Sustainable Brands Conference in Monterey CA this week was an amazing source of inspiration. As I’m working on one blog post, I feel like there could be ten. The topics ranged from high level strategic discussions to deeper dives on specific issues. With a room filled with so many experts, innovators and open-minded seekers, it was easy to compile a list of favorite comments I’ve heard this week. Attributing these quotes will be a trick, so if I’ve misattributed or haven’t attributed them at all, feel free to alert me with a tweet @brookebf (follow at www.twitter.com/brookebf) and I’ll fix it.
- We are smarter then me. Open innovation is the future.
- Being green is no longer a differentiator. “Green” is superficial. It’s a color.” The real strategic opportunities come from being authentic and innovating.
- This woman (Sheryl Crow) is not your friend. Sustainability movement has to break away from hippies and idiotic radical notions that isolate us from mainstream.
- “If God can measure what he does, so can you.” Jason Saul
- It is not about being less bad.
- “I work at the Department of It Can’t Be Done, and we get it done.”
- Speak joy not fear. IDEO
- “Brands, like people, will join movements to fulfill their dreams”
- China spends $9 billon on renewable / clean tech every month. US spends $8 Billion per year.
- Demand that corps move from activity to impact, not just working on issues but solving them – Jason Saul
- Are you willing to commit as a silo breaker & creator of serendipity? – one of panelists at the GreenXChange breakout
- Your company doesn’t tell it’s green story b/c you are only 80% there. But the public thinks you are only 20% there. Authenticity means accepting that you are striving, not arriving.
- Greening is something you do with your employees not to them. Gil Friend
- Use the engine of the business to drive social innovation, not the fumes. ~Jason Saul
- The fossilized economy will give way to a new economy without externalities – H Henderson
- 56% of CEOs think CSR role creates biz value. 51% of CSR respondents didn’t know if they added biz value.
- No one is going to pat you on the back for simply following regulations. I mean, who gives out awards for not using child labor?
- The ‘Stop growth’ message isn’t going to fly. We need to focus on what is growing & what is dying. An ‘intentioned economy’. – H Henderson
- Barter economies are being rediscovered electronically. H Henderson
- Perception = reality. Most consumers still believe ‘green’ products cost more. – Cone research presentation