Brent Kawamura’s path to sustainability wasn’t a straight line — it started with an Environmental Science degree, wound through LEED-certified building projects, and landed him in Product Sustainability at REI. Along the way, fishing has remained the thread that keeps it all grounded. In this episode, I interview Brent to pull back the curtain on REI’s Product…
Category: Sustainable Packaging
10 Years of Sustainability Consulting for Fishing & Outdoor Brands | Emerger Strategies
In 2016, I started Emerger Strategies with a simple bet: that the brands making the gear we love could also help protect the places we love — and that doing right by the fish could make them stronger businesses, not just better-intentioned ones. Ten years later, I’m still betting on that. And I’ve got a…
Tier 2 Suppliers, Bluesign Certification, and Why Sustainability Should Be Called Business Excellence — A Conversation with Kevin Myette
I am a sustainability nerd, and I find the history of the sustainability movement fascinating, which is why I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to interview 40-year outdoor industry veteran, Kevin Myette on the latest episode of The Sustainable Angler podcast. The Outdoor Industry’s Sustainability Origin Story Starts in 2006 In this episode,…
Emerger Strategies and Douglas Strategies to Present “Selling What Matters” at Switchback Spring 2026
How Sustainability Can Elevate the Retail Customer Experience — and Drive Sales FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Charleston, SC — May 2026 Emerger Strategies, a leading sustainability consulting firm for the fishing & outdoor and specialty retail industry, announces that founder Rick Crawford will co-present a featured breakout session at Switchback Spring 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana….
Journal Entry: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at What it’s Like Being a Sustainability Consultant for Fly Fishing Brands
Telling Credible Sustainability Stories with Mayfly Outdoors April 23-27, 2026 Last week, I spent the week in Montrose, CO for Mayfly Outdoors‘ Dealer Days. It was an inspiring week learning more about brands like Abel Reels, Airlite, Airflo, Dyna-King, Renzetti and Ross Reels are made, and the efforts they are making to support conservation and…
Why Your Brand Should Become a Walmart Giga Guru
Retailers like Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shops, REI, and even specialty retailers now expect brands to measure and improve their social & environmental performance. Why? Because these retailers have their own sustainability goals they are trying to achieve, such as: Net-Zero by 2050, Zero Waste, and others focused on climate, nature, waste reduction,…