sears canada helps customers live green

This week we noticed a press release from Sears Canada promoting their “Green Up/Power Down” sale, complete with sale prices. The release touts all the ENERGY STAR and Greenguard Certified products as eco-friendly choices, many of the brands are exclusive to Sears. Now, we suppose, if you’re in the market for a new lawnmower, washing machine, or other household appliance, it is better to buy the one that saves energy, reduces pollution, or skimps on water. But the sale made us wonder if Sears Canada is making a real commitment to sustainability or if this is just another example of greenwashing.

Turns out Sears Canada is doing more than finding a new way to market yet another sale, they have been working on improving their environmental record for a few years. Sears Canada is approaching the issue on three fronts:

• Make it easier for customers to “Live Green,” reduce their energy bills, and create a healthy home with an assortment of products that are better choices for the planet
• Reduce the environmental impact of Sears Canada operations, including recycling 90 percent of their waste and reducing energy consumption 20 percent by 2013
• Nurture a culture of sustainability with Sears Canada associates, customers, and the communities in which they operate

What we find interesting is that Sears in the U.S. is not following suit. Perhaps this is because 80 percent of Canadians are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint. While recent polls south of the border find that Americans are less concerned about climate change than just a few years ago. So, it just makes economic sense to be greener in Canada.

To serve their Canadian customers, in addition to putting some of their eco-friendly items on sale, Sears is offering a variety of eco-friendlier products throughout the store and tagging them as “Live Green.” There are energy efficient products such as tankless hot water heaters, to PVC-free choices for the home, items made from renewable resources, and water-saving devices. For example, Sears Canada offers Little Footprint pillows, made from recycled water bottles with covers made from unbleached cotton, to a new apparel collection called Attitude which incorporates Lenzing Lyocell and another line of organic cotton tees and dresses from the Jessica brand; to Portico’s line of certified organic cotton towels and bedding.

Plus, Sears Canada is a sponsor of World Wildlife Fund Canada’s (WWF-Canada) Earth Hour which encourages people around the world to turn off all their electrical appliances and lights for one hour each March in support of climate change action. Over the weekend, they turned out the exterior and any non-essential indoor lights.

Perhaps we were too quick to judge Live Green as more greenwash marketing. There does seem to be more here than just a springtime sale. What do you think? Post your comments below.

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