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BCC Research reports the global market for anaerobic digestors and landfill gas equipment was estimated at nearly $4.5 billion for 2013. Its study, Waste-Derived Biogas: Global Markets for Anaerobic Digestion Equipment, projects the market to grow to $7 billion by 2018, and register a five-year compound annual growth rate of 9.4 percent 2013 to 2018.

A study from Unilever reveals a $1 trillion market for companies that effectively and transparently market the sustainability of their products. About 20,000 people in four countries and the UK were interviewed, and 33% said they would prefer to purchase a product that benefits the environment.

China expects to launch a national carbon market in 2016, drawing together regional pilot projects into a single unified marketplace. The new carbon trading system will be the world's biggest emissions market

At a time when travel brands are finding each dollar harder to come by, cause marketing can be a cost-effective way for companies to differentiate themselves, writes Todd Wilson. "Taking the time and spending the effort to make cause marketing a cornerstone of your strategy is a good bet to drive your revenue during the holiday season and beyond," he writes.

The first crop-land agricultural credits were introduced to the carbon market this summer, but the biggest functioning U.S. cap and trade market - California's - hangs in limbo.

Zion Research says the market for green building materials will reach $255 billion by 2020, about twice what it was in 2014. North American and Europe are the largest consumers of the environmentally friendly materials.

Global carbon markets' value will rise 15 percent this year to 46 billion euros ($63 billion), Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecasts.

Consumer demand, advances in material technology and legislation will push sustainable packaging to a $244 billion market by 2018, according to report by Smithers Para. The "Future of Sustainable Packaging to 2018" report found awareness among consumers is driving demand for sustainability, particularly packaging that has a smaller environmental footprint.

IKEA is launching a campaign aimed at persuading its customers to stock up on energy-efficient light bulbs while highlighting the company's commitment to stop selling nonefficient bulbs by 2016. "This is a sustainability campaign but also a brand campaign. We need to explain what we stand for and celebrate that," says Peter Wright, IKEA's UK and Ireland marketing manager

The Climate Trust released a list of 10 trends that could shape the carbon market in 2016. The trends were identified through interactions with large companies, utilities, governments, and others.

A group of high-level government officials from 26 national and subnational governments - including EU Member States, U.S. States, Mexico, Canadian Provinces, and the Republic of Korea - announced their support for "renewed cooperation on carbon markets" to address climate change.

According to the report, rising environmental concerns and growing public awareness about eco-friendly products are expected to drive the rapid growth of sustainable packaging market over the forecast period. In particular, consumer demand for sustainable food product packaging is projected to be a large driver.

The global market for green chemistry is expected to boom from $11 billion in 2015 to about $100 billion by 2020, according to data from the American Sustainable Business Council and the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council. While challenges remain -- notably around building a consensus about what "green" chemistry really means -- consumers are increasingly demanding safer and more sustainable products. "In a nutshell, the green chemistry market is poised for takeoff," writes Libby Bernick. GreenBiz.com (5/6)  

Corporations interested in sustainability have become a major driver in the renewable energy industry, said experts at the North American Energy Markets Association meeting in Florida last month. "There is about 15 GW of latent demand for renewables that wants to be built by 2020 in order to meet the targets of Fortune 500 companies that have committed to some degree of renewable energy in their supply portfolios," said Invenergy Vice President of Sales and Marketing Craig Gordon. 3M, Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft are among the companies seeking power purchase agreements with renewables in the US.

A new energy market analysis shows the average cost of electricity from renewables is already lower than from fossil fuels, writes Alex Kirby. And as renewables eat deeper into the 'market share' of coal and gas power plants, so the entire economics of fossil fuel power generation will unravel.

European Union lawmakers endorsed a draft version of carbon market reforms aimed at further reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing protection for industries requiring intensive energy consumption. The ultimate goal is a 40% emissions reduction by 2030 without loss of industry, and the proposal will go to a plenary vote in February

New research documents that green products and meaningful brands deliver increased sales plus financial performance that outperforms the stock market.

Fashion marketing is predicated on the assumption that clothes fall out of fashion from season to season and that consumers must keep buying to stay hip, writes Ceri Heathcote. Sustainable brands should make a stand and encourage consumers to dress for their personal style rather than for marketer-created fashion trends, Heathcote argues.

MBA students from the University of California, Berkeley achieved a 50% return on investment from the school's socially responsible investment fund since 2008. The fund performed almost 5% better than the overall market from 2011 to 2014.

Forest carbon-credit proponents say serious government backing is needed to develop a global market for their offsets. "Once speculators believe that government is committed to doing this, they will rush in -- it will happen overnight," predicts Jim Procanik, managing director of InfiniteEARTH.