Reduce, reuse, or recycle? Most businesses ignore the reuse option. Smart thinking (and right-on for this outdoorsy brand) from Columbia — a checkbox in the shopping cart that lets you request a used box. Save a ton of money, help the environment. (Most companies would reject this idea immediately as being unprofessional. But by asking [...]
Tag Archives: green
Killing vampires: How the tiniest innovations make the biggest difference
There has been a revolution in consumer electronics. But it’s so small you didn’t notice. That’s an off switch on a Cisco Valet Wi-Fi hub. Every day all your techno junk is burning power when you’re not using it. "Vampire Power" — what you use on standby mode — wastes up to 13% of all [...]
Look for the simple changes
Businesses agonize over how to be greener. It’s a big, complicated thing that’s hard to get your head around. Suggestion: Start with the simple stuff. Aloft Hotels put their soap in a dispenser instead of a little bottle. That equals one zillion plastic bottles saved per day, per hotel. (Yes, they are locked so no [...]
Get you and your customers on the same page
Westin offers a $5 refund to any guest who wants to skip housekeeping for a day. The official reason is about being green. But I’m sure Westin saves a fortune not having to clean hundreds of rooms every day. The $5 isn’t much, but it shows that both sides win on the transaction. Lesson: How [...]
It’s not going to work until you make it simple
I had two experiences recently where well-meaning environmentalists tried to get people to recycle — and it backfired. Each case involved three garbage cans and detailed, complicated signs explaining what went where. It was too hard, people got flustered — and everything went in the trash. Simplicity rules: It's better to get a few simple [...]
Why I think Walmart is the biggest force for green business
Market forces drive change more than regulation or consumer enthusiasm ever could. Walmart is using their power to push 60,000 supplier to green up their product lines. It's impressive. Just as important, they are making green options affordable to everyone. Read more here from the New York Times.
Frustration-free packaging
I applaud Amazon for their Frustration Free Packaging initiative. They are convincing manufacturers to replace annoying and wasteful packaging with simple cardboard boxes. It's good: It's environmentally responsible. It increases profit (cardboard packing is cheaper). It makes customers happy. It gives Amazon a competitive advantage (until others start offering it). All big retailers should use [...]
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