Kiwano Marketing » announcements

Taking Your Sustainability Initiatives To The Next Level

Sofia Ribeiro — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:52:26 +0000

Kiwano Marketing Partners With EcoApprentice

You have a cool company. You made sure your eco and social values are deeply rooted into your organization. You are just getting ready to launch your next environmental challenge. How do you get the word out?

We’re very excited to present our newest partner, EcoApprentice. EcoApprentice helps businesses, non-profits and individuals promote their eco challenges by crowd-sourcing sustainability challenges. What does this mean?

The EcoApprentice.com model is pretty straight forward:

1. Businesses share their environmental initiatives, or EcoChallenges, on EcoApprentice.com. The goal is to crowd-source reliable solutions to their particular issue.

2. University and MBA students work to resolve those EcoChallenges with specific solutions (EcoSolutions), gaining real world experience and, in many cases, credit from their University for the project.

3. Businesses select their favourite EcoSolution and give the prize (if one is provided) to the winner.

One of the things I like the most about EcoApprentice is its potential for EcoChallenges to go viral. I’ve always been a strong supporter of using social media to communicate corporate environmental initiatives (check out this post). When a business posts an EcoChallenge, it has the ability to engage customers, partners and the whole community on its environmental initiatives and
learn how it can take them to the next level.

EcoChallenges can be categorized in 8 areas: Buy Green, Carbon Offsets, Green Shipping, Light Less, Recycle, Reduce Waste, Reuse and Think Local. Check out some of the recent challenges on EcoApprentice.com to get a better feel on how they leverage these categories.

Kiwano will be working with EcoApprentice to boost their website traffic while raising awareness to this fantastic platform among the business community. Watch out for further developments!

Our Journey To Sustainability – Part 1

Sofia Ribeiro — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:15:25 +0000

Exactly a week ago, we joined Climate Smart’s program with the goal of reducing our carbon emissions. What a journey so far! Earlier this month, I spent 4 hours with other business owners learning about the basics of carbon emissions, top sources and the most dangerous greenhouse gases to our planet. Now that I know the nuts and bolts of greenhouse gas accounting, I’m moving to step 1: identifying Kiwano’s emissions, so we can start planning our reduction strategies.

This is not an easy task. Since we’re a small, home-based business with no manufacturing facilities or major printing processes, we have quite a small take on the environment (when compared to other businesses. One can always argue if a polluting impact on the environment can be considered small or insignificant). So we’ve decided that Kiwano should look both upstream and downstream of what we’re doing and account for those GHG emissions from third-party organizations associated to us – such as our partners, clients and contractors. Our goal? To become carbon neutral by December 2012.

And to show that we’re serious about reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, we’re publicly announcing our commitment to go carbon neutral in 21 months. There. It’s public!

I will also be posting frequent updates on the whole process, so you can see what goes into this plan and hopefully feel inspired to follow our lead.

Laying Down the Foundation

Where do our carbon emissions come from? Exactly where do they occur? Who are the biggest offenders?

According to Michelle Bonner, consultant at Climate Smart, we need to rate our greenhouse gas emissions according to their source. Each source should be rated scope 1, 2, or 3:

Scope 1:
Direct emissions. These can be natural gas or other heating fuel, electricity generated on-site, vehicle fuel (for the vehicles that you own) or refrigerants. Don’t include electricity here.

Scope 2:
Indirect emissions. It’s basically anywhere you use power that you don’t generate yourself, such as purchased electricity.

Scope 3:
Indirect emissions. In here you put everything else – anything you don’t have ownership or operational control over, such as commuting, paper use, waste, couriers, air travel and so on.

Where your reduction strategies will focus highly depends on the nature of your business. For instance, at Kiwano we don’t have significant scope 1 emissions, so we decided to take the process as far as we possibly can – and include scope 3 emissions in our reduction strategy. If you’re in the transportation business or you’re a product manufacturer, perhaps you should only focus on scope 1 emissions at this point.

We’re also following Michelle’s advice on using the TRACC methodology – principles to keep our company focused when dealing with GHG tracking and reduction strategies:
Transparency
Relevance
Accuracy
Completeness
Consistency

While doing this, we also had to answer a handful of critical questions that will help us establish best practices for the future. These include:

1. Who will lead the effort?
2. Who to enlist for help?
3. Where to store the inventory data?
4. Where to document assumptions and internal process?
5. When to schedule the annual inventory?

