Sustainability and a Certain Biodiesel Business

Longtime 2GreenEnergy commenter Brian McGowan offers this note about the merits of a biodiesel business that is local to him in the suburbs of Philadelphia:

Based on Craig’s description (of the term “sustainability), i.e.,  “We can all agree that sustainable processes are those that, a) can be continued indefinitely through time, b) result in a minimum of toxic byproducts, c) don’t abuse or exploit members of the human race, d) don’t pose a constant drain on finite natural resources without a way to replenish them and, e) don’t cause unacceptable amounts of damage elsewhere in the ecosystem.”

I can only say that this perfectly and accurately describes the operation of the business that started this whole conversation.

Thanks, Brian.  I’m sure that’s true.  Keep in mind, however, that some businesses have this intent, but fail at execution, occasionally because the basic math underlying the entire concept is sketchy.

To take an extreme example, I’m reminded of a business plan I reviewed a few years ago as part of my role on the Board of Advisors of the Clean Business Investment Summit.   It contemplated sending a driver around a city to pick up used coffee beans from the local Starbucks retail locations, for later transformation into biofertilizer.  It strikes me as impossible that this could possibly result in a “sustainable” business.

Again, I’m just making a point; I’m not comparing your business to that one.