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Olive Designs, LLC
Best Practice Achievements
Sustainable Materials
We make a conscious effort to manage our materials selection, seeking materials we are confident are sustainable, such as legally harvested forest products, responsibly produced plantation products, and recycled content:
Recycling and Reclamation
We factor disassembly, recyclability and product reclamation into buying decisions. We offer a product reclamation/product reuse policy:
Return and Reuse
We use recycled or recyclable packing/packaging materials, offer blanket-wrap transportation arrangements for customers and have a carton return/reuse policy:
Chain of Custody
We ask for verifiable chain of custody documents (i.e. legal logging certifications) before buying products containing wood:
Decrease use of Toxic Chemicals
We have decreased our use/acceptance of known toxic chemicals for treatments, binders and finishes, replacing compounds that compromise indoor air quality and are harmful to human health:
Low Environmental Impact Textiles
We are asking our vendors for textiles that have a lower environmental impact, i.e. organic cotton in place of conventionally-grown cotton, as well as seeking other eco-friendly textiles:
Life Cycle Analysis
We are moving forward on doing a Life Cycle Analysis and/or are applying for SMaRT certification:
Local Sourcing
We extract, manufacture and distribute for consumer use within a 500 mile radius for at least a portion of our product line:
Third Party Certifications
We hold third party certifications for some of our products, or as a store, we promote and educate the consumer on the meaning of various third party certifications:
Sharing the Wealth
We take responsibility for sharing our commitment to sustainability up and down our entire supply chain, rewarding our vendors with increased business for partnering with us on sustainability issues:
Social Responsibility Code
We have a written Social Responsibility Code of Contact that is a baseline for employee relations:
Supplier Responsibility
We have written and distributed a Supplier Responsibility Code of Conduct for our vendors and conduct training at our partner facilities on the adoption of same:
Health and Safety Code Compliance
We and our partners meet or exceed all local health and safety codes and can document our health and safety working conditions in all our facilities/stores:
We Pay Living Wages
We pay a living wage rather than minimum wage and extend that around the globe:
We Sponsor Sustainability Events
We have participated in or sponsored in-store, community and/or regional educational events on sustainability and the environment:
We Inspect
We investigate and mitigate any negative environmental impacts from our operations:
Save Paper and Other Office Resources
We save paper and other office resources with a policy expressing an aversion to excess written documentation:
We Use Energy Specialists
We have had an energy specialist or utility company audit to measure our conventional energy usage and are on track to reduce it. We are replacing a portion of the energy we consume with certified renewable energy, either directly, via a program of our local utility, or via Green e-Power:
Updated Inefficient Equipment
We have replaced outdated and inefficient equipment, identified and changed wasteful resource procedures and implemented tighter operational controls:
Energy Efficient Lighting
We have increased the use of day lighting and/or are upgrading to more energy efficient lighting system:
Verified Sustainability Claims
We make only verifiable sustainability claims in adherence with FTC mandates against greenwash and in support of their Environmental Marketing Guides:
Committed to Training
We are committed to conducting training in-house and in the broader community about global climate change and our partnership with the SFC:
In keeping with our commitment to continual improvement, we are planning to take the following actions this year: On reducing energy consumption:
2020: Olive Hospitality Consulting officially closed down in early 2020. David reformed Olive Designs, LLC and is independently providing consulting services as well as continuing his writing projects including a new book entitled, Kings of a Lonely Kingdom. David trains and consults to several companies in the commercial market as well as residential. His extensive knowledge of sustainable practices has assisted a number of companies with their pursuits of greener products and practices.
2017: Olive Hospitality Consulting offers a range of sustainability training and consulting services. We work closely with a diverse group of customers to shape their products, services or facilities to meet sustainability guidelines. Because we work within multiple industries, we have a broad knowledge base of environmental best practices. Additionally, we have been the driving force for sustainable education for NEWH, a hospitality network organization. David has completed a book entitled: One Green Deed Spawns Another: A Journey into Environmentalism and the People Who Shaped it, and will be publishing it by end of 2017.
2014: As a small sustainability consulting firm to the hospitality industry we train our clients on energy use reduction and attaining carbon neutral status, including LEED administration, which places a large emphasis on energy, water, and waste reduction. We provide these services internationally as well. Since we do not have facilities, our efforts are in supporting our clients’ missions in minimizing their carbon footprint, and building their environmental stewardship, in general. For example, David will be assisting Hydra Power Systems in Portland, OR in achieving their ISO 14001 certification, of which energy reduction is a significant component.
