National Geographic Publishes Greendex Green Consumer Study; U.S. Ranks Lowest Among Nations Studied

Cross-posted to Sturdy Roots Blog:

National Geographic has published results of Greendex 2009, a new study tracking worldwide consumer choice and the environment.

Among the findings, this one: since 2008, 13 out of 14 countries including Brazil, China, India, and South Korea have increased their environmentally-friendly consumer behavior while the U.S., Canada and Japan rank lowest and the nations with the least amount of improvement.

Overall, consumers made great strides with recycling and by reducing energy consumption in the home by moderating thermostats and using energy-efficient appliances.

Some good news: Greendex scores are up from 2008 and the reasons are not the result of the global economic downturn, alone. Consumers are more-conscious of how their consumption affects the environment; however, the study does suggest that product manufacturers and marketers have to do more to improve their sustainable practices and make more green environmentally-friendly products and packaging. That way, consumers will make more environmentally-friendly consumer purchase decisions.

Certainly since last year, there is more sustainability happening at the workplace. But more could be done.

Encourage your team members to think creatively about increasing the amount and sophistication of sustainable practices. And to make sure your team practices what it preaches, include sustainability among their Management by Objective (MBO) work-performance measures.

Grossman Marketing Wins Green Business Award

Our friends at Grossman Marketing Group have won a green business award from Boston Business Journal. The award will be presented at this year’s Green Business Summit, scheduled for Friday, May 15, at the Sheraton Boston Hotel.

The company was included in the award’s “innovation” category in recognition for its trailblazing work in the green marketing and sustainability space.

Grossman Marketing Group is a full-service provider of marketing communications materials and promotional products to customers in fields as varied as biotechnology, law, financial services, and the arts, and is known for environmentally-sound marketing solutions: envelopes made from green-e certified wind power; window patch envelopes made from a biodegradable, corn-based polymer; sustainable papers for stationery and collateral; and an extensive line of promotional products made from recycled materials.

Our heartiest congratulations go out to everyone at Grossman Marketing Group, especially company president Steve Grossman and the head of its Green Marketing Practice Ben Grossman.

The DMA’s “Green 15″ Environmental Program Wins Award

The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) announced that its “Green 15 Standards & Environmental Action Program” has won the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) 2009 Associations Advance America (AAA) Award in a national competition sponsored by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership in Washington, DC.

From the news release:

The prestigious AAA Awards program recognizes associations that propel America forward with innovative projects in education; skills training; standards-setting; business and social innovation; knowledge creation; citizenship; and community service. In receiving this esteemed award, The DMA is one of only 21 other organizations to receive an Award of Excellence, and is now automatically included in the running to receive a Summit Award, ASAE & The Center’s top recognition for association programs.

The DMA is the leading global trade association of businesses and nonprofit organizations using and supporting multichannel direct marketing tools and techniques.