As more consumers grow eco-conscious, Procter & Gamble
P&G, known for ubiquitous household brands such as Tide, Bounty, Crest, Duracell, and Gillette, released its "long-term environmental sustainability vision" earlier this week.
In the long run, Procter & Gamble aims to power manufacturing plants with 100% renewable energy, use recycled and renewable materials for packaging, and permit no consumer or manufacturing waste to end up in landfills.
By "long term," however, Procter & Gamble's talking decades. Its press release included a chart of goals for 2020, including:
- Conducting studies on exactly how to eliminate landfilled and otherwise dumped consumer waste
- Supplying 30% of energy from renewable sources
- Reducing packaging by 20%, per consumer use
The company pledged to give annual updates on its progress toward these goals.
Procter & Gamble joins a growing list of major companies and brands that are tackling environmental sustainability in identifiable and quantifiable ways, including Wal-Mart
Green initiatives aren't just good for the planet. Finding ways to cut waste and shave energy expenses could boost companies' profits, and help them more nimbly compete with rivals.
The environmental boom among large companies can also benefit smaller ones. Seventh Generation, a private company (and a Benefit, or B Corporation) that makes green cleaning products, recently inked a deal to distribute its wares through Wal-Mart, expanding from previous distribution through venues like Whole Foods Market
With more and more small eco-friendly rivals quickly moving into the big leagues, green innovation is a must-have priority for huge-blue chip companies. If they don't evolve, they risk losing their customers to greener pastures.
