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Tag: Sustainability

Go Green for                             St. Patrick’s Day

Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day

March 11, 2019July 15, 2022 Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, Sustainabilityenvironment, green community, green ideas, green living, SustainabilityLeave a Comment on Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and with it comes a cavalcade of parades, floats, shamrocks and people bedecked in green hats to celebrate.

At Clairemont, we love to celebrate in every shade of green while we search for the gold at the end of the rainbow. But we also use the occasion to reconnect with a different “green” side — the kind that decreases our footprint on the planet while bolstering a sustainable legacy.

Why Go Green? (From a PR Viewpoint)

As the impact on our environment is increasingly felt, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is taking on a deeper hue of green. Companies have redefined their CSR policies to prioritize sustainability, which until a few years ago was considered by many simply a “nice to have,” feel-good factor.

Authentic CSR efforts can support innovation, boost cost savings and increase brand differentiation as well as build authentic, transparent bonds with fans. As Freya Williams states in her book “Green Giants,” some of the most respected billion-dollar companies have achieved success from a business plan built on sustainability and social good. For example, Briar Chapel and Wendell Falls, two Clairemont Communications clients, were founded on principles of sustainability — from the initial land plan to the green-built homes. The foundational positioning and commitment to a long-term legacy, coupled with quality lifestyles and homes, have helped position these master-planned communities as the top-selling areas in the Triangle. Companies from all sectors have been integrating an authentic wider purpose into their brand which, in turn, supports an enriched relationship with their audiences and, on occasion, long-term profitability

Whether a small business, a large corporation or just you, there’s no better (or more color-appropriate) time to consider your sustainability commitment than St. Patricks Day. For fun, we gathered easy tips on how to celebrate your Irish side in the greenest of ways.

Here are four easy ways to encourage your business with a few green practices:

1. Make it Fun

Add a little extra encouragement for employees to go green by implementing an office challenge. Give “points” to those that walk, bike (or scoot!) to work, participate in a carpool, abandon the elevator for stairs and cut down on their printing. Each week, reward the employee with the most points with a treat such as a gift card to their favorite coffee shop or lunch on the company. Incentives work, and if the office is consistent about hosting and promoting the challenge throughout the year, these employee efforts – no matter how small – have the chance to become real habits which can make a big difference over time.

2. Flex Your Green Thumb

Encourage employees to bring in a desk plant. Not only is the greenery appealing to the eye, but it will purify the air and liven things up a bit around the office. Plus, it’s fun to watch something that you’re responsible for grow. There are many plants that thrive indoors easily, needing little to no care. Have even more space? How about grow some window tomatoes (yes, inside) or plant a small garden of herbs (even if only for the smell)? Have some outdoor space? Get crazy and plant a whole bed of seasonal veggies, which is sure to get a cluster of people involved. A bonus: offer up those “points” to those that help care for the garden.

3. Walk the Walk

It’s very important that owners, managers and senior staff set the example for the rest of the company. Make sure company-wide policies are in place that cover the basics, like keeping the thermostat at a certain temperature, initiating a recycling program, going paperless and turning off the lights when employees leave their offices.

4. Go Local

Try to find local suppliers to cut down on transportation time and greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately help your community. Browse business directories, attend small business meetups in your area and, if need be, ask your local officials for help.

To learn more about our CEO’s journey in launching Clairemont Communications as an agency that is sustainbly aware, read our blog “Doing Our Best at Doing our Part.”

Written by Clairemont Intern Ru Wolle, a senior at NCSU.
Photos from Canva

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Pepping Up for Pepper Festival

Pepping Up for Pepper Festival

October 2, 2013July 15, 2022 Margot HorganBlog, Clairemont Client News, In Our Community6th Annual Pittsboro Pepper Festival, Briar Chapel, Food Festivals, Green, North Carolina Festivals, Pepper Festival, Sustainability, The Abundance FoundationLeave a Comment on Pepping Up for Pepper Festival

Here at Clairemont, we love supporting the local community, and what better way to do that than to attend the 6th Annual Pepper Festival, which celebrates sustainable agriculture, farmers, renewable energy and the creativity of the Piedmont’s chefs, brewers and artisans?

The Pepper Festival, sponsored by The Abundance Foundation and hosted by Briar Chapel (client), is the epitome of peppery-goodness and love of all things local. What started in 2008 as a small gathering of friends and family tasting Farmer Doug’s different varieties of sweet bell peppers has today evolved into an epicurean spectacle involving more than 30 food and beverage masters, local farmers, artists, entertainers and more.

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The only rule for Pepper Festival? Come hungry! With the purchase of a ticket, you’ll receive an endless supply of pepper-themed dishes from some of the Piedmont’s best chefs, like those from Herons at The Umstead Hotel & Spa, 518 West and La Residence (better known as La Rez to our Chapel Hill folk). Additionally, you’ll have the chance to sip pepper-infused brews and local beers and wines from Top of the Hill, Carolina Brewery and Benjamin Vineyards & Winery, among others.

