Title: The Green Kitchen Fleeting Fad or LongTerm Trend Implications for the Future
1The Green Kitchen Fleeting Fad or Long-Term
Trend? Implications for the Future
- International Home Housewares Show
- Chicago
- March 16, 2008
2So whats the answer Is it a fad or a long-term
trend? I am going to tell you the answer right
upfront But then well tell you why and what you
can do in your businesses to meet the consumer
needs
3Fad vs. Trend
Fad
Trend
4Its a Trend
- All of our research indicates that something is
different this time. - People are actually changing how they live in a
way that would be hard to change back (thats a
trend) - And they genuinely seem to believe that they need
to make a difference (more info to follow) - And the change is coming from the bottom up, from
the grassroots
5BUT
- There are factors that could change this straight
linethe three Es (sort of) - Economy most people are unwilling to pay high
premiums for green products - Effectiveness the products have to work.
Thats why green cleaning products didnt sell
beforethey didnt work well - Aesthetics they have to look good
- OK, now for the detailslets go back to one year
ago
6Kitchen Pulse MegaTrends
- Controlling the air traffic
- Launching the satellites
- Rounding the triangle
- Liberating the surfaces
- Mellowing the stress
- Producing the show
- Greening the scene
- Deliberating the details
7KP MegaTrend 7 - Greening the Scene
- Highest level of interest in Environment in 20
years - Growing
- Passionate
- Why?
- An Inconvenient Truth
- Mortality of Boomers
- Youthful Zest and concern for future
8KP MegaTrend 7 - Greening the Scene
- Green renovations and building
- Fastest growing category among contractors
- 20-30 more expensive, but prices declining due
to demand - Enthusiasts make tradeoffs
- Recycled materials
- Glass (drinkware, tiles)
9KP MegaTrend 7 - Greening the Scene
- Sustainable and new materials
- Bamboo
- Cork
- Marmoleum
- Wheatboard
- IceStone
- Non-toxic chemicals
- Non (air) polluting glues, stains and finishes
Marmoleum
Wheatboard
IceStone
10KP MegaTrend 7 - Greening the Scene
- Maintenance products
- Outfitting the kitchen
- Energy star
- Conservation
11The ubiquitous water bottle
12Fast forward to 2008AIM set out to learn more
about consumers and their attitudes about green
for the home
- Internet Surveys
- Traditional Focus Groups
- Online Focus Groups
- Expert Interviews
- Wire Tap (All phone calls and emails)
- Kitchen Island twice monthly
- Sky Blue (AIM Brainstorming)
- Secondary Research
- Global Reach
- We will only be able to really know when we have
conducted research over timeat this point its
still a snapshot
13What do people think?
- Only 8 of consumers think the current interest
in the environment is a fad - 57 believe people are concerned and that it is
affecting all our decision making - 35 really hope it is a long-term concern, but
just dont know
14What influences your plans to make your home more
environmentally-friendly?
- The cost of fuel/power 39
- News about global warming/climate change 30
- Product efficiency ratings (Energy Star) 25
- 5 or less buzz, books, family/kids
- Contradiction
- Generation Green. They're young, well-researched
and mad as heck inspired by an outpouring of
movies, TV shows, books, websites and "green
classes" at school. They've been learning how to
save the planet since toddlerhood, and they're
taking on their parents to do more, do better. - USA Today, 2/11/08
15Why the Kitchen? Whats so important about the
Kitchen?
- The Kitchen is the most important room in the
house for most consumersits the heart of the
home - 58 of consumers said the Kitchen should be
greener/more environmentally friendly - (2 bathroom at 17)
- 62 said they want to make their own Kitchen
greener - (2 bathroom at 12)
- But some of our research IS applicable to the
whole home
16What have you done to make your kitchen greener?
- The smaller, easier things
- are catching on
- 58 have replaced all lights with fluorescents or
more energy efficient - (70 are using at least some lower energy bulbs
according to a recent national poll by Global
Market Institute) - 35 have added features that help them live
greener (like a recycling center or a water
filter)
17What have you done to make your kitchen greener?
- But even bigger things are catching on,
especially when driven by economics (saving
money) - 13 have replaced or augmented their
heating/cooling system with something more energy
efficient - However, only 3 have completely renovated or
built a new fully green kitchen AND only 3 have
added green cabinets or flooring
18Which 3 areas of your Kitchen would you green
first?
