Summer of love for your brand

The spirit of the ‘Summer of love’

The iconic and influential 1967’s Summer of Love was a social movement, that at it’s core, fostered a sense of community, self expression and shared responsibility. It promoted sustainable living practices like communal living, organic farming, sharing resources, environmental awareness and alternative energy sources such as wind and solar.

It’s remembered and romanticised for it’s unified spirit of peace, love and freedom – ‘make love not war’.

Is it time for a new ‘Summer of Love’?

Whilst it certainly wasn’t all flowers, the short-lived movement inspired positive change and meaningful action. Perhaps we need a new kind of ‘Summer of love for nature’ – a movement that helps us notice and appreciate our planet and our communities in a fresh, collective way. One that nurtures compassion, empathy, collaboration, diversity and connection.

What does that spirit look like for your brand?

• What does your brand unify?
• What positive influence could your brand have?
• What could your brand be a steward of?

Start with where you’re at.

This Summer (and beyond) I encourage you to think about your brand ecosystem to review if it’s showing just how much you care. Your brand sits at the heart of three interconnected spheres that make up your ecosystem. It has the power to influence positive, nature- friendly change:

• the people your brand interacts with (team, clients, suppliers, network, your family…)
• the resources your brand uses (energy, water, packaging, paper, people, waste, food…)
• the environment your brand lives within (workspace, outside space, local community, digital space…)

Ask yourself:

• What brand values is each part authentically communicating?
• How do you look after each part?
• How can you show that you care about each part?
• What could you stop, start or improve to benefit the wellbeing of all involved?
• How could you help to protect and restore nature within and through each part?

A few ideas to help get you started:

People

• • Ensure healthy, ethical working environments
  • Review your policies and contracts
  • Help your team keep family first
    • Discourage overtime
    • Are you able to offer flexible working times / remote working?
    • Encourage regular holiday breaks from work

Resources

• • Replenish stationery, furniture, food and drink etc with items that are sustainably and responsibly sourced
    • Look for certification marks like:
      • the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) mark on wood based products/materials
      • Fairtrade
      • Rainforest Alliance etc.
  • Swap to LED bulbs
  • Swap to a green energy supplier

Environment

• • Add wildlife boxes and feeders in your outdoor space
  • Plant up containers indoors and out
  • Swap to a green web hosting
  • Dispose of any waste responsibly, set up a food waste composting system
  • Donate business surplus/no longer needed items to ‘A good thing’. They can match pretty much anything you have to donate with a charity that needs it; merchandise, stationery, furniture, kits, equipment, cutlery…And save charities thousands of pounds in the process. Win-win all round.

We’re a part of nature and interconnected within it’s intricate ecosystems.

“The natural world is an incredible wonder that inspires us all. It underpins our economy, our society, indeed our very existence. Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we irrigate our crops with. We also rely on them for numerous other goods and services we depend on for our health, happiness and prosperity.” – WWF

When we start to notice nature in our decisions and actions, we start to care for it. And what we care for we protect.

Let’s show up for what we stand for throughout our brand ecosystems.