Environmental Impact Economic growth in an industry can be impacted not only by the environmental effect the products or services have but also by consumers' perceptions of that impact. For example, the market for fur apparel declined drastically over the course of a few years in the 1990s when consumers perceived that raising and killing small animals for their fur was both inhumane and a poor use of land. Although the industry is once again picking up with international demand, the number of fur farmers in the country has substantially declined. If the public views an industry's products or services as being harmful or unsafe, most companies within the sector can experience a marked decline in sales quickly.