These columns were published in August and September 2007 in BizCommunity.

Despite the gap in years, they remain (mostly) valid in 2024.

 

01. Climate change and the brand: extent of the problem
There is a less than 5% chance that global warming is a natural climatic phenomenon. It has been caused by smokestack economies, and the emissions have not declined.

02. Climate change and the brand: consumer demand
Demand for environmentally sound products has shown to be strong, particularly at upper income levels, however this demand will expand into the lower middle-income levels and ultimately into the lower income levels.

03. Climate change and the brand: legislative aspects and costs
The regulatory aspects come with implicit costs. These costs are in the form of increased costs directly assigned to consumers, and costs to the company that are indirectly passed on to the consumer. These costs can be in the form of operational costs or penalties and levies.

04. Climate change and the brand: the supply chain
If, though it is more a case of when, environmental accounting becomes standard practice, the organisation will be called to account for all of the components of its product.

05. Climate change and the brand: the environmentally sound product
This column looks at likely hallmarks of environmentally sound products. It uses the basis of consumer electronics, arguably one of the most complex products with a high impact on the environment, so a suitable model with which to begin.

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