SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Although the majority of business owners say they are doing at least
“everything that can be justified by cost” to help the environment, many
say the economy has made them change their plans to “go green.”
According to the most recent Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index,
surveyed January 22 - February 2, one-third of small business owners
said the country’s economic situation has affected their plans to become
more environmentally friendly. Seventeen percent said their companies
are doing “very little or nothing at all” to help the environment. A
major factor may be the belief that customers are not willing to pay
more for goods and services described as environmentally friendly,
mentioned by nearly 70 percent of respondents (an increase of 37 percent
from April 2007).
However, the recent survey did reveal that many business owners are
actively involved in some “green” activities. Over the past 12 months,
almost 90 percent of business owners surveyed participated in recycling,
and more than three-quarters (77 percent) switched to more
environmentally friendly products such as cleaning products,
energy-saving light bulbs or recycled goods. Thirty-two percent said
that over the past 12 months they used some type of alternative
transportation such as walking, biking or public transportation, rather
than a car, to save energy.
(Read the entire release at BusinessWire.)
Tags: economy, economic crisis, green initiatives
Categories: The Economy