Companies that Give Back

[verbier61]

Go here, Product FAQs, scroll down to the COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN section, and read about their involvement in the Fair Labor Association.

OK you convinced me. patagonia

[Nobody Famous]

If you have additional questions about Patagonia’s workplace standards or our program to improve conditions throughout our footprint, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We can be reached at ...@patagonia.com or by phone at ...

They are rather passionate about this stuff ... ('this stuff' = activism for certain causes). If you call them or send them a question by email, they will reply back with a nice response.

[Station]

My first pick, so far, would be to select companies which do not produce in factories (or, at large, in countries) where labors might be treated like slaves. FI, I know it's virtually impossible to buy china-free, but I'd like to do so.

Agreed. Every purchase has an impact. The china-made thing is a whole different story, but it is so crucial to support brands who make a conscious effort to hand-make products in the country or even geographical region they are located and in the most environmentally aware/socially responsible manner possible.

As consumers, it's such an obvious but important step to educate ourselves on where & how the goods we consume are mfg'd.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

^bump^

Great article on Yvon Chounard (sp?), founder of Patagonia, and their business ethics & philoshopies in the latest issue of Outside. Good read.

[cj001f]

^bump^

Great article on Yvon Chounard (sp?), founder of Patagonia, and their business ethics & philoshopies in the latest issue of Outside. Good read.

His new book Let My People Go Surfing is an interesting read (if you don't want to wait check eBay or bookfinder for a proof edition)

[Bzzzt]

Outside Magazine had a long article on this in February. Here it is:
http://outside.away.com/outside/dest...cations_1.html

[EPSkis]

$35 million over 10 years is $3.5million a year. For a company with revenue of $288 billion thats a whopping .0012% a year. No that doesn't count.

Oh, but wait - there's more:

"Wal-Mart has committed $15 million to jump-start the fundraising effort of former Presidents Bush and Clinton to aid Hurricane Katrina victims, in addition to the $2 million in cash to aid emergency relief donated earlier. The retailer is also collecting contributions at its stores and through its web site. Wal-Mart will also establish mini-Wal-Mart stores in areas impacted by the hurricane. Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, toothbrushes, bedding and water will be given out free of charge to those with a demonstrated need. "

That's $52M - and there's much more. You can slam them all you like, as I'm sure YOU'RE donating a comparable slice of YOUR income to various humanitarian & conservation organizations, right? RIGHT?

[Tippster]

My company gives tons of money to the United Way, habitats for humananity, and has an employee gift matching program. The matching program is dollar for dollar for employee gifts to non-profits of their choice.

Mine (Reuters) does the same... also has it's own Charitable Trust.

[cj001f]

YOU'RE donating a comparable slice of YOUR income to various humanitarian & conservation organizations, right? RIGHT?

On a percentage basis I give more to bums on street corners.

[snow_slider]

My company gives back. For every job they terminate here in the US, they add 4 jobs in India.

[The Reverend Floater]

Curious as to where TGR's premier profits went this year. Do tell! And they do, indeed, support the avy centers--even ours!

[EPSkis]

On a percentage basis I give more to bums on street corners.

I'd also like to point out that the $288 B you conveniently referred to is sales dollars, not profit. ($10.3 B, for the record.) Kinda changes the numbers a bit. Boy, your neighborhood is gonna have some happy bums!

I can Google the same info you do, but let's not skew the numbers, shall we?

[cj001f]

I'd also like to point out that the $288 B you conveniently referred to is sales dollars, not profit. ($10.3 B, for the record.) Kinda changes the numbers a bit. Boy, your neighborhood is gonna have some happy bums!

I can Google the same info you do, but let's not skew the numbers, shall we?

As a percentage of my income, I give more to bums than Walmart gives to charity. About $1 a week for me. Walmart total sales $288billion, "charity" $170 million, or .059% of sales.

[Tippster]

No.. total "Income" is $10B - so they give 1.7%

Assuming you only make $100 a week you owe that bum 70 cents.

[EPSkis]

As a percentage of my income, I give more to bums than Walmart gives to charity. About $1 a week for me. Walmart total sales $288billion, "charity" $170 million, or .059% of sales.

