For this week’s Member in Focus, we talked to Andy Gibson, Company Director of Wildtribe, about what they do, why sustainability is so important to them, and how Play it Green is helping them on their journey.
To get us started, why don’t you tell us a little bit about Wildtribe and what you do?
Absolutely! Based in Cornwall, Wildtribe is a melting pot of digital marketers with a deep-rooted connection to home. From the rugged coast that wraps around the cape to the boggy Bodmin moors, we count ourselves lucky to be based here. As with many people reading this, the outdoors is our haven, this winter, whether it be the trail shoes or the 5 mil wetsuits. Once the work is done, the gear is on!
The balance offered by our surroundings contributes in no small part to the quality of work we achieve for our clients. On a professional level, we meld together a full digital marketing service with the ethos of guiding our clients through the digital jungle that exists. Holistic, uncomplicated and effective marketing is our aim. We work with some brilliant clients all around the UK and further afield in both B2B and B2C sectors.
Why is sustainability important to you as a company?
It’s essential to us as a company because sustainability is important to us as individuals. Each member of our team finds solace in the Cornish way of life, which isn’t all pasties and cream teas. It’s walking our dogs in the wind/rain, muddy boots and wet freezing cold wetsuits! Being immersed in the outdoors daily, we see our human effects. Believe it or not, we see them on a local and daily basis.
For example, a walk around the beaches and you’ll soon be picking up plastic, fishing wire and all sorts of rubbish. Stepping through the estuaries you’ll see sewage and run-off from farms or roads and worst of all, surfing in utter sh** isn’t fun.
And so, it’s not a difficult task for us to think sustainably as a company, the incentive rests on our doorstep.
What made you choose a Climate Positive Workforce with Play it Green?
The passion Richard (Play it Green Co-Founder) showed when we talked about the big challenges facing our environment. I felt like I had found a kindred spirit, someone who really understood the challenges and was working tirelessly to create a solution to make it straightforward for companies like us to become climate positive.
An important aspect was to contribute to a programme that was well managed. Play It Green partners with Eden Projects as their tree planting partner. This organisation focuses on developing sustainable woodlands and forests, with close attention paid to integrating local communities with each project.
Through building relationships with local communities, Eden Projects can develop guardians of the trees to help them thrive long into the future. That’s the aim!
What has the experience been like? What does your team think of it?
Brilliant, it’s quick and easy to set up for our company and I can keep an eye on how our Wildtribe forest is growing. To date, we’ve planted over 350 trees and our team is full of stoke to be supporting a great cause!
You’re looking to move into the renewable and sustainability sectors, how did that come about?
Sustainability, renewable energy, energy efficiency and more are never too far from our minds at Wildtribe. We live in a region dotted with wind turbines and solar farms, while ocean conservation crops up in many coffee shop conversations. Our team was keen to go beyond our beach cleans and upskill on these sectors.
Over the past few years, we’ve studied diplomas in Environmental Science and Masters Certificates in Renewable Energy with the European Energy Council. Our team is eager to combine this deeper knowledge with our expertise in digital marketing.
How is it going? Have you faced any challenges on the way?
We feel the renewable and sustainable sectors are over-run, every time we speak to a business in this sector, they state “we’ve too much going on to spend time doing digital marketing”. Or these companies are run by an older generation that haven’t engaged with digital marketing before, they’ve just about developed a website and haven’t posted on LinkedIn… ever.
In our mind, NOW is the time to capture the high interest. But more importantly, there is an overwhelming big task in educating both businesses and consumers on the solutions, funding options and routes to access renewable and energy-efficient tools. It’s our aim as a digital marketing agency to help sustainability and renewable businesses communicate better with the wider world and help smooth the transition for their customers to a low-carbon energy system.
Do you have any plans in the future to improve how sustainable you are?
100% – as a digital marketing agency there are fewer routes to achieve this as we are already a fairly low carbon company. We remote work and so remove the commute, we are roughly 90% paperless, it’s difficult to give up our trusty notebooks. I removed paper business cards and now instead use a digital business card from getdoorway.com (well worth checking these guys!). EV cars are in our minds for the future along with a few home renewable solutions.
Are you planning on using your Play it Green Net Zero Framework to do that?
Yep – it’s a simple, straightforward, and effective way to
achieve our Net Zero goals.
If you could say one thing to a business that is considering joining Play It Green, what would it be?
We all have our part to play and when it comes to offsetting the carbon footprint of your business, using Play it Green literally couldn’t be easier.
In today’s world, it’s important for companies to show a commitment to sustainability and environmental objectives. Not only important for your customers and partners but your staff as well. Our team wants to work for a business with a strong moral compass, and it is likely this will be the same for your staff as well. Programmes like Play it Green is a great way to get your business walking on a sustainable path.
Personally to you, how important is sustainability in your everyday life?
Hugely. I’ve been a vegetarian for 5 years, not because I don’t like beefburgers (I used to love them!), but because I can’t justify the environmental impact of my eating habits. I’d love nothing more for the world to balance the books, for us all to attain a sustainable existence and one day tuck into a burger again. But for now, I’ll continue to pocket the plastic from the beaches, sign-up to green energy suppliers and support schemes like Play it Green.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
#thinkgreen
As a Play it Green business member, Wildtribe is planting trees to balance the carbon emissions of its entire workforce, reducing their footprint with weekly tips and through our Net Zero Framework, and is regiving 10% to their chosen charity, the WWF.
You can visit the Wildtribe Forest Garden here; they have planted 351 trees in less than a year!
If you’re also interested in becoming a Climate Positive Company, Play it Green can provide you with all the tools you need to support you on your journey.
