Sustainable Brands ’07 Conference: In New Orleans
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.15.07
Here's another great example of US corporate engagement with sustainability. Logos are from some of the leaders. Lets hope the conference creates a great many more followers.
"The countdown to Sustainable Brands ’07 continues, as more and more big brands and new green brands alike make plans to gather in New Orleans September 26-28 to support the rebuilding of New Orleans, honor the reality of corporate contribution to climate change and discuss rapidly emerging best practices associated with turning environmental and social responsibility into a new driver of brand value."
"Dozens of corporate brands like AMD, Bosch and Siemen’s Home Appliances, Clorox, Nestle/Purina, IDEO, and Behr Paints are joining PR/Brand/Creative agencies and media companies like Leo Burnette, Celery Design and BBMG to learn from a stellar line up of presenters at SB07. Nearly three-dozen of the most experienced leaders in making sustainability pay are set to share their experience with the growing audience assembling for this landmark conference. Rand Waddoups, Sr. Corporate Director Strategy and Sustainability, Wal-Mart and Act Now EVP, Judah Schiller, whose sustainable collaborations are featured in this month’s issue of Fast Company, are just two. For up to the minute details on the event, visit this link."
The conference site was of course chosen in part to support the restoration NOLA economy. Participants are encouraged to stay on afterwards to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity on a home rebuilding project.
Online registration is here.
Sustainability with the likeness of BP and Waldemort? now I've seen everything... I can see the headlines now "Sustainability is brought to you by Phillip Morris and Avian water - because they truly care!" It's as if they sponsor it to give it less credibility - reverse psychology (pretty smart of them).
Bottom line: a bunch of the biggest corporations in the world are "joining PR/Brand/Creative agencies" in an effort to turn "environmental and social responsibility into a new driver of brand value." It seems they simply could have called the conference the "Green-wash your huge corporation '07 conference."
I suppose the fact these companies are even talking about "sustainability" is an improvement over years past, but I hope its more than just a pure marketing play.
Some choose to see the glass as half empty-- we choose to see it as half full. If you are interested in what's behind Sustainable Brands '07, you can learn more here: http://www.sustainablelifemedia.com/content/feature/brands/09112007 . And while you're at it, check out our parent website: http://www.sustainablelifemedia.com. If you actually spend some time learning about the many amazing sustainable innovations that are unfolding daily in corporate America, you may be surprised. And if you'd like to spur on more of these, vote with your dollars. Nothing will drive forward the re-engineering of business for sustainability than for businesses to be rewarded for doing the right thing -- as well they should be! Rather than slam incremental attempts to make things better, why not choose to reward positive behavior? At Sustainable Life Media, we see our role as to amplify the positive, honor real sustainable innovation and help spread the word about emerging best practices and more sustainable business solutions.
This proves that the big corporations are all taking this seriously. Whether that is seriously in terms of a commitment to the environment, or a commitment to keeping their businesses competitive, is what we will have to wait and see.
You can't blame people for being cynical about greenwash. All these companies will be polluting right now, at this very moment, despite what their PR may say. However I've been getting this Sustainable Brands newsletter and I think they are covering the mainstream ideas that are out there quite fairly.
Maybe something tangible and positive will come out of this. But as has been seen before, it's a LOT easier to change your brand image than to change what comes out of your factory.
If you need a new laptop battery, I suggest you could purchase one from http://www.batteryfast.com , which would shipping to you fast and the quality is satisfy satisfied.:) http://www.batteryfast.com/acer/
http://www.batteryfast.com/apple/