Giving back to the planet is a smart business decision, and simply the right thing to do, and if you are a business in the outdoor industry, whose livelihood is dependent upon natural resources, its not only a smart business decision, but a necessary one as our planet is being threatened by climate change, habitat loss, deforestation, pollution and others. That’s why Emerger Strategies is proud to give 1% of our sales to environmental nonprofits through our 1% for the Planet membership.
1% for the Planet
I always knew that if I ever owned a company, I would join 1% for the Planet and that’s exactly what I did when I launched Emerger Strategies in 2016. I was also inspired by people like Yvon Chouinard and Craig Mathews whose company’s, Patagonia and Blue Ribbon Flies, were the two founding members of 1% for the Planet. Joining 1% for the Planet felt good knowing I was part of something much bigger than myself and I wanted to align with those types of businesses and nonprofits. Since our inception, we have donated 1% of our sales to a variety of both local and national nonprofits, including: Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Protect Our Winters, Conservation Hawks, Charleston Waterkeeper, Charleston Surfrider and The Sustainability Institute. I also volunteer locally with these organizations doing everything from beach sweeps to restoring habitat by building new oyster reefs from recycled oyster shells, and I can honestly say that there’s nothing better than getting your hands dirty to protect what you love. Below is a recent interview that inspired me to write this blog post because if reminded me of who proud I am to be a 1% for the Planet member, so special thanks to my friend Dave McCoy of Emerald Water Anglers for reminding me of that!
The Sustainability Institute
I am stoked to announce that we will be donating 1% of our 2022 sales exclusively to The Sustainability Institute for a variety of reason, but the number one reason is that I believe that if we want to change the world for good, we must starting by looking inward and within our own communities. If every business was focused on improving their communities, then collectively, we would have a massive and positive impact globally. Additionally, I want to surround myself with likeminded individuals and companies that are making the world a better place. The Sustainability Institute is a nonprofit that “promotes resilient & equitable communities while building the next level of conservation leaders.” SI is able to accomplish their mission through three major programs, including: Charleston RISES, which is a green building/high performance building certification; weatherization projects for low-income families; and the Environmental Conservation Corps, which is an innovative and award-winning program affiliated with AmeriCorps (The Corps Network) that provides individuals the opportunity to serve their communities while learning new skills and gaining new experience in the field of environmental conservation. The Sustainability Institute is doing to make Charleston, SC a more sustainable and equitable place to live and work. Here’s some examples of the impact SI is having in our community:
- 1000+ homeowners in the greater Charleston area have been empowered with new skills and robust education that has helped them reduce their home energy bills through simple home repairs and behavioral modification.
- 750+ homes have been energy-audited by our certified professionals, helping provide homeowners with a roadmap for making efficiency improvements and helping them access incentives and rebates.
- 300+ low-income homes have been fully weatherized and upgraded with energy efficiency repairs and improvements, saving most families 20% or more on electricity costs, and reducing their carbon footprint.
- 125+ at-risk youth and veterans have participated in our AmeriCorps workforce training program, the Energy Conservation Corps, with a 92% job placement rate for graduates.
In short, I’d like to thank The Sustainability Institute for all they are doing to make Charleston a more sustainable and equitable place to live and work. I’d also like to thank 1% for the Planet for making it easy for my company to give back to environmental nonprofits that are truly making a difference. It is the collective impact of all the environmental nonprofits that are associated with 1% for the Planet that is truly inspiring and what gives me hope for the future. If you are a business who is looking for a way to give back, I would strongly encourage you to join 1% for the Planet. I was also lucky to get the opportunity to interview 1% for the Planet CEO Kate Williams on The Sustainable Angler podcast. If you would like to support the work The Sustainability Institute is doing, please click HERE.
If you would like to hear more about The Sustainability Institute, I recently interviewed SI Executive Director, Bryan Cordell on The Sustainable Angler podcast and was lucky to have the opportunity to interview 1% for the Planet CEO Kate Williams a couple of years ago! Hope you enjoy!