Well, that changed slightly from:

.0012% a year. No that doesn't count.

Again - Happy bums!

[cj001f]

No.. total "Income" is $10B - so they give 1.7%

I count gross paycheck before expenses, same as I did for Walmart.


EPSkis - if you want to attack me, do it publicly, don't shit on the charity thread

[EPSkis]

I count gross paycheck before expenses, same as I did for Walmart.


EPSkis - if you want to attack me, do it publicly, don't shit on the charity thread

"Attack"? No - correcting. This is as public a discourse between you and I as there ever needs be. Likewise - don't shit on Companies that are actually DOING something.

Deal?

[cj001f]

don't shit on Companies that are actually DOING something.

Patagonia pledges 1% of SALES. "Donations through Walmart" are $170 million, or 0.058% of SALES. I don't think they compare favorably.

Don't throw red herrings about my income, and I won't make jokes about you sitting in your underwear fondling pistols while looking at naked pictures of Alberto Gonzalez.

[EPSkis]

Patagonia pledges 1% of SALES. "Donations through Walmart" are $170 million, or 0.058% of SALES. I don't think they compare favorably.

Don't throw red herrings about my income, and I won't make jokes about you sitting in your underwear fondling pistols while looking at naked pictures of Alberto Gonzalez.

You got some personal vendetta against Wal-Mart, that's fine. Don't discount what they've done for charity.

No, I made no disparaging remarks about your income or anything that could possibly be construed as such. For the record, I prefer to fondle my pistols whilst naked. I have no idea who Alberto Gonzalez is, but Alberto Tomba? Now HE'S just dreamy !

edit: Don't be bitter that I pointed out your inconsistencies. No need to make (or take) it all personal n' shit.

[frozenwater]

Curious as to where TGR's premier profits went this year. Do tell! And they do, indeed, support the avy centers--even ours!

This year's charities are the Teton/Bridger Avalanche center & a really cool concept I think - we are setting up a scholarship to go to one deserving jackson hole area high school student who has the same ideals & goals as TGR. Strong emphasis on film school desire, outdoors activities etc. They need to write an essay descrbing why they should get it.

Again - 100% of all proceeds from the world premiere go to these charities.

[The Reverend Floater]

This year's charities are the Teton/Bridger Avalanche center & a really cool concept I think - we are setting up a scholarship to go to one deserving jackson hole area high school student who has the same ideals & goals as TGR. Strong emphasis on film school desire, outdoors activities etc. They need to write an essay descrbing why they should get it.

Again - 100% of all proceeds from the world premiere go to these charities.

Titties.

[powderhoundpatch]

Philanthropy

Philanthropy :: Ownership :: Sustainability

Since 1993, New Belgium has donated $1 for every barrel sold the prior year to charities within our territories. The donations are divided between states in proportion to their percentage of our overall sales. So 20,000 barrels sold in Washington would mean $20,000 raised for Washington non-profits. New Belgium has chosen four main funding categories: Environmental, Human Services, Alcohol Drug and Substance Abuse, and Arts Cultural and Humanities. The states to receive funding in 2005 are Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

Funding decisions are made by our Philanthropy committee, which is made up of employees throughout the brewery including owners, employee owners, area leaders, and production workers. New Belgium looks for non-profit organizations that demonstrate creativity, diversity and an innovative approach to their mission and objectives.

The Philanthropy committee also looks for groups that strive to involve the community to reach their goals. Past recipients include Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and The Larimer County Search & Rescue team as seen in these photos.

Funding for Colorado has been allocated for 2005. Proposals for Colorado non-profits will be accepted on January 1st of 2006. To apply for a grant in any of our other geographic funding areas please download the grant guidelines and application

[powderhoundpatch]

Founded by an electrical engineer and a social worker, it only makes sense that New Belgium has always looked for ways to be energy efficient and socially responsible. Through embracing new technologies, seeking out alternative forms of energy and reducing our waste stream, we strive to make smart business decisions and do well by the environment each and every day. We are currently focused on the following areas of environmental balance.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction • In 1998, New Belgium took an employee vote and decided to commit to being the nation’s first 100% wind-powered brewery. The decision came after our engineers, looking to minimize CO2 emissions, discovered that city’s power plant, which supplied the brewery with electricity, created the bulk of our emissions. Employee owners voted to dip into their bonus pool to help finance the conversion.


