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Green Marketing Blossoms Despite Recession

'Eco-friendly' products are selling even as consumer spending dwindles

By Clay Dillow, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 20, 2009 3:16 PM CDT

(Newser) – Manufacturers of eco-friendly products are finding themselves in the green despite the sputtering economy, Advertising Age reports. One research company reports 458 launches of products that claim to be sustainable or environmentally friendly in 2009, a trend that—if it holds—would triple the number of green launches last year and more than double the number in 2007.

“The good news is that in general these products are faring better than most categories,” said the CEO of Seventh Generation, a green-products company that enjoyed a 50% rise in sales last year and a 20% year-over-year rise in March. The success in the sector is attributed to a growing appeal outside the reliable “eco-enthusiast” demographic, where sales have been generally flat.

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Overview of Seventh Generation products, which have been selling well even during the economic downturn. (Getty Images)

Seventh Generation CEO and founder Jeffrey Hollender and his wife Sheila. Seventh Generation has been enjoying double-digit growth, despite the recession. (Getty Images)

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If you go back 10, 20, 30 years, other green movements ultimately have had the air taken out of them by recessions. This one is acting differently than we've seen in the past.
- Aric Melzel senior brand manager at Kimberly-Clark's Scott paper company

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Green Marketing Blossoms Despite Recession