Everybody's going green
Everybody's going green
by Mark Lazar -- Kids Today, 11/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
Stanley's Young America is bringing all of its production back to the United States and succeeded in having its cribs Green Guard-certified, with intentions of bringing its entire line into compliance in the near future.
Capretti Green put all of its eggs in the green basket by the looks and size of its space at the September ABC show. Capretti Green is made in the United States and is as green as it gets, including its woods, glues and eco-friendly carbon footprint.
There were just as many green presentations outside the Naturally Kids Area as were in it during the show.
What we seem to have now are some companies banking on green because they see it may be their edge up on the competition, it is the coming thing and they want to already be there when it does come — and let the others play catch-up at that point.
There are also the companies who are ignoring the green revolution and just taking a wait-and-see attitude and continuing business as usual.
There are new regulations coming that are going to make things a little clearer for all of us. For one, we may actually have some specific guidelines on what “firm” constitutes when it comes to crib mattresses. Now it's just “the mattress should be firm,” with very little indication to parents on what exactly that means. Plywood is pretty firm — you think it might sell if we put a cover on it?
But back to the subject, which is when will we reach the tipping point where going green becomes the only way to go in manufacturing, distribution and presentation?
I believe it probably would have already happened if it were not for the recession we find ourselves in. Price is the thing now! Quality is an afterthought once we take something home and find out what we have actually purchased.
You see, it's not green vs. not-green — it's quality goods (which may be green) vs. the rush to produce merchandise at lower and lower costs to one-up (or down?) the competition.
Just take a look at the top furniture lines today in the nursery furniture business. Those lines that occupy the top spots now were looking up at the frontrunners only a few years ago.
They didn't get to the top by improving their product — they got there by improving their price in an economic environment that supports and even demands those prices.
But just as all things are cyclical, quality will come back as the top selling point, and green will be an important component to that when it happens.
From energy to consumer goods to sustainable models of distribution and finance, green and quality will be joined at the hip, and the consumer will rejoice.
Now if only someone could find a way to make it green and price-competitive. That, my friends, is a day worth waiting for — a day I see on the horizon. Will you be ready?
Here's hoping you're greening up!
