Comments on: Eco-Friendly Products: Tired of Being a Consumer? Go Useless http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/ SoLoMo and Green Living Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:47:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Robb http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-3077 Robb Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:28:32 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-3077 Really cool company - they've been dealing with a lot of the same issues I have with my company, http://www.greenmeetup.com We offer a place where eco-conscious consumers can located green products and purchase them on-line. I struggled a bit with the contradictions of both advancing and advocating against unnecessary consumerism, but the founder of Useless has articulated his justification well. Cheers, Robb Hughes Head of Sales and Marketing at Green Meetup http://www.greenmeetup.com Buy Green Products Here Really cool company – they’ve been dealing with a lot of the same issues I have with my company, http://www.greenmeetup.com

We offer a place where eco-conscious consumers can located green products and purchase them on-line. I struggled a bit with the contradictions of both advancing and advocating against unnecessary consumerism, but the founder of Useless has articulated his justification well. Cheers,

Robb Hughes
Head of Sales and Marketing at Green Meetup
http://www.greenmeetup.com
Buy Green Products Here

]]> By: Juan Garcia http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-3062 Juan Garcia Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:13:54 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-3062 I love the idea. I think it says a lot about your character for creating a brand in such a clever way that the negativity turns into something positive. Well done! I love the idea. I think it says a lot about your character for creating a brand in such a clever way that the negativity turns into something positive. Well done!

]]> By: Jess http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-3048 Jess Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:54:57 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-3048 I like the concept and the name, and it's all very cool and hip, but how does selling tshirts, hoodies and waterbottles go with the goal of using less? How many people in this target market really need another t-shirt, or another waterbottle? if they were really going with the goal of using less, then i think the products should be new and different things that actually help you to do that... t-shirts and hats and hoodies just don't impress me. seems like great brand concept wasted on products that no one needs more of... I like the concept and the name, and it’s all very cool and hip, but how does selling tshirts, hoodies and waterbottles go with the goal of using less? How many people in this target market really need another t-shirt, or another waterbottle? if they were really going with the goal of using less, then i think the products should be new and different things that actually help you to do that… t-shirts and hats and hoodies just don’t impress me. seems like great brand concept wasted on products that no one needs more of…

]]> By: Jason http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-3018 Jason Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:54:07 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-3018 This is a great blog that you have here. I'm surprised I haven't found it sooner. I was wondering if we could exchange links. Let me know if this is possible. Sincerely, Jason This is a great blog that you have here. I’m surprised I haven’t found it sooner. I was wondering if we could exchange links. Let me know if this is possible.

Sincerely,
Jason

]]> By: Alberta Rencontres http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-2902 Alberta Rencontres Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:00:50 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-2902 My congrats, very good words. It's not easy to open the people's eyes but if we continue to be consumers we will destroy this planet :( My congrats, very good words. It’s not easy to open the people’s eyes but if we continue to be consumers we will destroy this planet :(

]]> By: Useless: Are We Consumers or People? http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-2883 Useless: Are We Consumers or People? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:41:51 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-2883 [...] Max Gladwell got some details in an interview with USELESS co-founder Mark Simmons: Two years ago I was working with Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection trying to work out what to say about climate change that would get people from all walks of life involved to help solve the crisis. I saw that, while many people thought of climate change as a left wing conspiracy, they all felt, regardless of their political views, that we Americans use too much stuff. The thought of “use less” lodged in my mind and a year later when I was trying to develop a brand around reducing use of disposable water bottles and bags it struck me that “useless” would be a perfect name because on the face of it, while it is quite negative, if you scratch just below the surface you see it’s not negative at all, it’s a positive way to message about the desire to use less. And if on the one hand we in the developed world are using too much stuff and that’s contributing to climate change, on the other hand there are people in the developing world who are going without the very basics of life such as clean water and sanitation. In fact, 2.6 billion lack proper sanitation and resulting diseases is the biggest killer of children under five. So there is a natural counter-point to use less, which is to give more. The pieces then all fit into place for me. The brand would be called USELESS and its mission would be to help people USE LESS and GIVE MORE in a cool, thought-provoking way. [...] [...] Max Gladwell got some details in an interview with USELESS co-founder Mark Simmons: Two years ago I was working with Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection trying to work out what to say about climate change that would get people from all walks of life involved to help solve the crisis. I saw that, while many people thought of climate change as a left wing conspiracy, they all felt, regardless of their political views, that we Americans use too much stuff. The thought of “use less” lodged in my mind and a year later when I was trying to develop a brand around reducing use of disposable water bottles and bags it struck me that “useless” would be a perfect name because on the face of it, while it is quite negative, if you scratch just below the surface you see it’s not negative at all, it’s a positive way to message about the desire to use less. And if on the one hand we in the developed world are using too much stuff and that’s contributing to climate change, on the other hand there are people in the developing world who are going without the very basics of life such as clean water and sanitation. In fact, 2.6 billion lack proper sanitation and resulting diseases is the biggest killer of children under five. So there is a natural counter-point to use less, which is to give more. The pieces then all fit into place for me. The brand would be called USELESS and its mission would be to help people USE LESS and GIVE MORE in a cool, thought-provoking way. [...]

