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COCO ECO | MEN WE LOVE
MEN WE
LOVE
leaders in industry
BY: Star Noor
Innovators, entrepreneurs, artists and activists, these
emphasizing business as a force for good, and shifting
the cultural norm in our corporate world. Including
preserving the Amazon rainforests, protecting our
they are impacting our world on a global scale, to achieve
a common goal of a better planet.
Each possessing character traits including charisma, vision,
entertaining pursuits such as travel, music, fashion, beauty
and play, exemplifying that a great life is one without
Photo: Carbon War Room
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Photo: Carbon War Room
The Ten Island Renewable
Challenge is an idea that calls
for a scaling up of renewable
energy across the region
Sir Richard BRANSON
Sir Richard Branson has long shared his exploits with the rest of us.
including Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Mobile, Sir Richard is now turning
sustainable island with a major eco-upgrade.
It was here on Necker Island that organizations such as Carbon
War Room, The Elders, and the B Team were born out of
conversational “think tanks.” And it is here at the Temple on
Necker that the Ten Island Renewable Challenge has begun.
So what does this all mean for Necker Island? The private luxury
island is currently powered by 100% diesel power but will switch
to a mixture of wind and solar power — 700 kw of solar power
landscape, and 300 kw wind power which will be spun from three
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The Ten Island Renewable Challenge is an idea that calls for a
scaling up of renewable energy across the region. Currently seven
countries have committed to the “friendly, informal competition for
the most progressive island states to see how fast they can scale
Carbon War Room.
participating are St. Lucia, The British Virgin Isles, Colombia for the
Island of Providencia and San Andres, Turks & Caicos, Dominica,
St. Kitts and Nevis, and Aruba. “Having kicked off the conversations
With his island, Sir Richard and the Necker Island community hope
to set an example for other island communities and the world, and
impart his own unique spin on the eco-luxury travel experience.
working groups and began to form practical action plans for making
positive change in the respective areas. Each group contained people
with the expertise and insight to actually get things done rather than
merely make meaningless presentations,” he explains.
Virgin.com
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Photo courtesy of Ron Robinson
Ron
ROBINSON
As a young man starting out with Fred
Segal, LA’s iconic fashion destination,
of bringing responsible sustainable
fashion to a consumer base hungry for
on-trend, covetable items.
After nine years of working up the ranks, Ron launched his
own brand, Ron Robinson, at the Fred Segal department
Justin BIEL &
Grason RATOWSKY
BARE, a line of authentic, functional, repurposed burlap bags designed with the
modern consumer in mind.
Justin explains, “Much of our relationship as friends before becoming
business partners was based off of numerous experiences traveling
new knowledge or appreciation for concepts previously not
it is contemporary and fashionable to think about what we
do and how that affects everything.”
individuals and as a company that drives us to make BARE a brand
Since then, the self-professed “curator of fashion arts” has
selected brands from around the world which stand up to
The bags are comprised of repurposed coffee sacks which Grason
brand. “I want to bring the elite of fashion to a dynamic,
organic environment,” he states. Of course at the top of
the list is a lifelong quest to bring aesthetically beautiful,
fashionable items to his clientele. Aesthetics are then closely
followed by the overall qualities of the brand. Believing that
the word organic is thrown around “far too liberally” these
days, he explains, “I want to make a real difference,” looking
for brands that are “environmentally intelligent” rather than
simply “organic.” He furthers, “Many brands are sometimes
a little bit light green,” and his selection process includes
those who do not use harmful products or production
processes, but “might be neutral” as well as those who
are truly sustainable. This is the concept around which he
has launched Apothia, a boutique of sustainable beauty
products exclusive to the Ron Robinson store. Apothia,
Ron explains, is a brand that is “more than organic.”
story,” Grason iterates, “I appreciate something more because it is
unique and holds value and relevance beyond its originally intended
purpose.” “The uncontested ruggedness of the Jute material, its life
of travel and handmade nature,” are the reasons Grason decided to
make these burlap sacks the main star of BARE.
easiest or most normal,” says Justin. He furthers, “BARE will be
known as a lifestyle as much as the products we produce.”
BareMade.com
for things that are different, individualistic and that ultimately tell a
contributions would be but it is far easier to measure what the
we make one and maybe inspire someone else to do the same.”
RonRobinson.com
Photo courtesy of Bare
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“ This year is the
Rainforest Fund’s
25th anniversary, and
its work to protect
rainforests around the
globe for the people
who live there and
for all of us is more
important than ever.”
Chris
SALGARDO
Chris Salgardo, the President of Kiehl’s
dream of running the global beauty brand
but has gone far beyond, partnering with
Recycle Across America to implement the
company’s in-store recycling policy, as well
Photo courtesy of Sting
donated $200,000 to the initiative as well as collected 1.5 million used
STING
sourcing, generosity within the communities it does business in and
understated packaging.” These are the reasons why he hoped to one
day head the company.
has been to protect and support the indigenous and traditional populations, in their
causes to focus on, Chris iterates: “In 2009, we decided to focus on
Since then they have expanded from being primarily a working
force against deforestation in Brazil where Sting had made a personal
commitment to the indigenous leader Roani of the Kayapo tribe
to help him gain rights to their traditional land, to the now various
organizations,” he explains.
