How to Help Make Black Friday More Green from C2ES

While less shopping is always the more ecologically aware choice, here are some ideas for making Black Friday greener from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES).

Practice precycling. Precycling is the practice of avoiding the purchase of items that will produce waste such as packaging, whether that waste is recycled or not. After all, the most environmentally friendly product is the one that minimizes resources altogether. Find some tips on precycling.

Tips to Make Black Friday More Green from FatWallet

Black Friday is a consumer spectacle that is rife with excess and waste. However, FatWallet offers some tips on how to make your black Friday more green. Try to find products that that are made from recycled or biodegradable materials. For example, several book publishers now only print books made from recycled paper. In terms of appliances and electronic devices, check for items that are rechargeable or energy-efficient. They should have the Energy Star logo on them if they are verified efficient machines. Another tip is to look for products that use minimal packaging. After all, if the box and plastic wrappings are going to be thrown away, why pay extra for them and add to the landfills? When it is time to pay, use a green credit card whenever possible. These are credit cards where a portion of each transaction that a customer makes goes towards support for green charities or causes. Finally, pack all of the new purchases into reusable shopping bags instead of reaching for a pile of plastic bags.

Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics 2012

Each year Greenpeace publishes its guide to greener electronics just before the Thanksgiving holidays and the shopping event of the year known as Black Friday. This year is the 18th edition of Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics, it profiles a number of new developments.

The Guide evaluates leading consumer electronics companies based on their commitment and progress in three environmental criteria: Energy and Climate, Greener Products, and Sustainable Operations. Click here to download the Ranking Criteria Explained (pdf).

The Effects of Green Marketing: Consumer Trends Drive Profit (Video)

There is a $230 billion marketplace that exists for products and services that meet the needs of consumers who buy based on their personal, social and environmental values. This marketplace is predicted to grow to $845 billion by 2015! Would you like to know if and how your business could get a share of the green marketplace?

The GfK MRI Survey of the American Consumer™

A total of 65 percent of American adults agree with the statement "preserving the environment is very important," according to the Survey of the American Consumer released by GfK MRI.

People Want Fuel Efficient Vehicles

According to a Consumer Reports survey, 93 percent of respondents "support increased fuel efficiency." People want greener cars as is evidenced by the fact that 77 percent are in favor of car manufacturers producing more fuel-efficient vehicles, and 80 percent agreeing with fuel economy standards requiring fleet averages to top 55 miles per gallon by 2025.

Consumers Skeptical of Environmental Claims

Americans are interested in the facts about a product's environmental claims but have little faith. They are however swayed by certain eco-labels. These findings have important implications for the marketing of sustainability efforts.

Greenpeace Exposes the Koch Brothers

Greenpeace has been following the climate killing crusades of the infamous Koch brothers for a long time. Greenpeace has reported on how these brothers have used their vast oil wealth and influence to divert huge sums money for massive misinformation campaigns. The Koch brothers are big funders of right-wing think-tanks such as Americans for Prosperity, the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute, which they use as part of their propaganda arsenal.

Lego and Mattel Bow to Greenpeace Pressure and Eliminate Unsustainable Packaging

Lego has bowed to Greenpeace pressure and has discontinued its sourcing of packaging made from unsustainable forests. Lego has agreed to drop supplier Asia Pulp and Paper, and vows to use packaging material certified by the Forest Stewardship Council from now on.

Nike and H&M Bow to Greenpeace's Detox Challenge

A Greenpeace initiative known as the "Detox Challenge," is working to create a future free of toxic substances. Nike bowed to pressure from the Greenpeace campaign after only five weeks, and H&M agreed to comply not long after that. Both companies have promised to eliminate hazardous chemicals throughout their entire supply chains.

Green Gifts for the Holidays

With each passing year, green gifts are getting more popular. People are changing the types of gifts that they are shopping for. This year in particular, studies are showing that as people become more concerned about the environment, they are more interested in eco-friendly gifts.

