In this episode of Wash Talk:  The Carwash Podcast, Rich DiPaolo, Associate Publisher of Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine and host of the podcast, asked David Goodman, CEO of Edenark Group, to explain greenwashing, the risks of same, and what companies should do to satisfy market demand that they show they are environmentally proactive, without the risk of greenwashing.

As Goodman explained, any company making environmental claims without being certified under a globally-recognized program and verified via 3^rd party, is greenwashing.

Here is an example of a company in the car washing industry that has chosen to do it the right way.

No matter what your industry, if you care about the environment and want to differentiate from your peers with the #1 talking point in the world, read this on what you want in a sustainability program, watch this master class, and contact us.

Mary Ann Shaner, of WXED Radio, 107.3 FM, conducted this interview with David Goodman, which will air on WXED at 12 noon EST on June 11, 13 and 15, 2024.

We appreciate Mary Ann’s interest in our work, and WXED supporting sustainability by providing this free air time.   

A few weeks ago, we published this post to prepare for World Environment Day.

Today is the day!

What is your company doing to celebrate? 

• If you forgot about it, or didn’t plan anything, don’t overthink it. Celebrate in whatever way is convenient for you.  Like all things in life, taking that first step is key. 
• If you have fun with it, you will remember it and want to do something next year.
• If that happens, you are on your way to being more involved in the environment you live.

Here is a statement from Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

Per this JLL article, soaring demand for sustainable / low carbon offices will outstrip supply.

– Green-certified buildings enjoy the following premiums

+7.1% in North America

+11.6% in London

+9.9% in Asia

So, the question – Is your building certified sustainable?

Answer – Probably not.

Reason – You have run the numbers and the cost of most building-certifications produce a negative ROI, even with the above increases in rent.

What if we told you that those building-centric certifications are energy-efficiency certifications, not sustainability certifications?  And, what if we told you there is a better way?

Discussion:

How many entities can be certified in a 100-tenant building via a building certification?

Answer: 1 (the building)

How many entities can be certified in a 100-tenant building via a business certification?

Answer – 101 (the building and every tenant)

Who pays for the building certification?

Answer – You

Who pays for the business certification?

The business (ie, your tenants)

What is more impactful for a business to say?

• “I lease space in a certified energy efficient building” – nope
• “My company is a certified sustainable business” – yep

What is going to motivate a tenant to renew?

• Having a lease in your certified energy efficient building – nope
• Having a certified sustainable business that was certified in the space in your building – yep

What is going to meet Scope 3 mandates and government regulations?

• Leasing space in a certified energy efficient building – nope
• Being a certified sustainable company – yep

What is the more respected and also the larger standard?

• The building-centric energy-efficient program – nope
• The business-centric sustainability program – yep

What is less expensive?

• The building-centric energy-efficient program – nope
• The business-centric sustainability program – yep

What delivers the greatest ROI to both landlord and tenant?

• The building-centric energy-efficient program – nope
• The business-centric sustainability program – yep

If you would like to learn more, watch this master class, then contact us.

In 2023 renewables reached 30% of global electricity generation.

2024 is expected to begin the slow decline of fossil fuel power production, with a drop of 2%. 

The COP28 goal is 60% renewable energy by 2030 – that’s 5.5 years to double our current position. 

If this occurs, fossil fuel production will be cut in half; materially helping our efforts to slow global warming.

Various groups around the world, such as the ASCI (Advertising Standards Council of India) are publishing guidelines for advertising making environmental / green claims.

In effect, they all cover the same points.

Here is a simple guideline –

• Any claim that a company, product, service, package has a neutral or positive impact on the environment, or is less damaging to the environment than a previous version of the product, or is less damaging than competition, or has special environmental benefits; regardless of if the claim is explicit or implicit; needs to be substantiated by 3^rd party validation tied to a globally-recognized standard.  

If your company is becoming more environmentally friendly because you know it is the right thing to do – Wonderful!!  Congratulations!!!  Keep it up!!!!

But the minute you start talking about it, you need that claim substantiated by 3^rd party validation tied to a globally-recognized standard.

If not, odds are, you will be exposed for greenwashing and your brand will suffer.

If you want to protect your brand, but benefit from consumer demand that you become environmentally friendly, read this on what you want in a sustainability program, watch this master class, and contact us.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “The Early Bird Gets the Worm!”

Do you run your business like an Early Bird or do you prefer to let your competitors get the worm?

Per this article, 90% of the world’s economies have made pledges to slash planet-warming emissions.

Yet, the article says that voluntary compliance is not addressing the problem fast enough.  To that point, we know that roughly 50% of the world’s economies already have developed regulations with some teeth.  This will expand quickly and more regulations will occur.

So, back to the question – Will you be an Early Bird or only come ‘kicking and screaming’, when forced?

Per studies from many groups, we know that 7 out of 10 consumers will move their business if they find a certified sustainable company:

• The Innovators (25% of consumers) have already made purchase decisions based on sustainability
• The Early Adopters (20 – 43% of consumers) are in play right now

These are the worms the Early Birds, who have already become certified sustainable, are getting.  Soon, they will be getting the Early Majority.  This is why the Early Birds that became certified sustainable companies are growing up to 20x faster than you are.

Unless your target market is the Late Majority and Laggards, watch this webinar and give us a call.