I think the only word that comes to mind after attending this years’ PPAI show in Las Vegas is “Wow!” Never before have I seen such a—what’s the right word—menagerie. It was good to finally put a few faces to the e-mails, and probably even more so, it was nice meeting new people with innovative products. I think I speak for many of my coworkers when I send out a big thank you to the wonderful women at the Fresh Beginnings for providing us with what seemed to be an unending stream of cookies. And, while I’d like to admit just how many cookies found their way to our booth, but as they say, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
Now, a few days (and a weekend filled with sleep) later, one trend seems to stand out for the show as a whole—namely the whole “green” thing. While I’d like to take this as an encouraging sign to see a new revolution of green products, I do have to admit a little bit of skepticism about the number of eco-widgets popping up in a very short amount of time. It seems that such a rush to become eco-friendly could easily become a rush to become eco-profitable, thus diluting the very message that spurred the movement to begin with. To take a positive spin on the eco-rush (or eco-washing, as some say), it does provide a mainstream context for discussing things like global warming and the consumption of resources. To take a negative spin, we all have to admit that just because something is made of wood, it isn’t necessarily a green product. Other factors like what sort of inks, production techniques and resources used to ship a product also need to be taken into account. And, let it be known that many companies are addressing all facets of the environment in both products and business practices.
To be sure it’s a complex issue, one that is now just seeing the light of day. Maybe the question we should ask is when will the scrutiny catch up to the glamour of providing eco-friendly products.
