Clorox Goes for Transparency, Lists “Ingredients Inside”

Cross-posted from The Green Suits:

The Clorox Company, long a proponent of green business best-practices, has extended its commitment to product manufacturing transparency by listing its products’ ingredients on-line.

Clorox’s corporate website now includes a new Ingredients Inside page which provides easy click-throughs to each of the company’s products, ingredients, and Material Safety Data Sheets.

We are encouraged that this formidable consumer packaged goods marketer has taken such big steps for the sake of transparency. Yet another reason why discriminating green business executives – The Green Suits – will favor career opportunities with The Clorox Company and other committed green businesses over non-compliant companies.

Great Doritos Spot! But Will It Actually Sell…Doritos?

Have you previewed the ads for this year’s Super Bowl? The “House Rules” spot for Doritos may be the-most LOL funny entry in years. Question is, will it create the intended ROI and sell a whole lot of…Doritos?

High-Level Execs Urge President, Congress to Pass Energy, Climate Legislation

Cross-posted on The Green Suits:

We Can Lead, a business advocacy group led by senior executives from some of the U.S.’s most-recognizable brands, has called on President Obama and the 111th Congress to act swiftly on comprehensive energy and climate change legislation. The group believes such legislation when passed will bolster national security by making the U.S. more energy-independent, boost economic output, and create 1.7 million new jobs. From its January 21, 2010 Letter to the President:

“We need strong policies and clear market signals that support the transition to a low-carbon economy and reward companies that innovate. With certainty, clear rules of the road, and a level playing field, U.S. businesses will deploy capital, plan, build, innovate and compete successfully in the global marketplace.”

The group, whose membership includes Dow Corning, eBay, HP, Virgin America, and Stonyfield Farm, believes that the U.S. has fallen behind “in the global race to lead the new energy economy” and that the President and Congress need to act quicky to turn the tide.

Last last year, one We Can Lead group member – energy producer Exelon – famously surrendered its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has been, to say it mildly, highly critical of President Obama’s energy agenda.

Forget Politics: Green Business is Here to Stay

Cross-posted from The Green Suits:

Yesterday, I received a comment to an earlier post. The commenter, Kwame, referenced the special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy’s seat in the U.S. Senate. He wondered what affect Republican candidate Scott Brown’s surprise special election win would have on the state of green business. I thought Kwame’s question was an interesting and timely one, worthy of inclusion in a separate post.

From a political standpoint, Tuesday’s special election struck national Democrats like cloud-to-ground lightning. And as a result, Democrats in the U.S. Senate have lost their filibuster-proof super majority of 60 seats.

Massachusetts special-election voters may not have been thinking about green business when they cast their ballots. But with the Bay State’s decision to elect a conservative Republican to the U.S. Senate, the goals that President Obama and Democrats in Congress set out to achieve – including renewable energy projects, green tech, clean tech, and so-called “green jobs” – would appear to be at-risk.

From a political standpoint, time will tell how well green business issues resonate with members of Congress.

But from business standpoint, I don’t think that green business will be severely impacted. From Fortune 100 brands like IBM to Wal-Mart to the smallest of enterprises, many well-respected companies have embraced – or are about to embrace – energy efficiency, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.

We know that American companies of all sizes are going green because doing so makes good business sense. What we don’t know is how long will it take before the new green economy takes hold.

I have high hopes for 2010. And, in the months ahead, I believe we are going to make a lot of progress on the green business front. Hopefully soon, lots of high-paying green business executive jobs will materialize.

Maybe now, as a result of this stunning Republican win in normally Democratic Massachusetts, green energy and green jobs will be less about politics – less about avoiding filibusters in the U.S. Senate – and more about getting people back to work, quickly.

To paraphrase President Obama, Green business should not be a Democratic Party or Republican Party priority. It should be an American priority.

So to Kwame and the rest of The Green Suits out there, I say forget politics. Green Business is here to stay.

And those green business executive jobs of your dreams? Get ready! They are on the way!

