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THE FUTURE IS GREEN! This quote is as old as time and yet still proves to be true with the ongoing happenings in the world.
The start of the green movement dates back decades. From the first water pollution bill signed in 1948 to the inaugural Earth Day celebration in 1970, the concept of “going green” isn’t new. Up until now, most eco-friendly efforts were made by everyday people and a handful of large corporations—but that’s changing.
Digital innovation, rising globalization, and changes in consumer spending habits have catapulted onto the stage, front and centre, and has everyone wrapped around their finger in this generation.
But as Spiderman says, “With great power, comes great responsibility”. With all the innovation, rising engagement and great demand, come the side effects and vast consequences to the environment.
Sustainability and saving our resources for our future generations is something that has been in our textbooks since 6 grade. The importance was always looming over everyone’s heads like a grey cloud, but now we have the dire need to take action.
The energy, transport and fashion industries play a large role in today’s world of pollution. The emissions release carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases, which cause evident illnesses.
We have all seen the changes- air quality is suffering, public transport is WAY overcrowded, walking and biking are significantly riskier, and the trees (your lucky if you have a few in a concrete jungle) don’t dance as they used to.
This is where the green movement comes to save the day world.
The Green Movement is similar to the environment movement, just a tad more aggressive in its ways. It’s not an idea or a belief anymore, but more of a political statement and a necessity.
“The simple goal of Greenism is to raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. It sheds light on how the environment is directly linked to human health and the only way in which the environment can be restored is through the application of science and conscious, sustainable, natural practices.”
Since the business world holds the first place in causing the green movement as well as implementing it, let’s start there.
“Businesses around the world are responding to a global imperative and consumer demand to go green. And more than 80% of people respect companies and brands that adopt eco-friendly practices”, according to an international survey. This survey also revealed that “Virtually all consumers are worried about at least one environmental issue, it found. But while more than half boycott companies with unsustainable practices or products, eco-friendly concerns do not always translate to shopping behaviour.”
Going green not only is good for the environment, but also for the business trade itself. Consumers want to depend on a brand without having a guilty conscience about its harmful effects.
But why should companies go green?
Companies have improved tax credits and incentives, improved efficiency, and cost savings by reusing and reducing common waste.
In 2016, Adidas, a reigning shoe brand, made shoes with the plastic retrieved from the ocean. Only 7000 of these amazing inventions were made and were sold out in seconds.
The evolution of new target markets has been a major advantage to the green movement. New inventions and ideologies open and pave the way for a more segmented and offer more opportunities than traditional products.
Companies with a higher sense of world wellbeing, have found more and more people interested in their firm. Millennials and Gen Z have been labelled as “the pathfinders” and prove that they care about new ways to improve the world and their lives, and as the major population, companies have direct access to their sustainable heart’s desire.
With a raging pandemic in our midst, the evolution of the green ideology has expanded. With this comes social engagement. Sustainable and green products can tend to make any company “the talk of the town” and get major publicity simply by “word of mouth”.
Green businesses have a sweeping advantage when it comes to their competitors. Eco-conscious customers who seek out like-minded businesses that value clean environments as much as they do. Eco-conscious suppliers sometimes do the same. Heightened awareness of a brand is achieved while associating its good name with an equally laudable green cause.
So, reading back on all this, the disadvantages of any business going green are…. None! It takes time to implement change and a lot of hard work and innovation, but it’s definitely worth it to see luscious greenways embedding the earth and our future generations the happiest they can be. GO GREEN!
-- Namrata Vojjala