It needs to be understood that this has been a constant feature since mankind came into existence, however the rushed pace of industrialization in the past few hundred years has resulted in resource depletion and waste/pollution generation at a rate much faster than what earth’s recycling process can handle on its own. This has resulted in an ecological imbalance that threatens to alter our life drastically unless steps are taken to alleviate it.

This consumer awareness presents a business opportunity for companies and many have already started using Green in the marketplace, either to charge a premium or to differentiate themselves – notice organic veggies prices vis-à-vis the regular ones, Nokia’s phone recycling program, Toyota’s Prius, Reva electric car, 3M’s GreenGuard certification, handmade paper etc. It is fashionable to be environmentally conscious and this trend isn’t missed by smart corporations; leading to a wide range of Green products available in the market today. This trend is forcing companies to become more environmentally responsible in their operations. And after embarking on this journey, many have realized that the path to Green is also the one that delivers significant cost and operational efficiencies.