Mass Market Goes Green

So the big move has happened - Walmark announces "green" labels insuring that manufacturing and consumption will never really be the same.

Walmart announces that vendors will be required to label how "sustainable" their products are based on 4 categories; energy and greenhouse gas emissions, material, natural resources and "people and communities". For licensing, branding and manufacturing in general this is a move that will be felt considerably. We have all heard how tight the margins are in retail, and with new regulations the cost of producing inevitably goes up. Is the Walmart consumer prepared to pay more?

I for one believe that the masses are just as eager to be ever more conscious in their shopping habits and that the more the supply chain changes the more affordable and "mass" sustainable products will be. Congratulations to Walmart for taking the lead! With Walmart order numbers they will aid already conscious manufactures get a foot hold in a market places and encourage others to change who may have had trepidation. No longer should the environmently conscious products be a niche market branding mechanism, but tangible in the way product is made, shipped, packaged and the final impact - discarded. The consumer needs to be prepared to assume some of the financial and consumption responsibility as well...let's see how that part goes.

See www.armconsulting.me and how I am working on my part!

Jen