Plus, you can listen to live music from three great local bands (Big Fat Gap, Loamlands and Steph Stewart and the Boyfriends) and visit interactive displays for kids and adults about local farms, renewable energy and the abundance of great local food in and around the Triangle.

So, come on out to test your taste buds and expand your palate on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Boulder Park in Briar Chapel, Chapel Hill, N.C. Tickets are available for $30 prior to the event or for $35 at the gate. Bonus: kids under 12 get in free!

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We hope you’ll come celebrate and support The Abundance Foundation and our local farmers while the whole family enjoys great food, live music and just some plain ole fashioned fun all around!  And, with the likes of the menu listed below, who could resist attending this delicious event?

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Tasty Selections:

Cantina 18/18 Seaboard – Heritage Farms Pulled Pork Tostada with a sweet blocky bell pepper slaw and roasted jalapeno crema

518 West – Les trois Peppers: Humus, coulis and crostini

Angelina’s Kitchen – Roasted anaheim and poblano falafel and roasted sweet pepper hummus

Bean & Barrel – Spicy Smoked Pepper Chicken Gumbo

CCCC Natural Chef Culinary Program – Candied Pepper Meringue Cookies

City Tap Bar – Cornbread topped with fruit compote and Jalapeño whipped creme. Also serving a Pepper Pesto made with almonds, served on a corn chip.

Groundworkk/Following the Field – Habanero Bacon Brittle with a dollop of Hint-of-Ghost Maple Creme

Galloway Ridge – Peach & Habanero Jam, Raspberry/Pepper Jam & Hot Pepper Jelly

Glasshalfull – Pimento cheese crostini with pickled banana peppers and cherry pepper relish

Green Planet Catering – Sweet Potato Bisque w/Crispy Pork Belly and Pickled Peppers

Herons at The Umstead Hotel and Spa – Chilled Pepper Soup, Grilled NC Shrimp, Toasted Milk Bread, Melon Rind Preserves

La Residence – Chili Cured Bacon and Doughnut with Chili Caramel

Lilly Den Farm – Lilly Den All-Meat Chili (Classic no bean chili made with Lilly Den Farm beef tongue and heart, local vegetable, local beer, local honey and, of course, local peppers. Served with homemade tortilla chips and yogurt)

Lucky 32 – Pittsboro Pepper Chowchow on Corned Beef Tongue and Green Chile Pimento Cheese

Market Restaurant – Tobago Bread Pudding with a Chocolate mole sauce.

Mez – Pozolo Chili Verde: a rich savory stew of tomatillos, roasted poblanos and hominy served with a tortilla chip

Oakleaf – Five Herb & Tobago Pepper Infused Heritage Pork Brodetto, Anaheim Pepper Polenta

Rozelets – Jalapeño-Habañero Rozelets

Sitti – Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Sweet Bell Peppers

The Fearrington Granary – Country fried pork with sweet pepper jam

Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery – Carved Roast Beef sliders with assorted pepper condiments

Trali Irish Pub – Crostinis topped with Cheese from Chapel Hill Creamery, Sliced Beef from Cohen Farms and Pepper jam

Vivace – Gelee duo with spicy red hot and sweet Italian peppers paired with Goat Lady Dairy goat cheese.

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Beers, Spirits & Beverages:

Benjamin Vineyards & Winery – Selection of local wines

Crude Bitters & Soda – Poblano & Habañero Soda

Carolina Brewery – Selection of local beers

Yesteryear Brewing – Pepper beers

Four Saints Brewing Company – St. Augustine Jalapeño Rauchbier

Larry’s Beans –  Coffee!

Lone Rider Brewing Company – Tobago Beer

Mystery Brewing Company – Two cask ales: one with Hot Peppers, one with Sweet Peppers

Steel String Brewery – Pepper Cask Conditioned Ale [V, contains gluten]

Top of the Hill Brewery – TOPO Vodka Spicy Cucumber Lemonade, TOPO Piedmont Gin Fiery Watermelon, Indian Pepper Pale Ale

Whole Foods Water Bar – Specialty waters and kids’ drinks

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(photos courtesy of The Abundance Foundation)

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Green Thought Thursday: How to Recycle Old Magazines

May 31, 2012July 15, 2022 Josephine ButlerBlog, In Our Community, SustainabilityArtspace, crafts, DIY projects, how-to projects, old magazines, outdated magazines, projects, Raleigh, Recycle, recycling, Sustainability, upcycle1 Comment on Green Thought Thursday: How to Recycle Old Magazines

Today’s Green Thought Thursday is shared by Erica Amatori, our fabulous new summer intern who just graduated from Green Hope High School. Needless to say, we’re impressed by her ambition, writing skills and dedication to all things green!

Clairemont intern, Erin Kelley, helps organize a delivery of last year's magazines for Artspace!

Reading magazines may be fascinating the first few times, but the gossip gets old, fast. We are constantly buying more magazines and newspapers to feed our 24-hour news cycle, but, in the end, what do we do with all of these outdated magazines?

