Claire Attkisson

The New Durango Sustainable Business Guide is Here to Help You Spend Consciously. Shopping your values on vacation has never been easier.

May 18, 2021 By Claire Attkisson Leave a Comment

Local Eco-Friendly and Green Business Boom

Durango, Colorado is not like other mountain towns; we’re uniquely geographically located where the dessert meets the Rocky Mountains. Half an hour in any direction and you have access to river rafting, mountain biking on world class trails and ebiking along our Animas River or hiking at 10,000+ feet. Our location also brings forth an eclectic mix of ranching, Native American Tribes, and outdoor enthusiasts who call Durango home.

The uniting force here in our small rural mountain town is our mutual love of the land. Locals and transplants alike make care for our natural world a key part of their life. And that extends to the business world too. Durango has over 26 sustainable businesses that work every day to show the world that a healthy livelihood can be made by business decisions that give back to the community and our environment.

We’re thrilled to share with you 10 of our 26+ sustainable businesses here so you can shop your values while on vacation in Durango. But first, let’s define what makes these businesses so unique and worthy of your support.

What is a Sustainable Business?

Simply put, a sustainable business is: An organization of people who view the purpose of their business as a driver and creator of prosperity for people, the planet, and the economy.

This definition reflects the “triple bottom” line backbone of sustainable business. A business cannot do good if it is no longer in business. And notice, this definition is not prescriptive either; there is no sustainable business manual. However, there are sustainable business design frameworks and methods such as Biomimicry, The Circular Economy, Zero Waste, Zero Carbon, and Regenerative Agriculture that help us expand our thinking and give us a structure to make triple bottom line business decisions.

Please share the Durango Sustainable Business Guide with friends and family so they too can eat and shop their values as they explore our beautiful town. And if you fall in love with Durango like so many of us have after one visit, the Guide is a greta place to find sustainable architects, builders, interior designers, low VOC paint, upcycled furniture to help you make your move to Durango a conscious one.

AIRBNB

1. Durango Like A Local on Airbnb and VRBO

Durango Like A Local is an emerging glamping hub and tourist resource for locals and travelers looking for a hometown-take on the best places to eat, hike and adventure in and around the four corners. Come visit for a getaway or stay-cation in their fully furnished glamping tipis, wall tents and studio apartment. Amenities include a community fire pit, picnic tables, lawn area with yard games, and bath house.

Sustainability: Amber and her team believe that true sustainability begins by shopping close to home which is why they prioritize local suppliers and relationships for all their accommodations. Their spaces are filled with locally made goodies and sustainable furniture and bedding and non-toxic cleaners.

EATS

2. Basecamp Kitchen

Basecamp Kitchen Restaurant | Bar | Market

Basecamp is a 100% plant based restaurant, bar & market located in the historic lodge at Tamarron. Basecamp is inspired by the philosophy that “food should make you feel better, not worse.” Whether swinging in for a burger & beer to watch the game or after hitting the gym or the slopes for a green juice and Buddha bowl, Basecamp has something to offer everyone. Their full bar includes classic cocktails as well specialty cocktails made with anti-inflammatory herbs and spices, bottled and local draft beers and domestic and import wines.

Sustainability commitments & goals: 1. Low to no waste in kitchen and bar; 2. Offering sustainable, low to no waste packaging of market items; 3. Eventually plan to grow their own produce and make their own plant based meats and cheeses in house.

3. Grassburger

Grassburger has taken the iconic experience of eating a burger and made it better … for you, the animals and the planet! After looking for years for a place to take our family for burgers we could feel good about, we created it! Grassburgers are healthier, delicious, allergy-friendly and planet-friendly. Our grass-fed cattle live a happy, active life on a forage diet as nature intended.

Sustainability: Grassburger’s 100% USA raised, grass-fed cattle are never held in confinement, are antibiotic and hormone free, and are humanely certified. We stand behind holistic/regenerative practices for the reduction of carbon gases, the restoration of the land and the health of the planet. We serve on sustainable and recycled products and our fryer oil is recycled for biofuel.

4. James Ranch Grill

Regenerative. Family. Harmony. These are the core values of this unique Durango ranch, grill, and market. James Ranch is ten miles north of Durango, Colorado in the beautiful Animas River Valley. They offer 100% grass fed and finished beef, whey-fed pork, artisan cheese and raw milk from 100% grass-fed, grazing Jersey cows, eggs produced from pastured hens, a spruce tree nursery, an regenerative vegetable and flower garden, and a thriving restaurant grill and market.

