February, 17 2009, 09:28am EDT
Environmentally Friendly Business on the Rise:
Green America's Green Business Network™ Sees More than 10-Fold Increase in First 25 Years
WASHINGTON
You can see how
things have changed in American business in the following statistic:
Since its founding in 1983, the Green America Green Business NetworkTM
has expanded from345 members to nearly 5000 members,
a growth rate of about 1,350 percent. (Green America was formerly
known as "Co-op America.")
Green America's Green Business
Network is the first, largest, and most diverse network of socially and
environmentally responsible businesses in the U.S. The Green Business
Network was launched with the explicit mission of helping the green
business sector - businesses with deep social and environmental
commitments - emerge and succeed. The Network consists of small- to
medium-sized green businesses that are provided the tools and
information they need to succeed.
"The businesses in our
network are the innovators who are creating jobs and healthy
communities," says Corporate Responsibility Programs Director Todd
Larsen. "At a time when greed has created widespread economic harm,
green businesses can play a major role in providing secure jobs and a
sustainable economy. Just look at wind power, which creates far more
jobs than coal, and which will be with us for years as a clean energy
source. Green America is committed to further growing the green
marketplace so that we'll have an economy that works for us all."
The
Green Business Network has developed and fostered a major national
market for products and services through events such as the Green Festivals and publications such as the National Green Pages.
Green Business Network members benefit from Green America's consumer
education programs and publications that reach over 25 million
values-driven consumers each year, encouraging them to shift their
spending to support socially and environmentally responsible
enterprises.
Green America's Green Business Director Denise
Hamler said: "It is clear that what began as a small, movement of
people and businesses looking to promote environmentally responsible
and sustainable lifestyles in the early 80's has become mainstream for
us now, not only in the U.S. but internationally. Green businesses in
this nation not only employ hundreds of thousands of people, they help
promote environmental and economic sustainability and protect our
environment, among the many benefits they provide. I can't say it is a
surprise to see the immense growth of business in the green sector but
it is definitely a welcome outcome. We see new businesses joining the
Green Business Network every day and look forward to continuing to grow
in the future."
Examples of the growth of the Green Business Network include the following:
- Alternative energy/contractors: up nine-fold from 10 to 88.
- Financial services/investment: up 100-fold from six to 623.
- Construction (including architects, designers and builders): up 200-fold from one to 209 members.
For more information about Green America's Green Business Network go to https://www.coopamerica.org/greenbusiness/ on the Web.
Green America is a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1982 and known until January 1, 2009 as "Co-op America." Green America's mission is to harness economic power--the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace--to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.
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