When we started Dandy one of the key things we put down as a starting point, was to take an ethical approach to our work - from the people we work with to how we conduct our business. We rightly wanted to enjoy our work, keep our clients happy and keep our planet happy.
But I must admit to feeling a little strange about ‘green issues’ currently. It seems everyone is suddenly green - the big oil giants, the car companies, the supermarkets, the energy providers, even the banks are vying for our green pound.
Now don’t get me wrong - it’s great that public opinion is shifting attitudes in business and making big business accept a greener agenda. But I can’t help feeling it all feels a bit like a new trend that they must be part of. More worryingly, the more I see green issues being promoted as a business, product or service ‘usp’ by these giant corporations the more it somehow seems to devalue the whole issue.
I’m not saying they can’t be green - but to see cars being promoted as green this, and eco that, when clearly, let’s face it, the car is not eco anything - seems a little, well, false.
Business needs to survive and prosper, as does the planet - and ultimately those making a genuine commitment to working hard in business and taking an ethical stance will be rewarded in the long term. Let’s just hope that people don’t get let down by those just wanting to make a fast buck along the way.
Anyway, no doubt soon everyone will be pushing their ‘green’ credentials - fine by us, then selling on green issues won’t be enough anymore and people will once again have to stand out by offering genuine talent, intelligence, high quality product and great service, oh and something ‘new’.
Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Friday, August 17th, 2007 at 03:04pm
When I saw that Shell advert it pretty much made me cry - it’s so totally misleading.
Ultimately all these big companies are going to acheive by trying to appear green is confusion.
People won’t know where to go for the stuff that genuinely does make a difference. And - worse still - the more pretend greenness is around, the more complacent people will become.
The more people see massive multinationals suddenly revealing their “green” credentials, the less real, positive change is going to happen. It’s all a massive operation in watering down and it’s thoroughly depressing.
Lorna - I say its up to the combined forces of Friends of the Earth and Crocus to take them on. I’ll bring my hairy hippies if you bring yours…
Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 at 03:16pm
Is Green the new Black?
Monday, August 13, 2007
When we started Dandy one of the key things we put down as a starting point, was to take an ethical approach to our work - from the people we work with to how we conduct our business. We rightly wanted to enjoy our work, keep our clients happy and keep our planet happy.
But I must admit to feeling a little strange about ‘green issues’ currently. It seems everyone is suddenly green - the big oil giants, the car companies, the supermarkets, the energy providers, even the banks are vying for our green pound.
Now don’t get me wrong - it’s great that public opinion is shifting attitudes in business and making big business accept a greener agenda. But I can’t help feeling it all feels a bit like a new trend that they must be part of. More worryingly, the more I see green issues being promoted as a business, product or service ‘usp’ by these giant corporations the more it somehow seems to devalue the whole issue.
I’m not saying they can’t be green - but to see cars being promoted as green this, and eco that, when clearly, let’s face it, the car is not eco anything - seems a little, well, false.
Business needs to survive and prosper, as does the planet - and ultimately those making a genuine commitment to working hard in business and taking an ethical stance will be rewarded in the long term. Let’s just hope that people don’t get let down by those just wanting to make a fast buck along the way.
Anyway, no doubt soon everyone will be pushing their ‘green’ credentials - fine by us, then selling on green issues won’t be enough anymore and people will once again have to stand out by offering genuine talent, intelligence, high quality product and great service, oh and something ‘new’.
Steve put this here at 16:30pm
Permalink
Comments
Here here!
Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Friday, August 17th, 2007 at 10:34am
The ad for Shell really get’s to me. I mean hang on a second. Inventing new ways to suck more oil out of the ground is surely missing the point.
It’s not about finding more oil, it’s about using less. Check out “The Party’s Over” by Richard Heinberg for a real wake-up call.
Posted by Andy on Friday, August 17th, 2007 at 02:41pm
The Observer had a good article all about the desperate clamour from large companies to appear ‘ec-friendly’, whilst not always living up to the promise.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/cash/story/0,,2146884,00.html
Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Friday, August 17th, 2007 at 03:04pm
When I saw that Shell advert it pretty much made me cry - it’s so totally misleading.
Ultimately all these big companies are going to acheive by trying to appear green is confusion.
People won’t know where to go for the stuff that genuinely does make a difference. And - worse still - the more pretend greenness is around, the more complacent people will become.
The more people see massive multinationals suddenly revealing their “green” credentials, the less real, positive change is going to happen. It’s all a massive operation in watering down and it’s thoroughly depressing.
Lorna - I say its up to the combined forces of Friends of the Earth and Crocus to take them on. I’ll bring my hairy hippies if you bring yours…
Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 at 03:16pm