Sustainability: James Ranch is family run, utilizing regenerative, sustainable growing practices that center around care for the animals and the land so as to build up the soil to sequester more carbon.

5. Zia Taqueria

Zia is a beloved community-minded restaurant serving locally sourced and farmed, healthy meats, vegetables, and other ingredients. They promote what they believe in: “Treat the earth kindly, stay healthy, be kind to all others, be thankful, and be generous.”

Sustainability: From upcycled building materials, kitchen scrap composting, solar panels, responsible food and to-go container sourcing, to giving back to their community and staff, Zia strives to build a sustainable business and community with each business decision.

SPECIALTY FOODS

Durango’s sustainable specialty food brands are available locally at Durango Natural Foods, Nature’s Oasis, and at the Durango Farmers Market on Saturday’s, as well as online for purchase.

6. Inner Joy Energy Bars

Inner Joy Energy Bars is a fruit based energy bar brand. Pairing locally sourced organic fresh fruit with organic energy stimulants like spirulina, cacoa, and other superfoods, the Inner Joy Energy Bar is both tasty and packs a smooth punch. Nothing like it.

Sustainability: Inner Joy Energy Bars use wholesome and organic ingredients and home compostable packaging and shipping containers.

7. LuvTempeh

LuvTempeh | Products | Cooking Classes | Farm to Table Dinners

Luv Box Foods is a local grower of Tempeh (Luv Tempeh), Miso (Luv Miso) and other ancient umami rich foods. Their tempeh is a spore culture grown on any bean, grain or legume paired with the spore Rhizopus Oligosporus, a mushroom-like fungus. It has a savory, yet slightly sweet, mushroomy & nutty flavor. And their miso is made from fresh Koji using Aspergillus oryzae, another filamentous fungus, which they harvest the digestive enzymes from to culture the miso in oak barrels.

Sustainability: Luv Box Foods grows their own ingredients without the use of pesticides and transports their fresh foods by electric bike. They also host farm to table dinners along with classes on tempeh, miso and other living creations

THINGS TO DO

8. Go bargen hunting for gear at the Durango Outdoor Exchange

Forgot your water shoes, hiking boots, rain jacket? Check out our local used (and new) gear store to get you back outside. The Durango Outdoor Exchange is a locally owned consignment shop that provides quality, new and used outdoor gear and apparel. They exist for you to sell your stuff, find great gear and get out there and enjoy it!

Sustainability: Durango Outdoor Exchange provides a marketplace for used gear with the intention of keeping it out of landfills and giving it a second life. Local commerce reduces carbon emissions by limiting extra transportation too. We are proud of being a business steward of the environment and work to reduce, reuse and recycle in our business practices.

9. Enjoy the Animas River with ROLL ebike & paddle board

Roll is solar powered electric bike and stand up paddle board rental and delivery company. Roll delivers ebikes to your home, VRB, Airbb, hotel, or friend’s home within 10 miles of Durango. And Roll delivers to the Oxbo put-in on the North calm end of the Animas River your inflatable SUP’s. Skip the rental hassle and enjoy a cruise, a float or both!

Sustainability: ROLL’s sustainability goals are to be carbon, people, and community positive. Towards these goals ROLL’s ebikes and headquarters are solar powered; their ebikes and paddle boards are delivered by a hybrid electric Prius; and their website is offset by renewable energy. ROLL pays a living wage to its employees and gives local youth job training. ROLL gives back to the community through donations to the Durango Farmers Market and Great Old Broads for Wilderness.

10. Get centered at YogaDurango

Yogadurango is Durango’s community yoga center. We believe in connecting people in healthy ways. In successful operation since 2006, we strive to create a welcoming place for people to explore, grow and transform. Our studio supports all levels of practitioner, providing high-quality experiences with exceptional instructors. As a women-owned small business, we are dedicated to the well-being of our community and contribute to the richness and vitality that makes Durango such a wonderful place to live.

Sustainability: We are a successful local small business in operation for 15 years and have maintained a quality working staff with minimal turn-over. We consciously choose where all our dollars go from offering hand picked, eco-conscious retail to supporting our local co-op with our bulk orders. We refill our cleaning supplies to minimize our waste and we look to the smallest of purchases like having BPA credit card paper! We are a place of connection and networking, which sustains a local economy. Yogadurango believes in healthy reciprocity and have donated thousands of dollars to local nonprofits, individuals and organizations.

