Spend Money, Be An Activist?

September 24th, 2009

You can affect change in all sorts of ways. But lately, people are using their wallets to make their voices heard.

In larger numbers than ever before, consumers are considering the environmental and social aspects of the things they buy – not just the price.
Consumer demand has been driving a transformation by traditional companies to become more sustainable, and often more profitable, in the way their operate their businesses.
Even though much progress has been made, transparent and authentic sustainable business practices are still not the norm. Increasingly vocal demand by consumers for sustainable products will continue to drive this “revolution” into all areas of business.

In a TIME poll, 40% of people reported buying a product because of its social or environmental benefits.
Socially responsible investment (SRI) funds have increased in number from 55 in 1995 to 260 today – they manage 11% of all money invested in US markets.
In 2007, a Goldman Sachs report found that companies that emphasized sustainability would outperform the financial market.

“We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals, we know now that it is bad economics.” – President Franklin D. Roosevelt