green economy

Green is the New Black

Regardless of the economic climate, people want to lead a greener lifestyle according to an informal survey of ecomii.com visitors and Debatables participants. ecomii is the #1 green lifestyle resource on the Internet (according to comScore). Lack of information and consumer understanding as to how to be greener remain an impediment according to the survey.

“We decided to tap the collective knowledge of our community to demonstrate to the world that being green happens not only Earth day,” said Colton Dirksen, Environmental Director and co-founder, ecomii.com. “Earth Day is not about a single big gesture to be quickly forgotten, it’s a day to think about daily habits and the consequences of actions. It’s about making resolutions and real, even small, meaningful changes in the way we live our lives.

“Our polls show people are clearly inspired and ready to take action, but many just don’t know where to start. And we found that there is a perception that going green means spending more, which makes it especially difficult for people to motivate in this economic climate. But when you allow people to find solutions that fit their lifestyle, they realize they don’t have to sacrifice their comfort, and that it’s possible to even save money in the process,” added Dirksen.

ecomii sees many opportunities for growth in green markets over the next few years as environmental consciousness grows. In particular, ecomii’s survey found that green products are perceived as stylish and of better quality and those buying them are being viewed as cool. According to the survey:

• Organic and natural clothing are considered better quality: 89% of respondents agree that, “natural materials are more comfortable than synthetic materials”
• “In-the-know” consumers are pushing back on manufacturers: 74% believe chlorine bleach should be banned from cleaning products
• Going green is not just a current trend: 37% disagree that “people will lead a less green lifestyle with the current financial crisis”
• Gardening is cool again: 84% say “growing your own vegetables is worth the time and effort”

Additional findings from the ecomii survey include:

• Not enough education: 89% say “schools are not doing enough to educate our children on environmental responsibility”
• Many consumers are not clear how to recycle everything: 75% of respondents say “it is too difficult to recycle electronics like cell phones and computers”
• Detroit needs to reclaim its territory: 78% believe “U.S. automakers can catch up and lead the green car revolution”
• Government misspending: 87% day the “U.S. should focus it’s stimulus dollars less on the auto industry and more on public transportation like trains”