]]> By: A Good Reason to Buy Something Useless | Organic-Life.co.cc http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-2869 A Good Reason to Buy Something Useless | Organic-Life.co.cc Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:25:13 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-2869 [...] * okay, I’m lying. via MaxGladwell [...] [...] * okay, I’m lying. via MaxGladwell [...]

]]> By: Lunch Break Eco Links of the Week | Modern Eco Homes http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-2841 Lunch Break Eco Links of the Week | Modern Eco Homes Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:32:15 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-2841 [...] A clever new brand challenges consumerism with a line of ethically sourced products and an ironic message: use less. Read all about this awesome greeness at MaxGladwell. [...] [...] A clever new brand challenges consumerism with a line of ethically sourced products and an ironic message: use less. Read all about this awesome greeness at MaxGladwell. [...]

]]> By: Kate Robins http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-2817 Kate Robins Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:19:56 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-2817 I realize three posts is excessive but re : alternatives to water bottles, UTC (not a client) , who've sponsored and greened Hartford marathons, several years ago devised a poly-spigoted water cooler for runners. Bottles are gone and everyone's cool. You might not think to check them out of all people, but go to utc.com/curious. They married aerospace, building technology for some profound results that really slash energy use on the huge scales that matter. Energy efficient jet engines (yup), city buses, skyscrapers and on. Not your usual corporate platitudes but inventions with quantifiable energy savings. I realize three posts is excessive but re : alternatives to water bottles, UTC (not a client) , who’ve sponsored and greened Hartford marathons, several years ago devised a poly-spigoted water cooler for runners. Bottles are gone and everyone’s cool. You might not think to check them out of all people, but go to utc.com/curious. They married aerospace, building technology for some profound results that really slash energy use on the huge scales that matter. Energy efficient jet engines (yup), city buses, skyscrapers and on. Not your usual corporate platitudes but inventions with quantifiable energy savings.

]]> By: Scott Turke http://www.maxgladwell.com/2009/06/tired-consumer-going-useless-brand-ecofriendly-products/comment-page-1/#comment-2811 Scott Turke Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:55:05 +0000 http://www.maxgladwell.com/?p=2223#comment-2811 I agree 100%. I downsized from a six cylinder 4x4 truck to a Toyota Yaris about 13 months ago and went from about an average of 20 mpg to 44 mpg. I'd like to think I'm doing my small part for the environment. Where I live, I can't bicycle 12 months a year, but when I can, I use the two-wheeler every chance I get, not to mention the great aerobic exercise. The only thing that has struck me recently is that I've run across a few people who don't find it all that important to recycle! To see all those water bottles end up in the trash, knowing that they'll end up in landfills, really bothers me. I don't buy bottle water, but use a filtration pitcher. Without knowing much about USELESS+, perhaps there could be an emphasis on what alternatives there are to plastic water bottles. I've seen something on cable TV for some device to use as a substitute for plastic. I agree 100%. I downsized from a six cylinder 4×4 truck to a Toyota Yaris about 13 months ago and went from about an average of 20 mpg to 44 mpg. I’d like to think I’m doing my small part for the environment. Where I live, I can’t bicycle 12 months a year, but when I can, I use the two-wheeler every chance I get, not to mention the great aerobic exercise.

The only thing that has struck me recently is that I’ve run across a few people who don’t find it all that important to recycle! To see all those water bottles end up in the trash, knowing that they’ll end up in landfills, really bothers me. I don’t buy bottle water, but use a filtration pitcher. Without knowing much about USELESS+, perhaps there could be an emphasis on what alternatives there are to plastic water bottles. I’ve seen something on cable TV for some device to use as a substitute for plastic.

]]>