The more I learn about climate change and sustainability, the more I find reasons to completely change my eating habits. I always try to shop locally when I can, and eat seasonally to avoid my food having to be transported from other parts of the world. I always have had an excuse in the back of my mind for when I do not change my eating habits and consume unsustainable food products. I am a full time student with a busy work schedule and quite a small budget for groceries each month. While I try my best, I often resort to eating chicken because it is a quick and inexpensive way to get protein. Hopefully when I graduate, I can begin to cook more healthy and sustainable foods while relying on a more plant based diet for my protein.

I recently stumbled upon an interesting brand that is revolutionizing the way consumers can get their protein. The brand is called Coast Protein, and they have been utilizing edible insects, namely crickets, to make protein powder and protein bars. They state that their mission is “to make eating insects normal” (1). Recently, my friend gave me a bag of their dried crickets as a joke, but we were pleasantly surprised with how good they tasted. Crickets can be harvested sustainability, and the ingredients are obviously much more natural than the ingredients in traditional protein powders or protein bars. Their products are high in protein, vitamin B12, amino acids, and Iron, all while being dairy free, non-GMO, and sugar free. I have to applaud the brand for their incredible packaging and logo (see below). Coast protein must have trouble convincing consumers to replace their traditional products by eating insects, but I see this as something that could become a trend in the future, and they are ahead of the curve. I applaud Coast for finding sustainable substitutes for such an unsustainable product category. Hoping to see more of this in the future!

I have included a link below to Coast Protein’s website, and also linked another article that gives some tips for changing your diet to be more sustainable.

1: https://www.coastprotein.com/

https://www.eatright.org/health/lifestyle/culture-and-traditions/sustainable-eating

I have been surfing for eight years, and while surfing is the action sport I do least, it is absolutely one of my favorites. There is no feeling quite like the one you get when you catch a good wave. For me, it is because it is the most simple. It does not require a chairlift to bring you to the top, or a motor to keep you going. All you need is a board that floats, two functioning arms, and energy produced from the ocean in the form of waves to give you this feeling. In this sense, the sport is completely sustainable, besides the need to drive to certain spots (or take a ferry in the case of living in Vancouver).

I decided to dig deeper to learn about what my surfboards are made of so I can get a better sense of the sports’ impact on the environment. I found that surfboards are made from EPS, or expanded polystyrene or polyurethane foam. These types of foam, which are “derived from petrochemicals, are not only unnatural but blatantly harmful to the environment” (1). Ecovative design has revolutionized the surfboard with the Mushroom Surfboard. They have started creating boards out of biocomposites, specifically mycelium material which if a foam substitute made from mushrooms. This mycelium material is able to be molded into complex shapes, and can be carved like a traditional surfboard. They have shared this material and their process in hopes that someone can perfect this craft, and change the surfing industry. I have linked to a post below discussing the process of creating a 100% mycelium surfboard. It would be incredible to see other large surf brands like Channel Islands, Firewire, and Pyzel incorporating mycelium into the construction of their boards.

The Latest on Mushroom Surfboards. (2015, February 18). Retrieved from https://grow.bio/blogs/ecovative-blog/the-latest-on-mushroom-surfboards

UBC consumes a total of 1.5 million disposable coffee cups each year according to the UBC SEEDS sustainability program. During a waste audit of the old student union building in 2015, only 17% of these cups were sorted into the proper bins (Boyd, 2016). This means that most UBC students, faculty, and staff who consume beverages in single use cups are not disposing of them properly, meaning that they will end up in the landfill. I have committed myself to not purchasing coffee on these days that I don’t have a mug with me. For students who buy coffee every day, I believe that it should be easy enough to get in the habit of always having a reusable mug on you for your beverages. Common Energy’s Mugshare program, which I assume all of my sustainability marketing peers reading this post are already aware of, is hoping to tackle this issue, and make it easier for people to skip out on a disposable mug for a 2 dollar deposit. I used the Mugshare program for the first time the other day at Blue Chip when I forgot my reusable mug at home, and really needed a caffeine pick-me-up. I am all for Mugshare, but I did notice a few things that could be improved upon!

First, I noticed that there is not much information about Mugshare at these locations, just a small sign that was hard to read. The mugs also were barely visible, so I had to already have the knowledge about the program and where they are located to know that I could ask for my coffee in one of the Mugshare cups. Also, nobody asked me if I wanted to use Mugshare, and I believe the program would be much more successful if cashiers gave you the option when you are purchasing a beverage. Additionally, I found that the actual design of the mugs were not ideal. The single layered metal was extremely hot when I went to grab my coffee, and it actually required me to use a disposable coffee sleeve because I was not able to hold it. Improving on this aspect of the design could ensure that coffee drinkers keep using the program, and don’t find it inconvenient. I also believe that improvements to the non-sealable lid could help change consumers’ behaviour, since it is annoying to throw the mug in your bag when you have to head off to class. I would hate for coffee to spill all over my backpack’s contents because the lid is not sealable, something I think that could stop people from using the Mugshare program.

