I can honestly say that Emerger Strategies would not exist if I hadn’t picked up a copy of Let My People Go Surfing. Yvon Chouinard’s memoir about building Patagonia into a company that uses business as a tool to solve environmental and social problems didn’t just inspire me — it gave me a blueprint for…
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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…
How Emerger Strategies Helps Brands Selling to Walmart, REI, Bass Pro & Dick’s Stay on the Shelf — and Ahead of the Curve
Retailer sustainability requirements aren’t coming — they’re already here. Here’s how Emerger Strategies’ three core services help fishing and outdoor brands manage regulatory risk, exceed retailer expectations, and turn sustainability into a genuine competitive advantage. If your brand sells — or wants to sell — into major retailers like Walmart, REI, Bass Pro Shops, or…
What’s New with REI Product Impact Standards (v4.0) in 2026?
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,…
2025 Impact: How Emerger Strategies Helped Fishing & Outdoor Brands Turn Sustainability Into a Competitive Advantage
2025 was an interesting year for sustainability as some companies pulled back on their sustainability efforts, while others embraced sustainability and clearly made the business case. We also saw an attack on our public lands, the rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act, and outright climate denial by the Trump administration. Three clear takeaways from 2025…
Laws of Nature for Sustainable Business, Part 4: The Law of Carrying Capacity
Welcome to the Laws of Nature for Sustainable Business blog series! The purpose of this blog series is to connect the Laws of Nature with emerging sustainability-related regulations, such as: EPR for Packaging, Climate-Related Disclosures, and PFAS bans so that business leaders understand that there isn’t anything political about science, it’s just the way things are, and…