By Doug Woodring
- Published on April 18, 2016 by Wharton Journal
We often forget that the economy is a 100% subsidiary of the environment, and that this relationship dictates the health of our economy. Our actions seem to suggest otherwise, however, with much of our global consumption coming at the expense of the environment, and a lack of perceived need to keep our “planetary bank” intact.
Brands that can show that they are engaged in improving the long-term livelihood of the communities and clients they serve will be the ones that thrive, while those that wait for a “stable economic environment” to begin to address environmentally sustainable practices will fall by the wayside. Brands have generally been commoditized as a result of the quest for cheaper products and larger markets, but the differentiation, creativity, and pride that consumers seek in their products has been largely lost.