Accounts Quote by Ray Anderson
“If we somehow put a value on species extinction and factor that into our costs that bottom line would look very different. IF we put any resource depletion into costs our bottom line would change. So what we have is a dishonest market that does not take into account all the costs when it establishes its prices. We need an honest marketplace before we can let the market work for sustainability rather than against it as it works today.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Sustainable Business Forum, 2005
Markets ignore hidden environmental costs, leading to unsustainable pricing; incorporating true ecological expenses creates a fairer economy.
In simple terms: Hidden costs distort market prices.
Key Takeaway
Integrate ecological costs into pricing.
Themes
sustainability
economics
environmental ethics
Mood
urgent
thoughtful
strategic
Type
advice
policy
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- corporate budgeting
- investment decisions
- product pricing
Key Concepts
ecology
externalities
market design
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we measure hidden environmental costs?
- What incentives encourage honest pricing?
A Different Perspective
Quantifying ecological costs is complex and politically contentious.