Best of luck on your quest to live and shop your values while on vacation in Durango and every day. You can head to our Durango Sustainable Business Guide to browse more ethical and sustainable brands not included here, such as Cura.Te, Botanical Concepts, The Flying Hatter, and Passion Flower Beauty, that you can visit in person or online and have items shipped directly to your home. No more searching, just bookmark and shop your values for anything you need, anytime, every time.

Have a safe and memorable visit! And remember to “leave no trace” in town or on the trail.

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Live Creative is a sustainable business, marketing, and shopping hub. Our Creative Studio offers authentic marketing, branding, and sustainable business expertise to ethical, sustainable, and purpose brands. Our Sustainable Business Team offers sustainability strategy and goals setting as well as sustainable packaging services. Our Lifestyle Team curates the global Sustainable Marketplace, the Durango Sustainable Biz Guide, and Get Real—our inspiring Innovation for Good weekly newsletter. Follow us on Insta: @livecreativestudios, like us on Facebook and join our FB Group: Sustainable Business Idea Exchange.

Old School Wool is Making a Comeback in the Outdoor Clothing Market. This time Sustainably.

March 12, 2021 By Claire Attkisson Leave a Comment

By Guest Blogger: Valerie Smith with contributions by Claire Attkisson

yugloc-wool-live-creative-sustainability — Sheep’s Wool

Yuglet is a woman-owned outdoor clothing start-up— born from a heritage and love for Shetland wool and inspired by the adaptability and character of the companies namesake, Scotland’s yuglet sheep. Yuglet’s mission is to support Shetland Island crofters and British Isles centuries old sustainable farming communities by creating superior hi-tech wool fleece for the outdoor enthusiast market.

Yuglet Needs Your Help

As a start-up, Yuglet is looking for outdoor enthusiasts to test their products. If you are an avid outdoor adventurer or a weekend warrior and would like to be chosen to test Yuglet products, follow @yugletoutdoadventure and then send an email to hello@yuglet.co.uk describing why in one paragraph you would be a great product tester.

But first, read on and understand what sets Yuglet apart and their commitment to people and the planet…

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Yuglet Founder, Valerie Smith is from a family of sixth generation Scottish woollen manufacturers. She remembers learning to roller skate between the mills spinning frames on the smooth concrete floors. “You could go really fast as long as you didn’t get wool tangled round your wheels!” Smith is a product developer, textile designer and colourist. She has a special affinity with Shetland Island and when she heard the island was being deeply affected by COVID-19, she decided to put her knowledge and innovative thinking into a new business to benefit the people and ecology of Shetland as well as the sheep — and Yuglet was born.

www.yuglet.co.uk

Smith takes her lead from the Shetland Yuglet sheep to design a unique modern outdoor fleece using a centuries old natural fabric. Turns out, the Yuglet sheep, a so called primitive species, has survived for eons for good reason. The Yuglet’s survival is partly due to their adaptability and ability to keep warm in bitter cold. They graze on poor pasture on high cliffs close to the sea, and thrive in cold, wet temperatures during the winter months. They can conserve energy by retaining as much body heat as possible because of the quality of their fine wool.

This is why Shetland sheep wool is the central fibre used to make Yuglet’s modern high tech outdoor garments. They use a special process that retains and enhances the fibre, creating a far superior warmth to any other wool on the market. For technical and novice outdoor adventurists alike, warmth is key.

Yuglet Sheep on Shetland Island, Scotland

Why the world needs Yuglet. Now.

Synthetic clothing mostly comes from oil wells and is not biodegradable. Worse still, synthetic fibers crumble into small pieces that last for ages and wind up in all sorts of places it doesn’t belong, including inside our foods, oceans, mountains and more.

There are real concerns about the methane emissions caused by the global sheep industry. Wool farmers are experimenting with gut vaccines that inhibit gut organisms, and can thus reduce the animals’ methane emissions by up to 20 percent.

However, sheep do eat plants and store carbon in their wool – up to 50% of the weight of wool is pure organic carbon.

And some wool producers are using new dying procedures that might allow for the fabric to be treated at lower temperatures—a small measure, perhaps, but one that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent.

