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Story by Susan O'Connor, Photos by Dero Sanford

Len Pipkin is a man on a “green” mission. In the past several years he has not only worked to implement environmentally friendly practices into his business, Massanelli’s Cleaners and Laundry, but has traveled countless miles across the U.S. educating himself about green issues, most specifically renewable energy.
A Memphis native and educator himself with a master’s degree in exceptional student education from Barry University in Miami, Pipkin now is educating others about sustainable energy — all on a volunteer basis.

“We have to take ownership of where we are — whether we are responsible for it or not,” said the exceedingly articulate former U.S. Marine. “We must set a course of where we want to go and do whatever is necessary to make it happen.”

Pipkin’s mission started with Massanelli’s and has evolved from there.
“We have, and continue to use, a natural petroleum solvent,” Pipkin said. “The solvent is gentle without sacrificing its cleaning capabilities, making it superior for our clothes and safer for the environment. Green will slowly be incorporated into every facet of Massanelli’s Cleaners, which is leading the small business community in awareness and commitment to the environment.”

Massanelli’s uses this biodegradable solvent as opposed to perchloroethylene, a potential carcinogen used by many dry cleaners nationwide.

Other examples of the business’ green bent are: painting with low VOC materials; using low-energy light bulbs exclusively via a green procurement arrangement with all vendors; recycling hangers to a much greater degree; giving customers reusable delivery bags; and offering the choice of degradable poly bags or no bags on cleaned garments.

But much more interesting than green dry cleaning is Pipkin’s true passion: working in every way possible to make a difference in the world around him through action and education.

“It is just a right and worthy cause, whether I’m able see the results in my lifetime or not,” he said of his efforts. “My kids and grandkids and the community will reap the benefits.”

Last year was a blur of travel for Pipkin, including the following “green” itineraries:

• July 2008 — Leadership program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo. Sessions covered topics such as renewable utility applications, biofuels and transportation and energy efficient building applications, as well as in-depth review of future energy markets and analysis tools for renewable energy and energy efficiency applications.

• September 2008 — Green Jobs Now rally in Little Rock, a networking fair that offered students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock an opportunity to investigate employment opportunities offered by sustainable companies that are part of the growing movement to curb greenhouse gas emissions, eliminate toxins and protect natural systems.

• November 2008 — Green Festival in Washington, D.C., a joint project of the Global Exchange and Green America that celebrated what is working throughout this country for people, business and the environment.

Pipkin also attended the Net Impact North America Conference in Philadelphia, a symposium that featured speakers on such topics as corporate social responsibility, energy and the environment, international development, social impact finance and social entrepreneurship.

Also in November, in an effort to help procure international institutions willing to partner with institutions of higher learning in Arkansas, Pipkin attended the U.S-European Union workshop in Atlanta, securing one of approximately 300 lay seats at the conference.

“In an increasingly globalized economy, science and technology careers extend beyond national boundaries,” he explained. “Universities and research institutes worldwide are addressing these developments by setting up exchange programs, double and/or joint degrees and foreign campuses. Several EU-U.S. co-operation ventures promote the training and mobility of researchers and are likely to be further developed.

• February 2009 — meeting with Sen. Blanche Lincoln in Washington, D.C., to “lobby for our state’s fair share of the stimulus/reinvestment package.”

• March 2009 — Pipkin was invited to speak to business students and staff at UALR concerning “ethical, scrupulous, environmentally friendly business practices and philosophies, the state of renewable energy sectors within Arkansas and a basic, extemporaneous discussion on what trends I see, what opportunities should manifest and where I would position myself as an entrepreneur ahead of the ‘green’ boom to be arriving within our state over the next 12 to 24 months, then logically taking the trends five years, 10 years, 20 years, etc.”

Chair of Arkansas’ Renewable Energy Division environmental education and outreach committee, Pipkin feels strongly about his cause, and points to serious consequences for future generations if we fail to live responsibly today.

“Folks, if we truly desire for our children and grandchildren to live in a tangible, actualized 21st century community, it’s incumbent upon those in seats imbued with decision-making authority to make it so. This isn’t rocket science — it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. One ending is auspicious, indeed; the other having irrevocable and irreversible outcomes.”