Every week now we seem to be getting press releases from major corporations and businesses telling us about their new green initiatives and strategies. The latest is Waitrose supermarket’s commitment to the environment. Waitrose has pledged that by 2010 all fruit, vegetables and flowers that are non-organic will be farmed to high environmental standards and will carry the LEAF Marque to certify this. This ensures farmers are working with the environment rather than against it. Good on Waitrose I say.
Whether it’s supermarkets telling us how they are saving the planet, or banks telling us about their eco-friendly credit cards, the list goes on. Does this show a genuine concern for the environment or is this merely a marketing exercise dreamt up by some smug advertising executive? Has big business acquired a conscience? I find that hard to believe, maybe I’m just an old cynic, but I am pretty sure there are very real financial incentives pushing this rush to go green, but I am equally sure there must be some very genuine individuals in many organisations pushing for change because they care about the environment.
Either way, does it actually matter? Does it really matter why any one does anything that helps the environment? Does it matter what motivates Barclaycard Breathe to donate 50% of profits to projects that reduce carbon emissions? The end result is the same, carbon emissions are reduced. Maybe we need to welcome and support all environmentally friendly practises and initiatives regardless of their motives. I think what ultimately matters, is protecting the planet, whoever does more good than harm to the planet is ok with me.
From: BEST OF 2008: Eco-friendy and sustainable shoes