Yesterday was Buy Nothing Day. Did you guys go out and buy something?
On Phoresia.org, "a resource about environmentally and socially responsible surf related products and lifestyle choices", the author talks about overconsumption and how it could affect our lives as surfers.
Do we really need all the gadgets thrown at us to "enhance the surfer experience?" Green marketing makes us believe that we are helping a cause when really they just want to make us buy things (not in all cases of course).
You should definitely read the article to get another perspective on green marketing.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Green Marketing
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2 comments:
You make an extremely important, and valid point in this article. And I agree totally with many of the points.
If you already have a watch, should you replace it with one that donates (or is made from materials) which help the environment?
No, you should not. You should keep the watch you have. The same apples to Hybrid cars, and Eco Surfboards.
But if your watch is broken, or you don’t have one, and you need one, should you buy one which either donates to the environment, or helps by using more sustainable materials and practices over one which is not “green”?
Yes you should!
I’ll sell 1000 surfboards worldwide next year, whether they are “green” or not. Some of these to first time surfers. Some to surfers who’s boards are worn and broken. Some to surfers who have outgrown their current shape, or need alternate shapes for different conditions. Whether my boards are eco friendly or not, I’ll sell 1000 of them. Of the 600 000 hand shaped boards worldwide that are sold yearly, or the 800 000 mass produced boards (so a total of 1 400 000 boards a year), how many end up in dumps or waste? How many are sustainable. Less than 10 000? So every “green” surfboard sold helps. Surfers will surf. They need boards. They will continue to buy boards. But that process does not have to as bad as it currently is for the environment. Sustainable low impact materials, which are not petroleum based, have minimal VOC emissions, are as bio degradable as possible, AND (as important) last a long time so it does not need to be replaced as often, all go to helping making the “need” (if you want to surf you need a board) for boards have as little negative impact as possible.
But surfers should NOT retire their current board to buy a “green” board just because it’s green. If your current board is in good shape, and rides well for you, then keep it. Don’t add to the problem by disposing of it and getting a new one. But when it’s time to replace that board, for any of the reasons stated above, then you should really be buying a board that has MINIMAL environmental impact. The same applies for all the gear you need for surfing, including the car you drive (or bicycle) to get there.
I believe that this is the aim of many companies like 2Imagine. It’s not to sell MORE boards, but to sell boards which have an absolute minimal environmental impact WHEN one is sold.
Great article that. It misses the point on many things, but it hits the point dead on with others!
Corran
What the article on phoresia says, and the comments from Corran, apply to anything we buy, not just surfing.
I am amused by "green" and "eco" marketing. These two terms are becoming maketing phrases and beginning to lose all meaning (e.g. the prius is now an eco-car? WTF!)
Corran, thanks for taking the time to comment.
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