CarbonFree^® Partner The World Benefits offers customized socially responsible benefits packages for employers.  On October 29th, they're hosting a Corporate Social  Responsibility workshop at Agraria Restaurant  on the Georgetown Waterfront (3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC).  The program will discuss the HR manager's role in implementing CSR efforts like environmental sustainability, community engagement, and employee wellness.  They are also applying for strategic management credits with HRCI for part of the program.  At only $35 (with a locally sourced, organic lunch!), this workshop is a fantastic value for any HR or CSR professional. The World Benefits is offsetting this event, in addition to their corporate footprint, through Carbonfund.org.  I actually attended a similar workshop several months ago in the same location.  It was very engaging and had interaction work sessions with other attendees.  With multiple speakers who I found incredibly insightful, oftentimes hilarious, and serious about making positive change, I left the workshop motivated to help Carbonfund.org. We have implemented a change in Carbonfund.org's daily work-life that was inspired by The World Benefits workshop.  We now have a Lunch Club of individuals who cook one day of the week for the rest of the group.  We all eat together, share amazing food, and only have to worry about lunch one day per week!  It's a tiny slice of employee engagement that we can thank The World Benefits for inspiring. If you want to stay ahead of the environmental curve, improve employee retention and morale, and benefit the world, email Jenny Harding at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to sign up, or register on their website www.theworldbenefits.com.

CarbonFree® Partner Dreamtime Images is a wedding photojournalist organization.  Run by magazine and newspaper photojournalist Nathan Welton, their style ranges from energetic and adventurous to chic and youthful.  Nathan first learned to capture life's most fleeting moments by shooting world-class rock climbers, Tour de France cyclists, and Olympic-caliber equestrian riders.  His work has appeared in Backpacker, Natural History, Scuba Diving, Practical Horseman, and many others. Besides doing the everyday things like using rechargeable batteries, electronic proofing, and recycling, Nathan decided to take the extra step and offset Dreamtime Images in order to take that important step forward.  He encourages every couple to offset their wedding with Carbonfund.org to help our transition to a clean energy future. Dreamtime Images proudly belongs to the Wedding Photojournalist Association, which hand-selects the finest documentary wedding photographers in the world (the organization only admits 5% of its applicants). The organization has awarded the studio's photos numerous awards.  After spending some time on their website, I'm truly amazed at the depth of the photos.  Planning a wedding?  Check them out.

CarbonFree® Partner Tradepal has been nominated for the "Best New Startup of 2009" at the Crunchies Awards in San Francisco.  Tradepal is an online social marketplace that enables users to trade items with their friends.  They built a trading model inspired by the efficiency and clarity of financial markets, yet easy for anyone to use.  Tradepal Members trade with friends, make new friends, save money and the environment. They need the support of everyone possible so that their idea of a green, online, social marketplace that has REUSE as a mantra can survive and thrive among other marketplaces. The deadline to vote is TOMORROW, 12/4 so please vote today!  Click here to vote: http://is.gd/558Qy. The 2009 Crunchies is the third annual competition and award ceremony to recognize and celebrate the most compelling startups, Internet and technology innovations of the year. Media co-hosts include TechCrunch and VentureBeat. The ceremony takes place in January in San Francisco.

Our partner Clean Air Lawn Care is up to exciting things!  In addition to offsetting their business footprint, their lawn maintenance service helps reduce CO2 emissions by providing alternatives to gas powered equipment and chemical fertilizers.  According to their CEO and founder Kelly Giard, approximately 5-10% of US emissions are from lawn maintenance equipment.  Clean Air Lawn Care uses electric mowers and truck-mounted solar panels to charge its equipment. They are currently in the running for Entrepreneur Magazine's Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award for 2009!  As a finalist, they are competing against several other businesses in the "Emerging" category.  Help make Clean Air Lawn Care the next big thing!  To vote, click here and view their video and company bio.  To see if the service is available in your area, check out their website.

