Two Lessons All Brands Can Learn from Clean Beauty

Posted by Energy Wire on August 24, 2021 at 10:00 AM

Today’s consumers are clamoring for the brands they support to be a part of creating a better, more sustainable future. This is readily apparent when it comes to the beauty industry, which after decades of creating countless enemies and being one of many major contributors to the climate crisis, has undergone a period of serious self-discovery and a very public, consumer-driven transformation journey.

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Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, B Corporation, Climate Change, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, D2C, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices, Sustainable Brands

When it Comes to Making Sustainable Choices, What Triggers Change?

Posted by Shaina Kaye on April 16, 2021 at 9:56 AM

To say that a lot is happening in the world to inspire change right now would be an understatement: a call for social justice, an all-out last-ditch effort to gain a sense of normalcy back from the hands of COVID-19, and more momentum than ever before to take action against the effects of climate change and reverse the impact of centuries of environmental damage caused by waste generation, overconsumption, and rampant pollution. 

All around us, we are seeing change happen on a massive scale. But if there’s one thing we know from years of working to trigger individual behavior change, it’s that small choices add up to create impact over time. Choosing to use reusable bags over plastic, switching out a fossil fuel heating system for an electric heat pump, opting to compost instead of trashing food waste, taking the first step to learn about community solar, or even making the effort to purchase clean beauty products over those with potentially harmful and toxic ingredients… all of these choices add up in the long run, even if, at the most individual level, it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal.

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Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, B Corporation, Research, Climate Change, Sustainability Marketing, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices, Climate and Social Justice

Messaging Your Mission, Part Two: The How

Posted by Shaina Kaye on March 18, 2021 at 11:14 AM

Last week we introduced the topic of pushing past fear to authentically and clearly communicate your brand’s values, discussing the power that fear holds over us and why, in actuality, fear is a liar. This week, we’re continuing the conversation, taking a deep dive into the “how” of pushing past fear to effectively message your brand’s mission.

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Topics: B Corporation, Climate Change, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices, Climate and Social Justice

New Year, New Look, and More Passion Than Ever for Creating a More Sustainable Existence

Posted by Shaina Kaye on January 25, 2021 at 11:55 AM

As the calendar flipped from December to January, all of us at KSV did a little celebratory dance. Yes, a tough and chaotic year had come to an end, but we were celebrating for slightly different reasons: for our agency, the calendar flip meant a fresh look and a doubled-down commitment to fighting for a more sustainable existence through purpose-driven work and meaningful community partnerships.

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Topics: Innovation, B Corporation, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Inspiration, Sustainability Marketing, Company Culture, Climate and Social Justice

Industry Expert Interview: Chad Farrell, CEO and Founder of Encore Renewable Energy

Posted by Shaina Kaye on January 7, 2021 at 1:31 PM

Happy New Year! 

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Topics: Innovation, B Corporation, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Inspiration, Sustainability Marketing, Company Culture, Climate and Social Justice

Creative Showcase: Forging International Partnerships to Expand Support for America’s Family-Owned Forests

Posted by Shaina Kaye on December 17, 2020 at 2:41 PM

Heading into the holiday season, KSV was tasked with developing a campaign unlike any other for its most-important client: Mother Earth. 

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Topics: Innovation, B Corporation, Climate Change, Content Marketing, Inspiration, Sustainability Marketing, Creative

Future-Proofing for 2021 Starts with Sustainability

Posted by Shaina Kaye on December 10, 2020 at 11:21 AM

If you’ve lived and worked through 2020, then the phrase “future-proofing” may sound like the biggest oxymoron of them all. If 2020 taught us anything, it is that plans change. Pivots are necessary. And planning for the future can sometimes mean planning to keep your business’s doors open for just one more day. Who has time to future-proof their business for next year when they’re just trying to survive 2020?

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Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Innovation, B Corporation, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Content Marketing, Inspiration, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, Creative, D2C, In the News

2020 Thanksgiving Round Up

Posted by Shaina Kaye on November 25, 2020 at 10:17 AM

Happy almost Thanksgiving! As we inch another day closer to a holiday season unlike any other,  the team at KSV can’t help but reflect on all that we have to be grateful for. Even in a year where so much has been turned upside down, we find ourselves finishing each day with gratitude for what has remained the same: inspiring clients, innovative colleagues and a community dedicated to creating a better future. 

As we prepare for a 2020-style Thanksgiving, we’d like to share a few stories bringing us an extra dose of inspiration this week, in the hopes that they do the same for all of you:

Brands Are Using Black Friday Boycotts to Highlight Sustainability Initiatives: Although several brands will spend Black Friday and the weeks after touting promotions and deep discounts, several others are switching things up this year, using the high-profile moment as an opportunity to highlight ongoing sustainability initiatives. For brands like Freitag, this means shining a spotlight on their newly launched bag swap platform, which allows customers to exchange backpacks and messenger bags with other customers as a way to encourage a second-life for a high quality product while also reducing waste.

This is Our Chance to Reclaim Cities From Cars: One positive thing that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic? A more bikeable, walkable and cleaner urban America. Reimagining public spaces has consistently been a part of the conversation around how urban areas rebuild in the wake of the virus. This article takes it a step further, painting a hopeful picture for the future of cities.

25 US Cities Land on CDP ‘A List:’ In spite of both the havoc wrought by the coronavirus and little-to-no support at the federal level, several cities in the US were recognized by the CDP for making progress toward their climate action goals. Progress from cities like Cleveland, OH and San Antonio, TX highlight just how, in the absence of national guidance, impactful and important state and municipal level initiatives toward carbon emissions reductions and the adoption of clean energy technologies can be in ensuring a better, brighter and cleaner future.

Oreo’s Proud Parent ad is a moving, resonant reminder that a loving world, no matter how complicated, starts with a loving home. 

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Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Innovation, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Content Marketing, Inspiration, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, Creative, D2C, In the News

Intersectional Environmentalism: What it is and Why it Matters

Posted by Jackie Demers and Abby Goudey on August 27, 2020 at 1:29 PM

The fight for a more sustainable future in the age of the coronavirus and Black Lives Matter has uncovered an important truth: protecting vulnerable communities is critical to taking action against climate change. It's long overdue, but going forward, brands looking to fight for climate change will need to ensure social justice is a component of their climate action plan. 

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Topics: B Corporation, Climate Change, Inspiration, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, In the News, Audience Segmentation, Climate and Social Justice

The “It” Factor: What Successful D2C Companies Can Teach Brands

Posted by Shaina Kaye on August 20, 2020 at 11:38 AM

In the early 2010s, companies like Everlane and Warby Parker paved the way for the first generation of Direct to Consumer (D2C) brands, offering consumers a fully digital brand experience and new companies a relatively easy, innovative and scalable way to sell products and services. A storefront was not necessary, but a strong brand story was. A brick and mortar storefront was no longer an operational requirement for brands - all you needed was an online shop and a creative social media presence.

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Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Innovation, B Corporation, Climate Change, Branding and Brand Value, Sustainability Marketing, D2C, In the News