In today’s rapidly evolving market, fishing and outdoor brands face increasing pressure to improve their sustainability performance—from consumers, retailers, regulators, investors, and even their own employees. But while sustainability is often seen as an altruistic imperative, it’s just as important to understand it as a strategic business advantage. At Emerger Strategies, we believe the most…
Category: ESG

Simplifying Sustainability: Emerger Strategies’ Assessment, Plan & Report Package
In today’s marketplace, sustainability isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s a business imperative. Whether you’re aiming to meet retailer ESG requirements, reduce your environmental footprint, or simply improve operational efficiency, having a clear sustainability roadmap is essential. At Emerger Strategies, we specialize in helping small to medium-sized businesses—particularly fishing and outdoor brands—simplify sustainability and make it profitable. Our…

Sustainability Isn’t Just for Patagonia: How Small Brands Can Lead Too
When people think about sustainability in the outdoor industry, Patagonia often takes the spotlight—and rightly so. They’ve pioneered environmental responsibility in business and have proven that doing good is also good for business. If it wasn’t for Patagonia, I would have never started Emerger Strategies in the first place. After reading Let My People Go…

5 of the Most Common Retailer Sustainability Assessment Questions: Is your Brand Ready?
More and more retailers are requiring their suppliers to complete sustainability assessments. Whether you’re selling to Walmart, REI, Target, or other major retailers, your brand will likely need to report on key environmental and social metrics. These assessments help measure sustainability performance and ensure that products align with retailer goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,…

What Will Your Legacy Be? Sustainability Defines How You Will be Remembered
Just imagine if your great, great, great, great grandchildren were to find some plastic packaging with your brand name on it? Would you be proud, or embarrassed that your packaging lasted longer than your products? Is that how you want to be remembered? As a CEO or business owner, you’ve spent years—maybe even decades—building your…

Why Retailers Like REI & Walmart Want You to Measure Sustainability—And How It Helps You Win More Business
If you’re a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) in the fishing or outdoor industries, you’ve likely noticed that major retailers like REI, Walmart, and Target are requiring brands to measure and improve their sustainability performance. These demands can feel overwhelming, especially if you lack a full-time sustainability team or don’t know where to start. However,…