The hard copy, believe it or not, may be a relic of the past and Netflix knows it. In a world where movies can instantly be streamed to your living room at an affordable rate, one has to ask himself whether millions of plastic, non-reusable DVD boxes are truly necessary.
In the quest for convenience, a valuable method of sustainability was found: digitization. Thirty years ago, the movie-renting process involved driving across town (twice), the carbon footprint associated with home entertainment has almost been erased thanks to companies like Netflix.
Recently, the video streaming company reorganized its rental structure, forcing customers to choose between DVD hard copies and streamed video. The former option is more expensive and, frankly, troublesome. Why wait for the mail to deliver your movie when you can instantly watch it? If your answer is "I don't know," then you may be on your way to personal, movie-watching sustainability!
Eco-Conscious Streaming
Netflix Decouples Its Price Structures and Goes Green(er)
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Streaming - Opportunity for entertainment companies to shift towards digital, eco-friendly systems that reduce carbon footprints and offer sustainable alternatives to traditional methods.
2. Decoupling Price Structures - Opportunity for companies to differentiate between physical and digital products by offering decoupled pricing that incentivizes more sustainable alternatives, such as eco-friendly digital streaming, for customers.
3. Convenience-driven Digitization - Opportunity for companies to replace traditional physical media with convenience-driven digitization that offers customers more accessible and eco-friendly entertainment options.
Industry Implications
1. Entertainment - As the shift towards sustainability becomes increasingly important, there is a need for the entertainment industry to introduce more green options, such as digital streaming, to meet consumer demands and reduce environmental impact.
2. Technology - Advancements in technology continue to drive the digitization of entertainment, providing vast opportunities for the industry to develop more eco-friendly and accessible methods of content delivery.
3. Retail - Retailers have the opportunity to capitalize on the shift towards more sustainable entertainment options, such as streaming, by offering eco-friendly digital products and services that provide value to consumers and reduce carbon footprints.