On A Mission to Create A Better World

My son, Max, is leaving six weeks from now on an L.D.S. (Mormon mission). I have great respect for his willingness to serve his church and his fellow man for two years -- this is a notable and willing sacrifice in many ways -- no dating, no time for sports, working 6 days a week 12 hours a day for no pay, and coming home two years behind in school. But I have confidence that he will come home wiser, stronger, full of knowledge that he could not have gained any other way, and with a bigger understanding of the world and it's people. How do I know this? I know because of the many, many return missionaries that I have met and listened to. It is the common outcome of uncommon faith and sacrifice.

As Max goes forth on his mission, I am re-energized on my mission which I've been on for the past six years. Saving the planet, no joke. One of the most exciting parts of my work life, is to be leading the sustainability efforts for FMI, which means helping our industry develop new practices and policies that will protect the planet and work to improve life on earth for all living things.

My work is a pleasure because I enjoy the camaraderie of people throughout the world that have a similar passion -- from such great places as World Wildlife Fund to Wal-Mart, Wegman's and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and many others. We are working together in unusual collaboration and trust to be the change that the world needs to see.

Our work spans the entire realm of all choices and business decisions made by people from the CEO to the store level cashier -- for example, how to source more sustainable products that use less natural resources; how to build "greener buildings" that reduce the use of hazardous materials and use less energy; how to help customers with questions on purchasing more sustainable seafood species; how to manage, control and reduce/eliminate waste -- and for waste that we can't avoid -- how to redirect that waste to beneficial uses. This is the tip of the iceberg.
We have a rapidly growing population which is challenging our supply and natural resources in dramatic ways that our world has never experienced. Time is of the essence and hard choices and complexity are the name of the game.

But the world -- whether it be companies, governments NGO's or individuals are responding in amazing ways in every aspect of the supply chain from global companies to mom and pop operations. One of the things that FMI and our Sustainability Executive Committee are doing is to help focus our industry on the most urgent priorities, and develop the tools and resources that our members most need to move forward faster with sustainability initiatives in their companies. Part of that includes helping to identify and share those stories, strategies and systems with each other -- and we are talking about companies that are usually competitors, sitting down at the table and working hard to develop and accomplish common goals that will benefit all.

Max and I have common goals. We recognize that our work is urgent, imperative, difficult, complicated, and that there will be many roadblocks, naysayers and unintended consequences. We're ok with that, because this mission is not about money, power, prestige or control. It's about doing what our hearts tell us is the most important thing we can do to give back to a world and a God that have given us everything.

Too long away from writing, so much has happened in my life since I started this blog when Max was near death in the hospital. Many changes, challenges and new opportunities have presented themselves! One of the best was my trip with Mom, Joni and Donna to the British Isles for three weeks last month. A never to forget trip with so much educational content my head is still swimming. I fell in love with each and every country we visited -- and gained a new appreciation for the rich and confusing history and great and noble people who created, nurtured and protected great literature of the world, and saved Christianity! I have become a lunatic for learning and it is a thrilling quest because after the 5th time of reading a book or watching my historical/cultural education videos I am starting to put the puzzle together. I am glad to be finally addicted to something I can take with me when I die. More later!!