Clean tech: the next space race

Officials at major multinational companies, the ones that have enough financial wherewithal to have someone really smart on staff whose job is to (figuratively) peer around the corner and try to anticipate what’s coming, know that ‘clean tech’---technology that helps clean air, water, helps plants run cleaner, and so forth—is a huge, huge market, and growing rapidly. Even those of us at smaller companies with not-so-deep pockets recognize this. 

Will plastics processors find footing in this market? Naturally. They already are, in many instances. Whether you are in it, not in it yet, or couldn’t care less, this article from the Cleantech Group still is highly interesting (and will only take you about 2 minutes to read). One key takeaway is that, though clean tech typically gets painted a ‘green’ technology whose benefits stem from its environmentally friendliness, another benefit, and one that may be easier to sell, is that it helps prevent people from getting sick. The writer filed the piece from China; if you’ve seen the smog there, you understand why human health and clean tech can be so intertwined. 

Why mention this here? Early this year, one of the industry’s really thoughtful people, Tom Duffey of Plastic Components Inc., told me about his company’s marketing and new business development efforts, and how making these a strategic part of the business have been a boon for PCI. Knowing what you do well is critical, of course, but just as critical is to see where opportunities and growth are occurring. Clean tech is such an area, so it will pay to learn about it, find a slice of the market where you can add value, and chase it down.