Why green EDGE?

[Magnus]

Can't find anything that explains why Ryan chose the name "greenEDGE" - anyone know why?

cheers

[schroeds]

Note sure the timing of how it all came together, but Orica has had a terrible record of environmental abuse, so perhaps the positive brand rub off from the Green implications was envisaged from the get go.

[bradman]

There were a few eyebrows raised at that very connection when the sponsorship was announced...

[biftek]

i suppose when you have the money to start your own team up you can all it what ever you want

[Ross]

I think the "green" bit is a reference of sorts to Australia ie green and gold. Not sure what EDGE is supposed to signify or why it is capitalised.

[AJ_]

Yeah that sound a good theory. So maybe along the lines of the Australian Edge. Ie 60 -70 % Australian talent that gives the Edge of the compertition.

[trainedmonkey]

Note sure the timing of how it all came together, but Orica has had a terrible record of environmental abuse, so perhaps the positive brand rub off from the Green implications was envisaged from the get go.

They were in the news recently: Orica fined $430K over Gladstone cyanide release. So yeah I guess they'd want to find ways to associate their brand with the word "green".

[Howzat]

They were in the news recently: Orica fined $430K over Gladstone cyanide release. So yeah I guess they'd want to find ways to associate their brand with the word "green".

Yikes. I had figured "Green Edge" was some kind of renewable energy brand or something.

I guess the "Cyanide Release Pro Team" doesn't have the same marketing appeal.

[elStado]

They were in the news recently: Orica fined $430K over Gladstone cyanide release. So yeah I guess they'd want to find ways to associate their brand with the word "green".

That's a massive blight on this team. What a shame. Greenwashing at it's finest.

[paulz]

One must remember that the team was named before the sponsorship deal with Orica was sealed.

[nsr0772]

Its still a stupid name

[greyhoundtom]

I think the name is rather clever considering the connotations associated with each word.

In todays environment having the word “Green” in a name gives off the right vibes, and having the word “Edge” in the name is certainly good when you consider the competitive vibes associated with a cycling team.

No wonder a company such as Orica with their shady environmental reputation jumped on the chance to be associated with the name GreenEDGE.

[biftek]

also keep in mind that professional cycling isn't very green at all , look at all the support cars burning up fuel

[Alex Simmons/RST]

As far as I know, GE is just code for "your company/organisation name here", it's simply a fill in for them to identify and hopefully (for them) replace it with a naming rights sponsor.

Orica may not have a great rap for some of their activity, but given the industry they are in (chemicals, explosives, mining and industrial supplies), I suppose such issues are going to happen as much as we'd like them to be better at making sure they didn't.

I suspect if you went through the list of all big Pro team sponsors, you'd find plenty of other corporate skeletons in the closet. Sky for instance - Rupert Murdoch, known for an interesting interpretation on ethical standards in the newspaper publishing industry and overt exertion of political influence. Various financial services companies are all of course perfect corporate citizens in today's Europe, gambling companies, oil tycoons, construction industry, pharmaceutical companies, nasty greenhouse polluting energy companies, telecoms companies, and so on....

[AUbicycles]

Green may not necessarily have intended to have an environmental association. I was under the impression that it was the green from green and gold, as previously suggested. Also in the current peloton there are no dominantly green coloured teams, so it is the green team and they have the edge, the advantage.

Would Orica love an environmental green association? Absolutely, so good PR.

[g-boaf]

As far as I know, GE is just code for "your company/organisation name here", it's simply a fill in for them to identify and hopefully (for them) replace it with a naming rights sponsor.

Orica may not have a great rap for some of their activity, but given the industry they are in (chemicals, explosives, mining and industrial supplies), I suppose such issues are going to happen as much as we'd like them to be better at making sure they didn't.

To be fair to Greenedge, they were named before Orica came along. Unfortunately, Orica brings in sponsorship dollars which is what a team needs. I say unfortunately because they've got a demonstrably bad record on environmental issues. I won't go any further than that, but even so, the average person can use the publicly available registers and see for themselves.

But that's the way things are. I mean look at F1, for a while it had some equally dubious sponsors, McLaren with West or Marlboro, Benetton with Mild Seven, Lotus with JPS (in the old days), McLaren with Johnny Walker, Ferrari with Marlboro, BAR with 555/Lucky Strike etc. There are others I've probably forgotten, but it's a whole heap of high-powered, high-speed tobacco-boxes on four-wheels. Or otherwise, Onyx with Marlboro (ciggies) Moneytron (hugely dubious).

Professional sport needs money, if you don't have money, you don't survive.

[bardygrub]

Green may not necessarily have intended to have an environmental association. I was under the impression that it was the green from green and gold, as previously suggested. Also in the current peloton there are no dominantly green coloured teams, so it is the green team and they have the edge, the advantage.

Would Orica love an environmental green association? Absolutely, so good PR.

Europecar i thought would of got the nod for being the green team

[warthog1]

Green may not necessarily have intended to have an environmental association. I was under the impression that it was the green from green and gold, as previously suggested. Also in the current peloton there are no dominantly green coloured teams, so it is the green team and they have the edge, the advantage.

Would Orica love an environmental green association? Absolutely, so good PR.

Europecar i thought would of got the nod for being the green team

or

[bardygrub]

Green may not necessarily have intended to have an environmental association. I was under the impression that it was the green from green and gold, as previously suggested. Also in the current peloton there are no dominantly green coloured teams, so it is the green team and they have the edge, the advantage.

Would Orica love an environmental green association? Absolutely, so good PR.

Europecar i thought would of got the nod for being the green team

or

I am/was a liquigas fan!That kit you have shown was ithink the 2010 kit.Liquigas are no longer so they are no longer part of the peleton. thier kit last year was blue lime green and mainly white.B.T.W they are now Cannondale Britix i think.

[liquor box]

I thought I read that it was just a name he liked and he wanted to come up with a brand before a product, I think it was designed to be used in the future with sport/fitness/nutrition products that have yet to be developed. I also think I recall that this sponsorship is for sale for the right amount of money, but it is not cheap.

[jimsheedy]

if orica poisons a towns water supply they could just add organic to the name. That'll do it.

Orica Organic Green Edge

Or Free trade. that seems to work for Nestle

[Ross]

I reckon they could do worse than Orica as a sponser, at least one pro Euro team has a drug company as sponser...
Wasn't Mars the confectionery company a sponser of a NRS race a while back? Not a real good sponser IMO as cycling is supposed to be healthy. What's next, Windfield Blue Racing or what about VB Racing?!

[greyhoundtom]

.............................. or what about VB Racing?!

Now that’s a cycling jersey and knicks I would buy, at least wearing that may get the Bogans to give you a bit more space on the road.

[jimsheedy]

Aren't all sports supposed to be healthy?

[Alex Simmons/RST]

I reckon they could do worse than Orica as a sponser, at least one pro Euro team has a drug company as sponser...
Wasn't Mars the confectionery company a sponser of a NRS race a while back? Not a real good sponser IMO as cycling is supposed to be healthy. What's next, Windfield Blue Racing or what about VB Racing?!

And don't forget, the first major sponsor of the Tour Down Under was Jacob's Creek. Bintang Beer sponsors cycling team and events. Farnese Vini is a pro continental team as was Vini Caldirola. Of course there was always the Amstel Gold Race. Who remembers the Gerolsteiner team?

and on and on it goes....

Then we have V8 Supercars have Coopers and Jim Beam as major sponsors. And there are also teams sponsored by other alcoholic beverage companies, e.g. Jack Daniels, Jim Beam and Bottle-O racing teams.

Who sponsors football teams, and cricket teams? XXXX, VB, etc