Green With Envy...

For some interesting thoughts on Green issues for marketers, try John Grant's new book:

The Green Marketing Manifesto

I hope to read it soon!

Blow for it...

Wonderful ad found on Charles Friths blog.

Be Green to be Seen

Live Earth. An impressive showcase of acts highlighting a great cause. [Metallica. woooo!]
Two things I believe are worth saying about this: (>me. angry)

1. Shut. The. Hell. Up.

"Oh, but the lighting used a lot of electricity" "I bet they all flew there on private jets" "I dont want to change my lifestyle"

Stupid idiots. Its ok to be sceptical, but for goodness sake... surely you all see the BIGGER picture?

When your kids grow up in a world full of floods, extreme temperatures, and a lack of fuel; your self pitying laziness wont seem quite so impressive to your buddies.

Even if we have nothing to do with global warming (even the most sceptical of scientists would say that we have had some effect), its not like its costs you money to use energy saving lightbulbs. It saves you money. Oh pity you and the 10 seconds of effort it takes to switch of your tv instead of putting it on standby.


2. Brands have to be there first.

They rightly said that if people demand environmentally friendly goods businesses will provide them. Its true. But c'mon brands... you can see where the trends are going. You must see that being there early can only help your company in the long term.

Alright, you dont want to be seen as jumping on a bandwagon... but the only real bandwagon jumpers are the late movers. The quicker you act the more positive it can be for you.

Agencies should play their part too. You know that you can plant seeds in the brains of the brands you work with. You are helping them talk to the customer, and as soon as the customer is ready you must tell them.


"But my consumers arent asking for us to be environmentally active yet." Maybe. But do you close down your research and development departments just because no one has asked for your top secret new product yet? Of course not.

Brand for Life

After my recent post on ecologically sound bags breaking really easily, I must give huge praise to Sainsburys for the scheme they are running today.

Instead of the usual plastic bags they are giving away free their thicker bags for life, with the promise that when it breaks you can take it in and get a new one free. That is brilliant.

Encouraging people to help make a difference, whilst also giving them something useful. It shows good thinking on the part of the store, and will certainly have a positive effect on their brand image.

Little things...

Whilst on the way to see Lost Prophets (again) in Manchester last night, I got a sandwich/drink for myself and Kai Lai.

Whilst waiting on the platform the bags completely ripped open and fell apart, leaving me to pick the stuff up and hold it all in my arms.

Then an old (ish) lady came out and handed me a carrier bag she had to put it in. That really made my day, and reminds me just how nice people can be.

Another thing. I back the efforts of supermarkets and shops to save waste by making thinner bags and using paper ones; but EVERY bag I now get from Sainsburys splits open, so I have to use more bags than before to get my shopping in. (Jaffa cake boxes rip them open in seconds, literally seconds)

The bag that split yesterday was paper, meaning i then needed a plastic one to carry it.

Companies have to be aware that skimping on bag thickness and strength may save waste, but if we need 3 bags instead of 1...then it actually makes things worse.