Open letter to Susan Keef, Founder of eco-forward.com - A suggested licensing agreement.
Attn: Susan Keefe, Founder, https://www.eco-forward.com
An open letter and suggested licensing agreement
Dear Susan,
You've already done what so many try to fake: you built traction, reputation, and a clear voice behind the Eco-Forward™ name. The movement you've catalyzed deserves to scale — and scale ethically.
What follows is a proposal to help do just that.
🌿 A Suggested License Framework for Eco-Forward™ Operators
Eco-Forward™ is already a resonant name in the sustainable space. With a growing community hungry for clarity, credibility, and coherence, it may be time to formalize what Eco-Forward™ means — and how it can be carried responsibly by those aligned with your values.
We suggest a simple, voluntary brand licensing model, built around a few key principles:
✳️ The Core Promise
Operators who use the Eco-Forward™ name would agree to:
Rebuild topsoil through regenerative or permacultural methods
Prevent chemical runoff or toxic discharge
Protect water tables and air quality using natural buffers (e.g. root filtration, cover crops, rotational grazing)
Publicly communicate progress toward long-term ecological benchmarks
Operate transparently — with nothing to hide and nothing to greenwash
📄 The License Kit Includes:
A one-page CC-style license agreement for individual use
Optional signage templates (print + web)
Branding badge and digital collateral
A shared public directory or map of licensed operators
Language recommendations for packaging, websites, and investor decks
No legalese. No micromanaging. Just a clear identity for those doing things right.
🧱 Why It Works Now
Growing demand for regenerative proof without bureaucratic overhead
Brands, investors, and consumers want to believe again
“Organic” is saturated and costly — but Eco-Forward™ still feels personal, grassroots, and real
Aligns naturally with regenerative tourism, boutique agriculture, small towns, and even disaster-resilient land projects
🤝 Invitation to Collaborate
If this resonates, we’d love to help formalize the license, extend reach, or quietly support backend systems to help you scale without compromise.
Eco-Forward™ already has the name. The meaning. The seed of a movement.
Now let’s build a common flag others can raise with pride — without lowering the bar.
Warmly,
An Eco-Aligned Partner
🌱 Introducing the Eco-Forward™ Brand License: A New Standard for Earth-Friendly Farming
In a world full of greenwashing, it’s time to raise the bar with something real.
Eco-Forward™ is not just a label — it’s a commitment. A simple promise: that your farm, land project, or regenerative venture is building topsoil, protecting water, and doing business without shady shortcuts. No synthetic runoff. No soil abuse. No hidden harm. Just honest, clear, nature-aligned progress.
Today, we’re opening up the Eco-Forward™ Brand License to mission-aligned operators everywhere.
✅ What It Means to Be Eco-Forward™
If you're restoring land, filtering water through plants and soil, and building a better future one harvest at a time, you're already halfway there. This license makes it public. It gives you a clear identity. It signals to buyers, neighbors, lenders, and future partners that you're the real deal.
📜 What You Get:
Use of the Eco-Forward™ name and badge
A one-page license agreement with zero legal gymnastics
Optional toolkit add-ons for signage, packaging, and online use
Support for shared storytelling, visibility, and investor confidence
🤝 Who It’s For:
Small farms, family-run operations, micro-agrivillages, land stewards, start-up cooperatives, regenerative ranchers, and even urban growers with a mission.
💡 Why It Works:
No subscriptions. No hidden fees. Just a clear public commitment backed by a growing alliance of operators who care. When you wear the Eco-Forward™ badge, you’re telling the truth — and building trust that outlasts trends.
Get the license below, right here, right now:
🌱 Eco-Forward™ Brand Licensing Agreement
Version 1.0 – July 14, 2025
This agreement is entered into between:
Licensor: Eco-Forward™ Stewardship Collective
Licensee: [Farm / Organization Name]
Location: [Address or Coordinates]
PURPOSE
This agreement grants non-exclusive rights to use the Eco-Forward™ name and mark in good faith as part of the Licensee’s commitment to regenerative agriculture, environmental responsibility, and transparent farming practices.
1. LICENSE GRANT
Licensor grants Licensee a non-exclusive, revocable license to use the Eco-Forward™ name, symbol, and associated branding on:
Product packaging
On-site signage
Marketing materials (including digital and print)
Social media, websites, and other promotional platforms
This license is free of charge, contingent on adherence to the terms below.