Finally, we needed to take into consideration which inventory period we’d be looking at. Since we’re in early 2011, and taking into consideration that our fiscal year starts in January, we decided to use 2010 to calculate our greenhouse gas emissions.

Step 1 – Mapping our Emissions

We’re still on the early stages of the process, but here’s a list of our emission sources and other considerations based on the information above:

Scope 1:
Home office.

Scope 2:
Fuel for our car (only bought in 2011)

Scope 3:
Commuting: skytrain, bus, bike (zero emissions), air travel, car (rental).
Waste: currently we recycle. Looking to compost and recycle electronics in the future.
Paper: minimal use, since we only print drafts of the materials we’re working on for our clients. Other paper usage includes our brochures (printed only when needed) and business cards. All paper has a high percentage of recycled material and/or is FSC-certified.
Other: events that we promoted or organized (5 last year); web hosting (100% wind-powered website) and data warehouse for database, CRM system and email marketing software.

As I mentioned above, this is just the initial list. Once we start gathering information on each of these emission sources, we may need to adjust our goals. As Michelle put it, we need to first focus on what we can track and then move towards a broader scope. Our goal is to include as much as possible, such as the emissions from manufacturing the computer I’m writing this post on to the recycling facility where they adapt the little amount of paper we use to produce new paper batches.

Check back in two weeks for the next step for us – calculating current emissions.

How about you? Are you considering tracking your greenhouse gas emissions? If you’re already doing this, what were your AHA-moments?

Important news from Kiwano Marketing

Sofia Ribeiro — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 20:03:29 +0000

After nearly two years of growing Kiwano Marketing into one of the coolest agencies around, we’ve decided to take the company in a different direction: Cecilia and Sofia will be going separate ways in the future. This has been an incredible journey for the both of us, and we’re looking forward to pursuing our individual professional goals while continuing to support each other as friends and colleagues.

Cecilia is looking to continue her career in account management and new business development. We’re well aware of her abilities to promote brands through online marketing and social networking, so if you know of a cool opportunity that might fit the bill, then please let her know!

“I have loved working with our amazing clients, partners, and supporters to building strong relationships within my community and beyond,” says Cecilia. “Truly told, this has been a fantastic period of professional and personal growth, and I couldn’t have done it without Sofia— I wish her the best in continuing Kiwano and rocking the green marketing world.”

Cecilia will also continue to consult independently in Social Media and Public Relations, so check out her creative agency TangMAC for all of your ninja needs.

How about Kiwano?
Glad you asked! Sofia Ribeiro, Marketing Wizard extraordinaire, will continue spearheading Kiwano, providing marketing and communications services designed specifically for sustainable businesses. After Kiwano completes a facelift and rebranding, Sofia plans to expand the company’s geographic reach through our partners in the US and Europe.

“I’ve always been a great enthusiast of environmental and social businesses, and – only 5 years ago – I wouldn’t have thought I’d be managing my own so soon,” says Sofia. “I love working with our community and helping your ideals come to live, and I look forward to continuing making a difference to those around me. Kiwano wouldn’t be here without Cecilia’s talent and I wish her great success!”

If you have any questions regarding the future of Kiwano, or either of its partners, we’re here to answer any concerns you might have.

Warm regards,
Sofia Ribeiro & Cecilia Lu

Kiwano Marketing Wins The 2010 BBB Green Award

Sofia Ribeiro — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:03:47 +0000

We’re thrilled to share with you that Kiwano won the 2010 Green Award, awarded by the Better Business Bureau! This is a great honour for us, and we couldn’t be more excited to be the first marketing agency ever to receive this recognition.

“These companies provide a model for all businesses to follow because they display the highest of integrity with their customers, their staff and their community,” says Lynda Pasacreta, BBB President and CEO. “These are businesses and individuals that have invested significant amounts of money and effort to inspire social change within their industries, and we are proud to celebrate their efforts.”

The Torch Award is a symbol of a company’s commitment to honesty and integrity toward customers, employees, shareholders and community, and is the highest achievement the BBB awards to businesses. More specifically, the Green Award goes to businesses in recognition of activity which promotes forward-thinking and sustainable business practices.

“People in British Columbia need companies like these that they can trust,” says Pasacreta. “We commend all those who were Torch Awards finalists, for their commitment to ethics and integrity, and for their efforts in advancing marketplace trust in our community.”