Greco is Gonzo; The DMA Searching for New Leadership

In a move that should surprise no one in the direct and interactive marketing spaces, John A. Greco, Jr. has resigned his post as President and CEO of The DMA.

From The DMA News Release:

New York, NY, January 19, 2010 — The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) the leading global trade association of businesses and nonprofit multichannel direct marketers, today announced they will begin a search for a new President & CEO to replace John A. Greco, Jr. Mr. Greco has resigned his role effective today and DMA has organized a search committee to identify possible candidates.

…

“As we enter into the new decade and are anticipating an economic resurgence, it’s more important than ever to ensure that both traditional and digital multichannel direct marketing is at the forefront of that recovery,” said Eugene Raitt, Chairman of the DMA Board of Directors. “Bringing in new leadership to the management team focusing on the areas we intend to grow will be part of that process. The committee will conduct an aggressive search and I’m confident that we will find an exceptionally qualified individual to fulfill the DMA’s vision and goals.”

He continued, “DMA has committed to further developing the power of multichannel direct marketing for advertisers and consumers in the digital age. By continuing to develop strategies, content and thought-leadership, digital marketing principles will be fused throughout DMA; enabling us to grow membership, expand partnerships, enhance the Organization’s role within digital marketing and produce advanced thinking and educational programs worldwide.”

“We are grateful for John’s able service and dedication to the Direct Marketing Association over the past five years. We wish him much success with his future endeavors,” concluded Raitt.

To paraphrase the late President Gerald R. Ford, “The long national nightmare is over.”

Greco’s tenure was certainly controversial; while staging several rounds of severe staff layoffs, he raked in a total compensation package rumored to be worth nearly $1 million per year.

In October, at the onset of the DMA09 conference and exhibit held in San Diego, California, the Executive Board agreed to expand to include voting and non-voting seats for “reform bloc” candidates. Further, it agreed to form a By-Laws Committee to review the association’s governing laws and procedures. And, perhaps most important, it created a Compensation Committee to review and set management executive compensation parameters, that as Reform Bloc leader and current Board Member Gerry Pike indicated at the time, “would bring salary expectations in line with reality.”

And with that, Greco’s days running The DMA were numbered.

We wish Board Chair Gene Raitt and his executive committee well as they transition to new leadership. This industry will need all The DMA can muster.

Will This Be Green Marketing’s Breakout Year?

Cross-posted from The Green Suits:

Environmental Leader has partnered with MediaBuyerPlanner to study Green Marketing to determine if it is ephemeral (or here to stay).

Based on the study’s key findings, it looks like Green Marketing has got legs. Specifically:

• 82% of respondents indicated they expect to spend more on green marketing in the future. Among manufacturers, that number is significantly higher. At least half, if not more, of respondents plan to engage in online marketing efforts in the future.
• 28% of marketers themselves think green marketing is more effective than other marketing messages, compared to 6% of marketers who think it is less effective. Management is even more optimistic, with 46% of them indicating a belief that green marketing is more efficacious. Just 23% of those in operations think green marketing is more effective.
• Companies with smaller marketing budgets tend to spend more on green marketing. Firms with a marketing budget of under $250,000 spend just over 26% on green marketing, while those with budgets of more than $50 million spend 6% on green marketing.

The most popular medium for green marketing was the Internet, with

• 74.2% of respondents having spent money online, followed by
• Print (49.8%
• Direct (40%)
• Outdoor (7%)
• Radio and TV (7%)
• Mobile (6%)

• 29% of marketers with budgets between $10 million and $50 million, and 25% of those with budgets of more than $50 million, used outdoor, compared to 7.3% for all marketers.

About half of companies reported that they are consciously taking steps to become more green. The most popular actions are:

• Conserving energy in operations, at 59%
• Changing products to reflect greener values (such as changing ingredients, packaging or intended use), at 54%

• And, nearly half of respondents said the decision-makers at their companies hold green marketing in high regard, compared to just 15% who hold it in low regard. Companies with decision-makers who have a low regard for green marketing tend to be those with the larger marketing budgets between $10 million and $50 million per year, where more than a quarter indicated that their decision-makers held green marketing in low regard. Smaller companies, concludes the report, may believe green marketing to be more effective than larger companies do.

