Viewing Tag: Environmental

So your company is “green?” Prove it.

by Laurel Turk

November 12th, 2009 in Environmental, Green Seal, Greenwashing

Going Green.

It’s hip. It’s trendy. It’s the “in” thing to do. Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious every day, and companies are scrambling to keep up with the demand for less waste, more recycling, and more eco-responsibility.

But how can a consumer be sure which companies are really taking their committment to the environment seriously, and which are just giving consumers lip service?

Good news for the good guys: Green Seal, the D.C.-based non-profit certification leader for green products and services, is launching a pilot Company Certification Program that offers the first — and only — holistic assessment of a company’s product line and its business operations. The new program builds on Green Seal’s development of 30 environmental standards and certification of over 3,500 green products and services, taking into account things like greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation, biodiversity impact and labor relations.

The assessments will be conducted by independent experts during on-site visits, and the company’s supply chain and major products will be under the microscope. Social and environmental impact studies will be taken into consideration as well.

This is good news for consumers: they’ll be able to feel good about giving business to companies they know are walking the talk.

This is good news for the companies that truly care about their impact on the environment: for the first time, they’ll be able to prove their claims. Consumer trust will skyrocket.

This is NOT such good news for companies that are just jumping on the green bandwagon: Green Seal (and consumers) will be all over you like white on rice. And you know the statistics, right? Consumers who have a positive experience with a company or brand might tell 2 or 3 people. But get on their bad side, and they’ll tell 10.

Bottom line is this: consider very carefully any green claims you make and your motivation for making them. If you’re trying to boost sales by catching a trend wave, this new certification is going to make things very difficult for you. But if your company is really committed to helping the environment — well then, prove it.

Comment (0)

Just say “No” to cheap plastic crap

by Laurel Turk

March 24th, 2008 in Environmental, Holiday, Recycling

The funny thing is, just a few years ago I wouldn’t have even thought about Easter being an environmentally-unfriendly holiday. But last night, as I took out an enormous garbage bag full of annoying Dollar-store toys from Grandma, plastic cellophane wrapping, and that awful green Easter grass that gets all over everything, I promised myself that next year we would just plant flowers for Easter. And use real eggs instead of plastic ones…and paper grass and real wood baskets.

 Ok, I know it’s too late to save Easter this year, but it’s never too late to curb our consumption of Cheap Plastic Crap. If you’re a parent, you know what I’m talking about: the Happy Meal toys, the rings, tops, balls and other assorted junk that your kids collect from birthday parties and candy vending machines.

 OrganicMania has a great post.

Comment (4)

Climate group focuses marketing efforts on shifting public opinion

by Laurel Turk

March 24th, 2008 in Climate Change, Environmental, Marketing

The Alliance for Climate Protection, better known as the non-profit behind former Vice President Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth,” is about to give the green bandwagon a big push. They’re investing $100 million a year over the next three years on a consumer marketing campaign that will focus not only on urgent environmental issues — but also on finding solutions to those issues. Says Gore, “The missing ingredient is the force of public opinion.”

The Martin Agency is looking to help the Alliance shift that tide.

Read more in today’s USA Today.  

Comment (0)

Local “Volt” blogger hosts GM execs at auto show

by Laurel Turk

March 20th, 2008 in Automotive, Blogging, Environmental, Volt

When he’s not doing brain surgery, 39-year-old New York neurologist Lyle Dennis blogs about the much anticipated Chevy Volt.

To say that his blog has been influential would be an understatement — it averages 100,000 visitors per month. GM’s execs were smart enough to recognize his influence, and accepted an invitation to host 300 consumers at the “Volt Nation” event at the New York Auto Show.

Read more…

Comment (0)