When to Kill a Product. A Clear Framework for Tough Decisions.
Use this practical framework to decide what stays, what goes, and why.
Let’s be honest—just because a product is sustainable doesn’t mean it’s a success.
If you’ve launched (or inherited) an eco-product that’s underperforming, you’re probably wrestling with the same questions we hear all the time:
- Should we give it more time?
- Is it a positioning issue?
- Or… is it time to pull the plug?
In this post, we’ll walk you through how to tell the difference—quickly and confidently—so you don’t burn time, energy, or credibility on a product that simply isn’t going to make it.
Not Every Product Deserves to Stay in the Portfolio
This is especially true in the sustainability space. There’s pressure to innovate. Pressure to “show effort.” But sometimes, what looked good on paper just isn’t landing in reality.
And that’s not failure.
Failure is letting a weak product continue draining your team, budget, and brand—while everyone’s too nervous to say what they already suspect.
So let’s get clear.
A Product Sunset Might Be the Right Move If…
You don’t need a 40-page slide deck to know when something’s off. If you’re seeing three or more of these signs, it’s time to pause and reassess:
1. Your sales team avoids it
If it’s not even making it into pitches—or worse, getting the “yeah, we also have this one…” treatment—that’s a red flag.
2. You’re not proud of it
If your team cringes when it comes up, your customers can feel it too.
3. You’ve lowered next year’s forecast just to justify its existence
If the numbers are bending around the product, not the other way around, it’s hurting more than helping.
4. There’s been zero inbound interest after 3–6 months
No one’s asking. No one’s curious. That’s not product-market fit—it’s a gap.
5. Internal conversations sound like excuses, not plans
If meetings feel more like defending the product than improving it, something’s broken.
6. No one owns it anymore
Sales says it’s Product’s problem. Product says it’s Sales. ESG just stays quiet. Classic ghost product.
7. It’s blocking better products
If it’s not just underperforming but also creating friction for new launches, it’s a liability.
8. It’s making your sustainability claims look flimsy
Greenwashed, vague, or performative claims hurt your brand—especially now.
9. Nothing has changed since launch
No updates. No evolution. No energy. That’s not “long-term thinking”—it’s drift.
10. Your team is emotionally checked out
Quiet quitting doesn’t just apply to jobs. It happens to products, too.
Whether you’re setting quotas, restructuring teams, or reviewing your sustainability roadmap, you can’t afford to carry dead weight.
More importantly, every underperforming product is a missed opportunity to double down on the ones that DO work.
Start Here: The Sunset Signal Scan
Here’s your first move:
Gather your team. Run through the 10 signals above. Be brutally honest.
If you check off 3 or more, you don’t need another quarter to “see what happens.”
You need a plan.
👉 Ready to turn your product around? The sooner, the better.
Our 3-Week Eco-Product Clarity Service gives you a proven structure to uncover what’s really going on, align your team, and chart a smart, confident path forward. Schedule a Clarity Call Today.
The Fastest Way to Know Your Next Move
Get 15 free minutes of clarity to uncover what’s driving — or holding back — your product’s performance, and the smartest way to improve it. You’ll walk away knowing exactly what to do next.