Warby Parker, an eyewear brand renowned for its direct-to-consumer (D2C) business model, and Allbirds, an eco-friendly shoe brand that went public on NASDAQ in 2021, exemplify innovation in connecting manufacturers directly with consumers without intermediaries. This model promotes a positive image by endorsing an eco-friendly business approach. However, the disclosure of the companies’ financial statements revealed that both had accumulated losses greater than anticipated. While it would have been ideal for manufacturers to supply products directly to consumers, the burden of inventory increased along with rising administrative and marketing costs. Distributors in the middle shared profits, but they also shouldered the financial burden. Choosing eco-friendly options often incurs higher costs due to the search for alternatives, which can lead to accumulating losses. Pollution negatively impacts both consumers and suppliers, and business deficits further inflict additional damage that c...
Eco bags are not eco-friendly. In 2007, the eco-bags, which British designer Anya Hindmarch printed, “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” on canvas, sold out 20,000 copies in 30 minutes at a limited edition price of 5 pounds. The project reduced the use of plastic bags by 58% over the next two years in Britain. However, a survey by the British Environment Agency found that consumers used paper bags at least 3 times more to have less environmental impact than plastic bags and used eco bags 131 times more to help protect the environment. In 2018, Denmark also announced a study that indicated people used plastic bags at least 37 times, paper bags 43 times, and eco bags 7,100 times before being discarded to recover from pollution. Yes, the facts that people believe have cheated us all. Materials and consumption are necessary, but people belatedly realized that environmental protection should also consider product use cycles and production. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”