Environmentally and socially conscious consumers are a rapidly growing army, flexing their eco muscle with each dollar they spend. American corporations are rapidly catching on to this, providing eco-friendly options to court this new mass of earth-savvy customers.
EcoGeekLiving.com are vying for your green bucks, having recently relaunched their website which sells everything from natural rubber yoga mats and hemp yoga straps to energy efficient light bulbs and solar light switches. But there seems to be no limit to what the green tag can sell. It seems that eco-aware homes are even able to withstand the mighty forces of the current housing depression, with sales of solar-powered homes outstripping those of traditional new homes in some markets, according to a recent article in the LA Times.
Across the country, the New York Times reports that Fair Trade products are rapidly picking up momentum, with fair trade certifiers Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International reporting that consumers spent $2.2 billion on certified products in 2006, a 42 percent increase over the previous year. The java barometer confirms this, with Starbuck buying 50% more Fair Trade coffee in 2006 than in 2005. The paper also reports that McDonalds in New England now sell exclusively Fair Trade coffee, and that the mighty Sam’s Club are expanding their Fair Trade range. Though not all Fair Trade products are organic, this trend improves the lives of millions of people in the developing world.
With Toyota’s hybrid Prius topping one million sales worldwide this summer, marking a new level of potency for the planet-positive consumer, the green dollar is finding some strange bedfellows. Gambling website Casino Del Rio for example, is claiming they’ve entered the green era by becoming the first online gaming venue to promote environmental awareness. The company promises to plant a tree for each new customer, and has redesigned many areas of its operations with a goal of becoming 100% carbon neutral in mind –– though this is one green trend we aren’t encouraging.
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