If there is one lesson I have learned on my life’s journey so far, it is that cultivating and choosing an attitude of gratitude, despite life’s obstacles, is critical for living a happy and fulfilling life. I have so much to be thankful for, and I am lucky to have been born and raised in the Lowcountry, and to have lived beneath the majestic Tetons. I am fortunate to have discovered fly fishing because it helped me fall in love with nature, and continues to do so to this day. Finally, I am most grateful for my family, friends, and clients who inspire me and allow me to pursue my passion for protecting the paradise we call planet Earth.
Getting to help businesses improve the sustainability performance of their operations, products, and packaging, while ensuring that their employees and people in their supply chain are treated equitably and fairly is an honor, and my life’s work. I have a deep respect and reverence for all life on Earth, and therefore nature, because I believe that nature is God’s creation. By protecting and restoring nature, we are taking care of ourselves, and God’s creation, and that is why I am humbled and grateful to protect what I love for a living.
2024 Year In Review
Here’s a few highlights that I am thrilled to share for the 2024 year in review:
- Client Success: We helped Blue Sky execute their sustainability strategy, respond to CDP, THESIS, Project Gigaton. We improved Blue Sky’s CDP scores, achieved “GigaGuru” status with Walmart. We also measured their scopes 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions, set science-based targets, and helped them achieve their GHG emissions reduction goal ahead of schedule. We communicated their results to stakeholders by writing their annual Sustainability Report, all of which lead to a substantial increase in sales for the Blue Sky Green Earth product line.
- Client Success: We worked with Crazy Creek to measure their scopes 1 & 2 GHG emissions, set science-based targets, and created their Climate Action Plan for achieving their near-term GHG reduction targets. In doing so, Crazy Creek was able to meet the OIA Climate Action Corps requirements, as well as comply with the REI Product Impact Standards. When brands improve their sustainability performance as a result of Retailer Sustainability Compliance, they are not only transforming into better versions of their company, they are mitigating risks.
- Client Success: We created the American Sportfishing Association’s Sustainability Toolkit and co-hosted several ASA member webinars on the Business Case for Sustainability, Completing a Sustainability Assessment, and co-hosted a webinar on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) with Atlantic Packaging & A New Earth Project. Trade associations and member organizations have a distinct opportunity to drive their industry’s forward, and to add tremendous value for their membership by providing sustainability education and resources for their membership.
- Education & Training: I launched the Emerger Strategies Sustainability Boot Camp for Charleston businesses, which helps local businesses measure their sustainability performance. I also had multiple speaking engagements at events like ICAST and the Good Business Summit. Finally, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Garden & Gun Editor in Chief, Dave DiBenedetto on the business case for sustainability, as well as being a guest on the Outdoor Minimalist Podcast.
- The Sustainable Angler Podcast: I had the opportunity to interview many inspiring conservationists and sustainable business pioneers on The Sustainable Angler podcast, such as Wes Carter, Daniel Nussbaum, and Rebecca Haynes.
- Professional Development: In an effort to provide our clients with world-class sustainability consulting, I invested in my professional development by earning a Sustainability Leadership Initiative (SLI) Fellowship Certification, earning a Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA), completing the Carbon Strategy Management and Reduction Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and earning a CSRD Fundamentals certificate from the CSRD Institute.
- Giving Back: Emerger Strategies has been a proud 1% for the Planet member since our inception in 2016, and in 2024, Emerger Strategies proudly joined The Conservation Alliance, and also participated in multiple litter sweeps in 2024 with The Sustainability Institute and Charleston Waterkeeper.
It is always good to spend time reflecting, and I am proud to say that Emerger Strategies fulfilled our mission of helping companies measure and improve their sustainability performance, all while boosting profits in 2024. That said, there is much work to do if we want to reverse declines in nature & biodiversity, and solve the climate crisis, and businesses & trade associations play a critical role in solving these problems. We, as a society, must get back to understanding that we are part of nature, not separate. For me personally, it was fly fishing that taught me that everything in nature is interconnected. Just as a mayfly, a sipping trout, and a river ecosystem are connected, so are our businesses and the planet. If we do not start protecting and restoring nature with a renewed respect for all living things, then nature will be unable to take care of us. Fundamentally, this understanding is all we need, and we have a vision of businesses and the environment thriving together.
If your business or trade association needs guidance on sustainable business practices, and navigating the rise of sustainability-related regulations, check out our Sustainability Consulting Services, or please contact us to learn more. Thank you to thank everyone for your continued support of Emerger Strategies and The Sustainable Angler podcast, and for your passion for protecting what you love. I am truly humbled and grateful.