Comments on: Are You Experiencing Green Fatigue?

By: Kelly Riordan

Kelly Riordan — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:24:33 +0000

Fatigue and obfuscation. You might be interested in an architectural firm in Seattle that claims to have practiced sustainable design since 1949. Check out http://mithun.com/about/

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:00:25 +0000

I think the message has to be that common in order for people to finally just get on board and participate. Companies are constantly surveying customers to get their feelings on this and I feel like we have a big say through this feedback in getting them to change and become more eco-friendly. They will listen and change if they think their customers will insist on it.

By: Joel

Joel — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:23:01 +0000

As long as there is consumer demand for anything, people will sell it to them. However you’re so right with saying that “when action does not equal spiel” you get greenwashing. I think we’ll see people getting more and mroe aware of this and hopefully that’ll put pressure on certian companies to clean up their act.

By: Simon T

Simon T — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:34:01 +0000

Joel
I agree with you that those who talk the talk should be praised, and anyone who takes steps is doing the right thing. I just feel that Earth Hour is a great opportunity to motivate and change, and the full potential of such an event isn’t being seized upon. And beyond that I know a couple of people who have actually defended their position towards their environment impact by saying “I do my bit, I turned my lights off during Earth Hour”.

That is why I think Earth Hour could go further. It should be more than just turning lights off.

In regards to Holden (see earlier post if needed) and their overly wasteful cars, I got a response from them regarding an email I sent them about their 6.0L utility vehicles. They said all their vehicles meet Australian Standards for emissions, etc. Of course Australian Standards only address emissions quality regarding engine size. The Standards don’t assess the suitability or appropriateness of providing a 6.0L product to the public who have a 2.0L application. If 2.0L was marketed as the cool way to be, people would buy them, but if 6.0L is marketed as ‘cool’ then attitudes are not going to change. Further to this, producing a 6.0L car for a general use vehicle does not fall under the umbrella of environmental responsibility and good corporate citizenship which Holden’s website states is an aim they plan to meet. When action does not equal spiel, the answer is Greenwash.

By: Joel

Joel — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:07:03 +0000

Thanks Simon. Greenwashing is an increasing factor of many businesses, and that being a prime example of one. However we still need to give credit where credit is due to companies that “talk the talk”, and individuals too. Small steps are important and hopefully for many Earth Hour might just be one of them.

By: Simon T

Simon T — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:47:22 +0000

Hi All,
I am glad I am not the only one who thinks this way. I am becoming cynical about some of the drives towards greenness. For example, Earth Hour which is happening today. Big Whizz about turning off the lights for an hour. What about using the Hour as a vehicle for educating people to turn appliances off stand-by and turning lights off regularly and other ways of being good. There seems to be so little benefit towards gaining all this awareness for that one hour, and does it leave people thinking they have made a big impact by turning lights off for one hour, once a year. I hope it doesn’t, but it wouldn’t surprise me if some feel this is the only contribution they need to make, and now they can consider themselves to be Greenies.

I also like the fact that people are seeing that companies are saying one thing and doing another. For example, the Holden car company in Australia are making a 6.0L sports utility vehicle for sale in the U.S. under the Pontiac brand. Someone please explain when a 6.0L vehicle is ever necessary in a sports environment!?!?!? “Oh it needs to be such a big engine to carry my mountain bike around.”

Holden even claims on their website they are environmentally responsible corporate citizens. Hell yeah! Any company that is providing such an environmentally irresponsible product because the consumers want it, despite it being inefficient and obviously wasteful, Hummers are another perfect example, are not good corporate citizens, they are environmental bullsh*tters.

I am so sick of the Greenwashing of companies I want to scream. Please someone make them stop.

Have a Green Day and a an organic night.

Simon.

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:52:26 +0000

Excellent points from all. It’s an area I need to become more involved with, it’s easy to sit back and complain – it’s more difficult to do something about it as it requires effort. It does work though and I’m going to make more effort to contribute rather than criticize. Well maybe I’ll do both….

By: PlanetThoughts

PlanetThoughts — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:46:07 +0000

Joel, I agree with you that a company simply stating that they now have carbon offsets, may not be and probably is not “good enough”. However, looking at motives may be counter-productive. Perhaps the middle ground is to engage that company, whether by writing a letter (for an individual) or by speaking to their CEO/COO (for a larger environmental organization) and discussing what additional things they can do, or how to make their action more effective. As there are more and more articles discussing the limits of carbon offsets, then fewer executives will use that as a ploy. By increasing citizen awareness (which is my main area of activity) and by engaging leaders of all types, we can gradually bring the world closer to the reality of what is needed for environmental health. It is a long path, but each step brings us closer to the goal, and each step increases our individual awareness and success in dealing with reality, as well.

By: Robert Hernreich

Robert Hernreich — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:53:01 +0000

I think there has been to much emphasis on offsetting instead of reducing. Big companies are willing to just pay for an offset instead of investing in reduction.

By: Joel

Joel — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:24:15 +0000

Hi, thanks for your comments. I think you’re completely right, and make some excellent points about corporate behaviour. Companies do have to earn profits but sometimes I think it’s right to be concerned on some occasions about their motivation and methods in doing so.