We know we wouldn’t be here without the full support of our community. We’d like to thank the team at the Better Business Bureau for making this happen. We would also like to thank everyone that made this achievement possible: Our fantastic team, Jeremiah, M’ckenneth, Sara and Olga, our mentors, Sandy, Mark, Steven and David – who were always there for us – and our clients, partners and the community – YOU! – who believe that it’s possible to build a sustainable future through ethical business practices.

It’s important to take a moment to fully appreciate what the Green Award and the Better Business Bureau stand for. In a world still grappling after this last economic crisis, businesses were pressured to lower their costs to remain competitive, often in lieu of environmental and social values. This award is the living proof that it IS possible to do business in an ethical way and to inspire change.

While we’re proud to receive the Green Award, we recognize there’s still much to accomplish – our mission is far from finished.

We won’t rest until we see stores and supermarkets around the world selling ONLY environmentally and socially-conscious products. We won’t stand still until these values are so ingrained in our lifestyle that you’ll no longer see “green” or “eco” or “sustainable” in product packaging – that these values will be the accepted standard.

But we could never do this alone. We were one of many green businesses nominated for this award, an extraordinary list that included Lilith Fair and Whistler Blackcomb. We look forward to working with these companies in the future, and together we’ll build a better world!

Thank you for believing in us… and extending your support with the 2010 Green Award!

Kiwano Marketing Finalist For The BBB Torch Awards – 2010 Green Award

Sofia Ribeiro — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:00:15 +0000

We’re excited to announce Kiwano Marketing as a BBB Torch Awards finalist for the 2010 Green Award. As one of the forefront sustainable marketing agencies in the West Coast, Kiwano is thrilled and honoured to receive this recognition by the Better Business Bureau, a staple organization that promotes ethical business practices across North America.

The Torch Award is a symbol of a company’s commitment to honesty and integrity toward customers, employees, shareholders and their community, and is the highest achievement the BBB awards to the business community.

“These companies were selected by a panel of experts for being model examples in the marketplace,” said Lynda Pasacreta, BBB President and CEO. “Each company clearly demonstrates superior character and goes the extra mile in its relationships with customers, employees, suppliers, industry peers and in the communities they do business in.”

In partnership with the BC Ethics in Action Society, the Green Award honours businesses for its forward-thinking, sustainable business practices that involve a social purpose, contributing towards positive social change in their communities.

Kiwano is proud to be running side-by-side with Whistler Blackcomb and Lilith Fair, two local companies that are setting up the bar in environmentally and socially responsible business practices.

The winners will be selected by an independent panel of business ethics experts and announced at the Torch Awards luncheon on October 26, 2010, at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver.

For more information, read the BBB official release and book your seat for the awards ceremony – we’d love to see you there!

Kiwano Marketing and Corporate Climate Partner Up To Promote Sustainable Business Practices

Sofia Ribeiro — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:21:27 +0000

We’re very excited to announce our new partnership with Corporate Climate, a media company that brings sustainability news to Fortune500 professionals. Through this partnership, Kiwano will be better able to get the word out on sustainable marketing programs that work – and that are making a positive difference in the environment.

Corporate Climate is a rich media company that shares sustainability breakthroughs with top corporations in an effort to drive the next engine of economic growth. Corporate Climate’s primary purpose is to help businesses understand the return on investment (ROI) implications when considering implementing sustainable technologies and solutions through podcasts, webinars, periodic newsletters, and an annual E-Magazine comprised of the best green ROI initiatives of the year.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled about this partnership,” says Ian Massey, Associate Director at Corporate Climate. “Kiwano’s articles are very timely, and Sofia’s expertise will bring us far in educating business people that it’s possible to be environmentally and socially sustainable while increasing their profits.”

This partnership couldn’t be a better fit with Kiwano’s mission. By closely working with sustainable businesses, our goal is to increase the adoption rate of environmentally and socially conscious products and services.

Watch out for more articles, webinars and podcasts on the sustainable marketing tips! And if you know of someone who can help us further promote sustainable living, don’t hesitate to contact us.

NetSquared Camp Vancouver: Get Your Social Change Geek On!

kiwano — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:26:19 +0000

What’s the hottest flavour of unconference in Vancouver this summer? NetSquared Camp Vancouver drops in just over a week! Kiwano is proud to be co-organizing and sponsoring the first NetSquared Camp here in Canada. What’s the fuss and why are we so pumped about this one-day event combining social change and technology?

