The papers, your boss, your clients, the new intern... everyone's talking green. Thankfully, The Greenery gives you a daily update on what's going on environmentally in UK marketing, business, politics and science. Green things and marketing things, living in beautiful synthesis. Awesome.

Friday 28 March 2008

Agency environmental policies...

... have hit the big time. Yes, Campaign has finally devoted a double page spread to our fine green antics. Ok, so they chose their agencies at random, but it seems like there's something underway pretty much everywhere. So here are some key learnings!

  • St Luke's should be applauded for their 2004 carbon neutral ad (for that eco-angel BT, of course).
  • A green policy is a good "new business accessory". Awesome phrase.
Beattie McGuinness Bungay comment on the ethical standpoints taken by Gen Y recruits. Apparently no-one likes a young whippersnapper telling them they stink of CO2. Euro RSCG has gone carb-neutral in a very dull but effective way. McSaatchi are still trying to think of something interesting to do whilst implementing the "quick wins". Thankfully ,a couple of people are being a bit more interesting: BBh have banned bottled water, and leave a green flag on equipment found unnecessarily turned on; Engine's "Our Little Bit" strategy involves recycled loo roll, and a lot of stickers. My personal fave, though, is Archibald Ingall Stretton, with their staff bicycles and video conferencing.

Wish they'd got a photo of Ketchum's wormery tho...

Tuesday 25 March 2008

Green channels proliferate

Two in one day - I'm impressed. First we had BBC Green, "think big, start small". Promising. Even more promising, a novel alternative to the 'ten things to do to be green' list:


So far, so good (apart from all the smirky green people holding their recycling boxes). Having a flick through an article on CFLs and their weekly green news wrap, and I'm pretty sold. I'm not going to make it my homepage, but it's far from embarrassing.

Ok. Site 2. Smartplanet.com.

As my eye hits the first article, on eco-nappies, I'm slightly concerned this might be for the greener of the yummy mummy sorority (less yummy as they smell a bit of poo). However, it turns out to be a consumer product guide, examining the eco-ness of everything from champagne to silk.

Less sold on this one. I tend to keep any sort of review site at arm's length, having rarely encountered a truly objective and/or useful one. However, whilst griping that the only thing I can find is about 'green' products like ecover, I'm suddenly stunned by a review of Ariel washing powder (one of the 7.5 million brands between which there is very little distinction).


Now, this plays near to my heart. Often have I wondered how I balance the 'turn to 30' against the 'eco-brand'. In which balance can I weigh the two? Well, Smartplanet seems to have done it for me. Quality, value, ethics, and greenness, are all weighed up and culminate in one, decisive score. Ariel, 6.5, ecover, 8.3. Hands down victory.

Now, that's a truly useful site. 10/10.



Tuesday 18 March 2008


Welcome to Optimism offers us some nice sarcasm to see us through the day ahead...


Thursday 13 March 2008

Honda greens direct mail

With this...

Yes, it's a letter you can plant. Seeds embedded in this letter about Honda's lawn and garden equipment will sprout when hte letter is buried. Awesome.

How will the Budget affect the merketing community?

Well, it's proved that the green worries of companies UK wide aren't going to go away, with taxes announced on plastic bags, the most polluting cars, and cargo flights.
For the lucky companies, they've already announced some of the changes the government are hoping to make - take, for example, Whole Foods and M&S's positions on plastic bag use. The pressure to keep ahead of regulation has been increased.

Alcohol is also under attack, with above-inflation tax increases in an attempt to discourage alcohol abuse and child poverty. Another substance at risk of demonisation, and which could therefore do with a good comms strategy. Equally, two issues which brands could adopt a leadership position on.

Bingo halls have also been complaining today that their tax burden hasn't been alleviated. They've been suffering ever since the smoking ban, and may now be facing closures. Is it time to target a new demographic?

All in all, sustainability seems to be the key message. Companies take heed.

Tuesday 11 March 2008

Brand Republic sums up the ethical hairpulling going on...

On BrandRepublic this week, Chris Arnold offers a nice blow-by-blow account of the current supermarket war over green, applauding the immense success of the media machine that has been Plan A, whilst raising a well-groomed brow at Tesco's £1.99 chicken.

The real contenders for the leafy crown are, of course, M&S and Coop. Asda's efforts have fallen on deaf media ears - I've certainly read more in the industry press about their absent parent, Walmart.

So who's winning? Well, M&S have certainly dominated communications channels, right down to their latest 5p plastic bag move. However, Coop are proving how important coherent brand values can be.

For social responsibility is enshrined in the heart of the company, one of four ethical values it subscribes to. And here, in the co-operative world, profit is less likely to hijack the operation. They have wind turbines, solar panels, and their own paper recycling facility in Manchester. Over 4000 of their branches are powered by wind and water. Their tills have an auto-switch-off function to save energy overnight. And yes, they have a green credit card. Wow.

But it did take me a good ten minutes of googling to find all that out. Is there a danger they'll be left behind in the communications race? Perhaps they'll be happy with that - a 'green gem' for those in the know. And perhaps, without huge shareholder demands to live up to, rising above the greenrush is a luxury they can afford to take.

Inspired by this blog entry.

Wednesday 5 March 2008

The Green Thing - Eat less meat

Certainly not one for the lads out there. Not my fave green thing video, though the idea of meatballs on legs made me chuckle. Not so sure about rapping meatballs tho...

Tongue in cheek dig at saintly Prius

Courtesy of AdFreak and Winding Road, my attention has been drawn to some pretty rocking 'Prius' ads. According to the maker, minding your ecological sins excuses you from pretty much any level of naughtiness, with the strapline 'at least he/she drives a Prius' adorning each execution. Is parody a mark of love or hate? I think these reflect positively on the brand - unlike those fake Chevy ads of a while back. Me like.




Tuesday 4 March 2008

Top marketing blogs

Having just read Seth Godin's "Everyone's an Expert", in which he advocates providing 'lenses' to help others navigate the online world, I've decided to list a couple of my green/marketing/green marketing faves for you all to enjoy.

News
Adland
Adverblog
AdFreak
Adverbox
Revolution
Marketing Week
Brand Republic

Green
GoodGreenPR
BusinessGreen
Greenbang

Marketing Green

Musings
Adliterate
Adpulp
Big Picture Advertising

Punk Planning
Iain Tait
The New Brand Tarot Blog

Trends
Springwise
Trendwatching

Women fall for green brands

Women are, apparently, more susceptible to green brands, a new study claims.

According to a study by the Havas agency, which claims to be the first carbon neutral communications agency in the UK, more than half of women (51 per cent) are willing to pay extra for a brand if it is environmentally friendly, compared with just 39 per cent of men.

The research from the agency behind ads for brands bmi, Peugeot and Citroen, also reveals that brands who promote their environmentally-friendly credentials are perceived more positively by women (63 per cent) than men (52 per cent).

Read more here.