Keysplash Creative » Green Business

When Consumer Perception Gets in the Way of Marketing

Susan Gunelius — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:16:22 +0000

Let me preface this post by saying I’m all for saving the environment. If every Hummer could be removed from the planet, I’d be very happy. However, I think the majority of consumers would have a hard time with the green product I came across online today – the Sinkpositive Sink Combo.

Apparently, the Sinkpositive Sink Combo can be fitted to the top of any toilet. Clean water from the toilet is filtered to the sink so you can wash your hands with it. Otherwise, that water would be wasted.

I think this product is an example of one where no matter how much marketing you do, it will be hard to change consumer perceptions. It’s hard to get past the fact that you’re washing your hands with water that touched the toilet. It’s a psychological leap that I can’t make, and I’d imagine I’m not alone.

What do you think? Would you wash your hands with water that touched your toilet? I’m reminded of that Seinfeld episode when Jerry’s girlfriend was mad at him and told him that something in his bathroom had touched the toilet, so he had to throw out everything in his bathroom.

Your thoughts…

Image: GreenandMore.com

Compostable Packaging Gains Speed as Green Business Trend

Susan Gunelius — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:47:26 +0000

Compostable packaging isn’t new, but developing a set of standards for compostable packaging, particularly home-composting, is still fairly new. A standard and logo has been in place (called the Seedling logo – pictured) that denotes packaging that is suitable for composting in centralized facilities (e.g., on ships), but starting in 2009, a new logo will appear on packages deemed suitable for disposal in home composting-machines.

Retailers are keen to jump on the bandwagon to reduce packaging waste, so don’t be surprised if you start to see the new logo more frequently as 2009 progresses. It seems “biodegradable” is no longer good enough, and “home-compostable” is the term of the future.

According to an article on LetsRecycle.com, National Non-Food Crops Centre (an independent advisory board on plant-based renewable materials), the Association for Organics Recycling (AFOR), Waste & Resources Action Programme, and the Green Alliance (an environmental advisory group) are working together to design a logo that will identify home-compostable packaging.

Rumor has it the new logo will incorporate parts of the Seedling logo. What do you think? What should the logo look like?

Image: LetsRecylce.com

Green Billboards – The Next Phase of Green Business

Susan Gunelius — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:10:51 +0000

Kudos to Ricoh Americas Corporation for creating the first green billboard that will be hung in New York’s Times Square on December 4, 2008. The green billboard is powered by wind and sun and will save about $12,000-$15,000 per month in electricity costs.

The green billboard is going up just in time to get some additional hype on New Year’s Eve when the ball drops in Times Square for people around the world to see. There is even a special Ricoh-Eco website dedicated to the Ricoh green billboard and other eco-friendly initiatives.

Very cool! Let’s hope this is the start of a new trend for green business!

Image: Ricoh