We have heard regulatory agencies wanting to do more to protect the consumer and the environment alike. And while regulation is a necessity for a properly functioning society, what does the current trends of regulation do for your business? What does it do for our economy? What does it do for innovation and ultimately the environment?
Unfortunately, there is also an additional qualifying question anyone familiar with the way the world spins around will ask themselves… “it depends on which private business is lobbying for, and what agenda…” Todays environmental issues have an opportunity to be treated with innovation and forward thinking. Perhaps never before in our history have we been more prepared and evolved to address the real problems relating to the environmental issues we face. Words like; Life Cycle Analysis, Carbon Footprint, Sustainability, green movement…the list goes on-all in the name of greening up business and consumer habits. But at the end of the day, what has been the net result? Because in the end, what is paramount is results-positive results.
How is regulating this “green movement” helping? Today, innovations have to answer questions of legitimacy and solid science. Federal agencies like EPA, FTC, FDA are all both educating and becoming more educated on what the market trends are doing, and what materials are available to help green up materials and processes. They demand companies to sufficiently demonstrate the validity of their claims, and help to curb “green washing” for the irresponsible opportunists looking to only capitalize on our consumer base sincerely wanting to do the right thing.
We at ENSO take this demonstration of legitimacy and solid science behind our innovative material VERY seriously. We have engaged top-of-their-field scientific minds to aid in the quest to help our innovation receive the understanding and market reception it warrants. Sometimes innovation outpaces conventional understanding, and what helps bridge the gap between innovation and acceptance is education and credibility. Some of these processes take more time than desired, but in the end, things that are worthwhile and lasting often endure hurtles. Many of our past innovations were looked at as a “pipe dream” only to turn into life changing propositions for markets-cars, electricity, a round earth etc. all took time for conventional wisdom to catch up to these innovations.
Today, I believe the market is ripe to receive an increase in both innovation and education, with responsible regulatory agencies sifting through relevant information to help environmental and economic impacts in our market. Although the budgets in many agencies have been drastically reduced, they are hard at work to create a viable market which will include an earth friendly future marketplace. Hopefully this work combined with everyone’s convictions and individual effort will drastically reduce the length of time processes can take, so we can more efficiently make innovative materials a positive conversion in our market. So all can answer, regulation is a friend, not a foe. One thing is for sure, we need regulation, as long as it helps an ever evolving marketplace. Indeed nothing these days seem to remain static, questions and answers will always evolve, and so will regulatory process.