More green marketing will translate to more consumer spending via green marketing channels. More consumer spending via green channels likely means larger green marketing budgets. And we hope that larger green marketing budgets will lead to a big spike in green marketing executive hiring.

One would hope. So, let’s all keep a good thought!

2010: Green Business Outlook Hopeful

Cross-posted from thegreensuits.com

Will 2010 be the breakout year for green business?

My goodness, I certainly hope so!

Many of us thought that 2009 was going to be the year for green business, because President Obama won his landslide election partly on a pro-green business platform.

But like many things in politics, the Law of Unintended Consequences became an irrepressible force: the official unemployment rate hit 10 percent (while the unofficial out-of-work estimate spiked to 17 percent); thousands of businesses closed and millions of mortgages foreclosed; and the health care debate nearly deadlocked the 111th Congress.

With so many Americans paying singular attention to all the bad news that has been reported, in 2009, the share that identified global warming as a serious threat dropped by nearly half. What is more, President Obama’s approval rating slipped below 50 percent. Understandably so, Americans are jittery and impatient.

Some navel-gazers have already dubbed 2010 “2009.2″ But I am not aligned with such pessimists. I believe 2010 will be the year we pull out of the trough.

Here are some indicators (causal or anecdotal) that may signal a return to economic stability, and most-importantly, the growth of the green business sector:

1. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funding for green business has reached very few targeted projects. But I believe ARRA funds will, during the first six months of 2010, flow more-readily to green businesses;
2. More traditional companies and organizations will embrace sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Their budgets for energy efficiency will continue to rise. And the number of professional training and career-development opportunities offered by such companies and organizations will increase, significantly;
3. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has indicated that patent applications for green and clean technology will now be fast-tracked. As a result, more companies will invest many millions of dollars in the development of green and clean intellectual property;
4. Seeking a way to mitigate double-digit unemployment, many states may offer new business development funding for green tech and clean tech enterprises and start-ups. We may even see a bidding war between states vying for renewable energy and conservation technology businesses;
5. Expect a spike in hiring for green industry-focused sales and business development executive talent. GOOD NEWS: that is an indicator I am already seeing. Similarly, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the 2003 recession, executive recruitment specialists saw spikes in activity that ultimately led to more wide-scale and sustained executive hiring.

For me, 2010 is a glass that is definitely more than half-full. And for all of you eager to embark on an executive career in green business, the future looks very bright.

Here’s wishing you all a Safe and Happy New Year!

2010: BRING IT ON!

Holiday Greetings

Cross-posted to dansmolen.com and thegreensuits.com:

Greetings from the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. where, over the past weekend, the Godzilla of snowstorms (a.k.a. Snowzilla) dumped a record 23 inches of the white stuff on the ground.

While the three days of public school preceding the Christmas break have been cancelled, life is returning to normal.

Mail delivery has resumed. Ample supplies of bread, milk, and toilet paper have returned to the shelves of area supermarkets. And as you can see, there is great joy in the land; the conditions for sledding are truly amazing!

So, how ’bout that global warming?

2009 is a year that most of us would prefer to forget. The job market is still in the tank, and may remain that way for awhile. The official unemployment rate is currently at 10 percent, but really, somewhere between 17 and 20 percent of the nation is “between jobs.”

There is a lot of shared misery. And it takes a lot for us to keep smiles on our faces as we wonder, “will this nightmare ever end?”

Personally, I believe 2010 will be our turnaround year. While the pace of the recovery may seem too slow for most, I do believe that there will be considerable improvement in the overall economy and our fortunes.

