Putting The ECO back in ECOnomy

HSBC North American headquarters in Mettawa, Illinois

What if folks worked more by being at work less? I'm sure everyone has thought about how much more productive they'd be with a 4 day week, but now HSBC is taking that fantasy and turning it into policy.

The British Bank HSBC has set up their North American headquarters in Mettawa, Illinois (population 500.) The new building has been under contruction for the last 5 years, cost about $100 million, and is going for Gold LEED certification complete with a green roof, energy efficiency, grey water management, etc.

But the real kicker showing HSBC's commitment to sustainability is their work week: HSBC employees are allowed to work as many as two days a week at home to enable them to save time and money on commuting. Nearly 20 percent of the workers sometimes work at home.

Now that's ECOnomic incentive.

Phillipina Betty La Fea Works In Green Fashion

If anyone has access to TV channels from the Philippines, please let us know if this is for real: I Love Betty La Fea (Ugly Betty here in the States), takes place at a Green Fashion Agency?!

I Love Betty La Fea on ABS-CBN has Betty working at Eco Moda Agency. Now we GSpotters don't speak Tagalog, but Spanish is heavily integrated into the Phillipine vernacular, and Eco=Eco and Moda=Fashion so...

Prince Charles' Aston Martin Runs on Wine.... Yessir

I'm Royal, ya'll. Just fill me 'er up with a 1973 Chiraz

I mean, this article is just PhatAss: Prince Charles has an Aston Martin. No shock there. The shocker here is what's fueling his whip: English Wine.

When folks are making biofuels out of anything these days, doesn't MidEast oil just seem so passé?

3G iPhone: Greener Apple

Although they are the most bad Apple company around (hello product design, store layout, hotties staffing the Genius Bar), they aren't always the greenest Apple in the bunch.


But lo-and-behold it all, their new 3G iPhones come in biodegradable potato starch packaging. Solid, Steve Jobs!

PaperFoam even makes starch CD jewel cases

Dutch company PaperFoam has developed a technology to inject a mixture of starch and water into a mold, and create an affordable and perfectly comparable paper-like package. The process is not reliant upon oil, and so the prices do not depend on fluctuating oil prices. Now that's some novel s**t.

Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson Unify: WeCanSolveIt.org

While watching the guilty pleasureful promising new show "Lipstick Jungle" for free streaming online at Hulu.com, which is super boss if you haven't yet checked it out, we GSpotted the most stricking commercial. Pat Robertson and Al Sharpton sitting on a couch and advocating for We Can Solve It.

Just because they could get these two very different dudes on a couch and agree on something, we checked out WeCanSolveIt.org. This is part of Al Gore's a nonprofit, nonpartisan Alliance For Climate Protection to address the climate change.

Between Pat and Al, and other action based efforts like links to green collar jobs initiatives, We Can Solve It is a bomb website.

Goodwill Fashion Blog

How cool is this: Washington DC Goodwill Fashion Blog! For everyone who has ever found a Chloe top for for 4 bucks, Ralph Lauren Purple Label blazer for $8, and Earnest Sewn Jeans for $5 at their local Goodwill (yep, those are our personal bests) you will understand why a Goodwill Fashion Blog goes beyond necessary. That's right, it's time to spread the gospel of Goodwill.

Nau is Back, Biotches!!

When sweet outdoor sustainable apparel company Nau shut it's doors 6 weeks ago, and folks were bummed. Why? Because Nau was a company with killer designers (plucked from powerhouses like Nike and Patagonia), an awesome mission (fashion forward clothes), and hella mindful manufacturing processes.

Well let's all believe in goodness of the universe folks, cause Nau is back! Horny Toad, another mainstay in outdoor apparel, has purchased Nau and will help them learn the ropes. Just like Gspotting sister Alice looked out for us as as freshmen at Asheville High (she was a cool senior!), Horny Toad will make sure Nau stays in with the right crowd.