All right, I admit it. This Ninja is one huge geek. I love learning about new technology and how it can make life more efficient (or so goes the logic). So when I found out that Net Tuesday Vancouver was about to launch their inaugural unconference this summer, I just had to get involved. (Want to cover NetSquared Vancouver? I’m handling all media inquiries and PR leading up to the event, so get in touch!)

I’m joining a lineup of seasoned local non-profit and technology superstars, including the ever-enthusiastic Eli van der Giessen of the David Suzuki Foundation. I asked him a few questions about what to expect at NetSquared Camp:

What is NetSquared Camp Vancouver?

It’s an unconference bringing together nonprofits, activists and social entrepreneurs with their friends and allies in the world of technology and communications (social media folk, developers, designers, writers, marketers….) NetSquared Camp Vancouver will focus on practical skill development and peer learning, so come with your questions and experiences.

When, Where, Tickets?

Date: Saturday, August 14
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00pm
Location: SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street
Cost: By donation – Get your tickets today, this event will sell out!
Hashtag: #n2camp

Do I have to be a techie/non-profit?

Nope! NetSquared Camp is gathering together the tribe who want to support Vancouver non-profits. That includes marketers, writers, graphic designers, video producers, strategists, fundraisers, and strategists. NetSquared focuses on how technology can be used to deliver these various skills, but there’s no requirement that participants be a techie. (Designers, writers, and marketers produce work that is equally valuable no matter the medium.)

What will I get out of this?

Net Tuesday meetups are over too quickly! I have to cut off fascinating conversations all the time. And what about those times when a presenter shows you something incredible, but you want to have the chance to try it out yourself with a bit of instruction? Sorry, there’s no time! That’s why NetSquared Camp will be an all-day unconference-style event with a focus on hands-on learning from Vancouver’s generous and ridiculously talented non-profit sector and its allies. Come join the community and get the chance to connect with peers who share your skills and values. Feel like you’re a lone voice in the wilderness at your organization? Then join us on August 14th!

How is NetSquared different from all the other events, unconferences, camps out there?

NetSquared Camp is unique from other technology and social media conferences because:
1. It is focused on serving the needs of nonprofits and social entrepreneurs.
2. It is focused on practical skill-building experiences led by peers in the sector.

What is Net Tuesday?

Net Tuesday (or NetSquared Local) are monthly events that take place in cities around the world. NetSquared events serve as a great opportunity to convene local communities to share ideas, learn from each other, and even collaborate on projects for real world impact. These gatherings provide a chance to connect for all those interested in the intersection of social technologies and social change in your local community. Members of local groups represent non-profit organizations and foundations, government agencies and service providers, designers and developers, innovators and social entrepreneurs.

So on Saturday August 14th, mark your calendars, spread the word, and join Kiwano Marketing and a host of talented experts for an incredible day of knowledge, learning, and (of course) networking!

SAGA: A Green Affair

Sofia Ribeiro — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:54:51 +0000

With the summer finally here, many green initiatives are popping out around the city. One we’re particularly excited about is Sustainability: A Green Affair, organized by the Simon Fraser University. Join us on July 20 for a full-day of networking with the top minds in Vancouver.

Details:
Sustainability: A Green Affair
Tuesday, July 20, from 11am onwards
SFU Surrey Campus
102 Avenue
Surrey, BC

RSVP at SAGA’s Facebook page and follow @AGreenAffair on twitter.

Why SAGA?
Today, the consumer market and economy has shifted towards “greener” products and services. Sustainability: A Green Affair (SAGA) is a community-based event to spread awareness and to educate visitors about eco- options for everyday living and shopping, and explore how to collectively impact the environment with these choices.

Local business owners, academics and media dedicated to sustainable living will be joining us for a full day of networking and learning about new trends on sustainability and lifestyles.

RSVP now.

Kiwano Marketing To Attend Sustainable Brands

Sofia Ribeiro — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:47:33 +0000

I can’t believe the Sustainable Brands conference is already happening next week. With companies such as Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola and HP attending, I can’t help but wonder about the different perspectives I’ll be exposed to: real green marketing? Greenwashing? Or a bit of both? Like it or not, most of these companies are making real changes to improve their impact on the environment. It will be interesting to learn what they’ll be doing next.

While there are still tickets available for SB10, you can opt to attend to their virtual event. Many seminars will take place online as well, leveraging the experience for those who cannot attend in person.

