Comments on: Company Attempts To Go Greener

By: Toby Barazzuol

Toby Barazzuol — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:22:22 +0000

I agree with SBC. Moving different elements of a business towards sustainability can be challenging and in some cases not even possible. Sustainability is a journey of ongoing learning, it’s not a destination you arrive at. So it’s true, we should try to look at many of the current greening efforts as the first steps in a longer process. We should try to support companies taking these steps as it’s not always easy…we are learning as we go. Greenwashing is a concern, but if we attack every company’s greening efforts because they’re not perfect, it’s kind of like stamping out seedlings as they are trying to grow.

By: robertludvig

robertludvig — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:03:43 +0000

TC & SBC,

Thank you both for your comments.

By: SBC

SBC — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:38:25 +0000

The way Kim Jeffreys is trying to market Nestle Waters’ environmental impact is a common theme for many firms seeking to capitalize on Green or stave off enviro-critics. This post begs an important question. What distinguishes attempts to build sustainable business practices from greenwashing? My experience leads me to believe that accusations of greenwashing should be tempered by an understanding of the dynamic synthesis required to make a business profitable and sustainable and profitable. In the long term there is no sustainability without profitability.

I enjoy your blog and respect its content. Keep up the good work!

By: TC

TC — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:20:34 +0000

I’d like to point out that the efforts Nestle’s making to lighten their carbon footprint also reduce their costs, lending more than a hint of greenwash to their recent PR push.

Plus, Nestle’s not under attack simply for green reasons; their treatment of small rural towns (the sources of the spring-water bottled water brands) has been abysmal, and their legal bullying of opponents has also earned them some notice.

I applaud companies really going green, but packaging water in plastic bottles and transporting it long distances simply isn’t an activity that qualifies as a”green” in any sense of the word.