Green marketing came into prominence in the 1980s when Ben & Jerry's became one of the first companies to include with its financial report a supplement that contained a greater view of the company's environmental impact.

 

Today, green marketing is an even more common practice for companies wanting to capitalize on the country's (and the world's) efforts to lessen our environmental impact by using goods and services that are environmentally friendly. And while some companies do actually "walk the walk" (say what you want about Wal-Mart, but the company's solar projects will generate enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 2,600 homes and avoid 22,500 metric tons of carbon-dioxide emissions each year — the equivalent to taking about 4,000 cars off the road.), a lot of companies do not share the commitment to sustainable products and renewable energy... to them "green" is a trend - and they're jumping on the bandwagon.

 

I am in no way an environmental expert. I recycle as much as I can, carpool when able, keep a close eye on my water usage, and try to purchase products that are truly a friend to the environment. And it's not just in my personal life that  I have become more green: it's become a way of life here at jldcreative's office as well.

 

Several years ago we began recycling in earnest - although there was no pick-up for our recyclable materials. We made other arrangements to get our materials to the recycling center. No easy feat, but the things in life worth doing are seldom easy. Now we have a weekly recycling pick-up, and our efforts continue to improve. The amounts of paper, cardboard, packaging, etc. that a business can generate in the course of a week is staggering. We recycle as much of it as we can.

 

In addition, we have made the switch to mostly recycled paper products. The products are generally slightly more expensive, but they're becoming more in-line with their non-recycled counterparts. And we're always keeping our eyes peeled for bargains on these items.

 

However,  I realize that it's an often difficult and confusing task to know what products are best for the environment, what can be recycled, etc. I am always on the lookout for new information, and these are some of my go-to sources for green info.

 

Earth911.com is a great site that can help you find out where to recycle things like batteries and light bulbs... things that aren't usually accepted in regular municipal recycling programs. It is also a great place to read about the environmental efforts of other individuals and groups - a great place for new ideas.

 

Preserveproducts.com is another great site. I came upon preserve products a few years ago when I saw them in a local Target. Preserve uses recycled yogurt cups, toothbrushes and other things to make cutting boards, table ware, and a lot of other cool stuff for home and personal use. Check out the site to see where you can purchase these items.

 

They have also started accepting #5 plastic (a kind of plastic that most municipalities will not recycle) through a mail-in program. So, now you know what to do with all those yogurt cups!

 

And to find safe, healthy, and green products, check out GoodGuide.com. There are many categories to choose from - everything from baby food to cosmetics - all with suggestions for envionmentally-friendly choices. And - BONUS - there's even an iPhone app for it. So you'll be able to check out a product's rating while you're at the store.

 

I could go on and on - it's a subject I'm passionate about. But, in honor of Earth Day, I ask that everyone do just one small thing today to make the world a safer, more beautiful, "greener" place.