win a gift from our co-conspirator, danny seo

One of the perks of being Method’s co-conspirator is that I get invited to fancy (and fun) events in New York City to help spread the Method gospel cheer.   For the first year ever, TheDailyGreen.com held their Heart of Green Awards in the LEED-certified Hearst building in New York City (appropriate, since TheDailyGreen is owned by Hearst) and honored leading movers and shakers in the green space for innovating new ideas, trends and movements.  

After grabbing the gift bag, I thought it would be fun to give away the prize-filled tote to a lucky Method blog reader.    Inside the recycled tote (made from water bottles), you’ll find:

·         Method grapefruit hand wash.  Yum!

·         An Ebay reusable water bottle.

·         Kiss my Face Creamy Face Cleanser

·         A copy of Esquire with Ben Affleck looking annoyed on the cover

·         Physicans Formula organic wear makeup

·         Sula nail polish

·         An organic chocolate bar

·         A 4-pack of Verterra biodegradable trays made from fallen palm leaves

·         An Ecoist recycled wrapper bracelet

·         Blue Q “This Economy Sucks” change purse.

To win, just leave a comment on why you should win the prize filled tote.   No need to be super creative: you can just say “I love it” and you’ll be eligible.  Contest ends May 8.  Good luck!  

we're with B Corp.

With the mounting global financial crisis comes great uncertainty for the corporate world. Businesses continue to face troubling days ahead, leading many to rethink more broadly how they fit into society. For us at Method, one bright spot through the clouds is our position as a B-Corporation, and we encourage fellow brands to follow suit.

The brainchild of two successful entrepreneurs, B-Corporation is a group that has built the legal basis for companies to create social and environmental benefit as part of their business models, rather than being focused solely on profitability. In its short history, B-Corp has convened 185 companies with social or environmental mandates. B-Corp has fostered a community centered on its own values by having each company complete a publicly reported survey of their environmental and social practices.

Method’s values define our mode of business. As a founding B-Corporation company, we have taken the B-Corp survey that rates us on our commitment to solving social and environmental issues as part of our business. Survey results are published for all to see. This helps us by keeping our values visible in our path, and by allowing anyone wondering how we’re doing to find out.
 

Keep an eye out for the B-Corporation logo – there are now 185 certified B Corporations, representing $965 million in market value in a range of sectors. Visit bcorporation.net to see the full list of B-Corp companies and review their survey scores.

going green with guru sophie uliano

Green guru Sophie Uliano has authored her second book, The Gorgeously Green Diet.  We've already checked it out and think it's pretty great. Check out our little Q+A session we had with her on what inspires her (not to mention some great easy tips, too).

 

Q: We love your new book The Gorgeously Green Diet! Tell us, what was the inspiration behind your second book?

I am passionate about food and cooking. As an environmentalist, I became aware of how heavy an eco-impact our eating habits can have on the planet and how by making a few very small changes, we can make a big difference. It also fascinated me how everything is connected – if I eat in a way that’s gentler on the planet, it’s also going to be better for my health, my pocket book and for maintaining my ideal weight.

Q: In the book, you talk a lot about “taking the pledge.” What’s the simplest way someone can take the pledge to help save the planet?

In the book there is a simple 6-step pledge. I found the top six ways in which we can truly make a huge difference and so by signing the pledge and committing to practice these six steps for 30 days, you get to know that you have reduced your eco-impact – as well as your waistline!
 

Q: It seems there are always new health concerns being highlighted in the media. When you have a new green question or concern, where’s the one place you can always rely on to get the straight truth?

I don’t think there is one place that you can depend on for the truth. I think it’s important to find an expert who resonates with you and stick with them. Being Green is about taking the middle path and gently, quietly finding the truth. Ultimately its up to you and your gut instinct, which will almost always be right.

Q: There’s a myth that going green is expensive. Help us out a bit and give us your favorite green tip that’s easy on the wallet.

Buying eco-friendly products can be more expensive, but if you’re savvy you can make it work. My top summer tip is line-drying clothes and washing them in cold water with an eco-friendly detergent.
 
Q: Thanks for taking the time with us, Sophie. Before we let you go, we have one more question. If someone wants to detox their home, where’s the first place they should start?

Start with cleaning supplies. It’s such an easy change that you can do it today.
 

To learn more about Sophie and her book, check out her website at GorgeouslyGreen.com. 

march madness - method style

The method lobby became the sports world epicenter for an afternoon, hosting The Epic Final Three, a dramatic conclusion to the 3rd Annual Method March Madness Ping Pong Doubles Tournament. Clawing their way to the finals were West Loop Gyros (Andrew and Barb from Chicago), Fire & Ice (Danny & Hazel from SF), and Team Milk (Eliza & Gordie from SF).

 

With the smell of nacho cheese and corn dogs in the air, the three teams emerged to a frenzied crowd. Andrea fired up the accordion for an inspiring interpretation of the National Anthem that brought tears to eyes that were otherwise focused on Twinkies and Ho Hos.

 

Match 1 saw Fire & Ice pull out a gritty 2 games to 1 victory over West Loop Gyros, with the San Francisco home crowd spurring on the local team. Fire & Ice was once again en fuego in Match 2, defeating Team Milk in 2 games. With medals adorned around their necks, Fire & Ice then took the traditional victory lap around the lobby to “We Are the Champions”, cementing their place in method ping pong history.

saving the bay

This past Wednesday, 26 of us embarked on our first 2009 Eco-Maniacs volunteer event.   

If you don’t know, in order to encourage volunteerism in our local community, we’re given 3 days per year that we can use volunteering at one of the company-sponsored volunteer events or for an organization of our personal choice.

For this event, we partnered up with Save the Bay for a wetlands restoration project at Bair Island down in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay.  Save The Bay is the oldest and largest organization working exclusively to protect, restore and celebrate San Francisco Bay.  

Here are some of the highlights from our trip:
 
-       We learned about the ecosystem of our SF Bay and the importance of the wetlands.

-       We canoed out to Bair Island.

-       We planted 1,000 seedlings of native alkali heath.

-       We removed the non-native and highly invasive “pepper weed” plant.

-       We removed trash.

-       We tested the water’s phosphate levels.

-       Unearthed a dead jackrabbit.

-       Made a communal lunch of sandwiches, organic fruit, and cheez-its….yum!  Then composted the food remains.


All in all the day was a great combination of San Francisco Bay education, outdoor recreation, teamwork, and wetlands restoration. 
 
For pictures of the day check out our Flickr and Facebook pages. Feel free to comment!

If you are interested in learning more about Save the Bay and the advocacy work they do to protect our local treasure you can click here.