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.

The latter was the reason why, in 2019, he and the Reggae Sumfest team embarked on a mission to bring about positive change through their sustainability initiative.

Declaring the annual festival as one that is ‘going green’, the team has consistently engaged in a number of activities- including an annual beach cleanup in Montego Bay, St James – which has yielded impressive results since its inception. Still, the Sumfest team said they were not expecting to win any awards for a project they deemed necessary. So, when it was announced that they would receive this year’s Silver award from The American Advertising Awards (ADDY Award), the team acknowledged that the accolade was the “icing on the cake.”

In addressing the award, Bogdanovich emphasised that it serves not only as recognition of their efforts but also as a reminder of the profound impact individuals can have on preserving life.

“This is another small step to uplift one’s consciousness beyond oneself. The fact that this effort was recognised demonstrates that we as individuals can make a difference in the preservation of life,” he stated.

Speaking on the societal impact of the campaign, Bogdanovich remarked: “This project is a first step to elevating oneself into paying more attention to the climate and our effect upon it.  When one becomes more responsible as a person and as an individual, who knows how far one can grow as an individual, as a family, as a community and as a nation.”

He added; “There is a certain feeling that is enjoyed by the collective that we are doing something together that is worthwhile, and it’s especially good when you are among fellow workers and associates.”

Expressing her surprise at the award win, Karla Jankee, Head of Marketing at Downsound Entertainment/Reggae Sumfest, emphasised that, much like Bogdanovich, she sees the award as a testament to the team’s unwavering dedication and consistent efforts since 2019.

“This came as quite a surprise. I wasn’t even aware that our partners at Esirom had nominated us. We’ve been pouring our hearts into our sustainability campaign since 2019 because addressing climate change is a top priority for us at Reggae Sumfest,” she explained. “This year, we were very deliberate about how we wanted to present our initiatives, so we entrusted Esirom with crafting the social media campaign, and they exceeded our expectations. We’re incredibly proud of their work and ours, especially considering it was all organic. This campaign was one of the few where we didn’t allocate any funds for advertising, and that’s what makes this award even more meaningful.”

Alex Morrissey, Director at Esirom, expressed his delight in collaborating with Reggae Sumfest. He emphasised that the victory was the result of a collective team effort, and he couldn’t be prouder of the achievement.

“We were thrilled to partner with Reggae Sumfest, the Caribbean’s largest reggae festival attracting over 20,000 patrons annually, to execute our sustainability campaigns. Their dedication to environmental responsibility and massive reach perfectly aligned with Esirom Foundation’s values. Having collaborated with them on previous sustainability initiatives, we were confident that this partnership would amplify our message and create a significant impact,” Morrissey stated.

He added: “This ADDY Award feels different. Sure, we’ve been fortunate enough to win awards before, but this one, for a campaign that trumpets sustainability in Jamaica… it hits home. You see, Jamaica, like many places, grapples with basic environmental practices. Winning for a campaign tackling that head-on? It’s an incredible validation of our mission, a fuel to our passion. It’s not just about the trophy, it’s about the message reaching those who need it most. This award is a powerful push to keep fighting, keep amplifying, and hopefully, inspire other events to follow suit. Because let’s be honest, a cleaner, greener Jamaica, a more sustainable Caribbean—that’s an award worth winning every single day.”

With a highly successful 2023 campaign under their belt, the Reggae Sumfest team, gearing up to host another edition of the event this summer, has already initiated plans for the 2024 campaign.

According to Leeann Dunkley, Coordinator of Sustainability at Downsound Entertainment/Reggae Sumfest, in addition to the annual beach cleanup, we are looking to expand the initiative city-wide.

“We envision hosting a ‘sustainability clean-up day’ that extends beyond Catherine Hall Beach to various areas of Montego Bay, including the hotel strips,” she elaborated. “We aim to engage our hotel partners, who are enthusiastic about joining us to amplify our impact. Expansion has always been part of our vision for this project, as Joe mentioned; it holds great significance for us. Making a difference is our shared goal.”

Dunkley also disclosed that, alongside expanding the city-wide cleanup effort this year, Reggae Sumfest aims to engage children in an educational capacity. She stressed that addressing issues like recycling from the grassroots level could be pivotal for achieving long-term change.

“We aim to visit schools and educate children about the significance of recycling to address certain issues proactively. A significant reason behind the recycling challenges we face stems from insufficient early involvement. We’re determined to shift that paradigm,” she emphasized. “Furthermore, we aspire to assist schools in establishing green spaces in collaboration with our partners at H&L. It’s set to be an enriching educational voyage. Stay tuned for updates on the exciting initiatives we have in store.”

Read More: Jamaica Observer