The Sustainability Muse

CHAPTER 5

Ask Rey

Introducing the ‘Ask Rey’ panel

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Ask Rey, Sterling’s panel of 50 consumers committed to sustainability, who are ready to answer your questions to help your brand think, design, and act for a more sustainable future.

We at Sterling spent the past year really getting to know Rey, our Sustainability Muse. Using what we’ve learned about Rey’s lifestyle, behaviors, and attitudes, we created a consumer panel of 50 hand-picked individuals, who embody who Rey is: consumers who always go the extra mile in their daily lives to choose more sustainable options, whether that’s in food, energy, transportation, water, or the products and services they use.

What can your brand Ask Rey?

Ask Rey to asses all things sustainable:

Messaging
Authenticity and fit of your brand’s sustainability mission
Packaging and materials
Products
Sustainability programs
Innovation opportunities
Other stimulus your brand wants quick feedback on

Connect with Rey for quick or robust qualitative input:

Quick polls (one-off or monthly pulse)
Single or multi-day online journaling
Virtual 1:1 interviews

The ‘Ask Rey’ panel provides valuable and actionable insight

Read on to see examples of what Sterling has asked Rey.

01

RANKING QUESTION:
Rank the following everyday sustainable actions according to what you think makes the most difference.

02

RANKING QUESTION:
Here’s a list of product categories that we might purchase in our everyday lives. Choose 3 from this list that you’d be totally committed to buying the most sustainable options of 100% of the time.

03

SHOW & TELL QUESTION:

Pick an item in your home that you feel could be more sustainably made.. Describe what you would change about that product to make it more sustainable (i.e., material, packaging, etc.)?

“These rigid and (yes) durable plastic standing bags are absolutely non-recyclable. From laundry detergent, to too many food items to count, these bags are an enormous issue. We need companies to go back to wax paper or foil-lined paper bags free of PFAS, or to use glass/metal much more often. I feel we as consumers need to demand some of our more eco-friendly and so-called sustainable brands, such as Seventh Generation and Puracy, to do so much better when it comes to packaging. Less plastic is still not no plastic or plastic-free. Tetrapaks would still be a better option as they’re labeled recyclable.”

“I’m a true believer that biodegradable bulbs need to be created ASAP! I would love to change all the bulbs in my home to something like that.”

“I wish these clamshell produce containers were made from a paper, cardboard, or mushroom material. Then they would be more likely to be recyclable or at least biodegradable upon disposal.”

“I love going to farmer’s markets and bulk/natural food stores or grocery co-ops that have you bring your own packaging or offer compostable packaging. An example of something I buy from a store with a bulk section whose packaging I like is Equal Exchange coffee. While you can also bring your own container to dispense the coffee beans or grounds into, they have compostable tin tie bags available as well that highlight the sustainability of the coffee itself and that have clear instructions for how to dispose of the bag sustainably.”

“All the personal care items, especially face creams, sunblock, and cosmetics, are packaged in so much plastic that isn’t recyclable. And the pumps for some of the creams, soaps, and lotions could potentially be reused vs. thrown away.”

“My deodorant is not sustainable because it is single-use, large plastic device. I would make it smaller, from recyclable plastic, less harmful for the environment manufacturing process including better chemicals, and a recyclable plastic shell.”

“An example of a single-use plastic in my home is cat treat bags, which often have some kind of plastic-covered foil lining on the inside that I think could be recycled if it wasn’t so enmeshed with the plastic. Cat treats could be made more sustainable by using parts of animals that are usually butchered out and wasted when animals are processed into meat for human consumption, and it would be great if they came in reusable containers that could be taken back to the pet food store and refilled there, or at the very least in packaging that could be recycled.”

“I use PetPlate fresh food for my two dogs. It has been a great healthy food option for them, resulting in an improvement in their allergies. However, the food is individually proportioned to containers each of which is A LOT of waste. I wish there was an alternative option to reduce the amount of single-use plastic. I do end up reusing the containers but can’t reuse every one as it takes up a lot of room. I clean and recycle them but wonder how many are actually recycled vs. going to a landfill.”

04

OPEN-ENDED QUESTION:
What are your biggest personal hopes and fears when it comes to the issue of climate change and sustainability?

HOPES

Increased awareness & action

“My biggest hopes are that humans can repair the harm we’ve already caused and work together with nature instead of so exploitatively. I hope to see more things, like community gardens, upcycling and repair shops, food forests, regenerative agriculture, zero waste homes and institutions, divestment from fossil fuels, and investment in renewable energy.”

Policy changes at the governmental level

“My biggest hope is for enough major players (i.e., governments, industries, etc.), who influence the larger social and economic structures, to make sufficient changes to impact climate change and sustainability.”

Technological advancements

“I am hoping that technological innovation in the energy and waste sectors will help mitigate the fallout of climate change, but I fear that political will doesn’t exist to nudge consumers and impose costs on climate externalities to promote sustainable behavior.”

FEARS

Drastic climate change & natural disasters cause eco-anxiety

“I fear that weather will become so extreme that people will no longer feel safe living in certain areas in fear of their lives and properties with tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, etc. – I think we have actually already approached this time.”

Too little, too late

“Really though, if the majority of Earth’s inhabitants don’t make major lifestyle changes now we and our planet are quickly running out the clock. I kind of feel like climate change has reached the point of no return and that makes me so sad for the future generations.”

Impact on future generations

“Change can affect jobs, food, people’s health and nutrition. With decreased water supply and food supply because of the climate we will not be able to farm and do all the necessary things for our survival or our future generations to come.”