Between the coronavirus, election season chaos and the ongoing climate crisis, there’s a lot to worry about in the news. In spite of this we find ourselves feeling sobered, yes, but also still cautiously optimistic. A huge part of that feeling is the fact that as a certified B Corporation, we are surrounded every day by businesses fighting back against impending doom and gloom, choosing to make a positive difference in the world and in local communities.
Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, B Corporation, Climate Change, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, Company Culture, In the News, Climate and Social Justice
It’s been a busy start to the year over in KSV-land.
Channeling our innermost Lizzo, our team has pushed full steam ahead, embracing the changes that inevitably come with a new decade and doing so with a sense of endless curiosity and passion for making the world a little better each year.
Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Research, Clean Energy, Energy Storage, B2B marketing
Money can’t buy happiness. But for today’s consumers, money (and technology) can buy time, and that’s pretty darn close to happiness.
Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Content Marketing, B2B marketing, Media Strategy and Best Practices, Smart Technology
Not cold, stiff, done dead. Just the way it used to be, dead. It’s no longer this singular platform we seek out to connect with old friends from high school. It’s the way of life. And it has changed every aspect of how we take in the world around us—from how we consume news, to how we market our products or services. If you're ashamed to admit that, based on weekly notifications from your iPhone (thanks, Apple), you’ve spent upwards of 3-4 hours per day on your smartphone, know that you’re probably not alone.
Topics: Social Media Strategy and Best Practices, Content Marketing, B2B marketing
Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Innovation, Research, Electrification, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices
Happy almost Thanksgiving! As we inch another day closer to pumpkin pie, turkey and green bean casserole (dessert first, always), the team at KSV certainly has plenty to be thankful for—inspiring clients, innovative colleagues and a community dedicated to creating a better future. We could go on, but we’d be here until New Year’s Eve.
Topics: Climate Change, Sustainability Marketing, In the News, Climate and Social Justice
November feels like the optimal time for reflection. In theory, the biggest projects of the year are winding down, and a new year looms ahead. In reality, you are probably just as busy as you were in January—perhaps even more so—and will spend the weeks between now and the end of the year at a frenetic pace trying to find some semblance of balance between finishing out 2019 and planning for 2020, leaving little time for true reflection.
Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Innovation, Content Marketing, Smart Technology, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices
Looking for the key to success in 2020? A tried-and-true tactic to build new relationships, nurture current connections, grow awareness, educate your customers, boost your digital presence, drive sales, foster leads, and stay competitive? Content marketing is your secret weapon.
Topics: Content Marketing, B2B marketing, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices
A few months back, we talked about how awesome plastic is.
Yes, it is actually terrible. But its terribleness is what makes it so awesome (still with us?) in that it pushes brands up against a wall, forcing immediate change and innovative ideas.
This week, we thought it would be interesting to dive into some of the most recent ways in which brands across the globe are fast-tracking innovation to address the plastic crisis.
Image Credit: Carlsberg
Carlsberg introduces paper beer bottle. In our initial plastics EnergyWire we highlighted the Danish beer brand’s efforts to reduce their own plastic waste with the introduction of the Snap Back, which eliminated the plastic wrapping used to hold six-packs together. The move resulted in a 76 percent reduction in plastic usage compared to previous multipacks.
Now the brand has gone a step further, introducing the first-ever paper beer bottle, made with sustainable and recyclable wood fibers. The unveiling is part of Carlsberg’s Together Toward Zero initiative and, as opposed to a one-and-done effort, showcases their long-term commitment to reducing plastic waste and cutting carbon emissions.
The takeaway: A multi-pronged sustainability strategy that is evident in both the operations of the company and the product itself shows customers that a brand is genuinely committed to solving the problem, versus hopping on the bandwagon of an “of-the-moment” trend.
Los Angeles looks to pave its road with recycled plastic. The people of Los Angeles are no strangers to the problem of pollution and carbon emissions, with residents of Los Angeles County being exposed to 60 percent more vehicle pollution than the average state.
A sobering statistic, especially when one considers that the city faces a plastic waste crisis of its own (on top of the larger, global plastic problem). These obstacles make the announcement of a pilot to pave the city’s roads with recycled plastic that much more significant. The city of Los Angeles has been working with a company called TechniSoil to test out a new method for paving roads using repurposed plastic as a binder. The first pilot site of the project is on track to be constructed in downtown LA later in 2019.
The plastic asphalt will not only reduce production emissions and the cost of materials; it will also be quicker to install, and tests have shown that the plastic paving is six to seven times stronger than regular asphalt. That increased durability means less time being spent re-paving the roads in the future.
The takeaway: Tackling a global crisis in a way that helps solve everyday frustrations for residents and business owners is a win-win for everyone. Yes, consumers care about the plastic crisis. But they are also deeply and frustratingly affected by day-to-day urban infrastructure issues that have a significant effect on their quality of life. Using recycled plastic to solve day-to-day issues like poor road conditions brings the focus back home, while simultaneously showing the city’s larger commitment to the big picture.
What are some other recent initiatives brands have unveiled as a way to address the plastic crisis? We’d love to hear which ones have caught your eye.
Topics: Innovation, Climate Change, Sustainability Marketing, Climate and Social Justice
September always seems like a magical month. There’s the back-to-school, anything-is-possible feeling of unbridled optimism that never fades, even though we have left school behind and entered into the reality of adulthood, routines, and careers. There are chilly mornings that give way to perfectly sunny and warm afternoons, leaving us uncertain about what to wear for the day, but always grateful for the sunshine as the days shorten little by little. There are the leaves that, at least here in the Northeast, transition to their colorful fall palette, a reminder that Mother Nature knows exactly what she’s doing in spite of the many climate change-related factors working so hard against her.
Topics: Innovation, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Inspiration, Sustainability Marketing, In the News
