Let’s face it: sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have” — it’s a business imperative. Your employees want to work for companies that align with their values; your customers are demanding more sustainable products and packaging; and regulators are increasingly requiring more transparency related to GHG emissions, packaging, and PFAS. Whether you’re navigating new retailer requirements, aiming to reduce emissions, or trying to avoid greenwashing claims, today’s brands can’t afford to ignore sustainability, but you also can’t afford to go it alone.
At Emerger Strategies, we help businesses in the fishing, outdoor, and consumer product industries save money by outsourcing their sustainability efforts to Emerger Strateiges. Here’s how:
1. Eliminate the Cost of a Full-Time Sustainability Manager
According to Salary.com, hiring a full-time sustainability manager can cost you well over $100,000 annually when you factor in salary, benefits, training, and retaining. But many small to mid-sized companies don’t need someone full-time — they just need someone effective.
By outsourcing to Emerger Strategies, you gain a team of experienced sustainability professionals without the overhead. We act as your fractional sustainability team, delivering real impact at a fraction of the cost.
Example: Blue Sky is a client who sells their paper planners to Walmart, Target, Walgreens, and other big box retailers. They also participate in our Sustainability Retainer model, which at a minimum saves them $60K per year!
2. Save Time (and Money) Responding to Retailer Sustainability Assessments
If you sell to Walmart, REI, or Target, you’ve probably been asked to complete a sustainability assessments, such as: CDP, THESIS, Project Gigaton, REI Product Impact Standards, Ecovadis and others — and those questions can be overwhelming.
Our team helps you understand, complete, strategically respond, and improve scores on these assessments. We’ve seen firsthand how a better score can improve your shelf space and customer loyalty — and we make sure your time isn’t wasted deciphering jargon.
Example: In fact, we have helped Blue Sky improve their CDP scores from a D to B+, we have helped them achieve Project Gigaton’s “Gigaguru” status, and have demonstrably improved their clients overall sustainability performance scores.
3. Avoid Costly Compliance Mistakes
New regulations around GHG emissions reporting, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and PFAS are rolling out fast. Failing to prepare can lead to fines, missed opportunities, and supply chain headaches.
We help clients stay ahead of the curve by identifying applicable regulations and building compliance into your operations from the start — saving you money and stress down the road.
Example: We worked with Blue Sky on their Oregon EPR for Packaging inventory and delivering a methodology that made sense. In doing so, Blue Sky will save thousands in fines, and now we have the information needed to make the switch to more sustainable packaging options that will further reduce EPR for Packaging fines.
4. Reduce Operational Costs Through Efficiency
Sustainability isn’t just about doing the right thing — it’s also about doing things smarter.
Our Sustainability Assessments often uncover hidden inefficiencies: wasted energy, excessive packaging, and underused materials. We turn those insights into cost savings that boost your bottom line while reducing your environmental footprint.
CASE STUDY: We completed a Sustainability Assessment for Z-Man Fishing Products and discovered that their energy costs roughly $80K per year, so we recommended energy efficiency improvements and installing solar panels. The results? Z-Man Fishing Products saves roughly $80K per year on their energy bills, all while reducing their carbon footprint!
5. Increase Customer Loyalty and Brand Value
Today’s consumers care about sustainability — but they can smell greenwashing a mile away. We help brands communicate authentically, meet customer expectations, and build trust.
A stronger brand reputation leads to increased customer loyalty, higher lifetime value, and a more resilient business.
Case Study: We worked with fishing apparel brand RepYourWater to measure and improve their overall sustainability performance, achieve Zero Waste operations, become Climate Neutral Certified, and communicate their results with an annual Sustainability Report and plan to communicate sustainability through their social media channels and blog. The results? RepYourWater saw a 16.9% increase in the annual number of orders that come from loyal, repeat customers, and a 19.6% increase in the annual amount of revenue from those same loyal customers!
Final Thoughts
Outsourcing your sustainability efforts to Emerger Strategies means getting the right guidance, at the right time, for the right price. Whether you’re looking to improve your retailer compliance, reduce emissions, or simply make the business case for sustainability, we’re here to help.
Because in the end, doing good for the planet should also be good for business. Want to learn how much your business could save by outsourcing our Sustainability Consulting Services? Contact us for a free consultation today!
