Eco Business

Every day more and more businesses work to embrace the concept of sustainability, which is vital if we want to have a future on this planet and maintain our standards of living. Some eco businesses are, in fact, based on the very concept of green living and offer solutions to customers who want to make sure their money is supporting businesses who care for the planet.

The eco business concept can be applied to any line of business, from carpet cleaners to travel operators. The principle of sustainability is relevant to any area of expertise.

One of the most prominent eco business entrepreneurs was the British founder of the Body Shop cosmetics chain, Anita Roddick, who passed away in 2007. Ms. Roddick launched her first shop in Brighton in 1976, selling cosmetics with natural ingredients that were not tested on animals and were sourced ethically. It went on to become a huge empire and was sold to Loreal in 2006 for more than 1 billion dollars. Over in the U.S., Seventh Generation pioneered the making of eco-friendly household cleaning e-personal care products. It was founded in 1988 in Burlington, Vermont and these days it can be found virtually everywhere. A 2011 research found that the company is seen by consumers as the number one green brand in America.

Anyone starting a business and who wishes it to be green can turn it into an eco-business. It is just a matter of picking suppliers carefully and creating an internal policy where the environmental cost of products and services is factored in. It can be a great marketing opportunity as well as a chance to become part of a growing business community, which may lead to new connections and revenue streams.