Overall environmental benefits of wool over synthetics:

Wool products have long lifespans, meaning they are used or worn longer than other textile fibre products
Wool textile products tend to be washed less frequently at lower temperatures which has a lower impact on the environment
Wool is readily recyclable: with a market share of 1,3% of all textile fibres, wool claims 5% within the recycled fibres market share!
Wool biodegrades readily on land and in water – as a protein-based fibre, wool does not contribute to microplastic pollution

Yuglet wool is ethically sourced and sustainably made

Scottish Shetland Sheep are an indigenous breed to the British Isles. Often used for conservation grazing, this gentle system helps to increase and maintain biodiversity of natural grasslands. They are never intensively farmed, but instead are cared for by local crofters to subsidise their incomes. Wool is completely natural and biodegradable, and our ranchers love the land that supports their own families as well as their animals. Yugelt sheep are purely grass -fed and make use of land (cliffs!) that other crops can’t be grown on.

Yuglet’s tradition and expertise

Yuglet sources its woollen from a family business near Lerwick, Shetland. Since 1893—six generations—this same family has exported their fine woollen goods all over the world. Together, they have created a special blended wool that when spun, gives the Yuglet outdoor clothing line its unique finish and ‘handle’ to knitted fleece. Smith brings her love and taste in colour to this collaboration and has successfully produced gorgeous new colours. According to Smith: “we chose this mill because we know they understand what we mean when we say ‘Yuglet’.

Yuglet Fleece made from the wool of Scotland’s Yuglet Sheep on Shetland Island

Benefits of Yuglet Wool

Strong and durable, the unique finish works the fibers together so that your garment will last for longer and can be worn for longer too. It’s naturally breathable and resists perspiration. Perfect for your outdoor eco-adventure.

There are many synthetic technical materials on the market which fail to match the wicking performance of wool. And if its cold and you are exerting yourself, sweat can condense on the inside of your ‘technical’ outer shell.

None of these problems exist with wool — snow, light rain, drippy woods and very often heavy rain and sleet, can be completely ignored when worn as a breathable mid layer or extreme outer layer.

Made in Scotland

Home to some of the finest wool fibre in the world, our mill is in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles, north of Scotland and 4000 400 miles (643 km) south of the Arctic circle. There is nowhere quite like it.

Wear Yuglet anywhere

Whether you’re outside in the wild exploring or hunkered down in a mountain cabin, wearing a Yuglet makes you feel protected, warm and cosy no matter where you are. Wear Yuglet even in rain. Wool can keep you warm, even when wet. Woolen garments can hold and hide up to 60% of their weight in water before they even begin to feel wet. Each individual wool fiber can absorb – internally — 35% of its weight in water. This 35% weight gain is trapped within the complex internal structure of each fiber where it cannot touch the wearer. But also, because of the physical shape of woolen fiber, the rough surface of the fibers and their crimp (kinkiness), additional water – 25% of the weight of the garment — can be contained between the fibers that comprise the yarns from which our garments are woven. Fine wool fibers used in Yuglet clothing, not only feel softer against the skin but they absorb a higher percentage of its own weight in water before feeling wet.

Durable and comfortable

Made with super soft wool, you’ll enjoy wearing the Yuglet fleece. The thinnest wool fibers will bend when in contact with the skin, resulting in a wonderfully soft and silky feel. Yuglet wool fleece is both tough and weather-resistant but still soft and comfortable on the skin. It’s made to be worn and to last generations. Yuglet is. bringing back the idea of clothing as a family heirloom to be passed down to the generation.

Wool Wicks like Crazy

Wool picks up the water vapor that is the first stage of perspiration. When perspiration vapor condenses on the skin people tend to notice it. But it doesn’t start as liquid, the body first emits vapor. Wool was designed by nature to capture that vapor, and in a very real sense this is better than wicking because the perspiration disappears even before it condenses into water/sweat and becomes noticeable or can make you cold.

Wear it your way

We make our Yuglet as a generous unisex fit. The sleeves are designed with a ‘turn back cuff option’ on most styles, so you can wear it as you like in your own style.

Repairable by design

Every Yuglet garment is made with care to produce high quality finishes. With increased durability the Yuglet garment will last for longer and can be handed down to the next generation as many Scottish have done before. We know from historical records that woollen garments of fisherman and crofters became family heirlooms.

Wool is odor-absorbant, naturally

This odor-absorption trait also makes wool valuable for clothing because wool can be worn for extended periods without becoming odorous. Wool will absorb, internally, the compounds that create the smell people recognize as body odour.

Perfecting their fleece products

Yuglet is doing extensive testing on how wool reacts during certain wash processes. It has taken a lot of trial and error to get the surface looking and functioning as they want it: To create a hi-tech (think natural Gortex, but better) garment with a soft ‘handle’ to touch. The research phase been very technical in order to understand the structure of the wool follicle and what changes during wash conditions.

