How we living? Being "Green" means reducing pollution - Pt. 2 Green Business Feature
- Ariana Marshall
- Feb 17, 2016
- 5 min read
All featured certified green businesses are based in Barbados. Each business represents a Better Caribbean culturally relevant example of what it means to be -
Ayissa Textile Design
Art and Design
Photo Caption - Ayissa Textile Designs promotion booklet; Rust stain design experiments
Ayissa Textile Designs
This business has reinvented the quintessential “Caribbean” style of tie-dye into creating just about anything you can use to enhance your interior space design. Ayissa Textile Designs also makes unique accessories – purses, keychains and bags from any leftover smaller textile pieces. They have recently begun to experiment with recycling cans for use in their rust designs. This family business has an ethos which considers how they can conserve water, reduce waste and reduce pollution while providing their quality textile design pieces.
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/AyissaTextileDesigns
Caribbean E-Waste Management
Recycling
Photo caption - Electronic waste pile up in residential area in Barbados; Caribbean E-waste management website screenshot
Caribbean E-Waste Management
As our use of technology increases, unfortunately so does our electronic waste. When is the last time you drove by an abandoned TV, just sitting outside, no owner…no takers? Or, do you have that spot in your garage where all of the miscellaneous useless electronics pile up? This business provides the service of collecting electronic waste for recycling purposes. Aside from this Caribbean E-waste management also reduces their energy and waste footprints.
Website - http://caribbeanewaste.weebly.com
Gran Chile Creations
Art and Design
Photo caption - Jewellery created from local seeds and recyclables
Gran Chile Creations
This one-woman operation demonstrates how compatible creativity and sustainability really are. She used plastic bottles to make unique and affordable jewellery. A testimony of how affordable and appealing her work is her craft's popularity at school events. Her table is usually swarmed by primary school children who are willing and ready to buy gifts for their mothers. Gran Chile Creations also uses local seeds and pods to enhance her jewellery designs. In order to reduce her environmental impact, she uses a small off-grid electricity source for her electronic craft tools and uses public transportation wherever possible.
Contact key partners - Caribsave or The Future Centre Trust
Harris Paints
Design and Maintenance
Photo caption - Harris Paints Website Screenshot
Harris Paints (Barbados)
This company has literally “greened” their operations time and time again. They have made the familiar Harris Paints’ mascot green while giving customers a 25% discount for World Environment Day in 2015. They have launched a line of paints which are less harmful to our health and they have centered their sustainability efforts in employee productivity and well-being. Aside from being one of the first businesses to become certified at the highest level in the Green Business Barbados Program, they have also adopted ISO quality and environmental management standards.
Website - http://championsofcolour.com/
Inktech Barbados
Recycling and Printing Supplies
Photo caption - Inktech Barbados website screenshot
Inktech Barbados
This business not only operates sustainably, but they also facilitate sustainability for other businesses by recycling and refilling ink cartridges. They are usually present at any environmental event in Barbados and have supported countless educational initiatives at local schools. Inktech continuously reinforces the value of what some may consider "waste" through their business operations. Inktech literally demonstrates this value by paying customers to return their ink cartridges.
Website - http://www.inktechbb.com
ICBL
Insurance
Photo caption - Solar Photovoltaic (p/v) system
ICBL
This business has led the way in the financial community in terms of their commitment to environmental sustainability. ICBL is considered a pioneer green business because they joined the Green Business Barbados program before the 2014 re-launch. As a pioneer, the company has dedicated employees who track and measure their recycling and energy-savings. ICBL has maximized one of the most valuable resources in the region (the sun!) through their naturally-lit office spaces and by installing a solar p/v system.
Website - https://www.icbl.com
Lynch Insurance Brokers
Insurance
Photo caption - Interior design of Lynch Insurance Brokers by Studio Blue Architects
Lynch Insurance Brokers
This business has partnered with another green business – Studio Blue Architects to design their interior office space within one of Barbados’ largest malls. Their office uses artificial light minimally and maximizes their use of natural light. They have also implemented in-office recycling, the use of energy efficient air conditioning units along with implementing simple policies of turning off lights or a/c units when no one is present in their meeting rooms.
Website - http://www.lynchbrokers.com
Store All (Barbados)
Storage
Photo caption - Store All website screen shot and litter suction device.
Photo credit - Store All website
Store All
This business implements sustainability within their office while also engaging other businesses through the “Keep Barbados Clean” program. This program was conceptualized by Store All and partners with The Future Centre Trust. Through this program, businesses can sponsor the highway clean ups using their “litter suction” equipment. Store All also uses LED lighting, natural skylights in their storage units and energy efficient hand dryers in their bathrooms. Also, their storage units have been created from refurbished shipping containers.
Website - http://www.storeallbds.com
Structural Systems
Construction
This business is a pioneer green business which joined the Green Business Barbados program before the GBB re-launch in 2014. Through in-office paper recycling, energy conservation practices and employee well-being initiatives, they have been recertified as a green business in 2015.
Website - http://www.ssl.bb
Tropical Shipping
Import/Export
Photo caption - Tropical Shipping website screen shot
Tropical Shipping
This business recycles cardboard, uses energy efficient tv screens and encourages employee well-being through regular monitoring and maintenance of their in-office air quality. In addition Tropical Shipping facilitates electronic correspondence with their clients, while facilitating the local port authority/customs department's transition to electronic document processing.
Williams Solar
Renewable Energy Technology
Photo caption - Williams Solar website screenshot; Tree preservation at solar installation site and water conservation/waste reduction through rainwater harvesting.
Williams Solar
This business not only facilitates sustainability through the renewable energy services, products and technology they provide but they have integrated waste reduction, water conservation, pollution control in all facets of their business operations. Williams Solar captures rainwater to clean their solar panels; recycles all waste including scrap metal and uses solar/energy efficient air conditioning units.
Website - http://williamssolar.com
Each of these businesses has achieved more than what was mentioned in this article. However I know that most people will not read super-long articles (yes I know I'm pushing it with the word count of this article). Consider this a snapshot of all of the good, green and sustainable work happening in Barbados. See below for more information on how you can learn more about each business.
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For further information on the Green Business Barbados Program which has certified these businesses and the achievements of each business - please contact The Future Centre Trust.
Websites - www.greenbusinessbarbados.com and www.futurecentretrust.org
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Why I am writing this? I am an environmental scientist by training and a solution artist in practice. By trade, my currency is facilitating active learning in anyway possible.....
~ Ariana Marshall Ph.D.
Better Caribbean Program Director
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