CorporateResponsibility.Net

It’s true, as GreenBiz.com executive editor Joel Makower wrote last month, that even during rough economic times like these, marketers’ surveys of consumers almost always report exceedingly optimistic returns of how likely shoppers are to choose green products.

Whether or not that assessment is true, three new reports out in recent days certainly continue the trend: reports from Forrester Research, the Carbon Trust Standard and IRI find anywhere from 15 to 62 percent of shoppers in the U.S. and U.K. take environmental considerations to heart before they purchase a product or service. Read more

Source: GreenBiz.com

As the country anticipates Barack Obama’s inauguration this week, wondering if he can turn the economy around, marketers touting environmental messages wonder what the new presidency will mean for green marketing.

While the green movement appears to have an ally in Obama, who is pushing for funding of alternative energies and sustain­able industries, green marketing is showing signs of waning interest from consumers after reaching a high point last year.

“The first half of 2008 was prob­ably the peak of green marketing,” said Russ Meyer, chief strategy offi­cer at agency Landor Associates, pointing to examples such as the launch of Clorox Green Works, a line of eco-friendly cleaning prod­ucts, and the significant media sup­port behind green products. Read more

Source: DMNews

Apple’s launch of new green products at this week’s Macworld show has been overshadowed by the company’s attempts to quash shareholder requests for more corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting.

The company issued a proxy filing on Wednesday in which it urged shareholders to vote against a shareholder resolution proposed by As You Sow, an environmental group co-sponsored by the New York City Office of the Comptroller and the Green Century Equity Fund.

The resolution would require the company to publish a CSR report detailing its approach to greenhouse gas emissions, toxics and recycling by July this year. The report would also require Apple to define “sustainability”, and would include a company-wide review of policies contributing to sustainable operation. Read more

Source: Green Business

The perception that it costs an arm and a leg to “go green” keeps plenty of small businesses (and customers) from even trying — let alone in a recession.

Sure, many eco-friendly improvements do require some initial capital. But they also can yield significant cost savings — and drive revenues — in the long run. According to a recent study of 1,146 Americans across the country by Ketchum, a Manhattan-based public relations firm, and Braun Research, a public opinion research firm based in Princeton, N.J., nearly half of all respondents said they make some effort to buy green products. Read more

Source: Forbes

Office supply and services company Corporate Express Australia (CXP.ASX) was named the Sustainable Company of the Year by the Australian Sustainability Awards, which recognize best practices in corporate sustainability across Australian Stock Exchange Listed companies.

Corporate Express was nominated for its exemplary supply chain program, which the company has now implemented throughout its top 100 suppliers and for its 400-plus green products line. Judges also commended Corporate Express for its outstanding environmental and labour relations record. Read more

Source: Sustainable Business

The economic downturn could soon force companies selling green products and service to shift their marketing focus from highlighting environmental benefits to touting the energy and cost savings they can deliver.

According to a major new survey of over 2,000 British adults the looming recession looks set to undermine some environmental commitments, while simultaneously encouraging mroe people to curb energy and transport use.

The survey from green advisory website and search engine, Click4Carbon.com, which makes a contribution to offsetting schemes for every search users carry out, found that only 13 per cent of consuemers were happy to pay directly to offset their carbon emissions, while a fifth had still not undertaken even simple measures to cut their environmental impact such as using energy efficient lightbulbs. Read more

Source: Business Green

Companies providing green products and services can expect a major boost after the government yesterday unveiled its long-anticipated delivery plan for meeting its targets on environmentally sustainable procurement and carbon emissions.

Following on from its recent commitment to ensure all government IT operations are carbon neutral by 2013, the Cabinet Office released a 167-page plan outlining how it intends to ensure departments consider environmental sustainability when making procurement decisions and better meet targets to cut emissions, waste and water use across their facilities.

Central to the new strategy are new rules that will ensure the performance of civil servants is judged on their ability to deliver against sustainability targets. The new Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Procurement (CESP) will monitor departments’ performance on a constant basis and report progress to ministers and Permanent Secretaries every four months. Read more

Source: Business Green

According to a green survey from Rackspace Hosting (PDF), 44 percent of respondents are willing to pay more for green products and services this year; down significantly from the 59 percent of respondents that were willing to pay more last year.Also this year, only 28 percent are willing to trade server performance for lower carbon emissions. One significant increase in responses this year showed that 69 percent of respondents are still concerned and either looking for ways to reduce the impact their company has on the environment or actively addressing the issue; this up seven percent from last year.

“It’s interesting to see that customers still think green is very important, but today they may be less willing to pay more or trade performance for lower carbon emissions. Rackspace understands these concerns, and the economic pressure points, and is working diligently to leverage the available technology in ways that don’t impose additional costs on the customer,” said John Engates, CTO, Rackspace Hosting. “Since launching Greenspace last year, we have rolled out a number of energy efficient and environmentally sound products and initiatives and continue to look for new ways to be environmentally conscious.”

Source: Environmental Leader

The number of self-styled “green” products released in the U.S. more than doubled between 2005 and 2007, BrandWeek reports. According to Mintel, Chicago, 2,670 products released in 2005 were self-styled green products – products that either had environmentally friendly packaging or contained copy on the label about humane treatment ofworkers or a lack of animal testing. Last year, the number was 5,933. Read more

Article Source: BrandWeek

News Source: CSR Europe