My biggest takeaway of these presentations was not the product or service, but rather the cultural shift and the direction businesses are heading.
As far as looking into a specific lens of the presentations in class, one presentation that really stood out to me was “imperfect produce.” I liked it because it seemed to be the most practical of all the products/services. Practical in the sense that it was affordable, convenient & useful to the everyday person, and tackled one of the biggest issues in the US, the overabundance of food waste. While I liked the ideas behind the other products being presented, I didn’t see them appealing to the everyday consumer. Unfortunately, it just isn’t realistic to think that people will make such large behavioral changes or be willing to invest in sustainable products for a higher price. The candles, for example, seemed to only appeal to a very niche – and wealthy – market. I had a hard time seeing how it would appeal to the everyday consumer.
What does this mean moving forward? I am one example of the everyday consumer. One of the biggest barriers I think facing us (the everyday consumer) is truly internalizing and integrating why the need and push for sustainability is imperative. It’s human nature to see what’s in front of us; to forego the benefits of the short-term at the cost of the long-term. It is psychologically ingrained into the ways our minds work, for better and for worse. I think there is a general consensus from the public that we need to start focusing on the environment but the connection between individual choices and the impact it has on the environment isn’t there yet. The more awareness and knowledge surrounding this issue helps to shine light and understanding, yet it is not enough. To truly care is to to take time to really internalize this issue and believe in the cause. Some people have already made this shift, that is clear in the products and services showcased during class. But there is still far too many who either don’t have the knowledge, don’t understand how crucial this issues is, or do not care to understand or learn. The question I often ask is, how do we reach these people? I do not have an answer to this, but somehow slowly, I believe we are getting there.
Someone in class voiced his doubt that the products/services showcased during our class presentations would last. To some degree, I don’t think it really matters whether these specific businesses thrive in our market. The bigger picture that I see is that they represent a shift in values that our overall market is (slowly) heading towards. Sure, it may currently be in the minority that sustainability is a key facet for business thinking, but truly that’s all it takes–one divergent outlook. This new perspective is already gaining steam, and I think these products and services demonstrate the cultural shift in values we are experiencing. When you posed the question the very first day of class and asked: “is the world changing for the better, the same or worse?” I said worse. But it’s seeing products and industries like these that are slowly changing my perspective to a more optimistic outlook of what the world’s future holds.
So the question and the takeaway of today is not what have you seen, but rather, where are we going?