[This article was first published in April 202 and has been expanded and revised.]

Recycling, conservation, and being "green" are concepts we've known for decades. But today the move is towards eco-friendly franchises.  And not just in the U.S.

There’s no question that our planet is changing. With hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires becoming more common across the world, that much is apparent. But there is much that we can do on both a personal and corporate level to mitigate those changes.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - More than a Nice Mantra

Given these climate changes, it’s not surprising that more people are looking to change their habits and live more sustainably. Everyday Americans are looking to alter their routines so that they can reduce their impact on the planet.

Often, this might take the form of recycling, reducing use of single-use plastics, or reducing energy consumption. However, a growing number of consumers are also choosing to fight climate change with their wallets, which for them means supporting eco-friendly businesses.

And this trend has given rise to eco-friendly franchises.

Both Millennials and Generation Z - those born after 1981 essentially - stand out among other generations as climate champions. And as they continue to garner power within the marketplace, eco-friendly franchises will gain in popularity.

Companies that want to get on board and gain favor with these impactful generations will have to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint or use environmentally friendly materials,  chemicals, ingredients, and packaging to be seen as genuinely "green."

Eco-Friendly Franchises - Are They Really a Thing?

That's a fair question. And the answer is a resounding, "Yes!"

For example, according to a recent article at Franchise Help,

"Going green is becoming increasingly attractive as a business strategy. As scientists and politicians debate the truth of global warming and dwindling natural resources, green industry practices not only enjoy favorable public sentiment and the psychic income of a lower carbon footprint, but increased cost savings, supportive government policies, and ever-increasing profitability as well. Trends in consumption, government policy, and costs all point towards even more green industry business opportunities in the years ahead."

And there's more...

Business Wire noted last year that,

Globally, sustainability is rated as an important purchase criterion for 60 percent of consumers. In the US, this number is just over the global average at 61 percent.

The reality is that anyone looking to become a franchise owner or become part of a franchise operation will not go wrong by focusing on eco-friendly franchise options.

An Eco-Friendly Franchise in An Unlikely Field

Junk King’s unique and pioneering business model makes it a leader amongst eco-friendly franchises because our business model is actually built with sustainability at its core.

Junk King has long recognized that human beings will always produce waste, and we approach the problem of disposing of that waste through recycling. But we also practice the "reuse" component of the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" triumvirate.

How do we do that?

We routinely sort and divert junk items that would otherwise end up in a landfill such as old refrigerators, electronic waste or e-waste, used mattresses, old furniture, and much more. Then we use processes we've developed to repurpose or donate everything that is still usable. And the rest is recycled.

 In fact, Junk King franchisees successfully recycle up to 60 percent of the junk and waste that we bring in every day, all across the country.

And being eco-friendly for Junk King means more than recycling.

For example, our fleet of junk-hauling trucks have a larger capacity than our competitors, which results in far fewer junk removal trips to get our job done. This means that we are generating far less pollution than other junk removal companies.

We understand the importance of protecting the planet, which is why we pioneered the model of recycling-based junk removal when we founded our company in 2005. And we’re proud of the effort each and every one of our more than 120 franchisees makes to help our planet to be a cleaner and greener place.

Interested in tapping the growing group of environmentally-conscious consumers with an eco-friendly business opportunity? Consider being a Junk King franchise owner.

Learn more about becoming a Junk King franchisee.