Home Depot and other American Retailers introduce more green products

Home Depot announced plans Tuesday to offer more environmentally friendly products and make it easier for consumers to find them.

Included are more than 2,500 items ranging from all-natural insect repellents to front-load washing machines. Products that meet the criteria will be tagged Eco Options to make them easier to find.

"We don't have people banging on our doors, saying, 'Give us your green products,' " says Ron Jarvis, Home Depot vice president of environmental innovation. "But it's the right time to educate consumers that their shopping habits can have an impact and that they can make a difference without going out of their way."

The move by the country's second-largest retailer comes after the largest, Wal-Mart, kicked off an environmental initiative last fall that favors suppliers who restrict carbon emissions and embrace sustainability.

In the past two years, many retailers have started going greener in the way they build stores, use direct mail and package their products.

"What's new is that they are moving to thinking about what they are offering in terms of environmentally friendly products and what they expect from consumers," says Madison Riley, retail strategist at consulting firm Kurt Salmon Associates. He cites Ikea's recent move to charge customers for plastic bags.

Among other retailers who are seeing the benefits of being green:
Kroger: The grocery chain is using skylights and innovative lighting systems to save energy.

Target. It became a certified organic produce retailer in 2006 and now offers more than 500 choices of organic certified food. Pat Perry, senior group manager of environmental services, says Target also reduces waste through food-donation programs, giving away about 7 million pounds of food last year. Target also has four buildings in California that use solar energy.

Timberland. The outdoor company recently introduced Green Index tags on a number of its products. The tags rate products on issues such as use of greenhouse gas emissions, solvents and organic materials. Timberland plans by 2010 to become "carbon neutral," which means that the business will not negatively affect the climate. Among other things, it is increasing investments in solar panels and wind turbines.

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