I am as much of a ‘tree hugger” as the next guy but I get a little sick of big corporations touting their “green” efforts.
Frito-Lay recently publicized their re-use of cardboard cartons for delivery five times, saving 5 million trees and 56 million pounds of garbage but they don’t quote how much money this also saves them. They also brag about recycling close to 20 million pounds of potato and corn solids, such as potato peelings and cracked corn, to America’s livestock and dairy farms. My guess is that they are not giving it away for free and some of their “green” spin is just as much about profits and selling as much of their garbage as they can, as it is about conservation. I’m not being critical of this practice, as it’s just good business, but let’s just say it’s about the ultimate kind of “green” ($$$$) just as much as it is about the other “green”. If I’m not mistaken, their parent company, Pepsi, has 41 beverage categories, each with multiple flavors, and very few (if any) re-fillable bottles. 1
The company that comes out and says, “we are going green even though it will hurt our bottom line, but we will not pass this cost on to our consumers” is the company that I’ll applaud.
The Sabres are even “green” now. Call me cynical, but what does that even mean? An excuse to sell more merchandise with the green logo, or the color of Lindy Ruff’s face when they lose another captain?
maryt4905 said
Barry, don’t you remember form our Wilson Farms day the Troyer Farm and Frito Lays guys had reusable cardboard cartons back then..some “big new improvement”!?!?!?!
rockbill said
We got the word at work today: no more single-sided copying allowed; must use both sides to save trees. This is the worst plan since Jimmy Carter turned off all the hot water in government office buildings. Does this make any of you federal taxpayers feel any better?
nagafooki said
I have a couple of thoughts on this:
Building relationships with it’s customers is what good businesses do. When you build relationships you can sustain and grow your business by creating brand loyalty. Saving the Earth is a really really big deal. A good business has to pay attention to all of it’s constituencies though including, but not especially, the share holders.
Going Green is a complex initiative for a business. If it was simply about making money than they would have always been green. Frito Lay, along with many many, other business reuses durable corrogated packs. It is a good idea that have saved them a lot of money but it is a “simple green.” In other words these companies did not spend a lot of money to get green. They just made a really small modification to the packaging to save a boat load of money.
Other Green initiatives are really expensive and only happen when it is good for business. In other words, does it strengthen the relationships that the business has with it customers and satisfy the share holders.
I think you get the idea of where I am coming from. Now enough about business.
WHAT THE F#$@ ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT!
ARE YOU RECYCLING EVERYTHING THAT IS RECYCLABLE?
ARE YOU TELLING THE CASHIER AT THE SUPERMARKET TO KEEP THE PLASTIC BAG WHEN YOU ARE ONLY BUYING ONE ITEM?
ARE YOU REUSING AND THEN RECYCLING YOUR PLASTIC BAGS?
ARE YOU DUMPING HARMFUL CHEMICALS ON YOUR LAWNS AND DOWN THE DRAINS?
ARE YOU LEAVING THE LIGHTS AND TV’S ON IN ALL OF THE ROOMS OF YOUR HOUSE ALL DAY LONG?
DID YOU PLANT A TREE ON EARTH DAY AND CUT ONE DOWN ON CHRISTMAS DAY?
F##$$!N HYPOCRITES!
I am glad that Frito Lay is reusing it cardboard and I will consider buying their chips because of it. It is that important to me. Free to Lay wants to build on the relationship it already has with me. The relationship that started the first time I tasted them. They had me at hello. Now they want to keep me.
Unfortunately, Hollywood and the government is involved and they are jackin’ it all up with “their” Green Hypocrisy.
Check out my link.http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2007/20070307115544.aspx
It will take some time to get to a delicate balance once everyone has the whole story. Hopefully, American business and it’s mavericks will win out and this one and lead us and make us greater and continue to employ all of us as they always have.
nagafooki said
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2007/20070307115544.aspx
qabflo said
For todays BOB brain stimulating activity, let’s all think of terms, characters, bands, brands or sayings, etc. with the word green in it:
i.e, “green” with envy
qabflo said
Rockbill,
Does this mean I’ll get someone else’s “stimulus” check on the backside of mine? Which side do I sign, I’m confused, really confused…
Don Burtless said
the best thing i have ever seen regarding recycling was penn and teller’s show bull s*** on hbo that had an hour devoted to the subject. if anyone has the chance i say watch it.
maryt4905 said
green backs
green berets
it’s not easy being green (kermit)
green bay (city and packers)
green space
nagafooki said
green giant
bowling green
green hypocrisy
green jeans
green with envy
a little green (noob)
green jello
green acres
By the way I am now officially recylcling my toe and navel lint. I can make new socks and t-shirts from the recycled lint. I would suggest that everyone does this
qabflo said
That’s Mr. Green Jeans, mister. Is Captain Kangaroo dead or alive?
Williamsville Bob said
Soylent Green – the ultimate in recycling. Good movie
rockbill said
Barry, don’t worry about your check. I already received it on the back of mine and it is safe in my account.
putting green
leafy green vegetables
soylent green
the wearing of the green
green stamps
how green was my valley?
God didn’t make little green apples
green eggs and ham
nagafooki said
the green lantern
gangreen
greens (soulfood)
Lay some green on me my brother
The European Green Hippo
Green Monk Monastery
greenaliscious
green testes
green with lust
http://www.dothegreenthing.com/
Williamsville Bob said
I’ve heard of blue balls but never green testes.
nagafooki said
Yeah, it’s horrible.
If not properly treated it can lead to green sack syndrome and spread to the pinoose.
Williamsville Bob said
I’m crossing my legs as I read this. I thought the green sack syndrome was a heavy pass rush by the packers.