5 Ways To Make Sustainable/Green Work ! (it’s about time)

by Kurt on November 30, 2011

Sustainability: our effort to care about the planet, and not ruin it for our children.  (For a better and more scientific definition, look here)

We’ve all been flooded with sustainability plans, ideas, and initiatives over the past few years, as consumers and in business. Sometimes as suggestions (“here’s a way to reduce your carbon footprint in your house”), sometimes as threats (“if your carbon footprint goes up, you will pay more taxes”). Progress has happened, but it is still minuscule versus where it ought to be. Countries and businesses have a difficult time in implementing “green”, and the current economic situation is not helping that.

Striving to sustainability should change from a “must-do” to a “marketing opportunity”.

So, let’s use all marketing creativity to make a difference in the world!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are 5 ways of how we can do that:

1. MAKE SUSTAINABILITY NEW and COOL !

2. HAVE SMALL IDEAS CHANGE LIVES BIG TIME!

3. DO SOMETHING RADICAL AND CONTRADICTORY TO YOUR BUSINESS FOR THE GREATER GOOD!

4. RIDE A TREND AND DO IT SUSTAINABLE WHILE YOU’RE AT IT!

5. FIND A WAY TO USE THE SUN!

 

1. MAKE SUSTAINABILITY NEW and COOL !

I love this idea: reusable pizza boxes. Simple, but BIG and really really cool.  What a great marketing story one can build around the 3 BILLION (!) pizza boxes that are being used/wasted every year, and the impact a cool new recyclable box can bring to the table, literally.

2. HAVE SMALL IDEAS CHANGE LIVES BIG TIME!

This is a must-watch video! How a few smart people come together to figure out turning a used plastic bottle into an effective cost-free light bulb, changing the lives of many. Marketing-wise, how can this be turned into a scalable solution, that’s the question!

3. DO SOMETHING RADICAL AND CONTRADICTORY TO YOUR BUSINESS FOR THE GREATER GOOD!

Patagonia Asks Its Customers To Buy Less! No sensible business man would do that. Kudos to the management for having the guts to do that, and to widely advertise it. The marketing spin on it is BIG. Just type in #patagonia in Twitter and follow what’s happening. It may not all be glorious, but it sure started a new conversation … around sustainability… around business responsibility… and around the Patagonia brand. Not bad!

Patagonia sustainability outdoor ad

 

 

 

 

 

4. RIDE A TREND AND DO IT SUSTAINABLE WHILE YOU’RE AT IT!

eReaders are a growing market… while saving trees! No one is giving it this marketing spin as of yet. An opportunity to address the Birkenstock generation 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. FIND A WAY TO USE THE SUN!!!

There are so many ways to leverage solar. I’m just amazed that this is not an immediate reflection when we innovate. Every single object we touch can have a solar component. It’s just about making it happen! And the brand and product storytelling opportunities that come with it are massive. Harnessing the power of the sun is the sort of magic that Disney portrays… everyone can relate to that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What sustainable ideas have caught your attention? Share them in the comments section!

Thank you for reading this post,

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Anonymous November 30, 2011 at 4:25 pm

RIDE A TREND AND DO IT SUSTAINABLE WHILE YOU’RE AT IT!
This is quite interesting!!! Do u have a solid example?

Reply

Kurt January 24, 2013 at 11:45 am

This idea just launched in Holland … transparant garbage bag let’s consumer see what unwanted items they might like and reuse. Simple, Strong. Green. http://www.springwise.com/eco_sustainability/netherlands-garbage-bag-encourages-reuse-contents/

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