A green business was started in Vancouver, Canada, a few years ago and because of demand and entrepreneurial spirit, Doug Burgoyne, brought in some investors and now that little green business start-up has some very big plans in the very near future. Frogbox supplies people with reusable, plastic totes for moving, replacing cardboard boxes.

From their website:

“FROGBOX offers a low environmental impact alternative to traditional cardboard moving boxes. Our eco-friendly, reusable plastic FROGBOX moving boxes, totes and wardrobes, and other moving supplies will make your move easier on you and the environment!”

Some of the best ideas are the most simple ones. The great ideas are those that make you say to yourself, “Why didn’t I think of that?” and Doug Burgoyne has come up with a winning idea and is going to expand and open franchises in Canada and the U.S. I have no doubt that this expansion will be successful. Whenever I move, I am always scurrying around, looking  for cardboard boxes. With our society’s increasing concern for the environment it is common sense to rent a few Frogboxes to make the move an earth-friendly one.

]]> http://www.futureofbusiness.info/frogbox-a-small-green-business/feed/ 0 http://www.futureofbusiness.info/eco-florists/ http://www.futureofbusiness.info/eco-florists/#comments Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:59:39 +0000 robertludvig http://www.futureofbusiness.info/?p=1556 I’ve been writing about green businesses for over three years. I’ve written about large companies that have started the transition to going green and I’ve written about small green business startups. One thing that never crossed my radar are eco florists. Aren’t all flower shops already green? The answer is no.

I’ve been writing about green businesses for over three years. I’ve written about large companies that have started the transition to going green and I’ve written about small green business startups. One thing that never crossed my mind were eco florists. Aren’t all flower shops already green? The answer is no.  There are two flower shops in Toronto that offer organic flowers. One has a retail outlet while the other has an online presence.

Eco flora was started by floral designer Scott Graham in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They specialize in being an online eco florist.

From their website:

“Eco Flora is a Toronto based online florist offering exclusively ecologically grown flowers with a contemporary design style. We offer our services year round to our clients in the Toronto area. We use wild-crafted, certified organic, organic and fair trade flowers without the additional floral chemicals.”

The following video is a detailed look at Eco Stems, another eco florist located in downtown Toronto.

Personally, I had no idea that cut flowers could be filled with many different  pesticides – it’s just something that the average person doesn’t think about when buying flowers. We are all aware of the pesticides used in fruits and vegetables, and because of this many of us buy organic produce. Eco Flora and Eco Stems are both great concepts for a 21st century flower shop. Our hats go off to both of these green businesses for not only making the world a better place, but for making it look a little more beautiful too.

I recently ate at his restaurant, which was started with a take-out only concept but has developed into a cozy, unpretentious sit-down/take-out eatery. When I had my lunch I saw a wide spectrum of people, from business suits to Rastafarian’s having lunch at Gorilla Food. The concept works not only because it is unique, but because Gorilla Food’s owner has an awareness of, and an appreciation for, the environment that far too many people lack. In a green business perspective, he recognized that there was a market for raw, organically grown restaurant food. His market niche was small and although still is, it has grown and so has Gorilla Food, as witnessed by the steady stream of patrons.

I am not a vegetarian, but I was mightily impressed with Gorilla Food and will go back again, not only because of the food, but also  to support a small green business that is doing it right.

Lawn care was always synonymous with pesticide use, but as times changed so did the use of chemicals on our lawns and gardens. The use of organic and environmentally friendly lawn care products has skyrocketed over the past decade to the point where a person walking past a lawn sprayed with pesticides might be a little taken aback. What else could be done in the lawn care industry to go further in protecting the environment? An answer is The Silent Gardener – a small green business that takes lawn maintenance to the next eco-level.

Using mulches and organic fertilizers, these professional and certified gardeners take care of lawns with a clean conscience. As the name implies, instead of using gas powered equipment, people-power is the name of the game at The Silent Gardener. Rakes instead of leaf-blowers and hand push lawn mowers instead of noisy gas-powered lawn mowers help ease noise pollution in a community. Their slogan, “working towards a quieter, more livable city” beautifully encapsulates what they set out to do.

This might be the perfect idea that you are searching for in starting a green business, for adults or students alike, or for those who contract out lawn care for their business, it might be a way of beginning to make your current business a little more eco-friendly. We salute The Silent Gardener for creating a green business that leaves a lasting environmentally friendly impression in their community.

Small businesses in North Carolina – listen up! The North Carolina Green Business Fund is open for business and wants to give away individual grants of up to $500,000, totaling more than $8,000,000, funded by the Recovery Act. The money will be awarded to entrepreneurial, job creating endeavors in the state of North Carolina. This fund is directed at small and medium-sized businesses with 100 or fewer employees. The proposals must keep or create jobs in areas of the state that are having a difficult time economically. The proposal must fulfil at least one of the following criteria: Save energy, install or generate renewable energy, reduce green house gases, produce alternative fuels, promote building energy efficiency.

These are just a few of the areas that are keys to being successful in your proposal. More information can be found at the NC Green Business Fund website. The pre-proposal deadline is January 19th, 2010, so get cracking and get some of the grant money that you deserve to further develop your business. This is a wonderful opportunity for small green businesses to grow in the green economy. Even if you don’t think you have a chance to get a grant, read all of the site’s documents, you never know.

Two University students gave up lucrative careers in finance to start a business based on sustainability. They grow gourmet mushrooms from used coffee grounds – how amazing is that?  The company’s name is BTTR Ventures and they operate out of Fresno, California. The company’s name is pronounced ‘better’ and it stands for ‘back to the roots’. Its founders, Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora, parlayed their love of business and the environment into a thriving green business that already has grocery giant Whole Foods as a client.