Businesses need to demonstrate a sincere, capable response to global warming to consumers or they risk their relationship with the public and consumers according to a recent McKinsey Quarterly article. The results of a global survey cited in the article reveals that consumers feel that “a corporation’s performance in addressing the problems of the environment and climate change affects not only how much they trust the company but also whether they would buy its products.”

The report also shows that the number of execs that consider the environment as a key sociopolitical issue, and as one that will attract the most attention for the next five years has increased to 51%, an increase of 20% in only 12 short months. Interestingly the report also showed that U.S. business execs are “warming” up to being more eco-friendly in their operations and daily activities.

Based on data from the survey –

- When asked if they would be willing to use energy-efficient appliances, 72% of U.S. execs said they would compared to 47% in France, 74% in the UK and 73% in Germany.

- U.S. execs are also more likely to recycle than the large majority of countries polled. 71% of U.S. execs would be willing to recycle compared to 56% France, 56% Germany, and 79% in the UK.

- U.S. execs led the category of being willing to adjust the thermostat to use less energy and came in third for willingness to drive a fuel-efficient car.

According to the report, any company that can produce eco-friendly products to meet the demand, particularly for tech products, that are green are preferred by consumers. Companies that have introduced lower-energy consuming electronics or products that have done their homework and have authentic sustainable or eco-friendly advantages in their products will do well.

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Eco-Friendly & Fair Labor Clothing
http://www.sattlerclothing.com 

Henkel is seeing green.

According to its 2007 Sustainability Report Henkel is seeing profits grow as it pursues a goal of making its operations more eco-friendly.

Over the last five years Henkel has cut energy use by 21%, water use by 15%, and water generation by 32%. As a result, the company used less energy reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 15%. All the while, profits increased 61% and product sales jumped 39%.

This isn’t the end-all-be-all for Henkel. The company has pledged to make more eco-friendly progress by reducing energy consumption another 15% as well as water consumption by 10% in just four years, by the year 2012. The company will also introduce a “Quality & Responsibility” logo to all of its laundry and home care products this year in an effort to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability.

Download the FREE report here

Eco-Friendly & Fair Labor Clothing
http://www.sattlerclothing.com 

Anybody on a city council or looking for some examples of what other cities have done to go green? Here is an interesting report that the Sierra Club put out in 2005 that illustrates what Austin, TX - Portland, OR - Chicago, IL and Fort Collins, Co have done to go green. A slightly old report but still with good information.