strategy choice. EDF has tended to focus on large, Fortune 100 companies for scale, influence, leadership. but small business may be nimble, innovative, have ability to demonstrate. Some companies have internalized green message so that employees know their values are internalized in the company.

how does EDF share & make applicable the lessons from work with WalMart, FedEx. can we package for use by small companies and how to we communicate/inculcate behavior/focus/mission from small companies to large companies.

not necessarily buying a small company or licensing technology - what are the small-big company opportunities.

e.g., Preserve partners to recycle Brita filters with bins at Whole Foods. we provide a service and they give us good press. in discussions with other companies but having problems because don't have resources to cope with big companies. Hope they will talk to us before they design their next product. Preserve Gimme 5 program with StonyField and Organic to recycle #5 plastics.

Preserve: 11 people, $5-6M sales, all from recycled products. profitable in 2007.

Cause marketing arrangements are difficult to, especially for small non-profits.

when small company is partnering with big company, the big company is focused on managing risk. big company staff is wondering "is this going to get me fired". when the small company can somehow reverse that - we'll take away this problem you have

EDF trying to broker deals with small & large organizations for truck purchase. try to generate money to cover premium, help find members to use funds, share information around opportunities. Bring together everyone in the supply chain to transform the industry so we go to direct competitors one our agreement is over.

small business "my footprint" argument echos developing country "you made the climate problem you fix it" argument. the goal of the small company should be to make it competitive advantage. then you teach the big company a lesson (by taking away customers). Christenson - find one thing you are better at then anyone else. then go poach the rest of the customers.

what can EDF do beyond partnerships that would encourage, nurture lots of partnerships:

• information - ability to see trends that i can't see. people will share information with you. e.g., chemicals, materials,
  
• dating service - top 10 things that need to be done, link small & large companies. nimble to big. make the introduction
  
• LCA data and approach. benchmarks, baselines, comparisons
  

Manufacturing Extension Partnership - Eureka Winning Ways - national innovation marketplace