A second industrial revolution?
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/59196/
ROGERS — “ How many of you two years ago knew the word sustainability ? ” Kerry Bailey of the Menasha Packaging Co. asked a packed conference room at the Embassy Suites in Rogers on Tuesday.
Only two hands went up.
“ How many of you are involved in the sustainable movement today ? ” Bailey asked.
Every hand in the room went up. And that didn’t surprise Bailey a bit.
“ Wal-Mart elevated this topic, ” Bailey said. “ Sustainability and green have been out there, happening on some level for years, but when I first heard (Wal-Mart CEO ) Lee Scott talk about focusing on sustainable practices, I knew this was going to be big. ”
As much momentum as green-minded efforts and awareness have gained in recent years — not only in northwest Arkansas, but across the country — the United States still has quite a ways to go. That was the message at the Best Practices in Sustainability seminar presented by Retailing Today Magazine on Tuesday morning in Rogers. Several speakers from across the country talked about how to better educate the public and how suppliers and retailers can improve their own practices, from building and sourcing to sustainable packaging.
“ There’s definitely a heightened sensitivity, but most consumers will tell you they know they’re not doing enough, ” said Arturo Angel, research director of Chicago-based Leo J. Shapiro and Associates. “ But they’ll also tell you they place a high priority on green initiatives. What does that tell you ? Consumers are looking to us. They need to be educated. ”
The evidence is in the statistics, according to Angel. While 49 percent of those surveyed in Leo J. Shapiro and Associates’ sustainability study said they have purchased energy-efficient light bulbs, buying in other areas has been far less prominent. Only 5 percent said they have bought energy-efficient air conditioners, while even less have purchased green-friendly washers, dryers and kitchen appliances. Only 3 percent said they buy recycled paper and biodegradable soap.
Still, there’s enough momentum being made that Angel and the other featured speakers referred to the growing sustainability movement in the U. S. as “ a second industrial revolution. ”
“ With the Sustainable Packaging Scorecard Wal-Mart has rolled out, it’s pretty simple, ” Bailey said. “ Wal-Mart is saying to its suppliers, ‘ Tell us what you do today and make an improvement. It’s about optimization. Whatever you do to become more sustainable had to work and pay for itself and or lower prices. ”
JoAnn Hines, known as the Packaging Diva by those in retailing circles across the country, shared several examples that have and have not worked in the sustainable-packaging world in recent years. One company came up with the idea of selling small tablets that can be dropped into a spray container with tap water and, within minutes, become cleaning solution. The consumer purchases the bottle once and needs only purchase tablets from that point forward. The consumer saves considerably, the manufacturer eliminates the need to produce millions of additional plastic spray bottles, and the space it takes to display and ship the product is minimized.
“ Don’t just call it green, ” Angel said. “ It has to be a part of your corporate DNA. ”