The Myth Of Green Marketing

In this groundbreaking study, Toby Smith analyses the role that social myths such as green marketing play in public understanding of the environmental crisis. This book introduces the concept of hegemony into environmental politics, using the concept to elucidate the political, economic, and social alliance that sustains our belief in industrial expansionism. The ecological crisis of the late twentieth century presents a challenge to the very foundations of this alliance. The hegemonic system reacts to a threat to its structure by producing social myths that provide a common sense understanding of the threat. Smith examines one such social myth, the contemporary phenomenon known as green marketing, and how it came to reinforce, rather than challenge, the ethics of productivism. By analysing green marketing as it relates primarily to the early 1990s corporate campaigns of companies such as McDonald's, Shell Chemicals, and Mobil Chemical Co., Smith demonstrates how these voices weave together an understanding of green consumerism using familiar language from economic and liberal democratic discourses. The Myth of Green Marketing is an original and important contribution to the field of environmental studies. As the first book on green marketing, it is sure to raise controversy with its unique discussion of the cultural and social aspects of environmental issues.

In this groundbreaking study, Toby Smith analyses the role that social myths such as green marketing play in public understanding of the environmental crisis. This book introduces the concept of hegemony into environmental politics, using the concept to elucidate the political, economic, and social alliance that sustains our belief in industrial expansionism. The ecological crisis of the late twentieth century presents a challenge to the very foundations of this alliance. The hegemonic system reacts to a threat to its structure by producing social myths that provide a common sense understanding of the threat. Smith examines one such social myth, the contemporary phenomenon known as green marketing, and how it came to reinforce, rather than challenge, the ethics of productivism. By analysing green marketing as it relates primarily to the early 1990s corporate campaigns of companies such as McDonald's, Shell Chemicals, and Mobil Chemical Co., Smith demonstrates how these voices weave together an understanding of green consumerism using familiar language from economic and liberal democratic discourses. The Myth of Green Marketing is an original and important contribution to the field of environmental studies. As the first book on green marketing, it is sure to raise controversy with its unique discussion of the cultural and social aspects of environmental issues.

Purpose - To review the history of “green marketing” since the early 1990s and to provide a critique of both theory and practice in order to understand how the marketing discipline may yet contribute to progress towards greater sustainability. Design/methodology/approach - The paper examines elements of green marketing theory and practice over the past 15 years by employing the logic of the classic paper from 1985 “Has marketing failed, or was it never really tried” of seeking to identify “false marketings” that have hampered progress. Findings - That much of what has been commonly referred to as “green marketing” has been underpinned by neither a marketing, nor an environmental, philosophy. Five types of misconceived green marketing are identified and analysed: green spinning, green selling, green harvesting, enviropreneur marketing and compliance marketing. Practical implications - Provides an alternative viewpoint on a much researched, but still poorly understood area of marketing, and explains why the anticipated “green revolution” in marketing prefaced by market research findings, has not more radically changed products and markets in practice. Originality/value - Helps readers to understand why progress towards a more sustainable economy has proved so difficult, and outlines some of the more radical changes in thought and practice that marketing will need to adopt before it can make a substantive contribution towards greater sustainability.

Smith analyses the role that social myths such as green marketing play in public understanding of the environmental crisis. Sure to raise controversy with its unique discussion of the cultural and social aspects of environmental issues.

For too long, marketers of sustainable goods and services have targeted "deep green" consumers to promote their products – and they have little to show for their efforts. In this innovative book, Jacquelyn Ottman shows how the green market has moved beyond such niche marketing, and how marketers will find greater success promoting the inherent superior value of their offerings. Greener products are now available within every industry and are a part of our everyday lives. But they didn't get to be so ubiquitous just because they are better for the planet. Whether they were promoted as such or not, sales of green products have grown so fast because of the added value they provide: health, superior performance, good taste, cost-effectiveness, or simply convenience. This central emphasis on primary benefits – the new rules – is critical to winning over the mainstream consumer and to driving overall organizational growth. The New Rules of Green Marketing helps readers understand why value-based sustainability marketing has become a critical organizational capacity, and how readers can adopt this approach in their own organizations. Illustrated by examples from both international mainstream and the more niche "deep green" leaders who are showing everyone else the way, the book provides practical strategies, tools and inspiration for building every aspect of a credible value-based green marketing strategy, including:How to use a proactive approach to sustainability to spur innovationHow to frame environment-related benefits with relevance to mainstream brandsHow to communicate with credibility and impact – and avoid "greenwashing"How to team up with stakeholders to maximize outreach to consumersHow to use a life cycle orientation to ensure the integrity of one's offeringsHow to best take advantage of recent technological advances in social mediaDrawing on the latest data from leading researchers and reflecting on learnings from Ottman's corporate clients and other pioneers including GE, Nike, HSBC, Method, Starbucks, Timberland, HP, NatureWorks, Philips, Procter & Gamble, Stonyfield Farm and Wal-Mart, this book shows how market leaders are edging out the competition using effective value-first marketing strategies. This book captures the best of the author's previous groundbreaking books on green marketing and takes the content into the 21st century. Whereas earlier works focused on readers who were less familiar with green initiatives, this work squarely focuses on a new generation of marketers who likely themselves grew up with an appreciation of sustainability and who want and need to know how to connect effectively with mainstream consumers.

This is an excellent textbook, suitable as a core text for environmental engineers and environmental scientists but equally it should, in my opinion, be compulsory reading for all researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers regardless of their discipline because it has relevance for all. In fact, the book is so lively and understandable that everyone and anyone could and should read it. . . Clearly written by a team of recognised environmental authors drawn from around the world, it guides the reader through current thinking on the tools and techniques industry. . . As an academic, it is a delight to find a book to recommend that I know students will enjoy and one which addresses so many different elements of a diversity of university courses, while covering the most important areas of environmental technology and management. I am certainly using it to enhance and update the content of some of my own lectures. Susan Haile, International Journal of Sustainable Engineering This substantial collection draws together a very wide variety of literatures and practices. . . I would expect this book to be a popular purchase by academic libraries, principally as a core text. R&D Management This stunning Handbook is an excellent tool for environmental manager and environmental officer alike. It is brimful of ideas, case studies and methodologies which stimulate continuous improvement thinking and help train staff to implement sustainability and environmental management concepts. Highly recommended. Eagle Bulletin This important Handbook is the first comprehensive account that brings together recent developments in the three related fields of environmental technology, environmental management and technology management. With contributions from more than 55 outstanding authors representing ten countries and five continents, the reader is provided with a vast range of insightful perspectives on the latest industry and policy issues. With the aid of numerous case studies, leading experts reflect on significant changes in the use of technology and management practices witnessed in the last decade. Within this Handbook, the authors discuss, in detail: eco-modernization and technology transformation environmental technology management in business practices measuring environmental technology management case studies in new technologies for the environment environmental technology management and the future. The International Handbook on Environmental Technology Management has a broad audience including researchers, practitioners, policymakers and students in the fields of sustainability and environmental science.

As corporations increasingly recognize the benefits of green marketing, the number of projects with important local environmental, economic, and quality-of-life benefits shall increase. Encouraging the holistic nature of green, moreover, inspires other retailers to push the movement. Green Marketing as a Positive Driver Toward Business Sustainability is a collection of innovative research on the methods and applications of integrating environmental considerations into all aspects of marketing. While highlighting topics including green consumerism, electronic banking, and sustainability, this book is ideally designed for industrialists, marketers, professionals, engineers, educators, researchers, and scholars seeking current research on green development in regular movement.

A no-holds-barred examination of 'ethical' consumerism.