Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962 launched an environmental revolution.  A movement now dubbed a “green movement”, which has reached a tipping point level of a social epidemic.  Citizens are now becoming increasingly literate in ways they can preserve the health of our planet.  Global warming has take center stage as one of the most crucial challenges of our day.  Natural resources are depleting so fast that, if things go unchanged, in 2050 we will need two planets to provide the resources used for survival.  Environmental concerns are finally polling as a top concern.  Businesses are investing to lessen their environmental footprint.  Pollution.  Deforestation.  Our air is sick. Our water is polluted.  Spring is encouraged at the attention the environment is finally getting and impressed with the global response to combat these issues.  Spring is energized by being part of the solution. 

But what does "green" mean?  With constantly evolving standards, green has never meant so many things - green is very grey.  There are no absolutes and Spring will evolve with the issues.  As the marketplace introduces new products, as existing solutions present new problems, "green" standards will have to adapt.  Green is not a static issue.  To deal with this, Spring stays on top of the dialogue, evolves with issues, and continually adapts.  Spring does not rely on others to define "green"; instead Spring develops an individualized shade of green.  As such, Spring looks to environmental issues predominantly as a health issue.  The health of the planet and our personal health are intrinsically related.  For this reason, Spring’s concept is dubbed a “healthy home”; which encompasses the health, sustainability, fair trade, aesthetic, affordability, and durability of a product. 

Spring was built from the ground up green, with environmentalism and sustainability as core issues.  Spring prides itself on the incredibly high standards it sets, standards that will not be compromised.  While greening operations can be perceived as environmental capital and as a net cost savings, it is also, and more importantly, is an ethical responsibility.  By no means is Spring perfect.  Consumption causes environmental degradation, and Spring is a retailer selling products that have been manufactured, packaged, and transported – all of which leave a footprint.  Spring will constantly challenge itself to do as little harm as possible, make wise and sustainable decisions for the long term, and always act responsibly as possible.  Here are some of Spring’s efforts to ensure operations are consistent with its values:

• Reuse packing materials and an effort to generate zero waste.  Beyond recycling, Spring reuses packing materials to ship phone and web orders.
• Service.  Helping customers make the right choice will prevent returns and therefore reduce transportation, shipping, new materials, etc.  This is also why Spring emphasizes durability as a green attribute – less returns, longer use, and less raw materials used.
• Build Outs.  While Spring is not LEED certified, it uses green building materials and philosophies in its build out.  In the future, all stores will have LEED certification.
• Offsetting.  Spring offsets greenhouse emissions generated by operations.
• Energy Consumption.  Spring uses no air conditioning, turns lights off in the afternoon, and turns computers off at night.