Get ready for yet another new type of job associated with pollution: professional pollution calculators. You might think I am kidding, but in reality that is not the case whatsoever.
A recent story in The Wall Street Journal ("Hot Job: Calculating Products' Pollution," Sept. 1, 2009) provides multiple examples of companies that are beginning to carefully track -- and provide to their customers -- information about pollution associated with various products.
Life cycle assessments, which measure the energy and pollution associated with creating, delivering, and disposing of products, have been a part of the European scene for many years. However, in the U.S. this has not attracted anywhere near the same amount of attention. Until now.
Walmart Corp. announced in July 2009 that it will be creating a Sustainability Index. According to Mike Duke, president and CEO, "The Index will bring about a more transparent supply chain, drive product innovation and, ultimately, provide consumers the information they need to assess the sustainability of products."
Does this mark a sea change in how consumers will make buying decisions? Too early to tell probably. But it is safe to conclude that once Walmart does something, many others ultimately follow.
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