It pains me to think about the quinoa salad that came in a plastic container I just ate will make my body happy, but our planet unhappy.
While we are extracting all the nutritious plant foods from the earth to nourish our bodies, the mere appreciation of our food is not close to enough. We must also think of the consequences beyond our point of consumption. A cradle-to-grave business model is not the answer nor the solution; instead, a cradle-to-cradle perspective is the only way to go around doing business in this environmental sensitive era.
Climate change and fossil resource depletion are driving a transition to a bio-based economy. good natured Products Inc., as our second client challenge, is committed to leading the business world towards a renewable by helping business transition to plant-based materials that not only look good, but maximize shelf space, drive incremental sales, enhance logistics and boost environmental benefits.
According to the newest findings published in the results of the #WhatBrandsWant survey by Sustainability Consult, there is a considerable growing trend in the biomaterials market and a significant shift away from fossil-based products.
- Of the over 40 brands surveyed across sectors ranging from apparel, footwear and textiles to food and beverage and personal care, half have set targets for bio-based products.
- One quarter said bio-based content was one of the main selection criteria used when choosing a supplier based on sustainability performance.
- Of the brands not currently using bio-based materials, two-thirds said they intend to incorporate them into future product lines.
But why hasn’t there been a widespread adoption of bio-degradable materials across all sectors if they said they were committed to greener operations? According to #WhatBrandsWant, costs, performance and availability are the three main barriers. But above all, is the lack of consumer understanding.
Therefore, for good natured Products Inc. and all other businesses in the bio-based industry, it is imperative to provide credible information on product advantages. While early adopters are influenced by pressure to become more sustainable, late adopters will likely be influenced by the changing regulatory environment and the need to future-proof their businesses.
robertleung
November 12, 2017 — 9:03 pm
I agree! I remember even in class as the products were being passed around, they were indistinguishable between ordinary plastic. I would have not known about the product advantages had I seen the products in a retail setting. In this regard, the performance and availability of the product are in direct conflict with consumer understanding because there is no visual difference. This makes the packaging and communications for companies like Good Natured to showcase credible information especially important
becky purves
November 19, 2017 — 12:14 am
Very good question Angela! I think there is definitely a lack of awareness, especially regarding the whole recyclable plastic versus plant based plastics. I was very shocked to hear how ironically by purchasing plastic that is recyclable you are actually profiting the oil industry. I think this is perhaps the issue for companies such as Good Nature as in order to make their product more attractive they have to essentially educate consumers on the truth behind recycling
(maybe not as environmentally friendly as we would like to hope). This is quite a controversial topic and probably one in which a small company would not like to emphasis given the power of their large competitors.
Becky