Green Industry ECOnomics - LandcareNetwork.org

More research needed
“More fundamental research needs to happen in terms of sustainable practices
in the real world,” said Dr. Grewal. “Also, there are only a couple of
studies showing the economic benefits that landscaping makes on properties.
There are huge social benefits to what you are doing. There needs to be
more data on that, and some of the data that the industry describes as benefits
is not peer reviewed.”
Committee members agreed that the industry needs more research in terms
of carbon sequestration by turf and landscapes, its use of water and energy,
and the benefits it provides to urban environments and to human health.
The Committee research agenda goals included:
1. Obtaining quantifiable data on benefits that is database driven, accessible,
and third-party verifiable
2. Obtaining quantifiable fact-based data on “green” trends in the industry
3. Obtaining baseline data (where are we now in terms of benefits/risk)
4. Finding out about customer attitude (what are they willing to pay/
embrace)
5. Partnering/Liaising with other organizations
6. Developing educational partnerships in research
7. Working with product manufacturers trade groups to develop more ecofriendly
equipment
8. Identifying global resources/concepts
9. Looking closer at historic solutions to ecological management
10. Determining what are triggers for change
11. Carrying out further turfgrass research
12. Reusing/recycling landscape equipment/packaging completely (cradle to
cradle)
To accomplish this, the industry must reach out to and partner with other
industry associations, educational institutions, and product manufacturers.
“We need to establish baseline data for where we are now and where we go
from there,” said McCutcheon. The next task would be to establish benchmarks
or, as one Committee member termed them, “eco-rules.”
90 Green Industry ECOnomics