Consumer Culture Drives Real Change — Retail Goes Ethical
PART II
Ethical Practices Leading To Greater Profit
Not only are businesses discovering that a high integrity attitude earns favour with consumers, but also that sustainable practices can prove highly cost effective. Walmart, for example, is not a brand that most would historically associate with leading the ethical charge, however the brand’s reinvention may quickly make it so. Green efforts from the retail giant have included enhancing sustainability in transportation and energy, which has simultaneously driving down costs for end consumers. All of the brand’s stores now utilize 100% renewable energy sources, while suppliers kicking out large carbon footprints are being cut off.
The Walmart push to get serious about being eco-friendly took hold over last decade’s recession when CEO Mike Duke came to the helm. Alongside improving the brand’s reputation, this allowed the Walmart to create greater value for customers in parallel, which was particularly poignant during economic downturn. When framed by net sales in the hundreds of billions, and the knowledge that Walmart holds the crown as the highest electricity consumer of any private organisation, these achievements become all the more noble. The perception within business that ethical and green practices are expensive to implement is beginning to fall away, and many are realising that such initiatives provide great potential for positive ROI and competitive advantage.
Companies Going Green Behind Closed Doors
As many an environmentalist will observe with frustration, altering perception can sometimes feel like trying to steer a ship around a sharp bend. Research from Green Alliance revealed that while the public are overwhelmingly in favour of sustainable practices, 45% remain distrustful of big business, and many anticipate elevated prices when it comes to ethical goods. This failed union of intention and perception is leading some companies to adopt earth-friendly practices on the quiet.
The Guardian discreetly reported on a well-known car manufacturer that reduced the amount of energy it took to make its cars by 75%, without saying a word to customers. Similarly, they uncovered wine producers in Portugal who have silently adopted organic practices — shifting their investments away from pesticides and artificial fertilisers, and instead increasing labour, and adopting cutting edge technological innovations. Even with such appealing changes in the making, the Portuguese producers preferred not to share their new ethical status with customers in case it led them to question the quality of their product. While it somehow seems a shame that such clandestine steps may be deemed wise, we can hope that this gradual transition suggests a bright future in terms of ethical consumer options that don’t come with a premium price tag.
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