Where Yuglet is now

Right now Yuglet is working on colour combinations and styling. They are in close communications with their mills about production. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 disruption the mill in Shetland is working in-line with Government restrictions and Shetland is currently closed to visitors. If anything, Yuglet’s commitment to building their business model has been fired up by the great need for support coming from Shetland’s people and the island they love.

Join the Sustainable Wool Movement

As we stated earlier, Yuglet is looking for people to help them start off right. Follow yuglet: @yugletoutdoadventure and send an email to hello@yuglet.co.uk and share (in one paragraph) why YOU make a great tester of their beautiful hi-tech woollen fleece. Best of luck.

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www.yuglet.co.uk

Thank you, Valerie Smith, for this informative and inspiring guest blog!

—Claire of Live Creative Studio

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Live Creative is a sustainable business, marketing, and shopping hub. Our Creative Studio offers authentic marketing, branding, and sustainable business expertise to ethical, sustainable, and purpose brands. And Sustainable Business Team offers sustainability strategy and goals setting as well as sustainable packaging services. And, our Lifestyle Team curates our global Sustainable Marketplace, the Durango Sustainable Biz Guide, and Get Real—our inspiring Innovation for Good weekly newsletter. Follow us on Insta: @livecreativestudios, like us on Facebook: Live Creative Studio and join our FB Group: Sustainable Business Idea Exchange.

8 Sustainable Businesses, Restaurants, and Experiences To Check Out in Durango, Colorado

January 11, 2021 By Claire Attkisson Leave a Comment

In addition to our Sustainable Marketplace where we list over 50 of our favorite global sustainable brands, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Durango Sustainable Business Guide. This local guide is a work in progress—meaning it is ever growing. We’ll add as we go and as our local community of Durango’s economy shifts and more and more sustainable businesses startup.

So, bookmark both the global Sustainable Marketplace and the Durango Sustainable Business Guide and shop your values any day, every time.

The 8 sustainable businesses described here provide a sample of the 30+ sustainable businesses in Durango. These 8 provide the breadth and depth of the sustainable, ethical, and purpose-driven brands in and around Durango, Colorado for now—from healthy dining and snacking and organic beauty to authentic vacation and ebike rental experiences. Enjoy!

Now on the Durango Sustainable Business Guide

1. Basecamp Plant Based Kitchen

Basecamp is a 100% plant based restaurant, bar & market located in the historic lodge at Tamarron. Basecamp is inspired by the philosophy that “food should make you feel better, not worse.” Whether swinging in for a burger & beer to watch the game or after hitting the gym or the slopes for a green juice and Buddha bowl, Basecamp has something to offer for everyone. Their full bar includes classic cocktails as well specialty cocktails made with anti-inflammatory herbs and spices, bottled and local draft beers and domestic and import wines.

Sustainability commitments & goals: 1. Low to no waste kitchen and bar; 2. Offering sustainable, low to no waste packaging of items in their market; 3. Eventually plan to grow their own produce and make their own plant based meats and cheeses in house.

Cream Bean Berry Ice Cream is now on the Durango Sustainable Business Guide

2. Cream Bean Berry Organic
Ice Cream

Cream Bean Berry is a local artisan ice cream shop here in Durango, CO. Their delicious ice-cream is made from real, organic ingredients from local farms, and they offer a selection of gluten/nut/dairy-free options.

Sustainability commitments & goals: Cream Bean Berry has also made a commitment to sustainability; not only do they support the local economy by sourcing their ingredients from local farms, but they also only use biodegradable cups, spoons, and other items to serve their ice cream.

Durango Like A Local is now on the Durango Sustainable Business Guide

3. Durango Like A Local – Airbnb

Mountain Glamping Tipi

Enjoy Durango like a local in our fully furnished Glamping Tipi! Modern, rustic southwestern design full of Instagramable moments. This experience is hosted by the Andrew family – long time locals and vacation rental Superhosts. Come get a five star glamping experience right along the million dollar highway!

Basecamp Adventure Studio

Newly renovated apartment, in the historic Lockes family home, features a bright and modern design with a splash of Southwestern flare. A five star hotel experience with the privacy you crave for your mountain vacation. Use this apartment as a basecamp for your four-corners adventure, where the desert and the mountains meet.

Sustainability commitments & goals: 1. Local foods offered; 2. Non-toxic cleaning and washing products used; 3. Referral to other local sustainable businesses, and more goals in the works around water and energy savings.

