Check out a great conversation we’re having about Denny’s Maple Bacon Sundae, and feel free to join us as we discuss where commerce and conscience collide and/or come together.

Ben and Jerry’s has announced a new limited edition batch of ice cream, “Schweddy Balls.” For the uninitiated, here’s the SNL skit it’s based upon:

It’s funny. Really, really funny.

Surely some people will be offended, right? Of course. Some people will are offended when you say “darn,” too.

I’d argue “Schweddy Balls” is responsible. The product packaging isn’t lewd or crude, and neither is the product. Boring marketing is irresponsible, and this ain’t boring.

And while Ben & Jerry’s is known for their controversial ice cream flavors, they are perhaps better known for their obsession with social and economic responsibility.

So what do you think of Ben & Jerry’s new “Schweddy Balls?”

We’re proud to receive recognition as a King County’s Best Workplace for Recycling and Waste Reduction once again this year.

We are honored to join five other Issaquah businesses that were recognized for their sustainable efforts including  The City of Issaquah, The Issaquah School District, Timber Ridge at Talus, Rowley Properties, and Pogacha.

This marks the fifth year we have been honored with the award, making us one of nine other companies in King County on the “Honor Roll.”

The following post was written by Jillian Ranney, an intern at Outsource Marketing.

I recently discovered The College Sustainability Report Card, a website that grades the sustainability efforts of universities and colleges across the US and Canada. I’m talking a true-blue report card here. Much to my delight, I was able to find my alma mater, WSU, and see what action is being taken around campus. It is incredible to learn what percentage of the food budget is actually being bought from local vendors that are grown, raised, produced, or processed within 150 miles of the campus.

Here’s what the schools were graded on:

• Administration
• Climate Change & Energy
• Food & Recycling
• Green Building
• Student Involvement
• Transportation
• Endowment Transparency
• Investment Priorities
• Shareholder Engagement

Most of these areas apply to business, as well. Take a look at the site and then tell me, would your organization get a passing grade?

Follow Jillian on Twitter, or connect on LinkedIn.

Each year, King County recognizes organizations that have made recycling and waste reduction a priority, so we’re honored to make the “Best Workplace for Recycling and Waste Reduction” list once again this year.

Instead of us telling you how, here’s an excerpt from the webpage listing this year’s recipients:

Outsource Marketing is a fourth-year Best Workplace that is building on past recycling and waste reduction efforts. In 2009, Outsource Marketing rebranded their business to better reflect its responsible approach to business and marketing. Most messaging is done electronically at Outsource. Instead of printing letterhead, notecards and envelopes that might go to waste, the new brand made it possible for it to print small, customized quantities in-house as needed. Old letterhead stationery was turned into notepads. A series of videos were also created to focus on recycling in the workplace.

Outsource Marketing’s printed collateral system consisting of a folder, mini-brochure and multiple insert sheets and cards was replaced by a customizable brochure that is printed and bound in-house using plain string. It has also been formatted so it looks great when delivered digitally. Outsource Marketing has increased its use of collaborative online tools, video conferencing, instant messaging and other technologies to increase waste-free communications. Each staff member has signed a “green pact,” promising to reduce, reuse and recycle where possible. In addition, Outsource Marketing continues to implement responsible, green marketing efforts for its clients.

Advice to others: “A project without a leader won’t get done. Appoint a ’green czar’ to lead initiatives and provide support to develop an empowered group. Take a look at marketing materials with an eye toward waste reduction. “

Would you like your organization to be a bit greener? Contact us and we’ll be happy to share a few tips with you.

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My gut says “never!” but my brain says “maybe.”

The fact is, trust requires both competence and character—two things BP lacks.

I know it’s early to ask, but if BP did the following things:

1. Successfully stopped the oil spill
2. Adequately cleaned up their mess
3. Proved they made their other rigs safe; and
4. Reinvested a large percentage of their profits into other renewable energy options

…would you be willing to give them a second chance?

I boycotted Exxon after the Valdez spill, so I’m on the fence on this one, folks. I’d have to see something pretty special from BP to get me to reconsider them.

How about you?

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Click here to enlarge

On Bing you’ll get:

British Petroleum · www.BP.com/GulfOfMexicoResponse
Get Info about the Gulf of Mexico Response Today

Yahoo:

BP – Info about the Gulf of Mexico Spill Learn More about How BP is Helping. www.bp.com/gulfofmexicoresponse

Normally, I’d say this is Responsible Marketing: Use paid search to share the positive and combat the negative. Bully for BP.

But where’s the competence? Where’s the character? I see neither and BP has lost my trust.

They’ve stumbled so badly, so often and on so many fronts this feels like a desperate ploy to manipulate public opinion. Actions speak louder than words and I’m no longer listening.

In fact, I’ve boycotted BP.

So what do you think? Does this feel like smart marketing or slimy spin?

And what will it take for BP to regain your trust?

Comment below to weigh in.

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Research has shown that for knowledge workers, using money as an incentive actually hurts performance. You read that right. If you want your team to really shine, give them a purpose:

View on YouTube

We’ve been talking about the marketing benefits of adding purpose to an organization since the beginning here. The research findings illustrated in Daniel Pink’s new book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us add another dimension to the argument:

If you want to fire up your employees, give them some personal freedom–and give them a purpose.

Know a company that’s managing and/or marketing with meaning? Share it here.

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That’s right. At a time when Apple could be cross-selling any number of their new offerings, they are using one of the four sandboxes on their homepage to share their supplier responsibility practices. You know, the info that’s typically buried in the “about us” section of a company website—if it exists at all.

Strategic posturing? Maybe.

But consider the timing: Apple is on the cusp of their biggest product launch since the iPhone.

And consider the real estate: Whatever the company puts on their homepage sells.

Apple realizes at a time when their fortunes are good and the stock price is up, maybe putting social responsibility up front just might the most responsible thing they can do.

That’s my take. What’s yours?

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We believe small things can have a big difference. That’s why printing on used paper and offering our guests a ‘glass’ of water, not a bottle, are all part of Outsource Marketing’s Green Pact.

This year Outsource Marketing is pleased to once again receive the award for Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction 2009 from the King County. This is our third consecutive year receiving the award since the program’s inception in 2007.

This small award is already making a big difference in workplace recycling programs. In 2009 the number of award recipients increased 30% with 65 businesses receiving the honor. Rather than be one of the select few, we hope to be one of the select many.

Visit KCSWD to find out how your workplace can get involved in its own commercial recycling program.

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Thanks to Steven Goodell for his assistance in drafting this post.