Monday, February 16, 2009

December 2008 - The Rise of Environmentalism in 2009

Consumers are becoming more and more aware of environmental issues and the role that they as individuals have to play in reducing the macro impact of their activities on the environment. Locally and internationally, economic pressures are also affecting how consumers spend their money and the combination of these factors is steadily setting a series of trends that the Green Industry has a direct relationship to.

Across all industries, organisations are being called upon to substantiate their claims to ‘green practices’ and it therefore goes without saying that eco-conscious practices including how organisations ‘green’ their environment will becoming increasingly significant while private individuals will be seeking ways of cutting costs in all aspects. Consumers at all levels will continue to support brands and services that assist to preserve the environment.

Green Industry role players act essentially as the gatekeepers to a wealth of knowledge that can assist consumers (corporate and private) to become effective in reducing their individual carbon-footprint. The Green Industry needs to share its knowledge, devise new and more innovative ways of doing things and ultimately offer services that are backed by genuinely eco-friendly principles in order to remain competitive in the emerging eco-friendly market.

The following set of trends will take precedent in 2009 and are based on the increase in consumer brand-affinity, changing lifestyles, economic pressures, as well as the rise in environmentalism.

1. Incorporating Edible Plants

In line with our obsession with healthy eating and living, incorporating edible plants within a landscape (both corporate and private) will become increasingly popular, also as private individuals look to save money.

2. Reducing the use of Pesticides

Thoughtful designs that incorporate companion planting principles to minimise attacks from ‘pests’ and therefore eradicate the use of harmful pesticides will become more and more in demand.

3. Creating Green Zones

As more corporates come to realise the value in creating restful, peaceful workspaces to maintain healthy workers and optimum work levels, the development of green zones through incorporating gardens within the office environment will become prevalent.

4. Interior Decorating – for the Outdoors

As consumers become increasingly aware of the aesthetic and tasteful appeal of their green areas, sophisticated design standards that incorporate a good balance between soft and hard landscaping will take preference.

5. Small Space Gardening

As townhouse complexes continue to proliferate new suburbs across South Africa, small space gardening that is tasteful and impactful will see more interest from consumers.

6. Low Maintenance Gardens

As the average consumer enjoys less free time, low maintenance gardens that are inexpensive and easy to maintain will become increasingly sought after.

7. Water-wise Gardens

Although in South Africa, water-wise gardens are already prevalent within corporate landscape projects, individual / private consumers will increasingly turn to true water-wise practices in a bid to save on costs and develop a low-maintenance garden.

TreeCo is dedicated to ensuring that our business activities have as little impact on our environment as possible. We do not use pesticides on our plants, nor do we utilise chemical fertilisers. Our trees are encouraged to grow naturally, thus ensuring a hardier, more resilient end product that is indeed more likely of surviving within a new landscape project. As a preferred supplier within your procurement plan, you can rest assured that TreeCo upholds the green policies that your organisation follows.

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