Definition of an Eco Company
In response to growing populations, loss of resources, and sagging economies, companies across the world are looking to create and provides services and products that are beneficial to the planet as well as to their bottom line.
The companies are looking to take advantage of the fact that consumers today have become more and more educated and concerned about the damage being done to the environment. The growth in numbers of environmentally-educated consumers has led to a strong push on the part of industries everywhere to create products and services that will attract these environmentally savvy consumers. Although economics is one motivating factor for these companies, there are some obvious benefits to the fact that these companies are looking to provide products and services that are environmentally friendly.
The movement towards producing environmentally friendly products has led to the birth of “eco companies”. Based on the purpose they serve, an eco company can be defined as a company, corporation, or organization that produces products or provides services that among other things:
• Burn cleaner
• Are made of recycled materials
• Are biodegradable
• Use less packaging
• Are made from/with renewable resources
Cleaner Burning Products
Some eco companies believe that cleaner burning products release less toxins, carcinogens, and pollutants in comparison to other products. These cleaner burning products, which are often made of natural materials, contribute less to the overall problems associated with pollution (United States Environmental Protection Agency).
Recycled Materias
Most eco companies also make strong efforts to make products or packaging out of recycled materials. According to the American Forest & Paper Association, in 2006, Americans recycled 53.5 million tons of paper (United States Environmental Protection Agency). By making or packaging products in materials that is completely or partially recycled, these eco companies not only eliminate tons of material from landfills, but they also help reduce the amount of resources used.
Less Packaging
Another recent trend with eco companies has been the use of smaller or less packaging. In the past, a great deal of material was wasted in the packaging of products. Often times, this material serves no useful purpose beyond aesthetics. The trend toward smaller or fewer packaging has been adopted by companies ranging from those that produce plastic water bottles to those that make fast food packaging. Even music and movie companies have jumped on the eco bandwagon, using minimal materials to package their products.
Biodegradable Products
With so much material waste being produced each day, eco companies are always looking for ways to reduce the amount of waste that has to sit in a landfill. Some materials can take hundreds if not thousands of years to break down, while other materials can remain in a landfill forever (Stevens). As a result, eco companies often make use of biodegradable materials in their products.
Biodegradable materials have the ability to decompose in the natural environment. The very nature of these materials allows for faster decomposition, especially when the materials make their way into a landfill. In addition to speed of decomposition, biodegradable materials often release useful by-products like methane when they decompose (Stevens).
Renewable Resources
The speed at which some resources are being used up has led many eco companies to commit themselves to making their products from renewable resources. Eco companies looking to appeal to consumers who are concerned about the state of the environment often develop deals with other organizations that provide them with source materials that come from renewable or sustainable resources. Usually, this means using wood or paper products that originate in sustainable yield forests.
Sustainable yield forests meet strict environmental standards and are often certified through government or environmental organizations that attest to their commitment to not allow a resource to disappear. Most of the time, this means planting trees to replace those that have been cut down.
Written by Martin Jauregui
References:
Stevens, E.S. Green Plastics: Introduction to the New Science of Biodegradable Plastics. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2002
United States Environmental Protection Agency. 6 June 2008. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 23 June 2008 http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non- hw/muncpl/recycle.htm
Tags: biodegradable, definition, eco company, renewable resources
