<p>Jake Evans</p><p>CSR 331</p><p>The Lorax Film Analysis</p><p>It’s been about 40 years since Dr. Seuss wrote his children’s classic, “The </p><p>Lorax” about a creature that speaks on behalf of nature and a greedy industrialist and ignores his warnings. As I was sitting there watching this movie it got me thinking, “Wow, how time’s have changed.”</p><p>Many, if not, most corporations are no longer the “destroyers of the environment” as they once were. In fact it’s quite the opposite. Many corporations these days are greener than consumers and are partnered with environmentalist groups. The question is why did these companies go from spending virtually no money on eco-friendly products to spending millions on developing whole campaigns targeted at “going green”?</p><p>“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it could become.” This is a quote from the “evil entrepreneur” the Once-ler; a quote that not only describes the entire theme of the movie, but one that also describes the entire “green movement” as well.</p><p>We, as consumers, took the green movement when it was just a seed and showed corporations that they can’t keep destroying the planet without consequences. We demanded that these corporations become more environmentally friendly. We proved to these corporations that we would spend a little extra money if it means leaving less of a carbon footprint. According to a recent consumer behavior report conducted by pricegrabber.com, “75% of consumer respondents said that being a positive, eco- friendly example is important to them.” This is proof that we’ve taken the seed that was the “green movement” and helped it developed into a lifestyle. The proof is in the numbers. Just over the past year the U.S. Organic industry continues to expand, growing 21.8% and reaching over $17.8 billion in consumer sales. The people have spoken through their consumer loyalty just as the Lorax spoke for nature.</p><p>At the end of the movie, it shows the Once-ler, replanting a bunch of the trees that he chopped down many years ago and the Lorax coming to him and telling him that he’s “done good”. Shortly after that a quote is displayed that reads, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” </p><p>This quote directly applies to consumers and what has been done by those people that “care a whole awful lot” about the way Industrialists were treating our environment. The scene in which the Once-ler replanted the trees represents big business’s “growing” concern for the environment and the “growing” awareness that this is what their consumers want. They want corporations to be responsible for their carbon footprint and to make eco-friendly products so that they to can help the environment by purchasing them and supporting the “green movement”.</p><p>This movie shows how much the mindset of the business world has changed. </p><p>If businesses don’t adapt to consumer and environmental demands, these businesses will not only discontinue to flourish, but they will parish just as the one in the film did. Consumers and businesses are collectively becoming more environmentally friendly in their everyday lives. It’s been a lifestyle change that has slowly taken effect over many years. What once started as a seed has grown and become a large, and powerful movement.</p>