I am hoping to talk to someone who is involved in the program to recommend some of these changes! I am very excited about Mugshare: I firmly believe it is an enormous leap in the right direction when it comes to disposable coffee cups, and once people become aware of the program and find the mugs perfectly functional, they would have no reason not to use the service. This could even set an example globally, and I could see coffee shop chains adopting the program if they see that it can create shared value by cutting their costs, and appealing to conscious consumers!

Boyd, Y. (2016, March 15). Mugshare seeks to reduce the ~1.5 million disposable cups used on UBC campus each year. Retrieved 2019, from https://www.ubyssey.ca/culture/mugshare-reducing-disposable-cups-since-1918/

About one billion people in the world do not have access to clean water. This is an extremely pertinent issue, which is why I have already written a blog post about it (see below). The snowboarding brand Drink Water is working towards two special initiatives related to water. The brand started because a few professional snowboarders started to see the sport they loved be too influenced by big corporate energy drink brands who were “peddling their products to kids” (1). These profession snowboarders wanted to remind everyone that drinking water was extremely important when performing action sports. Drink water makes clothing and apparel to spread their message, and donates 10% of their profits to Water.org to help solve the global water crisis. They specifically do not sell water, and encourage people to get their water from their taps instead of buying it. Here is a quick message from their website that resonated with me personally.

“It’s not about selling water. We’re actually committed to never sell water. We prefer it from the tap. And if you’re going outside, which we tend to do, fill up a bottle and take it with you” (1).

I am a proponent of drinking water, especially when I’m skiing, surfing, or skateboarding. I see so many of my friends grab a Gatorade to replenish, or an energy drink, and I find that water does the trick for me every time. I support Drink Water’s movement, but I also have to consider the amount that these sports and energy drink brands have contributed to progressing the sports I love. Skiing, surfing, or skateboarding would not be where it is if these energy drink brands did not pay athletes to endorse their products. These brands pay for and host enormous events like X-Games that contribute directly to the progression of the sport. It’s hard to hate on the brands that are giving so much to the sports industry. I fully support Drink Water however, and will always have my Nalgene on me when I am doing the outdoor activities I love.

(1). https://www.wedrinkwater.com/

Recently, Stella Artios has partnered with Water.org and is donating a portion of retail sales to the organization. With each purchase of a case of Stella Artois, the brand will donate enough to Water.org to give one person access to water for 6 months. I was very intrigued by this so I dug deeper into the fine print, and found that the actual amount they are donating is roughly 30 cents per case. At first, I felt like this was just another marketing ploy to make the brand’s donation sound much better than it is. It made more sense from Stella’s perspective to show the outcome of their donation (6 months of water for one person) instead of the input (30 cents) but it seemed like they were being deceptive. People would likely not even look twice at a brand who is donating 30 cents on a purchase that costs the consumer over 30 dollars, but hearing that they will be giving 6 months of clean drinking water to someone is much more intriguing to a conscious consumer. Upon further thought, however, I understand why a simple donation with purchase is a prime example of creating shared value. It is much easier for Stella to donate a portion of their sales to another organization, like Water.org, that already has the infrastructure in place to utilize the funds much better than Stella could. Stella would see the increase in brand reputation, increased sales, and can feel good about what they are doing, while Water.org is able to help those without in need of clean drinking water. I currently have a project with Corona, which is owned by Labatt, the same parent company as Stella Artois. Part of our project is to come up with tactics and activations that include some sort of social or sustainable cause, similar to Stella’s Water.org partnership. Keep your eyes out, hopefully Corona will implement our recommendations for cause marketing!

Here is a link to the Stella Artois Water.org website, where you can buy chalices to support someone without access to clean drinking water for 5 years!

https://water.org/stellaartois/

When I think of the brand Nike, I think of overpriced footwear and apparel made in sweatshops that use child labour. In one of my Sustainability courses, I learned how Nike is working towards becoming one of the sustainability leaders in their category. This surprised me, so I decided to dig deeper and check out their sustainability report (1). I was astonished by my findings while reading their very clear report, and was interested to see that they have a separate website dedicated to their corporate social responsibility. One of the most surprising facts I discovered in the brand’s sustainability report is that their FlyKnit shoe line produces 60% less waste than regular running shoes. Nike has a goal to transition to 100% renewable energy use in globally by 2025, and have already signed a power purchase agreement to convert to 100% renewable energy sources in North America this year. Nike has also spoken up about social issues, including their controversial partnership with NFL player Colin Kaepernick who stood up to social injustices against African Americans (2). The brand has a poor history of child labour, but from 2016-2017, they only had one breach in their supplier code of conduct due to age restrictions (1). I was also surprised to see that they internally and externally audit their suppliers and manufacturers in attempts to get an unbiased understanding of their corporate partners.

