Aaron Newport

With less than three weeks under my belt as part of the GreenEarth Team, I stepped foot onto the Clean Show floor for the first time bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. And man, I have to be honest, I was blown away. Let’s just say, that is not what your customer envisions when they hear the words “dry cleaning.” It is quite the spectacle, and what an exciting introduction into the industry! Digital marketing is a world I understood, but I was eager to learn everything I could about dry cleaning to better serve our Affiliates as well as the GreenEarth Brand as a whole. Lucky for me, I was surrounded by the incredible team at GreenEarth to show me the ropes. Over the last four years and some months, I’ve learned invaluable lessons from not only our team here but also our Affiliates around the globe. As I grew to understand the work and passion that has gone into building the brand that is GreenEarth Cleaning over the last 20 years and how much that brand means to our Affiliates and their customers, my own passion for the brand grew. I can recall discovering some misinformation on Wikipedia in my first couple of months and entering into a “wikiwar” with one of their content managers. My blood was boiling and I could feel the steam rolling out of my ears. That might be the moment when I realized this was a brand I really cared about and felt compelled to do my part in its continued growth. Preventing toxic chemicals entering the environment, reducing landfill waste, and eliminating air pollution are goals GreenEarth Cleaning set out to achieve 20 years ago. Sharing the desire to minimize our carbon footprint has been the key ingredient in building our brand, not only in the garment care industry but also in the garment manufacturing industry, the commercial real estate industry, and especially in our efforts marketing to the dry cleaning customer—the end user. We are seeing more and more care labels recommending GreenEarth, more and more landlords accepting GreenEarth as the only dry cleaning option on their properties, and more and more customers searching for cleaners near them using GreenEarth on our Store Locator. We’re accomplishing this recognition through social media, PR, digital ad campaigns, philanthropic efforts to support organizations like Bridging The Gap, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Water.Org, and most importantly, our Affiliate Network. Over 2,000 dry cleaners around the world using GreenEarth to effectively clean all types of garments and fabrics in a way that is safe for them, their employees, and their customers kind of says it all. Long story short, my experience in marketing and digital advertising led me to GreenEarth, and I couldn’t have planned it better myself. I get to work with an amazing team of people, the best dry cleaners in the world, and do what I love to do. When the product speaks for itself, it makes the marketing guy’s job a lot easier!

I’m usually stuffing my face with turkey and mashed potatoes, then watching football while I lie on the couch in a food coma during Thanksgiving, but this year I had the pleasure of experiencing a bit of Portuguese culture over the extended break. And what an interesting and thought-provoking culture it is! The city of Lisbon is riddled with artists and storytellers, all sharing the tragic memories of their past and warning of future catastrophes we can all see slowly occurring right before our eyes. A cry to save the ocean was loud and clear at the Museum of Art, Architecture, & Technology (MAAT). As attendees to MAAT enter the breathtaking, futuristic building, the installation that immediately grabs their undivided attention is titled “Over Flow,” a work created by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata. Most spectators’ initial thought is undoubtedly “Why is there a pile of garbage in the art museum?” But as those onlookers continue to gaze upon the installation, they start to recognize its intricate placement and repetitive nuances. Rounding the corner, down the ramp, beneath the net of garbage, the shadows create an underwater-like environment; sunken boats rest on the lower level, below a net of rubbish and unacceptable truth. One immediately realizes the powerful message behind the work. Kawamata worked in collaboration for over a year with a large network of local organizations and volunteers, gathering trash from around the beaches of Lisbon and assembling the piece of art square by square in a strategically thought-out pattern, to help create this awe-inspiring, truly immersive installation. “Over Flow” raises awareness to an ongoing problem, which could result in catastrophe. The only thing I could think while standing engulfed in the artist-created seascape of garbage was “We can do better; we have to do better.” I think Kawamata accomplished his mission. The post Save the Ocean Through Art appeared first on GreenEarth Cleaning.

Tailgating is one of America’s favorite pastimes and rightfully so! Tailgating brings communities together, encourages outdoor activity, and it’s just plain fun. There is one draw back, however; some of our tailgating traditions are simply horrible for the environment. Not to fret, there are steps tailgaters can take which will allow for full enjoyment of those weekend parking lot shenanigans, yet still honor dedication to a minimal carbon footprint. Follow these simple steps and achieve the ever so coveted Green Star Tailgater status. Be like Aaron Rodgers, produce zero garbage After every game, several thousand plastic cups, plates, utensils, etc., create a sea of trash.  Ditch the disposable products; it’s really not that hard. No one is asking anyone to pull out his or her finest china. Go and get some cheap, reusable, unbreakable dishes from literally ANY department store. Designate the set “tailgating supplies” and continue to use them every time a tailgating shindig comes up. It’ll save a lot of money in the long run too. Recycle beer cans, like the Patriots recycle players Of course it’s tough to avoid beer cans and/or bottles while tailgating. There will be beer; yes, there will be lots of beer. Save what must be thrown away in a trash bag and drop them off at the local recycling plant, or for most cities in the U.S., just leave it out near the sidewalk. Tailgaters can successfully party garbage free by using reusable products and recycling the rest. Challenge accepted? Pick food choices carefully, like Richard Sherman picks passes! Tailgaters have more sustainable food options than Kansas City Chiefs’ QB, Patrick Mahomes, has on Sunday. Purchase food in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging. Chip in with those tailgating accomplices–buy food in large quantities to save some green while going green. Make food from home, again using reusable containers for transporting–NO GARBAGE! Only buy food from stores sold in packaging that can be recycled, like paper. Root for the home team and buy local! Buying local supports the local economy and reduces emissions and packaging needed for transporting products from a greater distance. Lastly, propane is SO MUCH better than charcoal for grilling, is this really still a debate? Seriously, use propane. Take Jerome Bettis Take the bus! Reducing the number of vehicles on the road reduces congestion and air pollution, optimizing lung capacity, so fans can cheer on their team for all 4 quarters. Realizing, some tailgaters have a lot to carry with them, in which case, carpooling is another environmentally conscious option. Certainly the crew can optimize car space and minimize the number of cars. Now go earn that Green Star Tailgater status! The post It’s tailgating time! But can we keep it green? appeared first on GreenEarth Cleaning.