Blog Entries for Robert Cole

The 7 Wonders of the Modern World...

robert

In an area of the central pacific covering over 1 miIlion square kilometers floats the greatest collection of waterborne waste ever assembled. The pacific trash vortex sits trapped at the center of the currents that form the north pacific gyre. It holds upwards of 100 million tons of suspended plastics and other associatedflotsam.

Thinking of this giant trash flotilla makes one wonder at the, essentially wasted, resources expended in order generate such an incredible phenomenen. [...]

$1.50 Gas

robert

Feeling the impacts of rising fuel prices, it looks like people are finally making the switch to fuel efficient technologies. An article today in The Globe and Mail reported that waiting lists for hybrid vehicles - the best available option for drivers looking to save on fuel - are becoming increasingly common. Car-makers are now scrambling to up production of these vehicles as sales of their once beloved SUV's sag accordingly.

Given this clear link between fuel price and purchaser [...]

Caveat Emptor

robert

For those of us trying to minimize the environmental impact of the things we buy and consume, green labeling would seem like a boon. However a recent survey by Terrachoice Marketing of over 1000 products with eco-claims revealed that the labels of all but 1 were misleading in terms of the actual environmental performance of the product in question.

Eco-labels are a handy way for buyers to guide their purchasing without investing hours of time in researching the exact environmen [...]

The Frailty of a Green Giant

robert

Since opening its first store 7 years ago in Vancouver, lululemon athletica has exploded to over a hundred stores across the Canada, the US, Australia and Japan. Demonstrating the viability of sustainability as a business strategy, lululemon has successfully ridden the green wave through a business model that focuses on environmentally conscious yogis and active-types looking for superior and sustainable athletic apparel.

Since holding an Initial Public Offering in July of this year, [...]

Reinventing Markets - Setting the Rules of the Game

robert

I was listening to a talk the other night given by Yves Chouinard, president and founder of Patagonia Inc. In a lecture given at Stanford University , he outlined his company's mission to continually reduce the impact of its products and how this green product-innovation has become a cornerstone of the brand identity ofthe company.
A fact that struck me from his talk was the way companies such as Patagonia manage to redefine the rules of the market in their favour. Over the past 5 yea [...]

Goodwill or Greenwash?

robert

Earlier this week, a group of 33 CEO's of Canadian corporations released a declaration that climate change is the most pressing issue of our age. Included in the declaration is a statement of their belief that economic growth and fighting climate change can co-exist harmoniously and a call for Canada to take a leadership role in the fight against climate change.

Declarations such as this increasingly grace the pages of the business sections of our daily newspapers, but is this a [...]