With an environmental crisis upon us, today’s consumers have become more conscious of the environmental impact that they have on the planet. As a result, they are looking for brands that use sustainable practices and are environmentally conscious. To meet this demand, a number of leading organizations in India are adopting these marketing initiatives to ensure that consumers have a positive perception of their brands. So what exactly is green marketing?
It consists of several marketing activities, including changes to products, processes, packaging, or even advertising, aimed at ensuring that the product is perceived as safe for the environment.
The objective of this marketing is to improve brand perception. It ensures that the brand is perceived to have a positive environmental impact. Some of the strategies employed are as follows:
The threat of global environmental catastrophe is imminent with issues like pollution, biodiversity loss, global warming, forest loss, etc, on the rise. As a result, the level of environmental awareness among consumers is increasing. The buyers of today are willing to spend more to purchase eco-friendly products.
Brands that want to meet the desires of their customers have begun to produce goods that have a positive impact on the environment. This marketing forces businesses to change every aspect of their supply chain to become more environmentally conscious. When brands set an example for their customers, more people are made aware of the environmental implications of their purchases and have the opportunity to change their purchase behaviour.
This marketing focuses on selling products and services based on their environmental benefits. Its features include adopting sustainable business practices, creating eco-friendly products, implementing eco-friendly packaging, communicating the environmental benefits of the product, etc. While the costs can be high, they are justified by the rewards organizations can reap from this kind of marketing.
Approximately 60% of Indian consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products. Nevertheless, 52% in urban India is likely to increase their expenses on environment-friendly brands over the next three years.
This is a demographic that believes in sustainable living, supports environmental initiatives, and usually consists of affluent, well-educated individuals. These are generally the heaviest buyers of green products and have the power to sway other consumers as well.
Green marketing can be extremely effective when done correctly. According to the Bain report, sustainability is becoming a matter of concern among Indian consumers. Studies suggest that 20% of Indian consumers are socially and environmentally conscious, whereas 49% are health conscious. It is the environmental issue that has triggered Indian consumers to choose sustainable products over all other products.
There are a number of marketing strategies that can help build an eco-friendly and sustainable brand. Some of these include:
Sustainable design involves rethinking the design, manufacturing process, or even packaging of your products to ensure the most ethically sourced resources and minimal waste generation.
If you are choosing green marketing as a brand strategy, you will have to prove your sincerity by reimagining your brand to account for its new environmental and social responsibility.
Green products are usually more expensive to account for the ethical practices employed in producing them. You will need to provide the specifics to your customers to justify the rise in costs.
Customers love brands that put their money where their mouth is. If you choose to support the green causes that you care about as a brand through internal or external initiatives, your customers will support you.
Some of the commendable benefits of using green marketing as a business strategy are:
Those companies that are the first ones within their sector to offer green services or products can significantly benefit from green marketing. This strategy enables companies to stand apart from their competitors as environmentally conscious consumers. Thus this marketing in India can efficiently help businesses to rebrand their products, thereby increasing profitability and brand loyalty.
Companies can seamlessly attract different demographics by incorporating green marketing strategies within the business. A significant number of consumers are concerned regarding how large corporations are affecting the environment.
Using sustainable materials and switching to environmentally conscious manufacturing processes can deliberately reduce the overhead costs of a company. Saving both water and energy will automatically reduce the monthly operating expenses of a company.
There are a number of companies engaging in green marketing practices. Here are some examples:
Patagonia is a well-known contributor to climate change initiatives and works on developing more sustainable production processes. It donates huge amounts to initiatives involving sustainable agriculture practices, conservation of endangered species, and reforestation.
Starbucks designs and uses disposable coffee cups, recycles its waste, and supports farmers. It also uses its marketing to communicate these practices to its customers.
If you use green marketing, you need to do it properly. Customers expect absolute sincerity out of brands who pursue this marketing route. Here are some of the best practices:
This kind of marketing has become extremely popular across India. Here are some companies that indulge in green marketing:
It is obvious that green practices are necessary for a future where customers and brands work together to protect our rapidly declining environment. It is an extremely lucrative practice that businesses can employ to be more profitable while supporting a worthy cause. In the future, businesses will be more likely to hire marketers who are familiar with green marketing. Learn more about it by taking up digital marketing courses on Emeritus today!
Content Writer, Emeritus Blog Nikhil is a passionate and free-spirited writer with 4+ years of experience. He has a keen eye for the ever-evolving content landscape, which helps him craft captivating content across various genres. He writes about marketing, data science, and finance for the Emeritus Blog. Beyond work, Nikhil is a dedicated pet parent who loves leisurely walks with his beloved puppers.
