Honest TeaEO out to save the world

Seth Goldman, better known as founder of Bethesda-based Honest Tea, seems to be single-handedly taking on global warming - at least, inside the (Washington) beltway.

Goldman hosted a press conference this afternoon (with special guests MoCo Executive Ike Leggett and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown) to show off Honest Tea's new eco-friendly office space in downtown Bethesda and to announce the creation of the "Bethesda Green Zone."

It should be noted that many of the attendees were most concerned with getting their hot little hands on a pomegranate white tea with acai.

But I digress.

Truly "in the zone," Goldman and Honest Tea seem to be leading the environmental effort, setting goals of additional bike racks for Bethesda employees' use and converting area restaurants' waste grease into biodiesel fuel.

Anthony Brown hit the nail on the head when he remarked:

"[The O'Malley-Brown Administration is] trying to make advances in healthcare - you're doing it; trying to make advances in business development - you're doing it; trying to make advancements in environment and energy - and you guys are doing it."

Brown chuckled as he went on to say, "You're really holding the governor's feet to the fire."

Is it time for area business leaders to become community leaders - and partner with the state on issues like the environment?

As Seth Goldman seems to advocate, do small businesses have an inherent social responsibility?

If so, tell us what your business is doing on this front. If not, tell us why.

Above: Seth Goldman poses outside the old Honest Tea office on Wilson Lane in Bethesda.

-JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor