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After all of the stuff I wrote on Climate Change, and in an attempt to pick up the threads of the Big Project after a period of reflection (inactivity), I’m going to try to pull the two together, with a couple of recent events in my next few posts…

Apple Goes Greener

Apple, one of the biggest success stories of the last decade in business (seriously, have you seen anyone on a train or bus who isn’t wearing an iPod? Me neither. I actually have begun to think that you won’t be allowed on public transport unless you are wearing at least white headphones) have decided to ‘go greener’ this week.

Steve Jobs, the Apple CEO, explains that Apple have taken the decision to remove many toxic chemicals from production of their new computer and other technology. This, he reports, is much better than Dell and H.P. are performing. So he’s got to the important bit.

Being ‘greener’ may well be good for the bottom line in and of itself, however, in a competitive market, being green is the new USP (Unique Selling Point). It’s a deal-breaker. Lets look at it another way: everyone’s selling widgets, which are largely very similar in terms of quality and price, except you are known to make them in a much more environmentally friendly manner. You get the sale. You have the edge.

Mark my words, Dell and HP will follow suit, and their move will go further, if only slightly, than that which Apple have made. It would be no surprise if one of the two announces “we’ve eliminated all dangerous/toxic chemicals” or similar.

It is precisely this type of behaviour and sensible decision making, by those running big business, which will see steps being taken most quickly with regards climate change. It is up to businesses to improve before the government. They can change now, and get the extra business as a result, and get ahead of the competition, or they can wait until governments have to bite the bullet and force their hand. Which they will.

Similar things are being done by Foster’s Brewery in Australia, where, working hand in hand with Queensland University, they have begun producing energy (electricity) with the by products made in the brewing process. Indeed they think they may well be able to power all of their brewing from this, within a year or so! Read more about this here. The fact is, I’m talking about it, other people are: it’s good PR.

I’ve linked to stories which show two businesses in a positive light: simply because of a stance they have taken, and the fact I’ve heard about it. Great PR. Being greener is already helping their business. I don’t own any Apple equipment, nor am I likely to, and I don’t drink Foster’s, yet I’ve given them a fairly large plug in my blog. So will other people.

If you don’t believe it, have a look around, going green is no longer the domain of slightly hippyfied sandal wearing types. One no longer needs to weave everything out of henna, and eat organic yogurts all day, to be concerned about the state of the planet. Even Al “I was vice president” Gore has jumped on the band wagon. People in pin-stripes are realising that this is another good way to increase market share. Once that happens, you’re onto a winner.

Climate Change and the environment are a growing concern for everyone, yet they do not want their own lives to become more difficult or expensive as a result of correcting the problems (more on this in a later post, I promise - with less anecdotal evidence). So, the responsibility falls to the government, and business. Governments have already shown themselves to be ineffectual when it comes to making these decisions. Treaties have not been ratified: standards not applied. It falls to business to lead the way. And they are. Those who do will both increase their bottom line, and actually win the right to call themselves (in some way) “ethical.”

Believe it: it’s already happening.

*I’ve resisted the temptation to join them in calling it “a greener apple” if only because I cried with laughter when I read that.