Jeff Golfman
Jeff Golfman | |
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Born | (1968-05-13) May 13, 1968 (age 56) Vancouver, British Columbia |
Nationality | Canadian |
Occupation | Entrepreneur |
Years active | 1990–present |
Jeff Golfman (born May 13, 1968) is a Canadian businessman, entrepreneur, inventor and author.
Background
Golfman was born on May 13, 1968, in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, and the Ivey Business School at University of Western Ontario.
Career
In 1990, Golfman started the Blue Box curbside recycling program in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[1] In January 1998, Golfman and Woody Harrelson co-founded Prairie Paper, whose goal was to manufacture paper from wheat straw waste.[1] The company's "Step Forward Paper" is made of 80 percent wheat straw waste and 20 percent wood fiber.[2][3] In 2012, Golfman patented a method for manufacturing solely nonwood fiber paper.[4] Golfman served as president of Prairie Paper until August 2015.[5]
In December 2015, Golfman founded The Raw Office, a drop-ship reseller of environmentally friendly office supplies.[6] In 2016, Golfman joined the Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA) as an advisory board member.[7]
Philanthropy
In 1991 Golfman founded Green Kids, Inc., a nonprofit live theatre group which helps educate young people on environmental subjects.[1] In 2017 Golfman organized a fundraiser for Margaret's Housing and Community Support Services, raising about $177,000.[8]
Awards and publications
In 2009, Golfman received the Silver Lining Award for Pulse Furniture. In 2013 Golfman was awarded the 3M Environmental Innovation Award by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society for his work in Prairie Paper.[9]
In 2013 Golfman published a book, The Cool Vegetarian; he also publishes a blog by the same name.[1][10] Also in 2013, Golfman was one of four Manitobans nominated for the Manning Innovation Awards.[11]
In 2016, he was a finalist for the Brightlane Entrepreneur Awards for The Raw Office.[12]
Golfman has also been a guest writer at Entrepreneur since 2016.[13]
Other awards include the Federal Business Development Bank's Entrepreneur of the Year award, the Sustainable Development Award of Excellence, and the 2012 Envirokidz Giving Back Award.[14][15]
References
- ^ a b c d Joel Schlesinger (May 22, 2015). "When Woody Harrelson called, eco-entrepreneur answered". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ Schawbel, Dan (June 24, 2013). "Woody Harrelson: Reinventing The Way Paper Is Made With Only 20% Wood". Forbes. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ "What Do Woody And Winnipeg Have In Common? Paper Made From Wheat". CBC News. June 24, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ US Patent 20120006501 A1, Method for Preparing Nonwood Fiber Paper. January 12, 2012.
- ^ Robert Amason (October 13, 2016). "Straw to paper idea survives: Prairie Paper hopes to do a feasibility study for a straw based paper pulp plant in Manitoba". The Western Producer. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ "The Raw Office Makes Eco-Forward Office Supplies Accessible for North American Companies". Marketwired. February 22, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ "Jeff Golfman – New CFPA Advisory Board Member". South Carolina Magazine. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ "B Corporations are coming together as a force for good in Toronto". Margaret's. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ "2013 Winner - Jeff Golfman". Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ Jerry James Stone (April 18, 2011). "Green Festival SF: Zoe Weil Interviews the Cool Vegetarian, Jeff Golfman". Treehugger. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ "Four Manitobans nominated for national innovation award". Winnipeg Free Press. May 22, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ "2015/2016 BrightLane Entrepreneur Awards". Brightlane. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ "Jeff Golfman". Entrepreneur. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ Huspeni, Andrea. "Have a Burning Business Question? Ask Our Entrepreneur Expert: Jeff Golfman". Entrepreneur. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- ^ "Speakers". BioFibe 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2017.