The New York Times reports today that manufacturers of eco-friendly products have seen their sales decline compared to the products that environoiacs would like to carry mandatory skull-and-crossbones warning labels. The newspaper blames the difficult economy for consumers’ avoidance of “Green” products. For example:
Sales of Green Works have fallen to about $60 million a year, and those of other similar products from major brands like Arm & Hammer, Windex, Palmolive, Hefty and Scrubbing Bubbles are sputtering. “Every consumer says, ‘I want to help the environment, I’m looking for eco-friendly products,’ ” said David Donnan, a partner in the consumer products practice at the consulting firm A. T. Kearney. “But if it’s one or two pennies higher in price, they’re not going to buy it. There is a discrepancy between what people say and what they do.”
Ahem — please show me where the “Green” products cost just one or two cents more, because it will be the first time I’ve seen it. And it’s not only because eco-friendly and Energy Star products cost more that they sell poorly; it’s also because they work like crap. And they are dangerous too.