 Eco Trends - January 2010  |
|
Responsible Retailing With future trends in retailing linking concern for the planet and people with bottom-line success, these options in eco-friendly products should come in very handy
Debate over what causes global warming and how much man’s industrialism is affecting it is ongoing. What is beginning to be dealt with are aspects of textile-making processes that adversely affect the health and well-being of textile workers and the population at large According to O Ecotextiles, the textile industry is one of the worst polluters (only behind agriculture) due to its use of chemicals, as many as 2,000 from dyes to transfer agents, and water. Water is used at each step of the textile-making process to convey the chemicals and to wash them out. The waste water, if not cleaned, pollutes the environment by the effluent’s heat, its increased pH and the toxic chemicals it carries. Traditionally produced fabrics can contain residuals of chemicals that evaporate into the air we breathe or are absorbed through our skin. O Ecotextiles further claims that some chemicals are carcinogenic or may cause harm to children, while others may trigger allergic reactions in some people. It is tempting to claim neutral “Switzerland” status when the question of why you do or don’t offer eco-friendly or socially responsible products arises. The response might be, “I’m stuck in the middle between the consumer and the supplier. I have to give consumers what they want and sell whatever suppliers offer.” There are reasons, however, for approaching the issue of whether or not to sell eco-friendly products in a more proactive and positive way. If you don’t personally feel a responsibility to offer goods made by environmentally or socially responsible manufacturers, keep in mind that from a business point of view, being eco-aware will matter more and more to your bottom line as time goes on. In a report entitled “Retailing 2015: New Frontiers,” produced in collaboration by both PricewaterhouseCoopers and strategic retailing consultant TNS Retail Forward, one of 15 trends in retailing predicted for 2015 is the “Triple Bottom Line Scorecard.”
The report states, “Retailers and suppliers will need to become better global citizens. In 2015, the definition of corporate success will take into account environmental and social performance in addition to financial performance. Retailers and suppliers should expect to be measured against an expanded set of criteria—planet and people as well as profit. Companies will be evaluated on how well they meet the needs of a wide variety of global stakeholders—customers, employees, suppliers, investors, communities and regulators. They will be judged on how well they manage and conserve increasingly scarce resources and how effectively they meet rising safety and wellness standards.” The textiles industry can’t change overnight and suddenly only offer eco-friendly options. But as a retailer, you can ask questions about the suppliers whose goods you sell to make certain you aren’t propagating harm. Are they making attempts to control or reduce anti-eco-friendly materials? Are any environment-friendly standards in place at their manufacturing facilities? Do their employees work in safe conditions and are they treated fairly? Educating yourself about the materials and standards used in the products you sell will not only make you feel better about rewarding suppliers who are responsible or trying to be, it will help you to educate your customers about them. Many eco-friendly products have interesting back-stories that can promote their purchase. In this time of recession, it has been noted often that price and value seem to come first before “green” in the minds of consumers. The demand for low prices, however, doesn’t excuse everything. Not when options in eco-friendly and socially responsible products that offer added benefits, value and comparable pricing are increasing every day. If future bottom line success in retailing is to be based on that triple scorecard involving concern for planet, people and profit, don’t you want to begin working on earning high marks in the planet and people columns today? Resources
|