From March 16th - 28th, the 18th annual Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital will present 155 poetic and thought-provoking films that delve into diverse topics such as farming, natural gas, even bee colonies. Over 60 of these films are Washington, D.C., United States, and World premieres that celebrate the environment and highlight the increasing challenges to life on Earth. A special focus of this year's film festival will be on our food: how it is produced and distributed and the myriad effects our food has on the environment. A few of the most anticipated films include Gasland, chronicling the natural gas industry, and Sweetgrass, about a group of Montana shepherds. Films like these add to one of the strongest lineups in Environmental Film Festival history. With a full schedule of films playing at locations throughout Washington, DC, be sure to get your tickets soon! A list of films and locations can be seen here with full show times.

5 days til Valentine's Day! Zarah Co. is a refreshingly creative jewelry and home decor company that cherishes art. They specialize in providing retailers high quality jewelry with an artistic background. They have four lines of jewelry that are dramatically different but all result from talent and unique styles from a select group of artists. Zarah Co. hasn't lost sight of its purpose - to delight you with adornments that are just plain fun to have! They pride themselves on quality design, production technique, and presentation. As a small business located in the rural town of Topanga, California, Zarah Co. provides jobs to their community and finds talented artists all across America to develop their beautiful designs. Their office is environmentally conscious and they use fluorescent lights and have an active recycling program. Zarah uses as little paper as possible and the paper they do use is either recycled or comes from sustainable sourcing. All of their jewelry cards are printed on recycled paper and their jewelry is made using recycled silver. They also offset all of their business emissions through Carbonfund.org's CarbonFree® Partner program! This Valentine's Day, show your special someone you care by choosing Zarah Co. Visit the retailers listed on the Zarah Co. website to find Zarah jewelry online.

6 days til Valentine's Day! This Valentine's Day, show your special someone you care with a beautiful floral arrangement from Organic Bouquet.  They are a mission-based company that cares about environmental, social, and economic sustainability.  With every purchase, their customers are improving the life of a grower or artisan.  They are also involved in several community projects around the globe and holds partnerships with numerous charitable organizations. With beautiful floral arrangements to celebrate Valentine's Day, Organic Bouquet is sure to have something for you.  They even carry wine to add that special touch to your delivery!  Check them out to make sure it's legal to ship wine to your state, and with their partnership with Carbonfund.org, your shipment is carbon neutral through their support of third-party validated reforestation projects.

4 days til Valentine's Day! This Valentine's Day, treat your skin right with Lather. Since their inception over ten years ago, they have strived to inspire a healthier, more radiant life. Lather takes a holistic approach to skin care and uses natural ingredients and essential oils. Also, Lather draws upon the benefits of aromatherapy. Their products not only care for the skin as well as the mind, but help educate the consumer. As their brand continues to grow, they take this vision to a higher level by seeking out opportunities to give back to the community, educate their customers, sustain the environment, and support endeavors that help others lead a more radiant life. That is just what they have done with Carbonfund.org, developing a unique promotion that helped reduce hundreds of metric tons of carbon dioxide! If you want to support a company that sources effective natural botanicals and never uses synthetic fragrances or colors, choose Lather. To learn more, please visit www.lather.com.

7 days til Valentine's Day! Earth Essentials has been making natural body care products for over 25 years. Their products are great for anyone looking for quality products, and particularly for those with skin sensitivities, allergies, or environmental irritants. Many of their products are fragrance free, none of them are tested on animals, and the majority of their products are vegan! A Carbonfund.org partner, Earth Essentials is committed to providing environmentally-friendly skin and hair care products that don't sacrifice on quality or their eco-friendly philosophy. If you are looking for all-natural hair or skin products for your loved one this Valentine's day, treat yourself using the power of Mother Nature with Earth Essentials! Fore more information on all of their anti-aging, face, hair, and for-men products, please visit Earth Essentials.

CarbonFree^® Partner Streamline Logistics is offsetting its corporate carbon footprint; now they're going a step further. They have launched a new program offering their customers the option of donating a small amount to offset the emissions associated with their shipment. For a few pennies on the dollar, shipments traveling halfway across the world can have all of their CO2 offset through Carbonfund.org's third-party verified carbon offset projects. For their corporate footprint, Streamline Logistics chose to support our reforestation projects, which are the only carbon offset projects to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Streamline Logistics is an international trading company specializing in import/export support, warehousing, international trading consulting, and wholesale goods. Their main goal is to support their customers so that they worry about their business, not their shipping needs. To support this CarbonFree^® Partner or learn more about their environmental initiatives, please visit Streamline Logistics.