Bellingham's push for "Green" Businesses

The Northwest is known for being on the cutting edge of introducing and promoting sustainable practices. This is especially true with cities such as Bellingham where more and more environmentally responsible businesses are entering the market. Businesses such as the hempest are focused on providing customers apparel and other hemp related products made from renewable materials that are much better for the environment compare to what is readily available.

Barbo Furniture is another Bellingham Business that supports sustainable practices in every action of their operations.

“The Barbo Furniture store is where you will find some of the world's finest, well-made pieces of furniture. Many pieces are designed and artfully crafted in our own shop, bearing the well- deserved title "custom," since no two are ever alike."..."Our custom pieces are "Green/Sustainable," using FSC certified woods and time-honored construction practices. The manufactured furniture in our store is "Green" or "Emerging Green," because we believe we don't have the right to waste our natural resources or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us. We are also founding members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
-Holly Barbo

After walking through her store and speaking with Holly Barbo, co-owners of Barbo Furniture, I could not agree more, that her furniture is amazingly well crafted and unique. It is unique not just for its style and craftsmanship, but also for the ecologically friendly processed used during its production. The craftsmenship and qulity that goes into each piece of furnitue increase its longevity, and promotes it being past down from generation to generation rather than disposed of after a few years.

Rethreads is a used apparel store that both buys and sells clothing of all types. Increasing the life of clothing that would have been previously thrown out, and helping the community support itself by buying and selling to eachother, locally.

Food Co-op ues banners on the side of their building to display how the business differentiates itself vs. competeing grocery stores. They are making more pushes towards a community based on getting food that is organic, fresh, and harvested sustainably.

Also on the tour of sustainable businesses in Bellingham i stumbled across a family who had been getting around using a electric car. They mentioned to not notice a difference in their electrical bill after using the car, which in turn makes the car free eco-friendly transportation.