Breaking news from Marin County, California – a sex shop has been certified as a green business by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. Pleasures of the Heart represents one more industry that has decided to embrace green business practices. Who would expect this type of firm to be green? How could it be green? Well it is and let them capture more market share because of it. I might even be inclined to say with this happening we actually may have hit that green tipping point moment we’ve all been waiting for.  (Sorry, got a little carried away.)

The Marin County Board should be given some credit. Most towns in the U.S. especially here in puritan New England, want nothing to do with a sex shop. But in Marin any business is eligible. The criteria is based on a company documenting their use of recycled or energy-efficient materials, curbing water and utility use and reducing transportation pollution by encouraging workers to carpool or bike.  Pleasures of the Heart’s offerings include lingerie made of organic bamboo fabric, inventory of rechargeable sex toys, installing energy-saving lamps and a low-flow toilet.  The small business also uses recycled paper bags and tells vendors to ship fashions without plastic hangers. Lastly, owner Jennifer Islas and her two workers walk to work.

Besides Pleasures, the Marin Board approved twenty-three other small businesses with green certifications this past period.  In all they have approved more than two hundred businesses that meet the County’s standard for environment-friendly business practices. The program sounds really cool and should probably be replicated here in Connecticut.  As for Pleasures, congratulations on your achievement and sex shops have a whole new meaning for me now.   Thanks for the story.

Source: Marin Independent Journal

Filed under: Good Green Stuff, Green Business