"The State of Green Business" in 2008

Eco-business guru Joel Makower and GreenBiz.com have released a new report: "The State of Green Business 2008." This report aims to describe the bustling intersection of business and sustainability, to cut through the hype and analyze the thousands of announcements, technological developments, and breakthroughs that occurred in the past twelve months.

Their conclusion?

The state of green business is improving, slowly but surely, as companies both large and small learn the value of integrating environmental thinking into their operations in ways that align with core business strategy and bottom-line goals. Green business has shifted from a movement to a market. But there is much, much more to do.

We agree with this conclusion, and are proud to be part of the solution. Voluntary carbon offsets are mentioned briefly as a developing market, and if there's one bone I'd pick with the report, it's that not enough credit is given to independent third-party certifications. When Conservation International, the Nature Conservancy, and other widely recognized and respected environmental organizations come together behind a strict, comprehensive standard, it's time to give credit where credit is due.

Have a great weekend!