Farm to Fingers Grazing is now on the
Durango Sustainable Business Guide

4. Farm to Fingers Grazing

Farm to Fingers Grazing is a farm fresh grazing board food company. Farm to Fingers Grazing provides unique, gourmet take-home meat, vegetable, and fruit boards and gourmet pasta and pizza boxes.

Sustainability: Farm to Fingers Grazing sources local ingredients from Honeyville, Bread, and the regenerative James Ranch.

Why Support Farm to Fingers Grazing? What’s not to love about gathering around deliciously wholesome foods (and chunks of rich chocolate!) with family?

Inner-joy-energy-bar-durangosustainable-business-guide — Inner Joy Energy Bars is now on the
Durango Sustainable Business Guide

5. Inner Joy Energy Bars

Inner Joy Energy Bars is a Mancos, CO based fruit product brand. Pairing locally sourced organic fresh fruit with organic energy stimulants like spirulina, cacoa, and other superfoods, the Inner Joy Energy Bar is both tasty and packs a smooth punch. Nothing like it.

Sustainability: Inner Joy Energy Bars use wholesome and organic ingredients and backyard compostable packaging and shipping containers.

Why Shop Inner Joy Energy Bars? What’s not to love about a bar that brings you energy and inner joy?

Marigold Bali is now on the
Durango Sustainable Business Guide

6. Marigold Bali

Marigold is a woman-owned conscious e-commerce business that sells Balinesian handmade bamboo and coconut home and personal items.

Marigold’s unique products include bamboo crafted re-usable and zero-waste utensils, mini-napkins, straws and straw cleaners, and coconut bowls and cooking spoons.

Sustainability: Marigold product sales support not only small Balinesian communities through economic development, but some of the proceeds of each sale support community health care programs where products are made.

Why Shop Marigold? When you shop Marigold you are supporting a next generation female ecopreneur (23 year old, Alexis Saghie), who’s business model benefits people and the planet.

passion_flower-beauty-durangosustainable-marketplace — Passion Flower Beauty is now in the
Durango Sustainable Business Guide

7. Passion Flower Beauty

Passion Flower Beauty is based in Durango, CO. Passion Flower Beauty is for those who love natural and organic cosmetics and beauty. All products—from bath balms and soaps to hair elixers, shampoo, and conditioner bars—are made in small batches and some are even made to order. If you don’t see your favorite color, scent or shape, you can request a special order just for you.

Sustainability: Passion Flower Beauty uses all natural and organic ingredients and zero harsh chemicals. Their packaging and shipping bags are backyard compostable as well.

Why Shop Passion Flower Beauty? These ladies are beauty artists, anything is possible, and everything is hand made. Our favorites are the succulent soap and hair conditioner bars. Passion Flower Beauty has something for everyone, every age and every body.

roll_ebike_logo_durango_sustainable_business — Roll eBike is now in the
Durango Sustainable Business Guide

8. Roll ebike + SUP Rental & Delivery

Roll is solar powered electric bike, SUP (stand up paddle board) rental and door-to-door delivery (by AWD Electric Prius) service in Durango, CO. We deliver to your hotel, airbnb, VRBO, or a family or friends home. Tour and enjoy Durango in a stylish & eco-friendly way! 2, 4, 8 hr and multi-day rentals available.

Roll also delivers several Local Boxes. Locals who subscribe receive a variety of fresh produce, meals, and household products all from local Durango businesses, delivered by ebike. Roll offers three different delivery boxes to choose from:

‘Restaurant Eats Local Box’: Includes a meal for 4 from a local restaurant (rotates between 4 restaurants each week), cookies, a bag of fresh veggies from a local farm, and a household or skincare product. ‘Organic Veggie Local Box’: Similar to a CSA; includes a different variety of farm-fresh vegetables each week. NEW ‘Feel Good Local Box’: A surprise box each month filled with zero waste household and kitchen items, plus sustainable and fair trade items from local Durango companies.

Roll_R_Icon_Final_livecreativestudio/portfolio/

Thanks for shopping your values and supporting local sustainable business by using this every growing Durango Sustainable Business Guide. Hope to see you soon in Durango, Colorado!

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If you liked this and want more news you can use to increase your positive impact, then join us by subscribing to our weekly eNews Get Real— an Innovation for Good mash up of lifestyle tips and positive news about cool sustainable brands and innovators changing business for good. Get Real inspires and offers practical pro-tips to help individuals and businesses increase their positive impact.

