Pressing Pause on Ecocentricity

By: John A. Lanier

The time has come to pause the regular distribution of this blog. As a parting post, I share one of the very last speeches that Ray Anderson gave to the people of Interface, and it has stood the test of time.

Nine years. That’s how long it has been since this blog came into existence. I’ve written over 300 posts, probably averaging about 700 words each. For those doing the math at home, that puts me north of 200,000 words hammered out on my keyboard. That’s a book, and not a short one. It’s admittedly less than half of War and Peace’s 587,000 words, but I think that says more about Leo Tolstoy than me. That dude could WRITE. But I digress. The point is, I think the time has come to give my fingers a rest.

I’ve decided to pause Ecocentricity, so for those of you who have subscribed (and thank you for that!), you won’t be receiving regular emails anymore. As for sparing your inbox…well, you’re welcome.

There is no need to unsubscribe though. When the mood strikes me, or when there is an environmental issue I simply can’t avoid, I will still sit down to write. We will send those out in the ordinary way, so I will still pop up in your inbox from time to time. All the same, I don’t know how frequent those blogs will be, and I don’t intend to set any goals for myself. Let’s just see how it goes, you and I.

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Reflections on the 2023 Georgia Climate Conference

By: John A. Lanier

The most recent edition of the Georgia Climate Conference was a resounding success. All of us at the Ray C. Anderson Foundation are grateful for the work that went into convening it. We came away inspired and reminded of how important it is to gather as a climate community.

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How a Breakthrough Anode Technology Is About to Level-Up Lithium Ion Batteries

By: John A. Lanier

In recent years, multiple companies have made promising progress on replacing graphite with silicon in the anodes of lithium ion batteries. In doing so, they are primed to significantly increase the performance of the battery type that is currently driving the transition to electrified transportation.

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The Latest Numbers from Lazard on the Levelized Cost of Energy

Whenever Lazard publishes their levelized cost of energy reports, I always dive in. I offer my takeaways below, but the bottom line is clear - the economics of renewable energy look really good.

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Regulating PFAS: Why We Can’t Just Put It All on the EPA

By: John A. Lanier

There is some recent regulatory news out of the EPA, focused on protecting our water supplies from some harmful chemicals. Unfortunately, asking the EPA to regulate these chemicals the traditional way won’t be effective. Instead, chemical manufacturers should be required to prove the safety of PFAS before they are allowed to bring them to the marketplace.

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A Factory Like a Forest: Interface and Biomimicry 3.8 Announce the Positive Performance Methodology

By: John A. Lanier

Ray Anderson and the people of Interface were pioneers in creating a model for corporate sustainability. We need corporations to go beyond that benchmark though, seeking ways to be regenerative enterprises. What might that framework look like? Interface and Biomimicry 3.8 have the answer, and it’s called the Positive Performance Methodology.

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Tips For Planning A Green Event

Guest Blog by Sue Anne Morgan, Founder and President, idealand, LLC

This blog originally appeared on the Drawdown Georgia website on March 1, 2023. Sue Anne Morgan, an Atlanta-based event planner from idealand shares her secrets and the lessons she's learned while conducting sustainable events, including the Foundation's annual RayDay event.

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How Recycling is Done Right: Lessons Learned at the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials

By: John A. Lanier

CHaRM is a remarkable materials collection facility in Atlanta. On a recent visit, I came away not only impressed by how many different types of products they recycle, but by the good work they do in educating people about how to properly keep stuff out of the landfill.

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The Cautionary Tale of Banana Farming, Panama Disease, and the Inherent Risks of Monocultures

By: John A. Lanier

For decades, banana farmers have tried to stay one step ahead of a fungus that is deadly to their crops. As that task becomes more difficult, farms will face the growing risk of the complete loss of their trees. This risk is one of the reasons that monoculture farming may not be the best way to go.

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The History of Steelmaking, and Why It Has a Long Way Yet To Go

By: John A. Lanier

Humans have been making steel for more than two millennia. In its modern form and scale though, steel is responsible for a significant portion of annual carbon dioxide emissions. The whole industry will need to adopt a range of technologies and practices to reduce its negative impact, and steel recycling companies are helping to lead the way.

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