Comments on: Green consumers aren’t really all that green http://trueslant.com/annefield/2009/08/28/green-consumers-arent-really-all-that-green/ [Please go to 'Settings' to change your Tagline] Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:18:08 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anne Field http://trueslant.com/annefield/2009/08/28/green-consumers-arent-really-all-that-green/comment-page-1/#comment-150 Anne Field Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:49:42 +0000 http://trueslant.com/annefield/?p=2878#comment-150 Of course, you're right. But, when it comes to buying environmentally friendly products, I have figured--and, I believe, so have many companies--that the desire to engage in green practices is the prime motivating factor for consumers. In a better economy, that would be true for a larger number of people than is true now. Previously, various studies showed that a significant minority of consumers would be willing to pay a slight premium for a green product. But, for a really mass market, no matter what the state of the economy, products have to be at least the same price or cheaper than alternatives. About cars and subways--the key is gas prices. I think the thing that will make them more attractive and that, in fact, will make voters insist on better mass transit, will be when gas prices go up, which will happen. Of course, you’re right. But, when it comes to buying environmentally friendly products, I have figured–and, I believe, so have many companies–that the desire to engage in green practices is the prime motivating factor for consumers. In a better economy, that would be true for a larger number of people than is true now. Previously, various studies showed that a significant minority of consumers would be willing to pay a slight premium for a green product.

But, for a really mass market, no matter what the state of the economy, products have to be at least the same price or cheaper than alternatives.

About cars and subways–the key is gas prices. I think the thing that will make them more attractive and that, in fact, will make voters insist on better mass transit, will be when gas prices go up, which will happen.

]]> By: davidlosangeles http://trueslant.com/annefield/2009/08/28/green-consumers-arent-really-all-that-green/comment-page-1/#comment-149 davidlosangeles Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:52:02 +0000 http://trueslant.com/annefield/?p=2878#comment-149 Ms. Field, Are these results really surprising? It seems to me that this is entirely natural and expected result, when people make economic decisions, such as buying something, they use economic criteria. The key to making the world of the consumer greener is to make green products the better value to the consumer. Make buses and subways easier and cheaper to use than cars, and people will use them more than cars. I recently had a salesman at my house trying to get me to buy solar panels for my roof, his entire pitch was dollars and cents, he had nothing to say about GHGs or saving the earth. This is how the market place works, for better or worse. Ms. Field,

Are these results really surprising? It seems to me that this is entirely natural and expected result, when people make economic decisions, such as buying something, they use economic criteria. The key to making the world of the consumer greener is to make green products the better value to the consumer. Make buses and subways easier and cheaper to use than cars, and people will use them more than cars. I recently had a salesman at my house trying to get me to buy solar panels for my roof, his entire pitch was dollars and cents, he had nothing to say about GHGs or saving the earth. This is how the market place works, for better or worse.

]]> By: ‘Green consumers’ are actually just thrifty cheapskates who are trying to save money « Economics Info http://trueslant.com/annefield/2009/08/28/green-consumers-arent-really-all-that-green/comment-page-1/#comment-148 ‘Green consumers’ are actually just thrifty cheapskates who are trying to save money « Economics Info Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:03:36 +0000 http://trueslant.com/annefield/?p=2878#comment-148 [...] Source [...] [...] Source [...]

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