Green gifts are trendy as people want to be apart of the growing green movement. People buy eco-friendly products because they want to communicate their consideration for the planet through their choice of gifts.

Green gifts need not be more expensive than the other standard manufactured products and they can often cost much less. Some eco-gifts actually save the recipient money.

Businesses are giving eco-friendly promotional gifts during this holiday season as it provides them with the perfect opportunity to establish their brand as one that is eco-friendly. These eco-friendly promotional items are varied, but the message they send resonates widely. Such a message can have a very positive effect on the perception of a company's brand.

A wide variety of eco-gifts are now available, here are eight online portals that specialize in green presents.

WWF

The WWF Adoption Certificates are gifts that help protect animals and conserve habitats. Adoption certificates are available for a wide range of animals including the near extinct or critically endangered Tiger, Sea Turtle, Amur Leopard, Emerald Hummingbird, Przewalski's Horse, Darwin's Fox, White-cheeked Gibbon, Sumatran Rhino, Gorilla, and Mekong Dolphin. Other endangered animals that can be adopted include the Polar Bear. Adoption helps to protect that animal, in the polar bear's case, adoption helps to preserve the rich biodiversity of the Arctic.

NRDC

If you are interested in shopping that is good for the environment, look no further than NRDC's Green Gift collection. It contains more than 40 extraordinary and affordable holiday gifts starting at just $15. Gifts include, Clean Energy Boost help stop the construction of dirty coal-burning power plants in honor of your gift recipient. Leader of the Pack or Den Defender which helps to save America's endangered wolves or polar bear cubs. Queen Bee helps ensure the survival of honeybees. Whale Protector helps to save marine mammals. This gift will make them part of NRDC's efforts to end the inhumane killing of whales for profit. For just $15, Revive a Rainforest plants a tree in a rejuvenated rainforest in Costa Rica.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy has a range of green gifts including, Adopt a Coral Reef, protects the underwater habitat. Consumers can choose from amazing locations like the Bahamas, Papua New Guinea, Palau or the Dominican Republic.

For just $50, consumers can adopt an Acre of rainforest in Costa Rica. Located in remote southwestern Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula is home to the most significant populations of jaguars, puma, tapirs and scarlet macaws.

Another gift works on the safety and security of broad-tail hummingbirds and other species along their migratory paths. For just $1 per tree, you can also help plant 1 billion trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

Trees for the Future

Trees are the perfect gift because they replenish the soil, increase crop production, keep groundwater clean and help provide sustainable jobs. Trees are a gift that keeps on giving, they help decrease poverty and improve the environment in the countries where they are planted, while also helping reduce greenhouse gases that affect us all.

Trees for the Future, is offering Tree Planting Certificates which allows donors to have 500 to 5,000 trees planted in honor of a friend, family, or loved one. For as little as $20, donors can have a personalized certificate sent directly to the recipient. Tree Planting Certificates are available in three easy options: $50 plants a “Grove” of 500 trees, $100 plants a “Forest” of 1,000 trees, and $500 plants a “Village” of 5,000 trees. Donors can give other amounts at a rate of 10 cents per tree. For as little as $20, recipients are sent an e-certificate and for gifts $50 and over, donors can send a print certificate. Donors can choose to have trees planted in such countries as Haiti, Ethiopia, Nicaragua or Brazil.

Inhabitat

The Inhabitat Team's, Green Holiday Gift Guide has eco-conscious and ethical presents for everyone. Their eco-friendly, ethical and handcrafted gifts support charitable causes and generally make the world a better place. Gifts include items like the Potus Pot a cute made out of a recycled incandescent bulb, Philips’ 60-watt AmbientLED bulbs, have a lifespan of up to 15-years, and use just 20% of the energy of a conventional 60-watt bulb, Bambu Bamboo Bowls. made from eco-friendly and fast-growing bamboo.

