2Sustain

American consumers buy 320 million cleaning products in trigger bottles each year, and millions of those plastic containers end up in landfills. SC Johnson, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of household products, wants consumers to consider a different option to “spray and throw away.”

In response to consumer demand revealed through earlier focus groups and a study with GfK Roper examining green attitudes and behaviors, SC Johnson has announced the expansion of its Mini line of concentrated cleaners. This new product line allows buyers to combine one bottle of concentrate with regular tap water in a reusable trigger bottle, eliminating the need to buy new trigger bottles of the same product.

The Mini line includes five of SC Johnson brands: (more…)

Food supply chains are now global and enormously complex. And food recalls are more commonplace than ever before. (See earlier posts about problems with honey, beef, eggs, cookie dough . . .)

As a result, it’s no surprise that food safety is an increasing concern worldwide.

Food safety regulations have increased, and food manufacturers say they’ve fine-tuned processes. But, do consumers have faith in these stepped-up efforts? Do we really feel confident that the food we eat is safe?

To gain some insight into this intriguing manufacturer-consumer dynamic, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), conducted a study exploring the perceptions of consumers and food manufacturers regarding safety, innovation, performance and sustainability issues.

The study, Navigating the Product Mindset, collected opinions from consumers and manufacturers in China, India, Germany and the US across the high tech, food, building materials and household chemicals industries.

The results of the study show that: (more…)

Most corporate sustainability reports are full of environmental goals. But, do companies actually reach these ambitions? How many end up meeting the targets they set for themselves?

Among British retailers, the track record so far appears to be quite good. In fact, a new report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) report concluded that retailers in the UK are living up to the environmental ambitions they committed themselves to in 2008 –plus,  they’re demonstrating increasing recognition that reducing waste, energy and water usage not only benefits the environment, but makes good business sense, as well.

The BRC-led project, A Better Retailing Climate, was launched in 2008, and it committed businesses representing the majority of the UK retail market to sector-wide environmental ambitions. The report released last month, A Better Retailing Climate: Towards Sustainable Retail, is the BRC’s third review of progress against these original commitments.

Here’s a breakdown of the report’s key findings: (more…)

Last month, the Clorox Company launched both a new smartphone application and a mobile website that allow consumers to have immediate access to information about the ingredients in Clorox products marketed in the US and Canada.

The first consumer packaged goods company to launch a smartphone application for ingredient disclosure, Clorox is offering the app initially to iPhone users, enabling them to scan a product UPC code and be taken instantly to that product’s ingredient listing.

The free application can be found in the iPhone App Store by typing in “Clorox ingredients,” and the company says the Ingredients Inside app will be available for other mobile devices soon.

In addition to the app, a new mobile website, which is available for all mobile platforms, gives easier, on-the-go access to the company’s Ingredients Inside program by offering content and functionality optimized for mobile device use.

Clearly, Clorox is responding to two emerging consumer trends: (more…)

The green consumer product market continues to evolve.

Today, store shelves are stocked with more eco-friendly products than ever before, and there’s increasing competition for marketshare. Plus, manufacturers are responding to a growing sophistication among consumers who want accurate brand information presented in a way that’s easy to understand.

But even so, recent survey results from Grail Research indicate that the recession has had a significant impact on consumer behavior in this market. For example, the new study shows that:

• Since 2009, the “dark green” consumer segment has grown slightly, but the total number of green consumers has declined.
• Four in ten (43 percent) of “light green” consumers reduced their use of green products or switched to conventional ones.
• The percentage of “non-green” consumers increased from 15 percent to 22 percent.
• Both green and non-green consumers alike cited price as the number one deterrent preventing them from buying green.
• While certifications matter, most US consumers are confused about how to interpret green credentials, and most don’t actively look for green information about the products they’re buying. Only 11 percent said they seek information about green products and practices on a regular basis.

Interestingly, Grail Research also found that companies are often perceived by consumers as green, even if they do not exclusively manufacture green products. For instance, here’s the 2011 list of the five companies that are top of mind for consumers when they think of a green company: (more…)