Here’s a list of the seminars that I’ll be attending:

JUNE 8

Designing NGO/Brand Partnerships for Maximum Reciprocal Value
Linda Rogers, Group Director, Sustainability Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company
Michelle Harvey, Project Manager, Corporate Partnerships , Environmental Defense Fund
Lea Jepson, Director of Sustainability, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc
Mark Lee, Executive Director, SustainAbility
Location: Colton
From 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Motivating Mainstream Consumers to Make Sustainable Choices
Suzanne Shelton, President and CEO, Shelton Group
Location: Bonsai 2
From 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm

JUNE 9

Examining the Sustainable Brand Perception/Reality Gap
Marc Stoiber, VP Green Innovation, Maddock Douglas
Amy Hebard, Chief Research Officer and Founder, Earthsense
Michael Muyot, President , CRD Analytics
Pam Van Orden, Founder/President, Enlightened Brand
Location: Steinbeck Forum
From 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Getting Beneath Consumer Segmentation: Attitudes and Values and Their Impact on Behavior
Linda Gilbert, CEO, EcoFocus Worldwide, LLC
Gwynne Rogers, LOHAS Business Director, Natural Marketing Institute
Maria Surricchio, Freelance Brand and Business Consultant, Freelance
Kierstin De West, Principal, Ci: conscientious innovation
Location: Steinbeck Forum
From 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm

Re-Balancing Your Communications Strategy for Today’s Communication Environment
Annie Longsworth, President, SF, and Global Sustainability Practice Leader, Cohn & Wolfe
Sandy Skees, President/Founder, Communications4Good
Location: Colton
From 4:45 to 5:30 pm

JUNE 10

Lessons From the Field: Driving Sales to Your Sustainable Brands
Alison Presley, Manager, Travel for Good, Travelocity
Yalmaz Siddiqui, Global Environmental Director, Office Depot
Erin Carlson, Director, Yahoo! For Good, Yahoo
Christina Nicholson, Director of Sustainable Development, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Rudy Vetter, Founder, Ecovation Consulting
Location: Steinbeck Forum
From 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

How Many Ways Can You Say Green AND Eco AND Solar?
Lisa Lilienthal, Public Relations Consultant, Lilienthal PR Inc.
Athol Foden, President / Naming Director, Brighter Naming
Location: Bonsai 2
From 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

If you’re in Monterey next week, drop me an email.

Green Marketing Tips For Small Businesses: A Webinar

Sofia Ribeiro — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:40:08 +0000

There’s never been a better time to go green: It’s an easy way for businesses looking to grow during the recession to save money and increase profits. Going green can help your small business in a big way by tapping into eco-conscious consumers while operating on the cutting edge of innovative small business practices. Knowing how to market a business as eco-friendly is a must nowadays, and that’s why we partnered with ACCION USA to provide a free, online workshop to help small business owners learn how to incorporate sustainability into their marketing programs.

But this is not all. We know that it takes green ($) to go green. As a leader in microfinance, ACCION USA recently launched a green microloan program for small businesses across the U.S. interested in investing in eco-friendly products and services and energy-efficiency measures. ACCION USA is bringing to the table Kiwano Marketing as a lead thinker in the realm of green marketing for small business owners. A regular in industry publications such as The Green Economy Post, Business Management Daily, Globe-NET, Charity Village, The Matter Network, and The Green Pages (among others), Kiwano uses a holistic approach to green marketing that emphasizes tracking and metrics, culminating in actionable, hands-on marketing programs that fit any budget and have little impact on the environment.

On May 25th, Kiwano founder Sofia Ribeiro will lead participants through a class on Green Marketing Tips, highlighting various ways that small businesses can create effective, inexpensive campaigns that improve brand awareness – and increase sales revenues. On this webinar, you will learn:

- What truly makes a green brand
- How to craft a personable green message
- How to prevent being accused of greenwashing
- The best ways to generate business from green consumers and businesses
- What green marketing strategies work for small businesses on a tight budget

Details:
Turning Green into Gold: Green Marketing Tips For Sustainable Businesses
When: May 25, at 1:00pm PST / 4:00pm EST
Where: Online
Cost: Free

Note: no phone is needed.

Perhaps you’re well on your way to incorporating eco-friendly products or services into your business. Now sign up to take the steps to creating a more profitable business through the best green marketing techniques!