Reasons Why Microsoft, Amazon, Apple and Other's Big Companies are Going Green

As the latest news keeps popping, big companies are opting for "GO GREEN" policies.  They are shifting to environment-friendly manufacturing, distribution and sourcing for their products. Big brands like MacDonald, Coco-cola, Starbucks made a buzz by converting into eco-favourable practices. Recently, Apple announced to transform into a full-fledged carbon-neutral manufacturing supply chain for its products across its business by 2030. Well, we can say that green marketing is in the full sphere in upcoming years. But why these businesses are focusing on environment beneficial marketing? and What it has to with it going green? Let's dig into the history. 

Green+Marketing, What is that? How it connects to reasons?  

When the marketing process is combined with the "green" factor of the product/ services opted by companies. Green marketing can be defined as marketing the eco-friendly services and products to benefit the environment, thus the defining green marketing can be a difficult approach as it varies in context with social, retail and environmental definitions as well. The term came into significance in the early's 1990s as the second wave, due to the massive attention attained after the California oil spill in 1969 with the April 22,1970 Earth Day protests acted as the boost for the businesses to focus on ecological marketing ( The American Marketing Association (AMA) introduced the first book in 1975 on green marketing after the first workshop on Ecological Marketing in the form of the first wave) to retain their image. 

 

Page one and the attention acquired on earth day - Image source

With the increasing attention to the environment, the idea of sustainable development became popular in the corporate sector. In India Wipro, was the first company to go green by launching the eco-favourable computers called as Wipro Greenware. Thus, resulting in many companies with great green marketing practices such as Coco-cola. 

The blare has again hit the world with 2019 being the worst year for the climate. According to the  WMO (World Meteorological Organisation), the acceleration in climate change from 2015-2019 was the highest compared to the past years. The year 2019, was the second most heated year on record, affecting the whole ecosystem. The environment crisis urged the activists and people all around to world to speak and the social media became an important figure. The companies saw the enthusiasm in people resulting them to transform into green marketing more aggressively. 

But is that the only reason? No! by being green companies are able to create a goodwill among the customers enhancing the sales along with the reduction in the cost of production, as government steps on Carbon pricing. Carbon pricing is a tool for the government to put a cost (tax) on the range of emissions generated by the companies for causing climate hazards. So, the company with more emissions will pay more for their activities. By being eco-friendly many companies avoid costs and are able to maintain a good image in the public. With one arrow, multiple targets are hit for growth. 

Carbon pricing emissions lead to paying for climate change  Image Source   

Thus, Microsoft along with Apple by 2030, Amazon by 2040, Unilever by 2039, Jetblue, pledged to be carbon- neutral with other known companies and are ready to go green in upcoming years too. With the enhanced "Green Washing marketing tactics", the companies are ready to take over the customer favorability increasing their revenue. 

After a decade a huge change is waiting for the big companies and the environment with their eco-friendly plan. The change is for the better and with the zero carbon policies, the scenario of corporate green marketing approached may see a vast change. 

If you have any inputs, let me know in the comment section below!