Spotlight Sponsor: BROOKLYN BREWERY

Our video feature this week spotlights Think Social Drink Local’s exclusive beer sponsor: BROOKLYN BREWERY. Located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Brewery has been serving the New York City area for over 20 years, and today it is one of America’s top 40 breweries. In 2003, it became the first NYC company to switch to 100% wind-generated electricity.

Learn more about sustainable brewing and get a virtual tour of the brewery from founder Steve Hindy, in a video feature made by Stern’s very own Manuel Morales and Orson Robbins-Pianka here.

Spotlight Sponsor: POSTURE MAGNETIC

Our video feature this week spotlights POSTURE MAGNETIC, an apparel design house dedicated to Men’s and Women’s clothing, inspired by the latest in “fashion-forward” design and produced with sustainable materials.  Posture Magnetic is best known for its amazing graphic tees.

Learn what it means to design sustainably from Designer and General Manager, Brian Erickson, in this video feature made by Stern’s very own Camila Jimenez Villa!

The upcoming Think Social, Drink Local event features your favorite:  An all-you-can-drink open bar, including spirits from our exclusive vodka sponsor, Crop Harvest Earth Vodkas. 

Launched two years ago by Chatham Imports, Inc., a small producer and importer of wine and spirits, Crop Vodka is the company’s first foray into organic goods. 

The vodka features a clean and pure taste, which comes from the unique treatment of its ingredients.  The grain comes from U.S. producers, and is grown in soil free of fertilizers, pesticides and chemicals.  Additionally, the clean taste comes from Crop’s distillation process, which has no carbon treatment or charcoal filters leaving a bad taste in liquor. 

“While we continually look for new ideas, it’s nice to have developed an organic brand which allows us to, in our own small way, contribute to sustainability and protection of the environment,” Connie Kam, Director of Marketing for Chatham Imports, said.  “The way we view it, it’s all the little things that will add up to create a big impact on the health of our planet.” 

You can try Crop Organic Vodka at local eateries like Balthazar, Butter, Dell’anima, and the Bowery Hotel, but why wait?  Crop Organic Vdka will be poured all night long at Think Social, Drink Local!

On Friday, March 5, from 8 p.m. to midnight, 600 of your closest friends will gather at The Altman Building to learn more about local sustainably-minded organizations and imbibe in the spirits of our sponsor, as well as others like Brooklyn Brewery.  You’ll also see a unique eco-fashion show presented by the Luxury & Retail Club, and have the chance to win prizes from local and socially-minded companies.  This is an event that you don’t want to miss!

By Julia Lamm (Stern ‘11)

Sponsor Spotlight: INDEGO AFRICA

Our first video spotlight takes a look at one of our amazing sponsors, INDEGO AFRICA — a simple yet powerful social enterprise that partners with cooperatives in Rwanda and sells their amazing fair trade handicrafts to retailers across the U.S. and online. Indego Africa pays each woman a fair wage and returns 100% of the profits for culturally-tailored training programs in business management, entrepreneurship, organic gardening, computer skills, and literacy.

Learn more from Matt and Ben of Indego Africa, in this video feature made by Stern’s very own Orson Robbins-Pianka!

What is sustainable brewing?  What is eco-fashion?  What are eco-friendly products?

As we learned in core strategy, maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage is the only way to succeed in the long-term.  So, why would you choose anything else but a sustainably brewed beer?  Or sustainably sourced materials and clothing?  It’s not as hard as you think to reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying the lifestyle to which business school has made you accustomed. 

On average, the production of one barrel of beer requires 1500 gallons of water and 50kWh of energy (or 2300g of carbon).  That means that a 12 oz. can of beer uses 2.8 liters of water and 9g of carbon.  Because of this, many breweries are beginning to make changes to their production processes in order to lower their carbon footprints.  For instance, Brooklyn Brewery in New York City (the exclusive beer sponsor of Think Social, Drink Local) was one of the first breweries to run its plant solely on wind power.  New Belgium Brewing Company (Fat Tire) in Colorado recovers heat created during the fermenting process to generate hot water for brewing and cleaning tanks and is working towards a 20% reduction in its water use.  Sustainable brewing is lowering and trying to eliminate a carbon footprint while providing all of us with delicious beverages.

Another startling fact: over 8000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into textiles and 25% of the world’s pesticides are used to grow non-organic cotton.  Eco-fashion aims to produce articles that consider environmental and social impact throughout the life of the garment.  According to Vogue magazine, eco-fashion isn’t a short-term trend.  Portland Fashion Week has been producing a 100% eco-friendly fashion week for the last five years.  This trend is continuing to draw attention with designers like Stella McCartney, Rogan Gregory, Peter Ingwersen and Bono all developing socially conscious and environmentally friendly fashion.  Simply considering what materials you purchase can impact your carbon footprint and make you more socially responsible.

Reducing your own carbon footprint and paying a little bit more attention to sustainability is a lot easier than you think.  As SEA’s annual Think Social, Drink Local draws closer, take an opportunity to learn about some local companies and products striving to do just that.  Keep an eye out for videos and articles that profile our event sponsors, and explore sustainability and social enterprise in the workplace.

By Alisa Baker (Stern ‘10)

THINK SOCIAL, DRINK LOCAL 2010 — tickets on sale Thursday, February 18th.

Buy yours before they sell out!!!!

Coming Friday, March 5…Think Social, Drink Local!

Don’t miss this biggest, most socially-responsible event of the year! Tickets to Think Social, Drink Local go on sale Thursday, February 18 through CampusGroups!

Stay tuned to this blog for exciting updates about the event in the coming weeks!