Nike’s sustainability report goes into detail about many of their sustainable practices as a brand, but I found that the information required a specific google search to find. I was pleasantly surprised to see a brand that many associate as socially and environmentally unsustainable is actively working to become a leader in the space for these sustainability initiatives. I believe that Nike could benefit from including their sustainability report directly in their yearly financial report on their main website to communicate to their customers and stakeholders about their commitments, instead of requiring an additional google search to discover this information. Michael Porter discusses creating shared value, where sustainable brands are able to see additional revenue growth while also reducing their impact on the planet and its people. After learning about Nike’s sustainable practices, I am much more inclined to consider the brand when purchasing footwear or apparel, and I think Nike should promote their initiatives so the general consumer can find the information more readily available. I am hoping to see more brands like Nike step up and take the initiative to a more sustainable business model that focusses on the triple bottom line!

1: https://sbi-prd-s3-media-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/18175102/NIKE-FY1617-Sustainable-Business-Report_FINAL.pdf

2: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/nike-ads-social-justice-kaepernick-1.4810102

Earlier this semester, The UBC Ski and Board Club, Varsity Outdoor Club, Environmental Science Students Association, and UBC Surf Club coordinated an three part event called the UBC Mountain Film Festival. These are all groups that spend the majority of their free time in the outdoors doing various sports such as climbing, skiing, surfing, and hiking. The UBC Mountain Film Festival was a three part action sports film series where each story was told through a sustainability lens. The first film, Guilt Trip by Salomon TV, told the story of three free skiers on a quest to ski the unchartered peaks of Greenland. The crew brought along a climate scientist to conduct research while they skied, hoping to collect valuable data about climate change in the area to ease their guilt about the large carbon footprint that ski trips like these typically have. The second film was The Radicals, presented by Tamo Campos and his crew of professional snowboarders. This film explored indigenous issues that arise as a result of corporate fisheries and the oil and gas industry. Lastly, the film All.I.Can by Sherpas Cinema was a more traditional ski film that used the art of filmmaking to subtly uncover the issues of global climate change and how it is affecting the ski industry and local communities. The directors of each film came to the screenings and sat down with the organizers on stage for an armchair discussion and Q&A about sustainability and filmmaking.

The UBC Mountain Film Festival screenings filled the crowd with emotions, and the directors’ discussion period allowed the viewers to engage directly and contribute to a discussion about environmental and social issues in the ski industry. I was lucky enough to help organize the event, and led the discussion with Guilt Trip director Mike Douglas, AKA “The Godfather of Freeskiing.” Growing up as a freeride and freestyle skier, Mike Douglas has been a pioneer in the sport and an inspiration to me personally. Our discussion highlighted the importance of teaching sustainability topics through interesting lenses like filmmaking. He shared with us how events like the UBC Mountain Film Festival give him hope, because he can directly see how engaged the younger generation is on the topic of climate change. This event attracted over 120 UBC students who have a connection to the outdoors. Next year, make sure you keep an eye out for the second round of the UBC Mountain Film Festival. We hope to engage the outdoor sports community with these sustainability films and continue the open discussion about climate change and social justice in action sports.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/29/business/patagonia-10-million-tax-climate-change-trnd/index.html

In November of 2018, Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario posted a letter on LinkedIn stating that Patagonia would be donating $10 million of “last year’s irresponsible tax cut” to grassroots environmental programs. Due to Donald Trump’s tax reform, Patagonia saved $10 million in tax breaks, and keeping in line with their core values, decided that the money would be much better used by environmental organizations than it would be by them. Marcario expressed urgency and concern in her letter, stating that the governments’ response to climate change is “woefully inadequate” and that “denial is just evil.”

I have been interested in Patagonia’s unique business model since I learned about their commitment to sustainability. Patagonia is revolutionizing the way we look at business, paving the way for others to consider more political, social, and environmental initiatives throughout their business practices. The brand is incredible because they are proving that profits and sustainability are not a tradeoff. They maintain above average growth in comparison to their competitors like The North Face, Columbia, and Marmot, while fully committing to these sustainable initiatives. Patagonia understands that their business will not reverse the disastrous effects of climate change. Their main goal is to use their business to inspire other businesses to practice sustainability, and show them that profits and growth are not sacrificed when you consider the environment. Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard explained in his book Let My People Go Surfing that “It’s okay to be eccentric, as long as you are rich; otherwise you’re just crazy” (Chouinard 2005).

I think this statement is powerful because it is a callout to governments who are not acting with urgency in response to the dire need for radical change. Patagonia is showing businesses that they can take it upon themselves to create changes that align with their values instead of waiting for governments to step up.

Chouinard, Y. Let My People Go Surfing (New York: The Penguin Press, 2005), p.160.