Green may finally be bringing in the green.
 
Businesses focusing on green products and production are starting to reach broader audiences as prices of traditional products keep going up due to their reliance on fossil-fuel related materials and energy, according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. (Click here for full article. Subscription required.)
 
The fact that many of the companies focusing on environmentally friendly products also focus on environmentally friendly production has helped maintain prices that aren’t driven by volatile energy prices. New Leaf Paper LLC, San Francisco, CA, works with mills to develop more energy-efficient means for production, like capturing methane from landfills, according to the WSJ.
 
In addition, many of the products that are traditionally petroleum-based, like plastic silverware, are now becoming as expensive as their eco-friendly counterparts. But that price stability may not last. The Associated Press reports that prices for corn and soybean, two products often used to replace petroleum, are also reaching record levels as millions of acres in the Midwest have been inundated with the recent floods.
 
Even with that exception, prices over the long run on eco-friendly products have been stable and will likely continue to be. Production costs have also been maintained.
 
The increased interest in green products extends beyond the business-to-consumer world. We will be publishing an article in our June 25, 2008, issue of Modern Distribution Management that talks about Hagemeyer North America’s new all-green catalog and the company-wide initiatives they are taking to become a better steward for the environment. The response from their clientele has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Hagemeyer’s director of product strategy. (You will be able to read that article here on June 25.)
 
UK-based Wolseley plc, a building materials and plumbing/HVAC distributor, has gone a step further. Its new building center in Leamington Spa, UK, demonstrates the company’s green offerings in action, from solar power to wind-generated ventilation and cooling. The company wants to help the construction business embrace sustainability. Read an article on the new center here.