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 Procurement
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,…
There’s No Such Thing as a Green Product (Only Greener Ones) | Al Iannuzzi on Sustainable Product Strategy
Today on The Sustainable Angler, I’m joined by Al Iannuzzi, author of one of my favorite sustainability books, Greener Products: The Making & Marketing of Sustainable Brands, and Al shares insights from decades of experience helping companies design, improve, and market more sustainable (greener) products. Al is President and Founder of Iannuzzi Sustainability Solutions and…
Don’t Hire This Sustainability Consultant
Why sustainability may be the smartest cost-cutting strategy for businesses in 2026 and beyond American businesses are facing a perfect storm of rising costs. Health insurance premiums alone climbed 6% in 2025, continuing several years of elevated increases and pushing average annual family coverage close to $27,000. Add inflation, elevated borrowing costs, tariffs, and volatile…