Updated 4/29:

April, 26th 2010, San Francisco, CA. American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) hosted a premier event featuring Jeffery Hollender. Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Seventh Generation. Jeffrey discussed the role of ASBC in shaping a new just, vibrant and sustainable economy and his new book “The Responsibility Revolution”. He addressed the crossroad facing the Corporate Social Responsibility current model, pointing out that business’s marginal, compartmentalized initiatives are too often nothing more than a PR stunt and lack any meaningful change. Jeffrey Hollender advocates for a more holistic and systemic approach to our current environmental, social and economic challenges, and believes businesses adhering to these principles should support the role ASBC is playing to promote them.

————————— April 27 version below —————-

Yesterday, the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) was hosting a conversation with Jeffrey Hollender, Seventh Generation Co-Founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Inspired Protagonist. I had the pleasure of putting this event together with David Brodwin and ASBC. I just want to pass on my introducing Jeffrey to the group that came to listen to what he has to say about business responsibility. For more about his ideas and book, you can read his interview with Nick Aster (Triple Pundits) or a review of the speech he gave to the Presidio Graduate School the same day.

Three reasons to read Jeffrey’s new book:

1- Ever wondered why businesses that value their employees were the least affected by the recession?

2- How can transparent and responsible (inside out) businesses benefit people, the environment and our economy?

3- What is the next version of Corporate Responsibility (and why it matters so much)?

And here is my intro …

“It’s an honor to welcome all of you here tonight.

There is a reason we’re here tonight. As social entrepreneurs, responsible business owners and investors, environmental health scientists and activists, there is hardly anything matching the satisfaction our activities have on us when they benefit our communities, our environment and our economy. And we have no shortages of meaningful and impactful initiatives – just to mention a few here in this room: Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, ImagineH2O, New resource Bank, Mindful Investors, Better World Telecom, GAP, New Leaf Paper, you are all contributing to a safer, more just, vibrant and sustainable world. But that is not enough. We know it is not enough.

We do not compete on a fair level. Competing against corporations that spend hundred of millions in advertising is one thing that with hard work, integrity and wit we can overcome. But when these corporations benefit from trade associations willing to spend the same amount of money on misleading campaign to portray climate change as a hoax, use smear tactics to influence policy makers, then we realize that even with the best intention, the best product, the best program, the best research, we cannot build a just, vibrant and sustainable economy, we cannot compete against those corporations that focus on short term profit at the expense of people and the planet. We realize that our collective voice needs to be heard; that building and running responsible businesses is not a mere ideology, but a reality, and one that can be successful.

There are few people as well experienced and positioned as the pioneer and leader I am about to introduce.  Jeffrey Hollender, is the Co-Founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Inspired Protagonist Seventh Generation the 22 year-old company that is the leading brand of natural household and personal care products in the United States.

Hollender is a Director of Greenpeace USA, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, Verite, the Environmental Health Fund and is a member and former Director of the Social Venture Network. Hollender recently co-founded the American Sustainable Business Council, a progressive alternative to the Chamber of Commerce that currently has over 40,000 members.

His newest book, The Responsibility Revolution was published by Jossey-Bass in March 2010. You can always find Jeffrey through his blog: www.inspiredprotagonist.com.

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