Farmers have long practiced sustainability to survive. Whether crop, tree, or various other products, farmers must be good stewards of their lands or the lands will cease to produce effectively. I learned this as a young boy growing up on our family farm.

One day, I was griping to my father about having to plant trees and he commented, “That, son is the future.”

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I absolutely love hearing live music. I enjoy large arenas to hear Grammy-winning artists, multi-day festivals, small venues to see new bands, Monday open mike nights to support my friends, participating in choirs on Sundays, and even singing in the shower!

Since I’m far from a mega superstar, I’m in awe of a musician’s capability to put on an incredible performance. As fans sitting in the stands (for me, the cheap seats), we see the band, instruments, lights, and smoke machines on stage, but have no idea about what’s going on behind the scenes.

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As the Senior Director of Market Development at Suniva, I have the good fortune of working with many of our customers on new ways to incorporate solar photovoltaics (PV) into their business. Clean, green energy from the sun is a natural fit with many organizations’ overall sustainability strategies. I’ve seen a real uptake in the United States now that solar has become so much more affordable. That’s personally gratifying since I have a passion for implementing cleantech to sustainability.

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Although Californians take great pride in the green initiatives the state likes to roll out for the sake of Mother Earth, there is still a learning curve with many of the new ordinances. You’ll still hear a few disgruntled shoppers loading their bagless groceries into their cars because they forgot that stores now charge 10 cents for single-use plastic bags. And there are quite a few of us who still break out into a sweat trying to determine if our trash should be deposited into the compostable, recyclable or landfill receptacle.

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Every year, sustainability professionals come together to discuss trends and expectations for the future. The meetings, like Net Impact and BSR, buzz with heady discussions about the world’s social and environmental issues: poverty, human trafficking, child labor, transparency, and climate change.

When we get home, business-based attendees have to sort through the aspirational talk to determine which social and environmental issues should guide corporate sustainability programs. Relevancy isn’t always direct or obvious but it’s critical for companies who want to remain leaders in sustainability.

Based on my review, here are the business-relevant trends worth watching in 2013:

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The brand tag on every Tom Bihn bag reads “Portable Culture,” and that’s the founder’s philosophy.  The care labels strongly reinforce this with the Latin phrase “Siquid mantica non capit, domi relinquendum est.”  Roughly translated, “if it doesn’t fit in your bag, leave it behind.”  But chances are, their extensive product line of backpacks, camera bags, laptop bags and messenger bags will allow you (or your canine pal – dog bags are also available) to tote nearly anything.

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Every year just in time for the holiday season, Climate Counts prepares a shopping guide to help environmentally-conscious consumers support companies who “get it” in terms of climate change. To make it really convenient, the guide is now available on a free iPhone app as well as online.

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When I wanted to see what makes UPS’s new hydraulic hybrid vehicle (HHV) special, I just had to look down. At its ignition ceremony on October 11 in Laurel, MD marking the delivery of the HHVs, there were mirrors on the ground to reflect the image of the new package delivery truck’s energy-saving system. People could inspect this alternative fuel vehicle’s (AFV) workings up close without donning a pair of coveralls and sliding underneath. Personally, I was glad for that convenience.

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I want my son to grow up in a world that has everything I had and more. Gabriel is three years old right now, so he cannot choose what world he grows up to. You and I make that choice for him. That is why I try to promote actions to help the environment both at work, at home and in the community.

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When I was in Europe, I was initially taken back by how COMPACT the compact cars were. They seemed to fit in any parking space and could zip in and out traffic. Those small cars would definitely work in South Philly, but they didn’t seem to hold much. What’s a girl to do with a big shopping list in the Italian Market? Could there be something small with cargo space? And if I’m wishing, could it also be stylish and eco-friendly?

Well, hello Germany!

Downtown Dortmund has new wheels in its neighborhood. UPS Germany is conducting a pilot test of its electrically assisted cycle, known as the Cargo Cruiser. The trial will help determine if this alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) is an ecologically and economically viable choice for deliveries to urban areas.

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