Live Creative is a sustainable business, marketing, and shopping hub. Our Creative Studio offers authentic marketing, branding, and sustainable business expertise to ethical, sustainable, and purpose brands. And Sustainable Business Team offers sustainability strategy and goals setting as well as sustainable packaging services. And, our Lifestyle Team curates our global Sustainable Marketplace, the Durango Sustainable Biz Guide, and Get Real—our inspiring Innovation for Good weekly newsletter.

Soapberries—Do they actually work as an eco-friendly laundry detergent?

January 5, 2021 By Claire Attkisson Leave a Comment

Sometimes the best innovations come direct—from nature that is. Our lifestyle team at Live Creative has been trying out soapberries (AKA soap nuts) as a climate positive laundry detergent. One of us loves them and the other is still on the fence.

Sapindus Mukorossi is the name of the tree soapberries grow on. While it takes 9 years for the tree to begin growing fruit, once it does it an be harvested for an amazing 90 year lifecycle. Plus, the nuts can be harvested 6 months out of 12, yielding a lot of nuts.

Grown in Nepal in the Himalayan mountains, soapberries are proving to be an economic lifeline for over 300 extremely poor, rural families. “Grow Nepal” is an NGO working on the ground to plant over 2000 soapberry trees every year. Through an associates and trading membership program, Grow Nepal hopes to sustain continued growth of their soapberry plantations.

Sustained growth of the soapberry economy creates a trifecta of positive impact: Local communities thrive, carbon is sequestered and deforestation is reduced, and as this market grows fewer chemicals, plastics, and waste (soap nuts are 100% backyard compostable) will be used to clean our laundry.

But do they actually work?

Soapberries are certainly a no mess option, as you simply place 4-6 soap nuts in a small cotton zipped bag and pop them in the washing machine. The same soap nuts can be reused 3-4 times, making this not only a chemical free, zero waste option, but an affordable one too.

When agitated in water, the soap berries release natural saponin, which is a natural cleaner that works as a surfactant, breaking the surface tension of the water to penetrate and release dirt from the fibers of your clothing.

This research on naturally soiled cotton fabrics that investigated the primary and secondary washing effect of soap nuts at different temperatures (60 and 90 °C) found “good washing performance of soap nut shells evaluated through primary effect was obtained especially at 90 °C”.

This study “establishes them as a potentially safe and eco-friendly source of saponins for processing cotton fabrics”. Some say that soap nuts need to be activated before use by soaking them in a cup of hot water before adding them to your cold-water wash cycle. A high spin is recommended to ensure agitation. You may also need to use a hot water cycle.

The Choice website tested soap nuts and found that they were no more effective than washing your clothing in plain water. The website’s review of soap nuts, which can be found here, scored them an overall score of 42%. However, the method used is questioned by some, as the study used only cold water and a front loading washing machine—both of which proponents of soap nuts argue were the reasons for the poor results.

In conclusion, the most effective method for using soap nuts seems to be in a top loader on warm/hot to get a good clean, however, use for deeply soiled items the results remain poor.

Our team is still testing out soap nuts on various settings and temperatures, but do let us know if you try them and what you think. Who knows, perhaps we’ll figure out an innovation that “unlocks” the saponin in the berries when on cold to save energy. Then again, if our energy source is renewable, why not choose hot and let the berries work their natural cleaning magic?

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If you liked this and want more, join us by subscribing to our weekly eNews Get Real— an Innovation for Good mash up of lifestyle tips and positive news about cool sustainable brands and innovators changing business for good. Get Real inspires and offers practical pro-tips to help individuals and businesses increase their positive impact.

Live Creative is a branding and marketing agency as well as a community hub for sustainable innovation, business, and lifestyle tips. Our Creative Studio offers authentic marketing, branding, and sustainable business expertise to ethical, sustainable, and purpose brands. And our Lifestyle Team brings the curious and the conscious inspiring sustainable lifestyle, zero waste tips, and examples of innovation changing business for good.

5 New Sustainable Branding Tips to Grow Your Purpose Business

December 16, 2020 By Claire Attkisson Leave a Comment

1. Doing Good Isn’t Enough

Some of us on the Live Creative Studio’s marketing and branding team have led or contributed creative design to “cause marketing” campaigns in our careers. This has been a common approach for decades for business, particularly for large corporations. Essentially it’s a one-off “do good” campaign with lots of PR and a picture of a large check (with an even bigger number on it!) made out to a non-profit organization doing well-meaning work in the community.

