Auto companies are not taking advantage of the “going green” concept to improve their businesses, according to commentary delivered by Deloitte Consulting LLP Thursday at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) Inforum Automotive Breakfast.
“Companies that build a capability for sustainable transformation will build and lock in competitive advantages as the marketplace, regulation and customer demand move in this direction,” said Christopher Park, Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP. “Companies that do not invest now run the risk of being compromised or even eliminated if the effect of sustainability on brand equity drives real and rapid changes in market valuations.”
Deloitte Consulting identifies the principles of being green as reducing, eliminating or reusing waste; reducing net consumption of resources; partially or completely replacing consumed resources; increasing the ratios of natural to man-made and organic to synthetic; and reducing the net global impact footprint (GIF).
“Companies need to identify the real issues and relevant facts in opting for a given technology,” said Steve Laughman, a partner of Deloitte & Touche LLP and the Global Automotive Industry Leader. “In fact, just making the choice may be the riskiest piece of this technology shift. Companies that make the right choice will be best poised for success and growth as competition continues to get tougher and ‘green’ becomes an ever more important component of doing business.”
