5 Forces Will Drive the Green Economy in 2009
Andrew Wilson Of Winston Eco-Strategies predicts 5 trends will drive eco business growth in 2009
…many of the critical trends propelling the Green Wave - will grow stronger in 2009, no matter what the economic conditions. Five forces will still drive a fundamental shift in how business operates, even during a recession.
1. Rising commodity prices (in the medium and long run)
2. The drive for transparency
3. Your business customers, greening their supply chains
4. Your consumers, conflicted and searching
5. Your employees, looking for more than a paycheck
These two mega-forces and three stakeholder pressures will not go away. The smart companies will make wise investments in the downturn and prepare for the Green Wave to come back in full force.
I have to agree in the long run and that’s why it will be critical for green businesses to do what all businesses must do in this economic uncertainty – cut costs. While slashing expenses and reducing costs can be relatively easy at first, especially after an age of excess, once the easy cuts are made comes the tough part – People and Planet.
- » See also: The BigFoot of Climate Change
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For 3P companies, cutting jobs can be tough. So can reducing charitable programs or environmental programs. Rising commodity prices can create havoc with well intentioned energy programs. Transparency can be a positive and a negative. Conflicted customers may be more price conscious than they are eco.
Though these 5 forces will drive green business, will yours be around to survive? What are you doing to ensure that will happen?
Photo credit: Officenow at Flickr Under Creative Commons License