At Clairemont, we recently recycled our plethora of last year’s furniture and fashion magazines by donating them to Artspace in downtown Raleigh, where the recycled pages will be used for collages and other kid-friendly art projects.

Taking an easier approach, the city of Raleigh also approves magazines as acceptable recycling items.  So, dropping them off in the recycling bin is just fine, too.  But, if you’re feeling more creative than that, here are some original ways to reuse and recycle:

  • Turn magazine pages into stylish gift wrap
  • Donate them to a local school to use in a book sale
  • Shred the paper and make vibrant fillers or gift basket paper
  • Glue strips onto pieces of tile to create coasters
  • Produce funky jewelry or accessories, such as purses or beads
  • Donate them to a doctors office, nonprofit organization or hospital
  • Make homemade envelopes
  • Create handy and cute fridge magnets
  • And—something more ironic—use them to make your own trash can (or recycling can!)

Have fun this summer by starting a DIY project and turning something useless into something useful. Don’t be afraid to make a statement and convert old news into new projects. Did of any of these ideas strike your fancy? We’d love to hear how you plan to reuse your old magazines!

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Green Thought Thursday: Spring Cleaning

March 1, 2012July 15, 2022 Dana PhelpsBlog, SustainabilityClairemont Communications, eco-friendly, environment, Sustainability, sustainableLeave a Comment on Green Thought Thursday: Spring Cleaning

While Josie Butler is Clairemont’s resident Queen of Green, Margot Horgan has definitely been our blog post princess this week, educating our readers on a variety of topics. Today, Margot shares her own Green Thought Thursday with some Mother Earth-approved spring cleaning tips. Enjoy! –Dana

Image from lifeologia.

With only one week left in February, all of us southerners are almost through with our winter, which means 2 things: pollen and spring cleaning are right around the corner.

But before, we all grab our conventional cleaning products, which are riddled with chemicals, check out some of these green recipes for homemade cleaning solutions for common surfaces in the home:

  • Glass: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray on glass and wipe clean with old newspaper or a lint-free cloth.
  • Countertops and bathroom tile: Mix 2 parts vinegar and 1 part baking soda with 4 parts water. Apply with a sponge, scour, and wipe away.
  • Floors: Mix 4 cups of white distilled vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. If desired, add a few drops of pure peppermint or lemon oil for a pleasant scent. After damp mopping the floors, the smell of vinegar will dissipate quickly, leaving behind only the scent of the oil.
  • Wood furniture: Mix equal parts of lemon juice and olive oil. Apply a small amount to a cloth, and rub onto the furniture in long, even strokes.
  • Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect your toilet by scrubbing with borax instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet clean with straight vinegar.
  • Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar, 3 cups hot water and 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use a spray bottle. Wipe clean.
  • Mold and mildew: Wipe with straight vinegar.
  • Air freshener: Sprinkle essential oil on a cotton ball, and stash it in a corner of the room. If you have kids, make sure it is out of their reach as essential oils are very strong and could irritate their skin. Lavender is a relaxing scent that is great for bedrooms, and cinnamon, clove and citrus oils are great for the rest of the house. You can stash a few in the car, too—try peppermint, which may help you to stay alert.

To read some more green spring-cleaning tips check out sparkpeople.com. Will you try any of these eco-friendly cleaning solutions? How will you stay green when you do your spring cleaning this year?

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Doing Our Best at Doing Our Part

November 2, 2010July 15, 2022 Dana PhelpsBlog, Starting a business, SustainabilitySustainability3 Comments on Doing Our Best at Doing Our Part

Josie rides her bike to work!

 

My son has a little sing-songy expression that he sometimes uses when he’s working through a task: “Doin’ my best, just doin’ my best.” I think it is a good motto for most anything, and especially for individuals and companies trying to live a greener life.

 

When I launched Clairemont, I knew that I wanted our agency to be sustainably aware, and that I wanted to work with sustainable clients. Being green is largely about taking baby steps. I selected office space downtown Raleigh so that hopefully some employees could travel to and from the office without getting in a car (which has become a reality!) and so that we are in walking distance of lunch spots (our faves buy from local farmers), the bank, the post office, etc. to minimize during-the-day driving.

 

Upon opening the office, we’ve found other small ways to do our part including the implementation of a reusable cup policy, participation in our building’s recycling program and printing on carefully selected recycled paper only when printing is a must!

 

When Josie joined Clairemont, I gave her an extra title of Clairemont’s Green Ambassador. The fact that the way she lives her personal life demonstrates that she loves her Mother Earth warmed my heart during her interviews. From a professional perspective, I knew her experience of living in Asheville serving in the AmeriCorps Project Conserve with a focus on conservation issues in North Carolina’s mountainous region would be a great asset to Clairemont clients.

 

In the coming weeks, our Queen of Green will be sharing sustainable tips here on our blog. As we also continually seek ideas on how to protect the environment, please send us your thoughts so that we can keep on doing our best… just doing our best.

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