Thursday, August 19, 2010
While information technology (IT) is estimated to account for 2% of the world’s total carbon emissions annually, Environmental Leader projects that from 2010 to 2015, the US green data center market will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29%.
IT is getting a little greener.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
According to a poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, sponsored by Procter & Gamble (P&G), despite the fact that 90% of the business decision makers surveyed consider that the issues of sustainability and environmental responsibility important to their businesses, when it comes to choosing cleaning products, performance and price are more important.
Ease of use also trumped environmental impact.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Consumer electronics are increasingly focusing on the issue of energy efficiency, and television manufacturers in particular are looking for ways to deliver cost savings to customers.
Of course, size matters.
In Germany, the “Energy Efficiency Tracking” survey, conducted from January to May 2010 by GfK Retail and Technology, found the size of the TV screen is the most important criterion for TV power consumption.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
According to NPD, total US personal care and beauty product sales exceeded $42 billion in 2007, and due to the economy, Euromonitor predicted that figure would decline $1 billion between 2007 and 2012, with sales slipping 0.4% on average per year.
Still, it is a huge market.
Kantar Media pegged US personal care advertising spending at over $5.5 billion in 2009.
Nevertheless, the vast health and beauty industry is now under attack.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Water treatment is projected to become an onrushing business.
According to EL Insights, over the next twenty years, it will require investments of nearly $335 billion to make the US water systems safe and reliable.
In the next five years alone, the US corporate water treatment market is expected to rise from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
According to the “Nielsen Homescan Survey,” from the Nielsen Company, 43% of UK consumers try to buy ethical or environmentally friendly products—a percentage virtually unchanged from when the question was asked in 2007.
However, the types of products consumers actively seek out have changed significantly. The largest change is in the percentage of consumers who buy energy-efficient appliances and products—up 21% from 2007.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Consumers have had it with paper documents, and that’s good news for the environment.
According to research from DocuSign, conducted by Harris Interactive, 72% of US adults are frustrated with paper-based documents.
They are specific about why, too, with most saying the fill-in spaces are too darn small.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The “2010 ImagePower Green Brands Survey,” from Cohn & Wolfe, Esty Environmental Partners, Landor and Penn Schoen Berland, highlights the differences between developing and developed countries.
Consumers in developing countries are more eco-friendly in their attitudes—and more positive toward companies that sell green products.
Significant percentages of consumers in developed countries—such as Germany, the US, the UK and Australia—do not believe it is important to buy products or services from green companies.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
NOAA expands the no-fishing zone in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the BP oil spill.
NOAA, June 5, 2010, Public Domain
Monday, June 7, 2010
According to research by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), commissioned by Kelkoo, Europe’s green consumer market will increase over 100% from its 2009 levels to reach €114 billion in 2015.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The recession has had little affect on the retail sales of organic cotton apparel and home textile products around the world.
According to the “Organic Cotton Market Report 2009,” issued by the Organic Exchange (OE), the average annual growth rate of 40% in the organic cotton market held steady from 2001 to 2009—with the market reaching $4.3 billion in 2009.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Although millions of power meters are expected to be installed in US homes and businesses over the next five years, according to the eighth “EcoPinion Survey Report” from EcoAlign, nearly 70% of US consumers have never heard the phrase “smart grid.”
There was a difference in gender awareness, however, with 41% of the men versus 22% of women surveyed aware of the term smart grid.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The market for socially responsible, sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly products seems to be “holding its own during the recession,” according to the “‘Green’ Household Cleaning Products in the US: Bathroom Cleaners, Laundry Care and Dish Detergents and Household Cleaners” report, published by Packaged Facts.
Packaged Facts analysts estimate retail sales of green cleaners grew 229% between 2005 and 2009—more than tripling share— to account for 3% of the total household cleaner market. In 2009, sales totaled $557 million, with $339 million coming from green household cleaning products and $218 million from green laundry products.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Despite a spate of food recalls and product contaminations, including E. coli and salmonella scares, the “Consumer Food Safety Survey,” from Deloitte, found that although US consumers are less worried about the food they eat, the majority—65%—are still concerned.
