Making Sustainable Ownership and Distribution Accessible Thanks for the invite VRA, Nathaniel Townley. I want to establish myself as a non-expert.  Don't expect to be impressed with facts or figures. I jumped on the bandwagon. I am a freshman in this industry, so this report will be more like "what I did last summer" as opposed to a doctoral dissertation. For me it started with a book by Muhammad Yunus, "Creating a World without Poverty." I was fascinated by the prospect and possibility of being able to build a money making business that served a social need. Gregory Korthase 5.05.09

The Story How we got to Etreev Experience in the Self Storage Industry.   Americans have way too much "stuff," and they don't know what to do with it. Experience in the Non-Profit Sector There are People in this world that would cherish the things we trip over. First time I fixed a door, what I found, and what they were paying. When we build a new building on an existing site, no dumpster over the weekend... I learned that... Non-Profit I had a card table for a desk, and was editing massive documents with a laptop that didn't have a working mouse. I saw that there were people that had stuff, and people that needed stuff, and there wasn't a free flow between the two.

There has to be a better way Sustainable Ownership and Distribution Definition, "Maximizing the usefulness of the items we own, and responsibly distributing the items we no longer need." Our goal is "Cradle to Cradle." Options are available, but they aren't always convenient.   We need Creativity to make Reuse Accessible and Affordable. This drove us to begin to explore ideas to make, what we call S.O.D. accessible. It has to be accessible and affordable for it to be practiced. Define "Cradle to Cradle" as ultimate. We are busy, it is difficult for us to walk across the street to recycle. We are looking for creative ways to bring the metaphorical recycle bin to this side of the street.

How do we make it a lifestyle? It takes a team Our Decisions as Consumers create the System in which we live. Our Decisions as "Distributors" create the environment in which the Poor and Less Fortunate live. Obviously, if I buy the gas guzzling hummer, I am telling the company to make more. If I buy the toy that breaks in a week... When we throw away items that can be used, it has three negative effects (beyond methane and land waste): It drives the price of new items up. It removes opportunities for jobs. It robs someone of the opportunity to reuse it  e.g. computers in Africa. Shoes Guitars If you have two coats...

The Truck Part 2 This is just for fun, but a great example of a different way of life... a better way. Cute picture of my son and my Dad.

The Truck Part 1 This is me in the same truck. This was my Father's toy when he was a boy. This captures the idea that, as consumers, we need to invest in things that last.

References www.thestoryofstuff.com Green Collar Economy, Van Jones Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough & Michael Braungart

Contact Info gregory@etreev.com