Guest Author: Carrie Gaydos, Community Manager at VonChurch, Inc.
VonChurch, Inc. - a SF Green Business situated in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood is experimenting with a month-long zero waste campaign (Project Zero) starting...now.
VonChurch, Inc. is the first for-profit company in the San Francisco Bay Area to attempt a genuine zero waste campaign. For the month of March, the organization will be attempting to produce as close to zero waste as possible. Following a trip to the SF Recology Center and Transfer Station last summer, the staff pledged their effort. VonChurch is of the mind, putting the term "Green" on something might help people sleep at night, but it is not a solution. There is true passion behind the project. As an organization deep-rooted in the Digital Entertainment Industry, VonChurch could be part of the problem; the staff believe small changes in regular business practices and personal routines can make a difference. Little steps add up to make big change, they figure. By facilitating the project, VonChurch hopes to inspire a new audience - rather than preach to the choir.
How is VonChurch defining the term "zero waste"? Waste is garbage which would otherwise be going to the landfill. The ultimate goal is to have created an effective sense of awareness and to guide environmental decision-making.
VonChurch, Inc. equipped staff for success with a Project Zero survival kit (stainless steel water bottle, container for food, lunch box, and silverware). VonChurch connected with local Environmentalists to educate staff on proper waste management - recycling vs. compost vs. garbage. In February, VonChurch Community Manager reached out to Dogpatch restaurants and coffeeshops to explain the project and the lunch boxes. 
VonChurch is blogging for the duration of the month. The blog will discuss their experience and setup a blueprint for other companies, who might like to create their own Project Zero. Follow it here.
C.E.O., Alexander Churchill, and team measured their current daily waste, before March. "Because if we measure it, we can see the change. We know it is not going to be easy. In fact, we have the same issue most modern businesses face - people who don't care, don't know, or don't have the time to care or know. And we do not want to make the project a nightmare for staff, we want to create an environment in which it is just easier to do the right thing..."
The reality is: if people change the way they think for just a little while, and maybe start to take on some new habits, then the project will have had real success.
