Two are building a better tomorrow

I understand in a world of high utility prices, climbing gas prices, water and air pollution, increasing air temperatures threatening the very planet on which we live, it’s quite easy to become overwhelmed. Sometimes I wonder how we all get out of bed in the morning.

If you’re over the age of 30 or 35, you probably remember the world in a much different light than how it seems to be going today. I often wonder what the future holds for our children, and theirs. It’s good that hope, tenacity and optimism often belong to youth.

I was reading about two young men, Jack Short and Daniel Lyons, who are pre-medical students at the University of Missouri. After studying in Europe, they were impacted by the lifestyle differences there. “People weren’t just talking about the problems, they were living the solutions.” There was a different attitude across the ocean. Citizens actually make changes that impact the environment.

Upon their return to campus, they decided to make some changes themselves. They started learning everything they could about running a Green business, and the concept of Factory Green was born.

Factory Green is their Internet company carrying organic and bamboo clothing, and other accessories and housewares. The clothing is chosen by manufacturing companies that use 90 percent solar and wind power. Since a college campus has a plethora of people with some “free time,” Factory Green employs about 15 students to assist with graphic design for the clothing and advertising. A couple of the designs may be a bit uncouth, but hey, college kids are in their rebellious stage of life – right!

Housewares offered at www.Factorygreen.com are chosen by companies that use recycled materials and sustainable practices. The average item at this site is less than $20, so not only are they easy on the environment, they’re easy on the pocketbook, perfect for the 18- to 24-year-old target audience.

They’ve taken the recycling message to heart, using old school newspapers for packing the shipping boxes. All other packaging materials and packing slips are of recycled materials, or are themselves recyclable.

It’s easy enough for any of us to feel badly about the way things are going in the world today. It’s another to enact a change and try to make things better where you can. That’s what Factory Green is really all about. To further this change, a percentage of each sale is donated to the United Nations Water for Life Campaign. (The primary goal of that campaign is to promote efforts to fulfill international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015. Clean, accessible water is considered an urgent matter of human development, and human dignity.)

My hat is off to Jack and Daniel. I believe they will go far in life. I applaud their fortitude and willingness “to be the change you want to see in the world.”

Now, I need to go back to their Web site and see if there’s one more grocery tote bag I might need ...