Which Green to Save? (Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York)

green How The Present Economic Conditions Could Force Consumers to Choose Saving Money By Opting For Conventional Products.

This past Saturday my Union Square market visit was not only the scene of a weekly routine, but also the ignition of an epiphany. As I passed the organic stand with a Wall Street Journal in hand, I wondered if the headlines in the Journal might promote most to stick with conventional produce for the time being. This also made me wonder if the rest of the Green industry was subject to losing its buzz-worthiness as Americans get back to basics.

Inevitably, each and every industry is going to feel the effects of our economic misfortunes.

As for the Green/Eco-friendly/Eco-concious/Earth-friendly industry, the blogosphere (read Being Green in a Tight Economy: Parts I-III from Eco Child's Play) is buzzing about how going green actually saves you money. While I am not here to dispute their stance, less consumption (the best green-friendly move that can be made) is obviously going to keep money in your wallet, yes; BUT choosing organic, buying specialty green products, and the difference between hybrid and fuel-injection can often carry a larger price tag than their conventional counterparts.

Take Clorox's recent answer to the Green explosion, Green Works. Their glass cleaner vows friendliness to Mother Earth, but rings up at $5-$6. Compare that to the price range for conventional glass cleaners from $1-$4. While Clorox gives a green-clean, will consumer's shy away from it's price point and consider anything labeled "Green" outside of the realm of necessities?

I am all for the glamorization that celebrities and marketers have bestowed upon the Green movement, but in times of economic difficulty, maybe the whole "luxury product" positioning will instead make saving green in place of buying it that much easier.

Here are some great Green blogs I came across that make for great reading:

Green Daily

Eco Child's Play