Earth-Friendly Market Statistics
In spite of our economic downturn - Green is Growing!
According to the 2009 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey, green buyers are growing even as the economy slips.
The
2009 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey presents the findings of an
online survey conducted January 29-30, 2009 by Opinion Research
Corporation among a demographically representative U.S. sample of 1,087
adults, comprising 518 men and 569 women 18 years of age and older.
The margin of error associated with a sample of this size is ± 3%.
Recession or Not, Consumers Pay More for Green
According
to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive, Americans are still
willing to pay more for green products and services.
Overall, 47% of U.S. adults agreed they would be willing to pay more for environmentally-friendly products.
- 64% of those surveyed said they would be willing to pay more for a hybrid car
- 63% indicated they would spend more for organic, fair trade, or locally sourced food
- 62% said they would dig deeper into their wallets for green/organic cleaning supplies
- 57% of those surveyed said they would pay the additional costs for products made from recycled materials
The respondents said they were willing to spend an average of 17% to 19% percent more for each of these green products.
The
study was conducted via a six-question online omnibus poll interviewing
a nationwide sample of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over. Data was
weighted to generate a representative sample of the total U.S. - April
21, 2008
Why Buy Green?
In
an economic slowdown, consumers feel a reluctance to buy anything
unless it is absolutely necessary. Use the information below to help demystify
Earth-Friendly apparel and explain the benefits of going green.
Organic Cotton
What is it?
Organic cotton is cotton that has grown in soil that is certified free
of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for at least three years. The
primary method of growing organic cotton is through crop
rotation. Rotating the growing of different crops from season to season
on a specific piece of land keeps the insects that feed off cotton from
settling in the soil. Crop rotation also keeps the soil from burning
out, allowing natural nutrients to regenerate.
Benefits
The initial cost of an Earth-friendly T-shirt may be more expensive,
but the long-term advantages to the health of our environment and your
business is priceless. Recycled Cotton
What is it?
Growing, harvesting, and processing cotton involves a lot of waste; one
study estimates that up to 40% of the cotton product is discarded
between field and manufacturer, most of it ending up in landfills.
Now, thanks to developments in cotton processing technology, it is
possible to recycle that waste into cloth. Recycled cotton is cotton
fabric which has been made from recovered cotton that would otherwise
be cast off during the spinning, weaving or cutting process. This
means they eliminate toxic chemicals in every step of the growing
process, by emphasizing natural, biological methods that have far less
impact on the environment.
Recycled cotton reduces the effects that insecticides and other chemicals have on our soil, air, and water tables.
- 80% less solid waste generated
- 79% less fossil fuel used
- 68% less global warming potential
- 49% less air pollution produced
- 33% less land used
- 25% fewer carcinogens produced
Recycled Polyester / PET
What is it?
Recycled polyester or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a
thermoplastic polymer resin that is made from pre- and post-consumer
waste (plastic water bottles) that's converted into fibers that are texturized and used to create synthetic fibers.
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