Environmental Consumerism Is All Talk

In the past two months I have been working on some projects for clients that had an environmental angle to them. It was some surprise to me that we have really not moved that far when it comes to commercialising environmental products or services. I remember when green products came into being in the late 1980's in Canada, they were more expensive than traditional products so very few people bought them. It was apparent then that people wanted to talk about it but did not want to be involved if it would hit their pocket book too hard. Well I think we are still in this mindset some twenty years later.

The idea of using environmental products or hosting environmental conferences and meetings is the politically correct thing to do. However many people will not pay more to switch, and for sure will not switch if the trusted results of the status quo are not guaranteed.

We have a long journey ahead to convert the masses to become environmental consumers. The turning point may be generation-Y that truly believes they will be living with the consequences of in action, because the dominant generations of the day do not feel the pain so they are not taking action. Somehow organizations have to personalise the need to take action, as currently the impetus is too vague and big to motivate the average person.