A new study by Ipsos Reid said that 70 percent of Americans either “strongly” or “somewhat” agree with the statement that “green” advertising is just a marketing tactic, with men being slightly more cynical about “green” than women. The same study suggests that 72 percent of Southerners are disbelieving about green marketing, and that 58 percent of Northeast residents feel that way.
In addition, 44 percent of those polled said that they would be unwilling to pay more for “green” building materials, even if they would be better for the environment and/or save them money in the long term.
In addition, 44 percent of those polled said that they would be unwilling to pay more for “green” building materials, even if they would be better for the environment and/or save them money in the long term.
- KC's View:
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I can only hope that this study is inaccurate, and that Americans are not so foolish about environmental issues. Maybe they just asked the wrong people…?
Still, it certainly suggests that American businesses have to do a better job persuading shoppers about the value of green initiatives, and about their own sincerity in pursuing such programs.
By the way, check out the front page of the Wall Street Journal this morning. There’s a fascinating – and relevant- story about how a split is widening within the Evangelical community about global warming and climate change, with one side believing it is part of their mandate to nurture the earth and be "good stewards of God's creation," while the other side believes that God is "sovereign over his creation" and that no amount of coal-burning will alter … his divine plan for the world. Fighting environmental damage is ‘like chasing rabbits,’” according to the pastor of a church near Crawford, Texas, that “just distracts from core Christian duties to spread the faith and protect the unborn.”
Wonder if God thinks that cherishing and nurturing the earth is just a marketing gimmick?