Already, there are positive signs: ambitious executives have decided to follow their dreams and become entrepreneurs. Men and women – who suffered downsizing earlier in the year – are using their time (and their nest eggs) wisely to refine their business strategies and marketing plans, and craft unique value propositions that they hope will turn their dreams of running profitable businesses into reality. I am pleased that many are looking to make it big in the green spaces (renewable energy, greentech, cleantech, and other verdant areas), or by helping conventional companies embrace the triple-bottom-line.

Entrepreneurs are key to turning around the economy and creating millions of new green jobs.

Yes, things are about to get better.

During the First Quarter of 2010, my new book – Tailoring the Green Suit: Empowering Yourself for an Executive Career in the New Green Economy - will be published. Currently, the manuscript is in editing and the dust cover is being designed. I am so pleased by the “buzz” this book has created; many of you have written to ask when and where the hardcover and e-book versions may be purchased. Those details are to be determined; however, Sturdy Roots Blog and the new The Green Suits website will provide all the details.

As you and your family gather for the holidays, please recognize that things are going to get better. Resolve that 2010 will be your breakout year – the year that you set the wheels in motion to start that great green business executive career you’ve long wanted.

If you have snow on the ground (like we do here in the Metropolitan D.C. area) then enjoy this highly unusual but wonderful White Christmas season.

Then, let’s all rock in 2010: it is going to be an amazing – and verdant - new year!

Peace.

New Product Offsets Mobile Phone ‘Carbon-Footprints’

Cross-posted from SturdyRoots.com

It is not something most of us think about: our mobile phones and their contribution to global warming.

iPhones, Crackberries, and PDAs don’t produce emissions like motor vehicles and thankfully they don’t have smokestacks.

But when they get plugged in for a re-charge, they draw electricity which more often than not comes from coal-fired power plants.

I feel all sooty just thinking about it…

Now, a new product allows mobile phone users to mitigate their devices’ impact on global warming. And it’s available just in time for the holidays!

Renewable Choice Energy has introduced GREEN YOUR PHONE, a product that provides a novel and easy way to carbon-offset mobile phones.

From the website:

Burning fossil fuels to create electricity causes air pollution and contributes to climate change. To live in harmony with nature, we need to find new sustainable solutions to enjoy our modern lifestyles with less impact on the environment. That’s why Renewable Choice has teamed up with Best Buy to offer the GREEN YOUR PHONE product which provides consumers with a simple and effective way to address the impact their mobile phones have on the environment.

A $10 GREEN YOUR PHONE card covers roughly 500 kilowatt-hours of energy production , that is the amount of energy required to power two “typical” mobile phones over a two-year period.

But wait. There’s more!

Check out the GREEN YOUR PHONE viral video:

With the holidays fast-approaching, GREEN YOUR PHONE helps reward your staff while reducing their mobile phones’ impact on the planet. Plus, it makes a great green stocking-stuffer!

Deloitte LLC’s CEO on “Getting Your Hands Dirty”

I am a big fan of global accounting giant Deloitte LLC, a professional services company that takes corporate philanthropy and social responsibility very seriously.

According to Deloitte CEO Barry Salzberg, the role of corporate philanthropy is going through some big changes.

Deloitte certainly writes a lot of checks for the benefit of non-profit organizations; it is one of the-most philanthropic companies in the U.S. and the globe. But company-culture is about “getting (your) hands dirty;” through skill-based volunteerism, Deloitte leverages the talent of thousands – its accountants, consultants, and executive-management – to help non-profit organizations “run better businesses.” As a result, communities improve and people in need are empowered by developing the skills necessary to get well-paying jobs and better manage their personal finances.

Salzberg has posted a terrific piece in the online edition of today’s Washington Post. Here he discusses how the role of corporate philanthropy has changed:

What I find so exciting in this shift is the blurring of roles — non-profits and social entrepreneurs behave more like businesses, and for businesses, there is a sweet spot where social mission merges with the organization’s strategic interests.

Corporate Social Responsibility is an essential part of the triple-bottom-line: profit, people, planet. By going beyond “cutting checks” Deloitte connects its talent to the communities it serves, and helps make life better for millions of people in need.