Tesco Customers May Soon Find Chickens at the Checkout Counter†

British Retailer Joins 'Grow Your Own' Movement by Renting Out Allotments, Selling Live Birds

Advertising Age, July 28, 2009 — Tesco, the world's third-largest retailer, is embracing the recession-inspired trend to "grow your own" produce by offering allotment spaces to rent in the U.K and selling live chickens.

In a bid to mark out its green credentials, Tesco has applied for planning permission to create an initial batch of 30 allotments near one of its Dobbies Garden Centre stores near Southport in the north of England. Dobbies, a 24-store chain acquired by Tesco a year ago, has seen a boom in sales of vegetable seeds over the past year, and will also sell an allotment "starter kit" to provide customers with everything they need to get growing and help novices keep soil fertile and sustain the patch of ground

The Four C's of Survival†

How Sustainable Communications Can Help You Get Through the Recession

Advertising Age, May 21, 2009 — Sustainable communication is key to getting through today's recession. Diana Verde Nieto, CEO of Clownfish, a sustainability and communications consultancy, offers the four Cs of survival.

When Chevron Hires Ex-Reporter to Investigate Pollution, Chevron Looks Good

New York Times, May 11, 2009 — What did Chevron do when it learned that “60 Minutes” was preparing a potentially damaging report about oil company contamination of the Amazon rain forest in Ecuador? It hired a former journalist to produce a mirror image of the report, from the corporation’s point of view.

As Eco-Seals Proliferate, So Do Doubts†

Wall Street Journal, April 2, 2009 — It's too easy to be green.

Recently, Kevin Owsley went searching for a reputable organization that could validate the eco-friendly traits of his company's carpet-cleaning fluid. But after canvassing a dozen competing groups hawking so-called "green certification" services — including one online outfit that awarded him an instant green diploma, no questions asked — he grew disillusioned about how meaningful any endorsement would be to his customers.

Value Is the New Green†

Wall Street Journal, March 13, 2009 — Until recently, being green was the best way for companies to demonstrate a sense of social responsibility, and for consumers to feel good about their purchases. Healthy food, hybrid cars, energy efficiency — these were the attributes that burnished brands.

But now green is taking a back seat to a new core value — value. Green hasn't gone away, but companies are having to consider their "value" equation to try to serve the millions of consumers who either can't afford premium experiences, or just don't want them anymore.

Shell's Green Ads Take New Tack†

Campaign Stresses Potential Role of Innovation in Fighting Climate Change

Wall Street Journal, February 3, 2009 — -- Royal Dutch Shell, censured twice by Britain's ad police for exaggerating its commitment to green issues, is hoping to avoid controversy in its latest ad campaign. It isn't clear if it has succeeded.

The Anglo-Dutch oil giant drew fire from activist groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth for past attempts to extol its environmental responsibility. It tended to boast of its investments in alternative energy with ads that spoke of the "power to create a cleaner, safer world."

Now, in a campaign designed by ad agency JWT, part of London-based WPP, Shell is stressing technology and innovation and its potential contributions to fighting global warming.

Ford's Green Plan to Drive Sales

Promising a slew of new green vehicles, the troubled Detroit automaker is turning to top design firms to make those cars innovative and appealing

BusinessWeek, December 8, 2008 — Ford Motor (F) has been making a lot of promises lately. On Dec. 4, as Alan Mulally, chief executive of the beleaguered Detroit automaker, sought about $9 billion in government loans, he pledged to limit executive compensation, renegotiate employee contracts, and definitively steer Ford toward making greener cars.

At Exxon, Making the Case for Oil

New York Times, November 16, 2008 — SIX years of relentlessly rising prices have showered the oil industry with record profits even as whipsawing energy costs have left many Americans alternately furious and baffled.

Now that the roller coaster ride appears to be screeching to a halt, one corporate giant remains confident it can weather the slowdown and uncertainty better than its rivals.

Hummer Bummer: GM Wants Out of Guzzler Game†

Auto Giant Finds Out There's Less Green in Truck Brand Today

Advertising Age, June 9, 2008 — DETROIT (AdAge.com) — Hummer's rapid descent from hot to not is an automotive tale for our times.

As recently as 2006 the truck was still seen by many consumers as a fun — even cool — ride, making regular appearances in Hollywood (notably on HBO's "Entourage") and at big sporting and red-carpet events. It was also a sales success story for owner General Motors. Today it has become an economic, environmental and brand liability for the company — a fact not lost on GM Chairman-CEO Rick Wagoner, who looks like he wants the off-roader off the books

Lodgers Look to Walk the Eco-Talk

New York Times, April 20, 2008 — ANOTHER town, another night, another lecture from the innkeeper about saving the planet.

To reduce your harmful carbon emissions, we have replaced guest-room bath towels with tea towels and showers with sponge baths. For the sake of the Earth, save energy! Squint! And remember, lights out at 10 p.m.,” the placard on the hotel room nightstand might say.

That’s an exaggeration, of course. But it’s not too far from the attitude that some hotels have projected about the environment — while scolding and annoying their customers in the process.