One Percent for the Planet is, in my personal opinion, one of the most innovative environmental movements of recent times. There are currently almost 1,300 companies that donate 1% of their annual sales to non profit organizations that benefit positive environmental change. I even keep checking if they have job openings because I would love working with them somehow. I'm majoring in marketing and minoring in environment, and to deal with such a positive movement would truly be fulfilling. Here is a small clip of the company, explaining a little about how it works.I think this video makes us feel like we can indirectly be donating to the environment by purchasing certain goods; munch on a Clif Bar, wear a Pantagonia, or go to a Jack Johnson concert. In the end it's the consumers that generate sales for the company, so really we're all working together!
Now, to me it seems that 1% of sales is a reasonable goal to achieve, but I'm not sure of the scale of things from a corporate point of view. I mean it is 1% from the revenue, not net income, so it might represent a bit of a high price for companies. Either way, I can't underline how much I love the whole concept. This would definitely be something I would donate to if I had my own company.
I first heard about One Percent for the Planet a while ago, but then again in one of my marketing classes last year. One group was presenting a small company's product, which happen to be high-scale reusable bags. They actually brought the entire class a bag so that already won big bonus points with me (I'm a sucker for free shit). Anyways, the bag company happened to be affiliated with One Percent for the Planet, which is fitting when I think about it. The bags sported the little 1% logo, and when I saw it I developed such a deep respect for the bag company.
My hope is that these logos spread and tattoo various products in various fields. I feel that 1% gives a sense of community to its members but also to the consumers who buy these members' products. It feels as though you are somehow contributing to saving the planet by buying something you want, like you are the indirect cause of bettering your environment.
In North America alone, there are 1,033 members. There is so much potential on this continent. But I also realized how ironic it is that the part of the world that is most responsible for climate change is the part that is spitting out the most members willing to help. When I was going through the list of the members, I noticed that there were a good handful from Canada. I didn't go through all of them since there are quite a few, but the assumption I make is that they are these little companies with few franchises who want to do some good, so they decided to help the environment. I have a hard time imagining that there are a lot of big Fortune 500 companies that have joined 1% (though there surely must be).
Now, to me it seems that 1% of sales is a reasonable goal to achieve, but I'm not sure of the scale of things from a corporate point of view. I mean it is 1% from the revenue, not net income, so it might represent a bit of a high price for companies. Either way, I can't underline how much I love the whole concept. This would definitely be something I would donate to if I had my own company.
I first heard about One Percent for the Planet a while ago, but then again in one of my marketing classes last year. One group was presenting a small company's product, which happen to be high-scale reusable bags. They actually brought the entire class a bag so that already won big bonus points with me (I'm a sucker for free shit). Anyways, the bag company happened to be affiliated with One Percent for the Planet, which is fitting when I think about it. The bags sported the little 1% logo, and when I saw it I developed such a deep respect for the bag company.
My hope is that these logos spread and tattoo various products in various fields. I feel that 1% gives a sense of community to its members but also to the consumers who buy these members' products. It feels as though you are somehow contributing to saving the planet by buying something you want, like you are the indirect cause of bettering your environment.
In North America alone, there are 1,033 members. There is so much potential on this continent. But I also realized how ironic it is that the part of the world that is most responsible for climate change is the part that is spitting out the most members willing to help. When I was going through the list of the members, I noticed that there were a good handful from Canada. I didn't go through all of them since there are quite a few, but the assumption I make is that they are these little companies with few franchises who want to do some good, so they decided to help the environment. I have a hard time imagining that there are a lot of big Fortune 500 companies that have joined 1% (though there surely must be).
To finish I guess I would just have to say that I fully support One Percent for the Planet's mission, which is to create a healthier planet through nonprofit funding. I think the bulk of environmental change should come from corporations: either their are energy innefficient, their packaging is absurbly polluting, they are completely environmentally oblivious or careless, etc. These are the people that should be reaping the costs but who maintain a free-rider stance. The ethical, conscious, and modern 1,300 companies that have joined One Percent for the Planet are the ones that will make the difference. One percent of my own income will certainly not generate the same amount as one percent of the sales of a successful company. It's an oppotunity for companies in varrying fields to pull their money together to save the source that is actually providing them with their resources.
Want to know more?
The video was found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfnGOiFJUoo
The logo was found on Google.
Other information was found on One Percent for the Planet's site: http://onepercentfortheplanet.org/en/
No comments:
Post a Comment