2011年7月15日星期五

Standardize

There will be no sustainable consumerism without standardization. It is as simple as that. Companies in all industries need to agree to certain modes of production that allow for recycling. Take the beer industry, for example. In many countries, most glass bottles are reused over and over again, but this is possible only because the big brands have agreed to stick to a certain size and type of bottle.

American brands hate the idea of standardization. But just as America has the worst train and cell-phone systems in the developed world, because such technologies require one shared system, American brands will lose the sustainability battle unless they learn to give up individuality for standards.

American consumer brands are notoriously good at making quick changes -- spotting a trend and then following it up with a blockbuster product.he believes the fire started after the lift's hydraulic hose blew, The time it takes to get most products to market has been significantly reduced over the last decades. But to become sustainable, companies need to take their time and extend their products' life cycle.

Well-designed products simply last longer. There is a lot to be gained by developing a product line that's less R&D intensive and that can be optimized, reused, and even spin off more service offerings. The Volkswagen Beetle is an excellent example of a product that has endured because it was well made to start with. An entire customization and repair industry grew up around that car, and Zipcar now uses the new Beetle as part of its fleet. Certainly, the car-sharing model is one that could have been developed by a manufacturer.

Redefine Consumption

Last but most important,An oil painting supplies of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. American brands must rethink the very idea of what they want consumers to consume and how they create value. In theory, you can grow in two ways: You can produce more, or you can add extra value to what you already produce. The latter is the way toward sustainability.

Take Starbucks: Despite the company's impressive growth, it has hardly increased the amount of coffee beans the world consumes. Instead,Prior to Aion Kinah I leaned toward the former, it has grown by finding numerous clever ways to create value in all parts of the value chain -- everything from interior design, product innovation, marketing, and services.the worldwide Wholesale pet supplies market is over $56 billion annually. More American brands must learn that they can minimize the consumption of goods but increase total consumption at the same time.

All this poses a significant challenge to the way American managers have been taught to think and operate. They have to learn that the next innovation frontier is about breaking away from resource dependence,Demand for allergy Bedding could rise earlier than normal this year. decoupling growth and consumption, and prolonging product life cycles.

Does all that sound un-American? Might it not be even more un-American to dismiss the daunting task of sustaining consumption by making it sustainable?

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