GG Green Business Design Studio

<return Fall 2008 - Design Studio sessions

Outcome

Develop a plan for launching and supporting green businesses. This includes:

• one green business plan (template)
• defining the business resource center + GG Business Network
• develop a strategy for sharing common resources
• develop the Sustainability Challenge program plan
• funding model
• resourcing strategy

Sustainability Goals

• Environmental Integrity
• Community Wellbeing
• Economic Energy and Justice

Scope

Includes

• Common resources for businesses

Excludes

• tbd

Key Questions

• Which businesses should be given first priority?
• What is the legal structure of the GG and the building?
• How will costs and revenues be shared?
• What are the core competencies of the GG

Resources

• SPARK in Ann Arbor
• Bizdom U at WSU
• Steve - Attorney
• Ned - Michigan Economic Development Corporation
• Michigan Business School
• A. Glassberg

Approach

• Develop Business Launch Strategy
• Develop plan for one green business
• Develop plan for Sustainability Challenge

Assumptions

• tbd

• Potential Green Business Ideas potential businesses that could be started/centered in the Green Garage

Green Business Supply Research

Printer ink cartridges

Resources:

• http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WPIE/Electronics/InkAndToner.htm (California waste management) also contains Material Safety Data Sheets for HP, Canon & Epson. Lists potentially hazardous materials in their ink

• http://www.articlesbase.com/publishing-articles/recyle-or-reuse-ink-cartridges-be-kind-to-the-environment-23967.html

• http://www.wikihow.com/Properly-Dispose-of-Ink-Cartridges

• http://www.green-ink-and-toner.com/

• http://www.office.xerox.com/solid-ink/enus.html, http://www.office.xerox.com/latest/SLDFS-01.pdf (Xerox solid ink)

• http://www.ihmsisters.org/www/Sustainable_Community/greencampus.asp (IHM's green campus)

Reduce system:

• Xerox has several printers that use ink sticks instead of dry toner (laser) or liquid (inkjet). These machines start at $700 and up. Claims to produce 90% less waste than a typical color laser printer.

Reuse system:

• buy re-manufactured cartridges - need to find reliable supplier, cost savings
• refill cartridges yourself with refill kit - cost savings

Recycle system:

• ship empty cartridge back to manufacturer or return to a retail store that will recycle them - saves landfill space
• IHM's are participating in a recycling program that pays for recycling inkjet cartridges generated over $3,700 worth of revenue since its inception in July of 2003.