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When it comes to Green products, usage is on the rise, end users are demanding more options and manufacturers are being challenged to meet these needs. What can you expect for 2008 and how can you prepare yourself to become the Green expert in your regional marketplace?

A majority of U.S. workers (64 percent) say that their decision to work for a company or purchase its products are "strongly" or "somewhat" influenced by a company's environmental practices or polices, according to a new survey conducted by Corporate Express U.S.

The survey gauged the attitudes and opinions of 7,660 office employees about the increasing trend of U.S. companies to incorporate environmentally friendly practices in the workplace. Respondents hailed from a wide array of industries - and ranged in position from the CEO level to administrative office assistants. According to the survey, American preferences toward environmental safeguards in the office continue to increase. The survey found that:

• Approximately two out of three workers at companies without environmental policies would like to see such policies implemented in their office
• 83 percent of employees would like to see their companies use environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals in their offices
• Nearly one in three workers say they possess allergies that are aggravated by environmental conditions in their offices.

Demand for environmentally focused products has increased steadily over the past 10 years - with most respondents (60 percent) reporting that the environmental policies at their companies have been implemented within the last decade. In fact, the trend reflects workers' personal habits at home - with 78 percent of respondents indicating they recycle at home and 51 percent of respondents indicating they use environmentally friendly cleaning products at home.

"It's here and if you are trying to hide from it, that time is no more," says Felicia Laconi, director, facilities supplies, and marketing at Corporate Express. "A trend in facilities will be more organizations adopting products that maintain a full Green lifecycle because customers are becoming more aware, and they will inquire about how products are made and what happens to them after they are finished with them. As the baby boomers come out of the workplace, the next generations will come into leadership, and sustainability will be a key component of their strategy for how facilities are operated."

Ralph Bianculli, president and CEO of Paradigm Group, a full service supply distribution, facilities products manufacturing, warehouse packaging and marketing consulting company, agrees, "Green has got legs to it. There's a lot of momentum to the Green movement and decision makers in the facilities' channels are becoming younger and more concerned about the environmental issues. It's the right business decision and that's what's driving the trend."

Increased industry segments receptive

As product usage increases, so do the segments that are using these products. According to Mike Sawchuk, vice president, general manager at Enviro-Solutions, paying attention to business segments such as education, healthcare, BSCs, hospitality, government, big business and approaching fast - retail - will reap its benefits in the near future.

Consumers/end users are driving the demand based on improving health and the fact that there are real economic advantages. "Parents today are more knowledgeable. They are concerned about the types of cleaning products in schools to make it a healthier environment for their children," says Sawchuk. "That knowledge of the improved health and economics in turn is creating an opportunity for the astute commercial building manager to be receptive to going Green."

Healthcare is being driven by the public reading about the health effects in chemicals. Hospitality segments are being driven by the customers who are making the choice to stay at a hotel based on Green cleaning practices.

"In Canada, some hotels participate in the Green Leaf Program, a program which verifies the occupant is staying at a hotel proven more sustainable," says Sawchuk. "Occupancy rates, increased human health and other economic factors are driving the movement to Certified Green Cleaning products."