Currently, Chris and AmFar are planning the 5th Annual Liferide to take
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia,
Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.
Kiehls.com
its work to protect rainforests around the globe for the people who
live there and for all of us is more important than ever.” Celebrating
concert at Carnegie Hall, the lighthearted event with the vague
executed in great beauty and fun. Even Bill Clinton decided to
surprise Trudie and Sting on stage during the opening rendition of
“A Swell Party” by Kevin Spacey, Sting and James Taylor. The fund
has raised $35 million dollars to date.
RainforestFund.org
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Photo: Mitch Hedlund
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Courtney & Carter REUM
“When we were in Brazil we tried a smoothie made with acai.
This really inspired us and got us to start thinking about what we
could do with acai, which was virtually unknown at the time.
We wanted to combine something good with something healthful.”
With that inspiration the seeds of Veev were planted.
The power packed gem of Veev is not only the acai that it
incorporates, but also in the entirety of the Veev business model.
“In all that we do, we want to enhance the social drinking experience
by providing quality products that we can feel good about,” explains
Courtney, “Skimming on quality for convenience has never been
an option for us.”
Quality and conscious sustainability are in the forefront of the Veev
mantra. Carbon reduction was at the top of their organizational
goals bringing them to opt for the only U.S. distillery to use wind
powered renewable energy. “Veev VitaFrute cocktails are an
American distilled product made in Michigan by distiller Temperance
Distilling, using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. We
both are very much into helping and preserving the environment,”
Carter iterates. He goes on, “We are active member of 1% for the
preservation and environmental causes. We also have donated to
As for the future, the Reum brothers are hopeful that the spirits
industry will begin to shift more and more towards alternative
distillery technologies. “The demand for more eco-friendly products
spurs innovation in the category of distilling. Solar power is a growing
technology that many distilleries are adopting. There has been a lot
of growth in alternative technologies outside of the U.S. so it is our
friendly ways of producing alcohol,” explains Courtney. For now, the
Veev business model remains a unique one within the U.S. market.
In fact, the Veev model is so unique that even Sir Richard
Photo courtesy of Links Jewelry
Neil KOPPEL
entrepreneurship in his book “Screw Business as Usual,” writing,
was woven into the initial business plan rather than an afterthought.”
VeevLife.com
Nikki came up with the idea to make handmade bracelets made
Photo courtesy of Veev
immediately for the survival of the people, but also what was
needed to rebuild and thrive, far beyond the ruins of the past.
In his quest to provide a better quality of life for refugees Neil
created HabiHut, a self-assembled pre-fabricated “pseudo-house”
that is constructed much like “Ikea furniture,” as Neil describes.
These structures are purposefully designed for easy delivery and
a locked door, solar power and sanitation — all of which had become
luxuries in the devastated Haitian world.
Weeks after arriving on the ground Neil met actor Sean Penn,
these homes was erected at his camp in Petionville. “I started to
see the value in it,” remembers Neil. He quickly went to work
to donate 10 acres of land and having 25 homes and necessary
generators shipped to start the building process. During this time he
realized that within seven months not only was the village thriving
and self-sustaining with the growth of crops, but the men were also
able to work in the nearby town of Jacmel. “I realized if you give
them the opportunity, they will do it,” he explained. During this time,
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and American workers, while helping provide other relief within
the country. “I thought it was fabulous,” recalls Neil.
and education opportunities to correct the 87% unemployment,
and an average pay of $3 per day, Neil decided to continue this
His belief and commitment to the Haitian cause extends beyond his
own ventures. He points out that Haiti is only “700 miles away from
the coast of Florida.” “If we build factories in Haiti it would offset
the cost of shipping from some other areas of the world,” he states,
thereby reducing the global carbon footprint.
people. “They need the chance to better their quality of life and if
you provide a safe environment to grow, the next generation can
do better than this one.”
LinksJewelry.com
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COCO ECO | MEN WE LOVE
Do you have
a favorite
Cyan image? *
Photo courtesy of Pisidia USA
Tommy, Matt &
Jonathan MILLER
Miller family came across PISIDIA and with the guidance of their matriarch
“At PISIDIA, we are passionate about perseverance. We know that,
like our bags, the spirit of our customers is virtually indestructible,”
non-toxic silicone. Silicone is a synthetic rubber that contains bonded
stone. Silicone is [too] remarkably durable, but at the end of its life it
can also be recycled.”
For its eco-friendliness and natural sustenance the Miller family has
become the driving force behind this unique brand. “We feel we
can be a game changer in the fashion industry. PISIDIA gives you the
chance to be both eco-friendly and stylish at the same time. The high
Hassle-free
printing
not every day that you can be a part of a company that truly believes
in giving back and cares about the environment,” explains Tommy.
This culture of giving is evident in the business practices of PISIDIA,
“We believe in supporting causes that help better the world.” The
boys have already teamed with Cancer for College, which provides
scholarships to individuals who have overcome cancer, as well as
other charities as well, as this truly gets back to the core of what
PISIDIA believes in. Business with a purpose.”
5,000 postcards $149
10,000 flyers $349
1,000 magazines $995
(16 pages, 60# paper)
*Visit your new favorite printer and upload your cyan inspiration: pinterest.com/shweikimedia/cyan
PisidiaUSA.com
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For free samples or a quote, call (210) 804 0390, or email [email protected]