2. CORE COMMITMENTS
Licensee agrees to:
Minimize harmful runoff (targeting zero synthetic discharge within 5 years)
Rebuild soil through cover crops, compost, rotational grazing, or similar practices
Avoid exploitative labor practices
Reduce synthetic chemical use wherever practical
Actively participate in local ecological and community-based farming ecosystems
Licensee must provide one-page documentation annually outlining practices and goals, posted publicly (on a website or at the farm).
3. HONESTY CLAUSE
The Eco-Forward™ mark is rooted in public trust. If a pattern of misrepresentation, greenwashing, or abuse is documented, the license will be revoked.
Licensee agrees to remove branding within 30 days of written notice of revocation.
4. TERM & RENEWAL
This license is valid for 12 months from the date of signing and renews automatically unless withdrawn by either party.
5. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Eco-Forward™ makes no warranties or guarantees about business performance or regulatory compliance. This is a voluntary branding and integrity agreement, not a legal certification.
6. GOVERNANCE
The Eco-Forward™ brand is stewarded by a volunteer collective and operates under Creative Commons-inspired principles. Disputes may be handled through peer-review processes or third-party mediation.
Signed:
Licensee Representative: _________________________
Date: ___________
Eco-Forward™ Steward (Licensor): _________________________
Date: ___________
Eco-Forward™ Brand Licensing Kit
Version 1.0 – July 14, 2025
Overview
The Eco-Forward™ License is a Creative Commons-inspired, good-faith licensing agreement designed to support farms and land stewards who actively pursue ecologically regenerative practices. It provides a lightweight, non-exclusive, and trust-centered way to distinguish operations committed to practical, honest sustainability.
This kit includes:
One-page license agreement
Usage guidelines
Annual reporting template
Revocation criteria
Optional visual badge package (upon request)
1. License Summary
Name: Eco-Forward™
Type: Non-exclusive, revocable
Term: 12 months, auto-renewing
Cost: $0.00 (integrity-based model)
Authority: Eco-Forward™ Stewardship Collective
Rights Granted:
Use the Eco-Forward™ name and mark on packaging, signage, marketing, and online media
Participate in the growing coalition of land-based projects under the Eco-Forward™ umbrella
Rights Reserved:
Licensor reserves the right to revoke branding if Licensee is credibly shown to be violating terms or acting in bad faith
2. Core Principles ("The 5 Commitments")
Licensee affirms active participation in the following:
Soil Rebuilding: Cover crops, composting, animal rotation, or analogous regenerative practice
Runoff Reduction: Zero discharge goal within 5 years (chemicals, sediment, nutrient loads)
Low-Exploit Labor: Transparent and fair treatment of workers
Synthetics Reduction: Discernible plan to minimize synthetic inputs
Community Orientation: Collaboration with nearby ecological or farming entities
3. Annual Report Template (1 Page Max)
Farm / Org Name:
Location:
Website or Public Info:
Summary of ecological practices:
Notable improvements this year:
Goals for the next year:
Must be published or made publicly available annually.
4. Visual Badge Use Guidelines
Allowed on:
Product packaging (when relevant)
Farmstands and signage
Social media and websites
Marketing collateral
Do not use on:
Products sourced externally unless clearly labeled
Misleading advertising or certification-like claims
5. Revocation & Peer Review
Brand use may be revoked if:
Practices contradict the 5 Commitments
There is repeated and credible complaint or evidence
Licensee refuses transparency or fails to publish report
Process includes:
Notification and opportunity to explain
Optional peer-review discussion
Graceful debranding window (30 days)
6. Optional Extensions
Licensing kits available for:
Hospitality (Eco-Forward™ Stay)
Manufacturing (Eco-Forward™ Build)
Retail (Eco-Forward™ Shop)
Area ambassadorship or community stewardship roles
7. Attribution & Future Stewardship
This license was created by a collective of regenerative thinkers, designers, and land stewards. Future versions and governance may be passed to a non-profit entity, co-op, or open-source community.
All uses must credit: "Eco-Forward™ is a project of the Eco-Forward Stewardship Collective."
Email: abramson.roger@gmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment