In its inaugural year, schools in western Jamaica were invited to create products from waste materials. The top four schools—Barrack’s Road Primary, Flanker’s Primary, St James Preparatory, and Heinz Simonitsch School—showcased their creations at the Esirom’s sustainability corner at Reggae Sumfest’s Family Fun Day. Visitors voted for their favourite project, and a panel from H&L Agro, Recycling Partners of Jamaica, Esirom, and Reggae Sumfest judged the designs based on provided criteria.

The entries included a chandelier that converts into two bedside lamps (St James Preparatory); a chair and lamp (Barrack’s Road Primary); a lamp, dress, mat, and hassock (Flanker’s Primary); and an irrigation system (Heinz Simonitsch School), all made from plastic bottles, cups, and other waste materials.

Khalia Hall, Esirom’s sustainability manager, emphasised the importance of creating durable and impactful products.

“There were a lot of categories including creativity and longevity, which was a big one for us judges because we didn’t want the students to just make something and throw it away after. We wanted it to be long-lasting. There was also a category of environmental impact and the use of various materials,” she said.

Heinz Simonitsch School won first place with their irrigation system. Barrack’s Road Primary took second with a chair made from Chubby bottles. Flanker’s Primary, with a dress and hassock, secured third. St James Preparatory’s chandelier earned fourth place.

Aron Gallimore, a student at Heinz Simonitsch, expressed excitement over their win, noting that sustainability is a key goal on their school’s vision board.

“This was our first time competing and we really tried to do our best. The irrigation system is a huge part of what we want to do, the foundation basically, and a precursor to the hydroponics system that we’re going to be creating at the school in September,” he said. “Our motto at the school is ‘changing average into amazing’, and we have students every day just stepping up and raising the bar.”

Barrack’s Road Primary focused on durability with their runner-up project. “We used Chubby bottles and binding wires to hold them together. When we were thinking about this project and sustainability, we thought whatever we created should be durable and protect the environment,” said Carlene Lumley, a teacher at the school.

The winning school received a personalized DIY green garden kit. All four schools also received prizes from KFC, Urban Development Corporation, Sunshine Snacks, Hospiten, Grace, and Pepsi.

Leeann Dunkley, Reggae Sumfest’s sustainability coordinator, praised the creativity and commitment of the participating schools, noting that the competition is a testament to the importance of engaging our youths in sustainability efforts.

Now in its fourth staging, this coastal cleanup has become a vital component of the festival’s lead-up activities. Various stakeholders and sponsors joined forces to support Sumfest organisers in their unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability.

The cleanup effort successfully collected 1,475 pounds of plastic and over 1,100 pounds of other waste, including tyres, old clothes, and furniture, from both the beach line and the ocean beds.

Leeann Dunkley, coordinator of sustainability at Downsound Entertainment/Reggae Sumfest, is ecstatic the cleanup was able to be executed in the magnitude that it was as it highlights the crucial need for environmental efforts. She emphasised the importance of expanding their efforts, noting that adding another beach to this year’s cleanup highlights the team’s dedication to growth.

“Each year, our beach cleanup initiative grows in scope and impact, reinforcing our commitment to environmental sustainability and community involvement. Seeing the collective effort and the tangible difference we make is incredibly rewarding. This year’s addition of another beach to our cleanup efforts shows our dedication to continuous growth and our unwavering resolve to protect Jamaica’s beautiful coastline and our environment. Together, we’re making a significant impact and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship,” Dunkley stated.

Marcus Richards, managing director of the Hardware and Lumber Group (H&L), expressed pride in the project’s achievements over the years.

“This is a top-quality, feel-good event. The number of volunteers has grown significantly, and so has the amount of garbage collected. Joe (Bogdanovich) and the team should be exceptionally proud of what they’ve started and built,” he said.

Richards also highlighted the project’s status as a highly anticipated community event and praised its community-centred approach.

“So many people look forward to this clean-up each year as one of the official community kick-off events. One of the things that I take my hat off to Joe and the team for is that Sumfest is really a community-centred activity. Everything they do ploughs back into the community,” Richards added.

He further revealed plans to extend sustainability efforts to schools to create green spaces and support the development of young Jamaicans. “When it comes to corporate social responsibility, we focus on education, health care, and the environment. It’s important to engage youngsters early, and this year’s cleanup saw a great turnout of children.”

Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Dwight Crawford, commended the Sumfest organisers, underscoring the importance of educating future generations on environmental stewardship. “As the councillor for the area, this project is very dear to me. The support and growth over the years have been tremendous, and it’s heartening to see the community come together for such a vital cause,” he said.

Kimesha Campbell-Douglas, marketing officer at Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ), praised the initiative’s impact. She noted the significant amount of plastic waste collected and emphasised the importance of public awareness in changing behaviours.

“Today, we collected 1,475 pounds of plastics alone. The impact of this project is far-reaching, and we are seeing positive changes in recycling behaviours. The numbers truly motivate us at RPJ to help in any way we can to get people to understand what this is actually doing to our environment,” she said.

Alex Morrissey, Director at Esirom, expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Reggae Sumfest on their sustainability mission. “Reggae Sumfest is deeply committed to sustainability, and that’s reflected in their efforts beyond the music festival. Today, we pulled fabric, strollers, and even a table from the ocean bed—items that should never be in our waters. It’s heartbreaking, but it motivates us to continue our work,” he said.

Morrissey, who received a special honour during the event, appreciated the recognition but emphasised that their efforts are driven by a desire to inspire others.

“We don’t do it for the recognition; we do it because it’s needed. We hope to inspire other businesses and Jamaicans to make an impact. You don’t need to be a multi-million-dollar company to make a difference,” he concluded.

This year’s cleanup was supported by sponsors and partners including Chesters Chicken, Sunshine Snacks, Wisynco, UDC, Magnum, Pepsi, Zoetry, Recycling Partners of Jamaica, Hardware and Lumber, Esirom, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gentle Care Ambulance Service, Grand Palladium, HEART Trust, Hospiten, Jill Stewart Montego Bay City Run, Project Star, Touchstone Ticketing, VIP Attractions, Maggi, Tortuga and Wisynco.

Utilising the natural environment as a catalyst for learning, Salada Foods adopted a novel approach to literacy education by integrating garden activities into its activities for Read Across Jamaica Day on Tuesday, May 7.

The company, which is home of the renowned Jamaica Mountain Peak brand of coffees and teas, orchestrated an immersive literacy event at Jebb Memorial Basic School engaging children in three-dimensional learning.

Highlighting the untapped potential of outdoor spaces as educational resources, Tamii Brown, General Manager at Salada Foods said, “It offers endless opportunities for learning and exploration; as quickly as the students stepped out of the classrooms and into the schoolyard, we recognised how it ignited their curiosity and stimulated their imaginations.”

The activities kickstarted with Nadine Francis, quality assurance manager at Salada Foods, leading a captivating reading session with approximately 35 students between the ages of two and six, centred around a book of the Ready Steady Readers series titled, The Little Red Hen and the Wheat.

Following the story, Francis and the Salada Foods team facilitated a discussion with the little readers about their lessons learnt to encourage critical thinking.

In a momentous collaboration, Salada Foods and the ESIROM Foundation gifted Jebb Memorial Basic School with a raised garden plot, sparking excitement among the students and teachers alike. The hands-on learning opportunity is not only aimed at fostering literacy skills, said Brown, “but is meant to cultivate a deeper understanding of their natural environment. It was truly a pleasure for our team to watch all the little ones participate, and partake in the reading and gardening activities alongside our sustainability partners at ESIROM.”

“With the sun’s rise tomorrow, we hope to see a renewed passion for growth among the children at Jebb. Today, we’ve witnessed the joy students experience from reading about living things, to every stage of gardening – from preparing the plot, to planting and even nurturing the seedlings. We want the raised garden plot to enrich their curriculum,” Brown added.

Prior to the visit, the children were provided with fudge sticks to craft labels for a diverse array of plants including herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, fruit trees and sunflowers. Some of these plants were placed into the planter as part of the activities.

According to Leonie Salmon Wong-Sue, Principal at the basic school, the addition of the garden will serve as a valuable resource for integrating literacy and even mathematics into experiential learning whilst meeting the learning and development requirement.

Wong Sue remarked, “Read Across Jamaica Day already provides a unique opportunity for our children to engage with books beyond the classroom curriculum, and today was certainly extra special with the playground and garden serving as a living classroom. Literacy should begin at home, from the moment a child can speak so by the time they transition into the school environment, they are ready for bigger activities but it isn’t always the case. These events always make that transition fun for all of us. We welcome the garden because it complements our curriculum for our four-year-olds who are learning about plants and farms.”

“We would love to be able to take the children outside to learn every day or at least twice for the week, but our school is in a noisy area. Nonetheless, it was a good learning experience and exposure for the children. In my role as principal, I have embraced Jebb Memorial as a historical institution, and I believe that when conceptualisers leave a legacy, it is our responsibility to nourish and build upon it. That’s what Salada Foods can expect our teachers and students to do with the garden,” added Wong-Sue, reflecting on her tenure as principal since 2014.

With approximately 48 students at Jebb Memorial Basic School, the garden initiative holds promise for transforming the way literacy is taught by the teaching body and experienced by the students. By harnessing the power of the outdoors, Salada Foods aims to cultivate a literate, environmentally-conscious generation. In addition to the reading and gardening activities, Salada Foods extended a sincere gesture of appreciation by presenting gifts to the devoted teachers and staff at the institution in anticipation of Teacher’s Day

The Alex Morrissey-led ESIROM Foundation decided to act by collaborating with Seprod to promote upcycling.

Through this partnership, the charitable environmental advocacy arm of the digital marketing agency is set to introduce an exciting new initiative to promote recycling and sustainability in efforts to alleviate much of the waste on the island.

Another feature of the partnership is both entities harness the power of innovation to address environmental concerns while engaging and educating children in a fun and interactive manner.

The key ingredient to this initiative is the creation of an edutainment game crafted from repurposed tetra packs – the containers for drinks by Seprod’s renowned brands, such as Eve’s Almond Milk, Serge Island Dairy, and Monster Milk – and recycled wood.

ESIROM Foundation Sustainability Manager Khalia Hall

Under the leadership of Khalia Hall, sustainability manager at ESIROM Foundation, the team innovated a new twist on the classic Tic Tac Toe game.

This unique version involves throwing ping pong balls into strategically placed holes on a wooden frame. The objective remains the same as the traditional Tic Tac Toe: achieve three balls in a row to win.

This game will provide users with a hands-on opportunity to play with recycled materials while they learn about the importance of recycling and environmental support.

The Tic Tac Toe-inspired ‘board game’ by the ESIROM Foundation team. (Photos: Contributed)According to Eve Brand Manager Daynah Parchment, the collaboration highlights Seprod’s commitment to supporting upcycling efforts in the country.

Stating that ‘…[they] are passionate about contributing to sustainable initiatives and want to do more’.

‘Partnering with ESIROM to create this innovative edutainment game aligns perfectly with our mission to impact the environment positively.’

ESIROM Foundation’s Sustainability Manager Khalia Hall, detailed the game’s educational aspect, stating that the ‘goal is to educate consumers on the importance of upcycling in a fun and engaging way.’ 

‘By creating this game, we aim to instill a sense of environmental responsibility and inspire future generations to take action.’

After creating the game, Seprod plans to donate it to the Edward Seaga Primary (formerly Denham Town Primary), with the hopes that this will encourage children to learn about recycling, more in a creative fun way.

The collaboration between ESIROM and Seprod is a combined commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. By leveraging creativity and cooperation, they pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

Inspiring Stories, Empowering Action

WaterBear goes beyond entertainment. Their tagline, “watch, connect, and take action,” reflects their mission to bridge the gap between awareness and action. By signing up for free, viewers can:

• Explore a wide range of inspiring content: Discover documentaries and films that will educate, motivate, and spark environmental consciousness.
• Support NGOs and partners: WaterBear collaborates with over 80 NGOs. Viewers can directly support these organizations through volunteering, donations, or signing petitions.
• Take action in various ways: Spread awareness by sharing videos, discover sustainable products and travel options, or get involved with environmental causes – all with a simple click.

Sustainability Behind the Scenes

WaterBear’s commitment to the environment extends beyond the content they offer. They strive for sustainability in all aspects of their operations:

• Albert Certification: They’re working towards Albert Certification, a prestigious standard for reducing the environmental impact of film production.
• Internal Sustainability Practices: WaterBear implements sustainable practices in areas like travel, energy use, recycling, and waste reduction.
• Sustainable Streaming: They utilize Vimeo’s streaming services, which leverage Akamai Technologies’ commitment to renewable energy and emission reduction.

WaterBear: Making a Difference

WaterBear has demonstrably impacted the streaming industry. They create positive change through powerful storytelling that compels viewers around the world to connect with nature and take action for a sustainable future. By combining exceptional content with actionable steps, WaterBear empowers individuals to become active participants in protecting our planet.

Join the movement and explore WaterBear today!

At a recent biodiversity conference, exhibitors in the biodiversity industry presented a diverse range of solutions to tackle the biodiversity crisis in more ways than one.

Project Seagrass: Restoring Ocean Health

Project Seagrass is an international initiative that implements seagrass protection and restoration strategies with an innovative and socially inclusive approach. Seagrass meadows, also referred to as underwater gardens, are globally threatened. These habitats play a crucial role in keeping our oceans healthy and are full of life, providing refuge for marine life ranging from crustaceans, fish, manatees, and sea turtles. It’s simple, when we lose seagrass, we lose biodiversity and an important carbon sequester. Seagrass also helps to stabilize coastlines, produce oxygen, and they provide food security and support livelihoods.

Project Seagrass uses a multidisciplinary approach, which includes restoration, monitoring, outreach, research, and advocacy. This project, which is a decade old, has executed successful projects in over 10 countries and planted over one million seagrass seeds. One of their most notable achievements is launching a citizen science website and mobile app, Seagrass Spotter, which encourages people to record the presence of seagrass with photo evidence. This app has been used across 105 countries and assisted in scientific data collection.

Inverto Earth: Nature-Positive Business with Mangroves

Inverto Earth was born when two people while working on humanitarian drone systems decided to create their own version but with a biodiversity approach. Inverto helps businesses become nature positive by restoring mangroves in an effective way. It steers entities and individuals away from the typical ‘lazy’ approach, where an area is selected, and thousands of mangroves are planted and then forgotten in the hope that they will grow, which often results in failure.

Instead, Inverto connects businesses with local communities to plan, plant and monitor coastal ecosystems, which are 3×3 meters in size. It encourages the business to connect with nature, engage with communities and play an active role in the restoration activities. Inverto supports every step of the process and equips and trains the locals in the area to utilize drone technology and on the ground field techniques to monitor the restoration. The clients can then access this data and enhance their green profile. Since its start-up in 2022, Inverto Earth has conducted projects in Pakistan and the UAE and plans to start up projects in Australia and Indonesia. Their approach goes beyond simply restoring crucial mangrove habitats, as it also creates social benefits through alternative livelihoods and provides clients with a full picture on climate, biodiversity, and their social impact.

DNAIR: Biodiversity Monitoring with eDNA

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has recently emerged as a powerful tool for biodiversity monitoring, species detection, and research. It allows scientists to determine species presence in an area without directly observing them by collecting environmental samples and testing them for their DNA.

DNAIR is a company that has developed technology that enables biodiversity monitoring at an unprecedented scale using eDNA from the air. This technology targets businesses that want to assess their sustainability efforts and make informed decisions that can reduce negative impacts on the environment. As a relatively new company, they are still in the pilot stage and strongly believe that this technology can provide a large market opportunity for companies to invest in biodiversity protection.

A Multifaceted Approach to a Global Challenge

Project Seagrass, Inverto Earth, and DNAIR are three entities that offer diverse solutions to address the biodiversity crisis. Together they incorporate simple yet effective multifaceted strategies utilizing technology and human resources to protect both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as encouraging corporate responsibility and accountability.

The Problem: Disconnected Decisions

Our relationship with nature has deteriorated, as evidenced by climate change and biodiversity loss. This disconnect makes it difficult to understand the true impact of biodiversity loss.

The Solution: Endangered Wildlife OÜ

Shana Vida Gavron, founder of the award-winning Endangered Wildlife OÜ, saw the need to assign economic value to wild species, treating them as economic citizens alongside humans. Launched in 2005, her software bridges the gap between conservation efforts and financial decision-making.

How it Works: Assigning Value to Biodiversity

Endangered Wildlife OÜ’s software analyzes credible environmental and economic data to determine a species’ total conservation value. This value considers factors like:

Carbon Value: The ability of a species or ecosystem to store carbon dioxide.

Aesthetic Value: The beauty and recreational value of nature.

Species Existence Value: The inherent right of a species to exist.

Impact Value: The positive or negative ecological impact of a species.

Economic Values: The economic benefits provided by a species (e.g., fisheries, tourism).

For example, the software can determine the value of an endangered mangrove habitat, considering its role in carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and fisheries. This empowers businesses to:

Measure their Environmental Footprint: Companies can assess the impact of their operations on biodiversity.

Develop Sustainable Strategies: Businesses can integrate biodiversity considerations into their decision-making processes.

Evaluate Biodiversity Investments: Investors can assess the potential financial benefits of biodiversity conservation projects.

Bridging the Disconnect

The current biodiversity crisis directly affects human well-being. Endangered Wildlife OÜ’s software bridges the disconnect between nature and finance, allowing us to incorporate biodiversity into daily lives, corporate decision-making, and investment activities.

By putting a price tag on nature, Endangered Wildlife OÜ offers a powerful tool for protecting our planet’s precious biodiversity.