What is the impact of green transportation branding on society?
In the U.S., it is estimated that around 30% of all oil used as fuel is for transportation. Transportation in the U.S. includes cars, trucks, planes, boats, trains, and even some forms of public transportation. With so many vehicles on the road today, it is no wonder emissions from vehicles are becoming a major cause for concern.
Truck companies have already made major strides to reduce their carbon footprint by switching from diesel and gasoline to propane and biodiesel fuels. This switch has reduced millions of tons of emissions and continues to keep our air quality cleaner each year. Several companies have also started to offer hybrid options for their fleet vehicles that have reduced the overall carbon footprint per mile by up to half!
Realizing that transportation was a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, large cities and states began to create strict laws against polluting engines and gas-guzzling vehicles. Many companies started “going green” by offering incentives to use alternative fuels over traditional gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles. Governments also started offering tax incentives for hybrid owners who wanted to cut back on their carbon footprint.
Environmental sustainability is the new frontier for marketers, who are seeking to establish their brands as socially responsible and environmentally conscious. A growing number of consumers want to do business with companies that are committed to taking the environment into account in their day-to-day operations.
Transportation branding has a significant impact on the environment because it can change how people view transportation options. Marketing is a powerful force in influencing consumer behavior and one that can have a profound effect on how people think about and use transportation systems.
Branding efforts can help people understand the benefits of using public transportation instead of driving, for example, or promote walking or biking over driving as transportation options. The power of branding is that it can help create awareness among consumers regarding green issues and make them more receptive to taking action in support of those issues.
