Kermit was wrong - it IS easy being green!
If you watched the Oscars earlier in the week, you saw Al Gore pick up the best documentary award for “An Inconvenient Truth”. The success of his movie demonstrates that people are listening. It's one thing to educate ourselves on Global Warming. Doing something about it is what makes the difference. I've said it before and I'll say it again - it's up to us to educate our clients and to give them examples of what other brands/services are doing around to become more eco-friendly. Springwise.com has some great examples. I'll share some with you now.
Green dentist?
Recently spotted in Berkeley, Transcendentist is the first eco-friendly dentist office in the United States. Certified by the Alameda County Green Business Program, the office practices ecologically sustainable dentistry -- from serving organic chamomile tea to using amalgam separator filters to prevent mercury entering the environment. Transcendentist also uses digital imaging instead of x-rays, which means less radiation for patients and employees, and no need for the chemicals that are used to process x-rays.
The eco approach extends to the rest of the office: non-toxic paint on the walls, chemical-free wool carpet and cloth headrest covers and bibs instead of paper disposables.
We all know about Eco-Friendly cars but what about Eco-Friendly Car Insurance?
Touted as the UK's first eco-friendly car insurance, Ecoinsurance offers customers a cleaner conscience and a greener planet, at no extra cost. Each vehicle insurance policy comes with carbon offsets for 20% of the customer's car's CO2 emissions, based on an average passenger car with average annual mileage. Customers who drive cars that emit less than 100 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometer receive an extra 10% discount on their policy.
The company also works with an eco-friendly repair network, paying appointed body shops more to ensure they recycle oil and old parts. Ecoinsurance doesn't seem to be in it just for a bit of positive green PR. In 2005, its parent company Co-operative Insurance became the first insurer in the world to commit to an ethical engagement policy.
Meanwhile in the US, Travelers Insurance is offering hybrid drivers 10 percent discount on auto insurance. Which is only fair -- hybrid drivers are classified as lower than average risk, and are preferred customers: middle-aged, responsible and financially stable (source: USA Today).
Even household items we rarely think about are going green.
Green Hangers?
3.5 billion wire hangers are tossed into landfills every year, and that's just in the United States. While the hangers are light, inexpensive and sturdy, they're not exactly bio-degradable. Hanger Network has developed an alternative: a dry cleaner's hanger made entirely from recycled paper. EcoHangers are sturdy and cheap. And because they're paper, they can be completely covered in full-colour advertising.
Everybody wins: Hanger Network creates a media network of up to 3.5 billion in-home 'views', and advertisers gain valuable entry into consumers' bedrooms for less than the price of a stamp. Dry cleaners get free hangers (wire hangers are about USD 0.08 each), and consumers no longer have to struggle with awkward tangles of wires. And on top of it all, it's an earth-friendlier solution. What's not to love?
Whether you're selling organic cotton or auto insurance, it’s easy to go green!
