The Science of Colors: The Best Industries for a Green, Eco-Friendly Uniform

[caption id="attachment_1147" align="aligncenter" width="441"] Image source: Youthedesigner.com[/caption]   People love green. I'm not just saying that because it's my favorite color, I'm saying that because it's true. The green movement has really taken off in the last 50 years and there's no sign of it ever slowing down. In fact, there's a fairly good chance that it will become more and more popular as mankind continues to put a strain on world resources. Green is big. Green is sexy. Green is profitable.  

Green

  Plants like to chow down on sunlight the same way that we would dive into a juicy hamburger. Plant leaves have chlorophyll, which is a pigment helps plants absorb sunlight. Plants have evolved green chlorophyll over the years because it's particularly well-suited for sucking in as much sunlight as possible. As a result, the entire world is carpeted in green, from the enduring pine trees in northern Canada to the tropical jungles of South America.   [caption id="attachment_1260" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Image source: Whatshouldiwriteaboutagain.blogspot.com[/caption]   Green represents nature, vitality, fertility, and life. In recent years it's also taken on an entirely new connotation: conservation. Businesses use green as a way to tell environmentally conscious customers that they're eco-friendly.    

Best Industries for Green Uniforms

  Industries that Interact with Nature   Do you make your money in the great outdoors? When customers see your employees, do you want them to be reminded of dense forests, bubbling brooks, and the peaceful harmony that can only be found in nature? Then you definitely want to go for green uniforms. Landscaping businesses, floral shops, nature tour guides, and other outdoorsy businesses could all benefit from green custom clothing.   [caption id="attachment_1137" align="aligncenter" width="468"] Image source: Eastpdxnews.com[/caption]   Eco-Friendly Industries   Being eco-friendly is a pretty big deal nowadays. Companies invest buckets of money into more efficient and responsible technology in order to reduce their carbon footprint. Some business owners just want to be more responsible, while others want to cash in on the green movement. Either way, eco-friendly businesses should take a look at green uniforms. Green custom clothing is a great way to instantly communicate to your potential customers that you are running an environmentally responsible business.   [caption id="attachment_1284" align="alignnone" width="1632"] Image source: Commons.wikimedia.org[/caption]   Finance   Benjamin Franklin looks awfully good in green, doesn't he? Green is the color of leaves, but it's also the color of cold, hard cash. Green can be a good choice for banking, financial industries, or if your company helps people overcome complicated tax forms. Most investment firms tend to go for blue (tune in tomorrow for the blue installment of the Science of Colors to find out why), so green can help set your business apart.   The one thing that you might want to keep in mind is that Americans are the only people who associate green with money. Over in England paper currency has more of a pink-purple tone, and Chinese yuan is a vibrant red. Finance businesses with their eyes set on international markets might want to drop green uniforms in favor of more conventional blue outfits.   Military and Hunting   It's common to see military men in green fatigues, so over the years we've come to associate green with military strength and utility. Green could be a solid choice for people who are trying to cash in on the military image. Consider embroidered green outfits if you're a wildlife survivalist, a personal trainer, a hunter, or if your business caters to the prepper community.   [caption id="attachment_1135" align="aligncenter" width="825"] Image source: Arlnow.com[/caption]  

Worst Industries for Green Uniforms

  Technology   What does an iPad and a tree have in common? Not a lot, honestly. Green is a color that implies simplicity, which is the exact opposite of high-tech gizmos and gadgets. Green uniforms can send your customers mixed messages.   Industries that Aren't Eco-Friendly   When people see green they tend to associate it with conservation and environmentalism. For that reason, you should probably avoid green uniforms if your business is not good for the environment. People might think that your company is being dishonest by sending out a disingenuous image.   [caption id="attachment_1138" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image source: Ecopolitology.org[/caption]   You know, I spent a while in Pennsylvania where coal energy is a pretty big deal. It was very common to see green billboards that touted coal as a clean source of energy. The whole point of that marketing campaign was to change the public's perception about coal energy. Green uniforms can be effective if you aggressively pair it with an eco-friendly image, but slapping green uniforms onto a company that most people associate with pollution just isn't going to cut it. You'll need to go the full nine yards and show people that your company has gone green or else people (especially the members of the press) just aren't going to buy it.