2013: As a small sustainability consulting firm to the hospitality industry we train our clients on energy use reduction and attaining carbon neutral status, including LEED administration, which places a large emphasis on energy, water, and waste reduction. We provide these services internationally as well. Since we do not have facilities, our efforts are in supporting our clients’ missions in minimizing their carbon footprint, and building their environmental stewardship, in general.
2012: As a sustainability consulting firm to the hospitality industry we train our clients on energy use reduction and attaining carbon neutral status. We provide these services internationally as well. Since we do not have facilities, our efforts are in supporting our clients missions in minimizing their carbon footprint.
In keeping with our commitment to continual improvement, we are planning to take the following actions this year: On how we will manage our primary material or service to a more sustainable direction:
2020: As an independent consultant, I practice what I preach. Our home has a very small environmental footprint relying on solar power, natural ventilation, and a weatherization program administered by Mass Save. We implemented energy and water savings measures immediately upon buying the home.
2017: As a two person consulting firm, we have a very small environmental footprint. We counsel others as to ways of minimizing their energy consumption. We have access to products that can drastically reduce energy, water, and waste consumption.
2014: This is not directly applicable to us. We have the sole focus of training and motivating our customers on a wide range of programs to incorporate sustainable practices into their businesses.
2013: This is not directly applicable to us. We have the goal of training and motivating our customers on a wide range of programs to incorporate sustainable practices into their businesses.
2012: This is not applicable to us. We have the goal of motivating our customers to adopt a wide range of programs to incorporate sustainable practices into their businesses.
In keeping with our commitment to continual improvement, we are planning to take the following actions this year: On education and promotion of the sustainability cause:
2020: Olive Designs, LLC is also the publisher of One Green Deed Spawns Another, published in 2017. The book covers the experiences of some exceptional leaders and activists committed to tackling climate change and preserving biodiversity. David wrote this book to share some of the sources of his environmental passion and inspire others to transition to more sustainable lifestyles. David has been an active speaker on the topic of sustainability for fifteen years, including helping create the green education platform for NEWH, a hospitality network organization.
2017: Olive Hospitality Consulting has been working with several suppliers to the residential furnishings market to increase natural fiber development. Additionally, we are supporting a new water reduction technique for cooling towers and laundering. Both David and Jeanne have been active speakers at sustainable conferences for the past ten years.
2014: As sustainable consultants, we are providing numerous educational programs to the industry. In May, 2014, David coordinated all three of the Green Voice events at HD Expo in Las Vegas, bringing in sustainability experts to discuss their unique perspectives. In November, 2014, David will bring the Green Voice Conversations to Boutique Design New York, and will serve as the moderator for each live interview. Both David and Jeanne received their Green Globes Professional Certifications, adding to their broad sustainable hospitality services. Additionally, David received his MBA in Sustainability from San Francisco Institute of Architecture. Jeanne remains a lecturer at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, in the facilities and property management, planning, and design department, where she is responsible for the curriculum in Hospitality Facilities Management and Sustainable Global Enterprise in Hospitality.
2013: As sustainable consultants, we are providing numerous educational programs to the industry. We created the successful NEWH Green Voice interviews and panel discussion at HD Expo in 2012 that included our good friend, Susan Inglis, which has since become the sustainable format for the event, as well as participated in numerous speaking engagements regarding sustainable lifestyles and practices. Additionally, we continue to participate in the Guri City, Korea redevelopment program outside of Seoul. Throughout 2012 and 2013, we have assisted a key supplier in meeting the requirements of HSPI Consortium participation as administered by Mindclick, SGM. We promote sustainability from many angles and our extensive experience on the topic allows us to originate many sustainable action plans for a variety of institutions.
2012: As sustainable consultants, we are providing numerous educational programs to the industry. From HD Expo's "green" expert luncheon (with our good friend, Susan Inglis) to our ongoing sustainable assistance with a large Korean redevelopment program outside of Seoul, we promote sustainability from many angles and our many years of experience on the topic allows us to originate many sustainable action plans for a variety of institutions.
