his presentation, Scott emphasized the economics grounding the MBS sustainability commitment.

The IMPACT Blog article, Sustainability: an economic driver, is an overview of Scott’s presentation, which is available for download on the Ei LAI page.

As a respected industry leader, Ei is called upon to host prominent panels at national conferences. As the panel host, Ei crafts a relevant panel topic, recruits Ei Industry Pioneers, Industry Experts, Strategic Allies and Advisory Council members to present on the panels, coaches panel PPT presentations to ensure seamless flow, and Holly moderates the panel at the conference.

The new Ei-Hosted Conference Panels website page details the hosted panels, beginning with the inaugural Zero Waste is a Team Sport panel at the 2013 NZWBC.

On March 28, 2017 the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) issued the groundbreaking Urban Biocycles scoping paper as an introduction to a Circular Economy approach for urban nutrient cycles. The well-researched paper addresses the valuable nutrients within current organic waste streams and how urban environments disrupt nature’s perfected nutrient cycles.

A combination of global, long-term, research-oriented planning coupled with immediate, action-oriented, grass roots efforts is a recipe for a Circular Economy to emerge. Ei is honored to support the global planning and grass roots efforts.

Ei Chair Scott Seydel serves on the EMF USA Board and Holly is listed in the Urban Biocycles paper credits as an Expert Input and Case Study Contributor. In addition, Ei is a launch partner for The Compost Story (see the Upcoming Events section).

The ZWA Blog article, A Circular Economy Approach to Urban Nutrient Cycles, introduces the important EMF scoping paper.

In January 2017 Holly visited Cuba on a family vacation cruise with three ports of call: Santiago de Cuba, Havana and Cienfuegos. As Americans, the visit was through the People-to-People Visa program with required Authentic Cuban Experience Tours at each city. The tours were well orchestrated, educational and led by delightful Cubans benefiting from the emerging tourism industry.

The Cuban government is committed to authentic restoration of the once elegant Old Havana buildings that fell into complete disrepair over the past 50+ years. When practical a building is restored with similar materials & style as its original design. Examples of the impressive Old Havana building restoration were prominent within the tour.

Holly spent her “free” afternoon in Havana exploring beyond the tourist zone. It was stupendous to stumble upon prior mansions and grand buildings in unbelievable disrepair.

The IMPACT Blog article, CUBA: rich in spirit, history & restoration, is an overview of the Cuba cruise with a predominant focus on Old Havana’s historic preservation. The Holly Elmore Images FB album, 2017 Cuba Cruise, documents the profound Cuban experience in a comprehensive fashion with photos segregated into topic segments.

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