Le Plastique C'est Chic

In July 2012, internet articles and blogs talked about a house exhibited in Beirut made out of what was called Eco-Board panels. It was mentioned these boards were made in Lebanon out of 100% recycled plastic. But no other background information was available, neither on the internet nor on Cedar Environmental’s website – the company who manufactures these boards.
So ELHUB decided to take a closer look and headed to the mountains to meet a certain Ziad Abichaker, the contact person for Cedar Environmental.

Driving past Bickfaya towards Abou Mizane on a hot summer morning, we weren’t expecting anything much. What could Cedar Environmental be after all? Probably a group of self-righteous golden boys who quit banking in order to save the world. Or maybe some sort of public/private consortium spending away tax money on make-believe initiatives for a better future.

We could not have been further from the truth. [read more]

Interview About Zero Waste Philosophy - LBC SAT June 2012

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Cedar Environmental's CSR: Abou Mizan Quarry Rehabilitation

I sat in a meeting a couple of days ago talking about the strategy of Cedar Environmental (CE) in expanding its model of decentralized waste management.  The main interlocutor was a nice, civil young man who works for a corporate giant.  


During the course of the meeting I mentioned that CE has taken upon itself to rehabilitate the first quarry in Lebanon.  His immediate response was "what value does it bring to your company?" 


It's really hard to explain to corporate types that not everything in life is measured in currency units.  I left that meeting thinking about the Sioux Indian chief who after watching the US government deregulate mining to include forests and park areas said:

When all the trees have been cut down

When all the animals have been hunted

When all the waters are polluted

When all the air is unsafe to breath
Only then will they discover, they cannot eat money.

How about that for value ?

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