By Jayne O'Donnell and Christine Dugas, USA TODAY
Happy to see this trend - Home Depot announced plans Tuesday to offer more environmentally friendly products and make it easier for consumers to find them. Included are more than 2,500 items ranging from all-natural insect repellents to front-load washing machines. Products that meet the criteria will be tagged Eco Options to make them easier to find.
The move by the country's second-largest retailer comes after the largest, Wal-Mart, kicked off an environmental initiative last fall that favors suppliers who restrict carbon emissions and embrace sustainability.
In the past two years, many retailers have started going greener in the way they build stores, use direct mail and package their products.
"What's new is that they are moving to thinking about what they are offering in terms of environmentally friendly products and what they expect from consumers," says Madison Riley, retail strategist at consulting firm Kurt Salmon Associates. He cites Ikea's recent move to charge customers for plastic bags.
"We know that the demand is there and the awareness is building," says Lowe's spokeswoman Jennifer Wilson.
Comments