Retailers like REI are raising the bar for sustainability—and brands that want to sell in these stores must meet evolving REI Product Impact Standards. One way REI evaluates products is through preferred attributes, which are tied to credible certifications for social and environmental responsibility. If your fishing or outdoor brand wants to stay competitive in…
Category: Sustainable Business
Avoiding Greenwashing: How Outdoor Brands Can Communicate Sustainability with Confidence
21st Century brands know that sustainability is no longer optional — it’s a business imperative. Consumers, retailers, regulators and investors are asking tougher questions about how products are made, packaged, and transported. For outdoor brands, this scrutiny is even higher because customers often expect companies to align with the values of conservation, environmental stewardship, and…
Why the Roadless Rule Matters — and Why Your Voice Is Needed by September 18, 2025
At Emerger Strategies, we believe that protecting public lands isn’t just an environmental responsibility — it’s also essential to building sustainable businesses and thriving communities. Today, we’re calling on our network of fishing and outdoor brands, sustainability leaders, and conservation-minded individuals to take action on an urgent issue: the future of the Roadless Rule. What…
Why Brands that Invest in Sustainability Win More Loyal Customers
In today’s marketplace, customer loyalty isn’t won through price or product alone. More than ever, consumers are making purchasing decisions based on a brand’s values—especially when it comes to sustainability. According to recent research, over 70% of consumers prefer to buy from brands that take environmental and social responsibility seriously. That’s not just a trend;…
How Nature Makes Us Healthier, Happier & Smarter with Dr. Susan Johnson from Nature at Work
What if the key to healthier people, stronger communities, and more resilient businesses was right outside our window? In the latest episode of The Sustainable Angler podcast, I sit down with Dr. Susan Johnson, founder of Nature at Work, a statewide South Carolina initiative built on the belief that healthier people and healthier places are…
How Sustainability, Sales, and Marketing Work Together to Drive Growth for Fishing & Outdoor Brands
Why Fishing & Outdoor Brands Partner with Emerger Strategies After working at two failed sustainability startups (biodiesel manufacturing & green building software), I realized that sustainability for the sake of sustainability is not enough. Sustainability must make business sense, and I have taken this approach since launching Emerger Strategies in 2016. Rather than just measuring…