{"id":476,"date":"2015-09-05T09:22:24","date_gmt":"2015-09-05T13:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marialatimore.com\/?p=476"},"modified":"2018-06-12T06:14:09","modified_gmt":"2018-06-12T10:14:09","slug":"cero-anatomy-sustainable-investment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marialatimore.com\/general\/cero-anatomy-sustainable-investment\/","title":{"rendered":"CERO: Anatomy of a Sustainable Investment"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"

CERO\u2019s business model leverages a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulation that mandates that food-based businesses (restaurants, hospitals, etc.) that generate one ton or more of compostable trash per week must divert that organic waste from landfills and incineration.<\/p>\n

By selling its shares via a Direct Public Offering CERO was asking for the larger community to believe in and support its mission. My sisters and I did not invest in CERO to make money, but because the company\u2019s philosophy and good work positively impact our community and align with our values on environmental sustainability, worker empowerment, and community advocacy.<\/p>\n

We felt this was a WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN opportunity!<\/p>\n

WIN:<\/strong> CERO\u2019s clients get a reasonably priced service that picks up and handles compostable food waste allowing them to comply with the rules.<\/p>\n

WIN:<\/strong> The worker-owners have a stake in the company and are thus empowered and motivated to do everything possible to achieve success. Equally important, the workers are training within their communities for green jobs which will provide a higher quality of life for them and their families thereby enabling them to invest their earnings back into the community.<\/p>\n

WIN:<\/strong> The community has significantly less organic waste going into landfills and incinerators, which benefits the environment in immeasurable ways.<\/p>\n

WIN:<\/strong> The community and the planet are healthier, stronger and better for all living beings. That\u2019s a pretty good bottom line!<\/p>\n

As co-investors it was important that all of us understood what we were getting into and that our goals were consistent. To accomplish this, we drafted a simple agreement outlining the basics of our joint investment which among other items included the following:<\/p>\n