2010 was an amazing year for all of us at Clean Planet . We’re delighted , honored and inspired by the growing Clean Planet community across the world. Thank you for your love and support .
Each of our totes would like to convey their unique wishes for the New Year Ahead.
Bag loads of love,
Team Clean Planet
The cafe’s frame measures 30 feet high and features an opening at the very top of the dome that allows daylight to stream inside. Like many other Vietnamese structures, it is covered in a local bush plant, which evokes an African-esque aesthetic. And contrary to what you might think about building with natural, local materials, the end result is not “homemade” looking at all and is actually rather streamlined and majestic.
This is a trail blazer in several ways-
- It’s possible to design large structures with natural , renewable , biodegradable materials
- It is possible to design something this huge without a nail
- The structure built can look awesome and inspiring
- The wisdom of a culture can find new and beautiful expression while creating a sustainable world
Each industry is plagued with self and world limiting beliefs . Creations such as these jolt , delight , inspire us to look afresh and create anew.
Powerful , inspiring action by Azim Premji. Ripples of this action will be felt by multitude of individuals , families , communities,India and the planet.
Thought inspiring article by Ravi Sawhney .
The opportunity for and responsibility of designers (and companies) to use design meaningfully to catalyze a cultural shift to a more sustainable world exists across industries – whether furniture , clothing , vehicles and bags !
At Clean Planet when we create bag styles – a key criterion for taking a style forward is whether the design has the potential to be enduring. Can this fit into a wearer’s attire and help him or her look stylish 2 , 3 or more years into the future ? The styles in our core ranges are evaluated rigorously for this aspect. In that sense , we see design as part of quality.
While designers have the responsibility and opportunity to lead us away from a throwaway culture – really speaking that opportunity and responsibility rests equally with every citizen of the planet. As citizens and customers we can choose to value enduring style and quality. And to reflect that in everyday choices. Don’t change the mobile phone every year , extend the life of your garments , furniture , gadgets by using them carefully ,maintaining them well , repair when necessary. When you finally decide to replace a product which is still usable – give it to someone instead of throwing it away or stashing it in the attic.
You can help design a more sustainable world.
John Hardy says that he was inspired to create the Green School after he watched ‘An Inconvenient Truth‘. It’s amazing what you can create and catalyze when you allow yourself to be inspired and follow it up with substantive action. Contrast that with watching something , getting all fired up for a while and then going back to life as usual.
It’s an interesting model that can be adapted in creative forms by educational institutes , communities and companies across the world – adapted for local environment , needs and culture.
GIFTS now have a new color – GREEN !
At Clean Planet we are committed to creative solutions for a joyous , sustainable world. A step in that direction is GIFT GREEN - fun , green gifting ideas. A space where you can get inspired and inspire others with your ideas for cool , green gifts.
The joy of creating something yourself is indescribable. In that sense a green gift is first and foremost a gift you give to yourself. To the recipient it’s an honor that you took the time and effort to create something. Besides the joy it brings – a green gift is planet friendly.
Welcome to Gift Green.
Japan is undoubtedly the land of awesome service. It’s not unusual for a taxi driver to stop the meter if he feels he’s taking a longer route than necessary.
On asking a Muji store associate for the nearest train station location – she pulled out a map book of Tokyo , photocopied the relevant page and then came out 2 floors to the street level to indicate the direction.
It’s cold and rainy in Tokyo. Stopped yesterday at a cafe en route to collect a sandwich takeout. The restaurant manager invited us to wait inside where it was deliciously warm and comfortable. Served hot tea while we were waiting, added an extra topping to the orders placed. Brought warmth , comfort and joy. Raised the bar for service.
What happens when friendly awesome service is delivered ? The person doing so feels good and empowered. The customer is delighted. Possibly becomes an evangelist/regular customer of that company / store. If the customer is a visiting foreigner it enhances their experience of the country. At a basic human level we seek and appreciate a sense of connectedness. Some things go beyond the realm of business.
Muji is one of the largest retailers in Japan. The cafe is a much smaller business.
Awesome service is possible at any scale of business.
We loved the awesome feedback campaign. It was wonderful to open up email and facebook to see the truly awesome feedback.
Let’s dissect what happens when awesome feedback is given – the recipient is touched , inspired , energized , feels acknowledged/loved. The person giving the feedback feels upbeat. The positive energy of the person giving the feedback and that of the person receiving it set ripples of joy into motion making for a more joyous universe.
So , here’s the awesome feedback campaign in a new form. Resolve to give awesome feedback to at least 2 people daily. Your parent, spouse ,child, grand parent , colleague , friend , neighbor , cab driver, fruit vendor , competitor , someone you come across online doing awesome work , boss, teacher – everyone is included. Do this for a while and you’ll start to wonder if you have moved to another universe. People suddenly look happier, confident.
Now, the guidelines of the awesome feedback campaign -
- Keep it genuine.
- Acknowledge/Celebrate what might otherwise be taken for granted ( e.g my sister is always helpful. Acknowledge/celebrate her for being so)
- Look at unexplored facets of the person.
- Share the feedback with enthusiasm , joy and humility
- Don’t expect the person to visibly melt or display gratitude. This is not a quid pro quo.
- Share your feedback creatively – speak , write , do something .
Now, let’s do the math…
365 x 2 (minimum) = 730 This is the Minimum number of times in a year you’ll give awesome feedback.
730 + 730 = 1460 smiles and sparks of joy – within you and the recipient. 1460 is a very conservative estimate. Our experience shows that the smiles tend to be way more frequent.
Will the people whose day you make with your feedback stay passively quiet even if you don’t tell them about the awesome feedback resolve ? Very , very unlikely . Joy is infectious.
Let’s assume for a moment that you gave awesome feedback to 730 different people and each one of them in turn consciously or otherwise spread the cheer . 730 x 730 = 532,900 sparks of joy.
(imagine what will happen when you extend awesome feedback to more than 2 persons daily )
A happy person is creative , kind , generous and content.
Many happy persons = more joyous , humane , creative , equitable, meaningful world.
It can all start with your awesome feedback.
Get started .
One morning an elderly man was walking on a nearly deserted beach. He came upon a boy surrounded by thousands and thousands of starfish. As eagerly as he could, the youngster was picking them up and throwing them back into the ocean.
Puzzled, the older man looked at the young boy and asked, “Little boy, what are you doing?”
The youth responded without looking up, “I’m trying to save these starfish, sir.”
The old man chuckled aloud, and queried, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”
Holding a starfish in his hand, the boy turned to the man and, gently tossing the starfish into the water, said, “It will make a difference to that one!”
It makes a difference that you carry a reusable bag daily and thereby reduce usage of plastic bags.
It makes a difference that you smile and and add to the joy quotient of the universe.
Your star fishes are waiting for you..
Copenhagen is now the first Scandinavian city to put a mandatory green roof policy into action. The new policy requires vegetation and soil to be a mandatory part in architectural planning; in particular, it covers all roofs with a slope less than 30 degrees, plus the refurbishment of older roofs. By putting this new green roof policy into action, it pushes the great Danish city one step closer to reaching their carbon neutral goal by 2025.
Now, as far as the green roofs go, there is a list of specific requirements to consider. Buildings with green roofs must be able to meet at least 2 of the following requirements:
Superb initiative by Copenhagen. The green consequences of this requirement are several..
- Architects will have to learn about green roofs to incorporate them in their plans. The knowledge base in green roofing will shoot up.
- Innovation in green roofing (in Copenhagen to begin with ) will increase
- It would inspire architects and city planners in other parts of the planet to look at green roofs and other innovative eco ideas.