- Cleaning Products
- Large Appliances
- Paper Goods
- Next tier
- Waste Disposal
- Small Appliances
- Sinks/Fixtures/Faucets
- Not priority Flooring, Countertop,
Cookware/Bakeware/Gadgets/Cutlery,
Cabinets, Fabric, Tabletop, Furniture
19ECONOMICS
20There is an overall perception that green
products are more expensive
- 53 would buy more green products, but they are
much more expensive than regular products - 95 would select environmentally-friendly
products and features for the kitchen if prices
were equal
21There is an overall perception that green
products are more expensive
- Until recently such perceptions have been based
on reality, but that is starting change - Clorox introduction of Green Works is beginning
to change the dynamic of the marketplace - major
consumer goods companies - entering the field
- As demand rises and competition
- increases, prices will fall
- The real change will be when all
- products are just assumed to be
- environmentally friendly...
22EFFECTIVENESS
23Do eco-friendly products really work?
- According to a 2007 Roper Green Gauge,
- 61 of Americans say that green products don't
work as well - Cleaning fluids are a lot better than they used
to be (but theres a trial problem)
24AESTHETICS
25The look of green products has been a concern
- Green not pretty utilitarian brown
- according to AIM focus groups
- Limited by colors and textures
- Unsustainable products are often perceived to be
much better looking (granite vs. Icestone)
26The key is
- Differentiation Tell me its green
- Design It should look like someone spent time
thinking about the design - Funkiness (vs. Sleek) I like green products to
be a little funky - Very few products have lived up to
expectations/demands - Prius vs. Honda Civic
27On the other handpeople are ready to be
persuaded
- Only 8 felt that most environmentally-friendly
products do not look good (bad design) - Only 4 felt that green products do not look
upscale - 8 said that green products reflect that I am
smart even if they are not as good looking
28And there are a number of market factors
affecting the growth of green
- the growth of organic, natural, and locally
sourced materials - the availability of renewable power and green
energy from local utilities - the advent (and popularity) of hybrid-electric
vehicles - the growth of energy-efficient technologies in
many consumer products, including computer
equipment - and then there's the rise of retailers --
Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and others -- that are
making some greener products more affordable and
available to the masses
29There is also a lack of awareness of green
products
- 53 stated I really havent see any green
kitchen products !!! - What an opportunity for Housewares companies!
30Are you doing anything to be more green these
days?
- 79 turn off water when brushing teeth
- 77 re-cycle
- 38 look for re-cycled materials
- 22 have stopped drinking bottled water
- 14 look for renewable wood products
- 2 drive a hybrid
31Are you doing anything to be more green these
days?
- Other things people are doing
- Buy bulk foods, things with less packaging
- Grow own produce, can and freeze, chemical free
- Compost
- Combine all shopping trips to one day a week
- Drive with cruise control to get best mileage
- Purchase organic/ natural
- Turn off lights and TV when I leave the room
32Sustainability is a very hot word today
- Sustainability means meeting the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs -
- The U.S. Green Building Council is the nations
foremost coalition of leaders from across the
building industry working to promote
(sustainable) buildings that are environmentally
responsible, profitable and healthy places to
live and work - Businesses include sustainability as part of
their strategic plans - Schools are teaching sustainability as part of
their science curricula
33For EcoMoms, Saving Earth Begins at Home
- NY Times
- By PATRICIA LEIGH BROWN
- Published February 16, 2008
34WATERRemember the ubiquitous water bottle?
- From a blog
- Memo to the Eco Moms Really Go Green
- Re-think serving San Pellegrino bottled water at
their meetings. What is the carbon footprint of
drinking water imported from Italy?...Should look
into serving filtered tap waterwould curb some
eco-guilt.
35WATER
- In AIMs survey
- 47 conserve water in their house 53 do not
- 59 drink bottled water 41 do not
36So is todays eco movement a fad or a trend??
- At AIM we believe that its more than a fad
- Its an opportunity - its a trend thats still
low on the incline - But products must be competitively priced
- They must be well designed and differentiated
from ordinary products - And they must fulfill the promise (work well)
37In honor of St. Patricks Day What does the word
green mean to you?
Good for the environment 64 A color 15 The
color of grass 13 Necessary to make the world
a better place 5 Healthy 2 A good economic
decision 1