Greenwala

Greenwala calls itself the one stop shop for all your holiday shopping, decorating and food needs. They provide a Last Minute Green Gifts. Their Holiday Shopping Guide includes Top Alternative Green Gifts For The Holidays, Top 10 Lists For Those Last Minute Green Gift Ideas, Gadgets To Help Green Your Holidays ,Holiday Green Gift Guide: Stockings, Digital Media Makes Great Green Gifts, Natural Holiday Gifts for Pets by PETCO.


Green Irene

In the Green Irene Digital Catalog you will find green gifts like Blue Line Power Cost Monitor, Activeion Ionator HOM, Green Irene Enzymatic Clean Starter Kit, Green Irene Soy Candle, Tealights, Eco-Friendly Modeling Dough, Children's Glue, Children's Soy Crayons, Children's Markers, Children's Paint, SodaStream Peguin Soda Maker and Composters.

The Giving Effect

Rather then build up in land fills, or go unused, The Giving Effect helps donors to recycle unwanted gifts. more than 1,000 cause-based organizations registered hoping to connect with new donors this holiday season. Organizations registered on The Giving Effect include The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, in Napa, California, Baltimore Theatre Project in Maryland, and Pibbles & More Animal Rescue in Queens, New York.

The Giving Effect uses social media to help donors discover and connect with organizations. The goal is to create a national movement to get food, gently-used items, and more to people in need. Donors use The Giving Effect to connect with charities that need pretty much everything you can spare, from clothes, food, books and shoes, to cleaning supplies, cars, fencing and lumber. Each donation on their site becomes a living story that can be shared on Facebook or Twitter to spread the holiday spirit and encourage others to do the same.

To donate simply browse the site by needs, location, and categories to find causes you’d like to connect with. Then, complete a simple form to arrange a pickup, drop off, or shipment. Tax receipts are issued via email when the items are received.

All of these gifts can be purchased online, reducing the need to travel and thus reducing emissions. This holiday season more than ever, people's concerns are being channeled into useful gifts that benefit the environment and all who inhabit it. These creative new approaches to giving are helping to make this world a better place.

Consumer Demand for Green

Green is increasingly part of almost every survey measuring consumer interests and/or buying behaviour. A well informed public is asking businesses to make more responsible choices and rewarding those that do with their patronage. In response businesses of all sizes are finding ways to make their operations more sustainable and environmentally responsible.

A recent article written by Dr. David Suzuki and Dr. Faisal Moola indicates that, "protecting our planet is no longer seen as a fringe activity. Most people now consider themselves to be environmentally aware and are taking steps to help. Caring for the environment has become mainstream – it’s the “new normal. Businesses respond to consumer demand, and the right demands can result in real benefits for the environment."

With the help of the David Suszuki Foundation, the Overwaitea Food Group has adopted a program that emphasizes sustainable seafood. Overwaitea president, Steve van der Lees said, "doing the right thing always pays off.”

As Kathleen McLaughlin writes, in an article entitled "Consumers Want Green Furniture Options, "environmentally friendly has transcended from a buzzword to a multi-million dollar revenue generator spanning many industries."

A "2008 Green Marketing Consumer Study," sponsored by the Sustainable Furnishing Council, indicates that appoximately half of respondents are "very interested in global warming and have started doing what they can, with the No. 1 action being to buy green products in a variety of categories."

According to another report, a majority of respondents indicated that businesses should reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The report also indicated that people are more likely to purchase products bearing a seal that proves corporate sustainability commitments.

Earlier this year Joel Makower wrote an article in which he reviewed the marketing data on Green and discovered that the vast majority of consumers say they have adopted, "greener habits in their daily lives, and shop for at least some products with a keen eye on their environmental provenance and energy and climate impacts. In other words: the marketplace is getting greener -- way greener.."

Consumers do not appear to be deterred by the current state of the economy. One study quoted by Makeover indicates that 82 percent of Americans say they're still buying green products despite changes in the economy.

Consumers have expressed real interest in making Greener purchases in everything from seafood to furniture and the business community is responding to this ever increasing consumer demand.

Business owners simply cannot afford to ignore consumers because if they fail to respond to consumer demand for Green, others will seize the opportunity.


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