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Go Green, Get Green

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Is doing the right thing for the wrong reason ok?

Let's take T-mobile for example. I've been a customer for 10 years (since they were VoiceStream) and very satisfied.

For whatever reason, I've been getting a paper bill in the mail all these years (though most of my life is paperless).

Anyhow, the bill comes today and it's got a nice brochure with a plant on it saying:

"Move to paperless billing and we'll plant a tree in an area like New Orleans or LA"

Good idea.

We all know that the paperless billing is cheaper for T-mobile and we all know that they are in business to make money, but here they've come up with a simple way to move more customers to a more profitable model while appreciating how it will make the customers feel.

Genius.

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Now, contrast this with the gift package we got yesterday for my newborn daughter. A huge cardboard box and a ton of plastic bubble wrap for a significantly smaller gift. Just seemed very excessive and wasteful.

I'm going to contact the company (name withheld to protect the guilty) and ask them to reconsider their actions. Will keep you updated.

Reminded me of the Microsoft partner profiled here see (Eco-Friendly Marketing).

Your customers notice everything and your sensitivity (or lack thereof) to environmental issues is one of them.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    March 16, 2008
    I'd guess that you'd also be quick to call the company to complain when your product arrived damaged. The reality is that it is impossible to optimize shipping materials for all sizes and shapes of products that a customer might order.

  • Anonymous
    March 16, 2008
    Tom-fair point, I suppose, but I would think there's got to be a way to balance the two. Sure, I don't want it broken, but can't we do it w/less stuff?

  • Anonymous
    March 16, 2008
    I can't personally think of a way to improve the current situation without driving up the cost.  For example, I could imagine a delivery service that used reusable plastic shipping containers that, instead of leaving with the recipient, they just leave the merchandise with you and take away the container.  But this results in a higher total shipping cost. Another option, send the packing material back to the vendor for re-use.  Again, higher shipping (and environmental) costs. Maybe the best solution is to just put the shipping materials into the landfill, let them break down, and accept that we as a society don't have a more efficient solution yet.

  • Anonymous
    March 16, 2008
    While perhaps not socially acceptable, I guess one could contact the gift giver and say "hey thanks for the gift, but this vendor uses way too much material..." albeit more diplomatically. Then, let the vendor know that the market is speaking and demanding a more eco-friendly solution.  Power of the purse you know :-)