Green Marketing: Challenges and Opportunities
for Business
ABSTRACT
"Green marketing is a phenomenon which has developed particular importance in the modern market.
This concept has enabled for the re-marketing and packaging of existing products which already adhere
to such guidelines. Additionally, the development of green marketing has opened the door of opportunity
for companies to co-brand their products into separate line, lauding the green-friendliness of some while
ignoring that of others. Such marketing techniques as will be explained are as a direct result of movement
in the minds of the consumer market. As a result of this businesses have increased their rate of targeting
consumers who are concerned about the environment. These same consumers through their concern are
interested in integrating environmental issues into their purchasing decisions through their
incorporation into the process and content of the marketing strategy for whatever product may be
required.
This paper discusses how businesses have increased their rate of targeting green consumers, those who are
concerned about the environment and allow it to affect their purchasing decisions. The paper identifies
the three particular segments of green consumers and explores the challenges and opportunities
businesses have with green marketing. The paper also examines the present trends of green marketing in
India and describes the reason why companies are adopting it and future of green marketing and
concludes that green marketing is something that will continuously grow in both practice and demand.
Keywords: Green Product, Recyclable, Environmentally safe, Eco Friendly.
Introduction
According to the American Marketing
Association, green marketing is the marketing
of products that are presumed to be
environmentally safe. Thus green marketing
incorporates a broad range of activities,
including product modification, changes to the
production process, packaging changes, as well
as modifying advertising. Yet defining green
marketing is not a simple task where several
meanings intersect and contradict each other;
an example of this will be the existence of
varying social, environmental and retail
definitions attached to this term. Other similar
terms used are Environmental Marketing and
Ecological Marketing. Thus "Green Marketing"
refers to holistic marketing concept wherein the
production, marketing consumption an
disposal of products and services happen in a
manner that is less detrimental to the
environment with growing awareness about the
implications of global warming, non-
biodegradable solid waste, harmful impact of
pollutants etc., both marketers and consumers
are becoming increasingly sensitive to the need
for switch in to green products and services.
While the shift to "green" may appear to be
expensive in the short term, it will definitely
prove to be indispensable and advantageous,
cost-wise too, in the long run.
Dr. Pavan Mishra
Ms. Payal Sharma
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© BVIMR Management Edge, Vol. 7, No. 1 (2014) PP 78-86