While donations of this kind are important, they do not fundamentally change the culture, procurement, product development, packaging, or business systems as is the case with a truly sustainable business. A sustainable business sets its priorities and goals against a triple bottom line principle that benefits people, planet, and makes a profit doing so. Would we need so many charities if companies paid a living wage, didn’t harm our environment, our air, our water or local people when making their products?

Green Marketing Pro Tip: Communicate the breadth and depth of why your sustainable business is making a difference. As Simon Sinek says: People don’t buy what you do. They don’t buy how you do it. They buy why you do it. This doesn’t mean your marketing can’t be fun—it absolutely should be if that’s your brand’s tone! The idea is for your marketing and branding to delight and inspire your customers and followers, as they are a key part of the solution by buying your products or services. (Download our free Purpose Brand Identity Guide for more on this topic.)

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2. Your Purpose Must Be True

Sustainability is not an “add-on”. It’s a way of doing business; it’s the ethos of the business itself. More and more companies are being targeted for “green washing” when they come out with a feel good campaign, but everyone knows that their business is still responsible for polluting the ocean or child labor, etc.

Purpose-driven Marketing Pro Tip: The key green marketing strategy for staying true to your triple bottom line purpose is to stay authentic and be bold. Sustainability is not a destination; it’s a continual process of improvement. Sharing the pros and cons of your struggle to find just the right eco-friendly packaging, for example, with your customers and loyal fans builds trust and respect. Your customers will know if you’re authentic or not. Authentic marketing leads to an emotional connection; people choose the same brands over and over again because they know your purpose is true.

3. Change Starts at the Top

Have an idea that you think will grow your marketshare and deepen your sustainability goals? If you are an eco entrepreneur or work for a large company, in either case it’s important to first pilot the concept and then build buy-in and support from the top based on your results (assuming they were good!). Real and lasting change starts at the top so don’t go it alone if you want to be successful.

Green Marketing Pro Tip: Unless you are the CEO or an ecopreneur, then your marketing strategy will have an internal focus to build buy-in and support for your idea. We recommend that you always pitch both the business case (i.e. what is the return on investment or ROI and the potential market) for your idea as well as the social and/or environmental benefits.

Create a concept logo to build your pitch deck and remember to use more visual aids like beautiful photographs and concept slogans as you make your case to those with influence in the company. Once you have a few influential champions of the idea on your team, and have converted a few influential neigh sayers as well (who helped you to fine-tune your idea!), then get a meeting with the c-suite. Best of luck on your pitch!

4. Lift Up Diverse Voices

A real leader surrounds herself with people who not only have greater expertise in critical areas, but who also represent different perspectives and are diverse in terms of gender and race. The key to a great leader is inspiring such a diverse workforce to bring forth new and innovative ideas in a culture of collaboration.

Green marketing tip: To embrace a culture of diversity also means understanding your audience and where they are coming from. Ask yourself these questions: Do they speak multiple languages? Could your campaign be multi-lingual? Does your campaign reflect your audience in tone and style? Does your campaign photography represent diversity?

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Take A Stand

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If you are clear on your purpose as a business then taking a stand on an issue is fairly clear cut. The beauty of most truly sustainable brands is that you are always looking for ways to deepen your work to achieve sustainability goals—from product design and packaging to energy and water innovation and more. The more transparent you are as a company on both the achievements and the challenges you face while striving to achieve your sustainability goals, the more trust you are going to instill in your fans.

Trust cannot be bought. It is earned. Standing up for a social and/or environmental issue that you are already strong in further extends your brands promise (i.e. your product or service is part of the solution to a problem. For example, “earthwash” has innovated an environmentally friendly detergent sheet, which solve the twin problems of ever more plastic bottles and polluted water entering our rivers and oceans.

Eco Marketing Pro Tip: If your company offers a solution to single-use plastic, consider “taking a stand” by launching an educational “marketing” campaign about plastic waste in our oceans. Or if your company offers a solution to fast fashion’s problem of unfair labor practices, then consider taking a stand by inviting followers/customers to sign a petition against child or slave labor. And so on.

So many think marketing is about selling, when really it’s about building trust in your brand through marketing strategies and tactics. Loyal fans will follow you where you lead. Now it’s time for sustainable brands to lead authentically and with courage to weave a new narrative for commerce—one that benefits us all.

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December 3, 2020 By Claire Attkisson Leave a Comment