Sustainability in Business series features entrepreneurs based in Portland, Oregon, who practice sustainable marketing and promote sustainability in business practices.
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Zero is a no waste, all community market in the making. I learned about the project at a community pitch event organized by Springboard Innovation, where Cheryl Lohrmann, who is the project’s leader, outlined her vision for a world without waste.
Eighty percent of products in the United States are used once, then thrown away. Our world is full of unhealthy communities and wasteful systems. Recycling has gathered steam, particularly in the progressive areas of the country, and many other programs and policies are being put in place to deal with waste. Yet source reduction or waste prevention are more effective ways to reducing waste.
Cheryl believes that if we are to achieve a world without waste, convenience is due for redefinition. All communities can benefit from the inherent skills and knowledge gained by participating in a redefinition of convenience beyond single-use products. We can create and support a local network of suppliers cooperating within a waste-free, creative product distribution system, which can be developed on a smaller, local scale. According to Cheryl, “Consumers, also known as people, will appreciate being a part of the solution, if asked.”
How to achieve this vision? Cheryl’s solution is to develop knowledge and supply networks of teachers or producers of local goods working together in a system, in which products go from producer to consumer without contributing to landfills and litter. Zero will demonstrate the liveliness of shared resources, space, and grounding, attitude-changing experiences with all members of a local community. It will be a place where environmental and community values are integral to success.
In Cheryl’s vision, Zero is a market containing convenience-store items that are traditionally only available in single-use plastic packaging. Zero sells only no waste, seasonally available, local goods. It is a community operated and supported grocery and innovation center that actively develops and implements ways for packaging to be reusable and therefore returnable.
Zero offers resources for replication, such as waste-elimination consulting for established businesses. It’s a gallery and community gathering space. It runs after-school and after-work snack/dinner preparation programs for kids and adults. It offers a “Master Producer” certificate program. It has its own packaging bill, modeled on the bottle bill, that is expanded to all products sold in the store. And it puts on waste-free community event.
What’s needed to launch Zero? What can you do? How can you contribute to creating a no-waste economy on the local level?
First, Cheryl is looking for a site for Zero. This will be a space in a shopping area of a diverse Portland, Oregon neighborhood. Do you know of such a storefront? Do you have retail-launching expertise?
Cheryl’s looking for local product suppliers and partners. Are you or is someone you know an environmentally conscious food business in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area?
Zero needs a website. Can you design and build websites and are looking for a volunteer opportunity?
Do you have any other expertise or advice for Cheryl as she works to launch her project? If you’re in Portland or around, Cheryl is forming a group interested in helping to develop different aspects of the project. Are you interested in participating in such an advisory group?
Finally, Cheryl needs capital. Are you looking for an investment in a no-waste economy?
If you’ve answered “Yes!” to any of these questions, please be kind and get in touch with Cheryl at cheryl.lohrmann [at] gmail[dot]com. Thank you!
