Retailers embrace Earth Day
To mark Earth Day today, Macy’s will hand out Florida pine saplings to the first 100 customers at local department stores. Home Depot is offering 10 percent off energy-efficient appliances. Whole Foods will cease to give out disposable plastic bags. And Wal-Mart Stores will promote its natural cleaning products and organic-cotton T-shirts.
While environmentalists have been honoring Earth Day for more than 35 years by planting trees and cleaning up parks, retailers have recently embraced the event as a chance to market themselves as eco-friendly. And while the efforts may seem fleeting to hard-core eco-warriors, it is catching the attention of a least a few consumers.
“I think it’s about time that they actually started going green,” said Robbe Benton of Orlando. Benton, 38, said he had recently visited a Wal-Mart and was impressed with its green design. “It’s good, since big businesses don’t usually think that way,” he said.
But, as with any popular cause, some are concerned that Earth Day is being embraced for the wrong reasons.