Healthy Watersheds • Water is a key ingredient of beer. Water is also a key ingredient of life, ergo beer is a key ingredient of life (well – that’s a stretch, but it’s a mighty fine thing). Water conservation may well be the critical environmental concern in the western U.S. As brewers, we need to take that seriously. Through recapture and reuse, New Belgium has nearly halved the industry average of using eight barrels of water to produce one barrel of beer.


Green Building • New Belgium has been a long-time participant in green building techniques. With each expansion of our facility we have incorporated new technologies and learned a few lessons along the way. In 2002 we agreed to participate in the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) pilot program. From sun tubes and daylighting throughout the facility to reusing heat in the brewhouse, we continue to search out new ways to close loops and conserve resources.


Reduce, Reuse, Recycle • The three ‘R’s of being an environmental steward. Our reuse program includes heat for the brewing process, cleaning chemicals, water and much more. Recyling at New Belgium takes on many forms, from turning “waste” products into something new and useful (like spent grain to cattle feed), to supporting the recycling market in creative ways (like turning our keg caps into table surfaces). We also buy recycled whenever we can, from paper to office furniture. Reduction surrounds us – from motion sensors on the lights throughout the building to induction fans that pull in cool winter air to chill our beer – offsetting our energy needs is the cornerstone to being environmentally efficient.


Living Sustainably • Having our own Sustainability Coordinator – or Sustainability Goddess as we like to refer to Hillary – has given us access to all sorts of great information. If you want to learn more about any of the programs to which New Belgium subscribes or maybe you’d like to have wind power at your home, check out these

[powderhoundpatch]

A Culture of Owners

Philanthropy :: Ownership :: Sustainability

Early on, Jeff and Kim knew that it would take more than the two of them to accomplish their vision. When Brian Callahan, an aspiring brewer, came knocking at the door, they had their first employee owner. It seemed natural to bring in people and give them a vested interest in the company.

“It’s important that we share in all the benefit,” says Kim “and, frankly, in the risk too.”

These days, ownership is awarded at one year’s employment (along with a one-year, commemorative, neat-o cruiser bike!).

Ownership mentality often inspires people like warehouse technician, Douglas Miller, to search out new ways to recycle and reuse. Doug spends a percentage of his time rebuilding wooden pallets to help balance the bottom line.

“Once Kim and Jeff decided to let us know where everything was going,” Doug explains, “it made it really important for us to keep track of every keg.”

Furthermore, New Belgium’s practice of open-book management, a policy of fiscal transparency throughout the company, has translated into Doug’s personal life.

Kim believes that giving employees ownership and opening the books encourages a community of trust and mutual responsibility.

“We have tried to make our relationship with our co-workers – in terms of the business of running the business – very transparent,” Kim explains, “and I think that’s a foundational piece of who we are.”

A WINNING SPEECH FROM EMPLOYEE OWNER TANYA VICTOR
"If I could improve one thing at New Belgium it would be the slide. I think we should take it to another level and create a water slide that starts from the packaging hall and goes all throughout the brewery ending inside of one of the malt silos. It would be called the Beers-Eye-View or Beers-Eye-De-Ja-View If someone wanted to go through the tour twice. Beer samples would of course be served in sippy cups to avoid excessive spillage. We will offer an array of New Belgium swim suit sizes. Visitors could do the tour from the comfort of our heated clear plastic water tube that actually followed the production path of a keg of beer (in reverse order). You start out in the packaging hall, go through the keg line, through the keg washer, into the bright beer tanks, through the fermentation tanks and into the brew kettle, wort chiller, wet mill, then back to the malt silo-ending in a huge 70-foot drop at terminal velocity into one of the malt storage silos…where the folks had to swim around in the grain until they reached the exit. The first person to find the exit would win the chance to be Brewmaster for a day and have a post coaster dedicated to them. I see this like a Willie Wonka meets Whats Your Trip?".