đđłď¸âđ The Check-Out: AKT, and our new events calendar!
+ 5 cool climate events + what's in our basket - Smol, Nellie's and Hippie Feet...
Happy Thursday! Welcome to The Check-Out - your weekly dose of climate x consumer goods inspiration, and your discovery box of products and events the Following the Footprints team are loving this week. Itâs great to have you here.Â
ITâS TIME. Omg. Itâs time.
đ Introducing: The Following the Footprints Events Calendar!
Aggregating webinars, happy hours, fireside chats and panels from across the world, this is your one stop FOMO-busting shop to make sure you never miss out. Every Thursday, in this newsletter, weâll also be rounding up 5 upcoming events the Following the Footprints team are most looking forward to.
The best part? Itâs collaborative! You can submit an event straight to the calendar. Once we approve it, our audience can find it, and we can amplify it. Simple as that.
Just as excited as we are? Weâd love help spreading the word via LinkedIn.
Whew. All that jumping up and down with excitement has made usâŚ.sweaty?
Lucky for us (and you), we have a solution - AKT. Tried, tested and LOVED by the team, itâs magic in a tube. Truly. Founded by Ed Currie and Andy Coxon, both members of the LGBTQ+ community, weâre really excited to share more ahead of London Pride (and Pride celebrations round the world) this weekend.
After we shine the spotlight on AKT, weâll share what the Following the Footprints team has loved and consumed this week and 5 Climate x Consumer Goods events coming up. Letâs dig inâŚ
> Brand Spotlight
Pride in Every Swipe: AKT's Fresh Take on Natural Deodorants
As we celebrate Pride Month, it's the perfect time to shine a spotlight on AKT, a natural deodorant leaving its mark - although not on your clothes nor the planet! Co-founded by Ed Currie and Andy Coxon, both members of the LGBTQ+ community, AKT has become a fresh breeze in the personal care industry, proving that sustainability and effectiveness can go hand in hand (or armpit to armpit).
Ed and Andy, both being West End performers, felt the need for a deodorant that could survive the grueling schedule and physical activity of the West End Stages. After developing the product for three years, they settled on their winning Deo Barrier Complex formulation, free from aluminum, parabens, and other nasties. To test its performance, they gave out samples to every West End cast member in London - testing on dancers not animals, as they put it. Unsurprisingly, the product has taken off, with the support of celebrities like Rosamund Pike and Cynthia Erivo, and raving reviews from Marie Claire and Vogue.
Despite garnering significant attention and achieving an impressive average review rating of 4.77 out of 5, the multi-use balm for all genders brand has remained resolute in their mission to create an effective and sustainable alternative to typical deodorants.
Here are three things weâre learning and loving from their approach:
Know your ethos and be transparent if this clashes with customer wants: Ed and Andy designed AKT's tubes to be 100% recyclable and plastic-free. This decision means their caps arenât always the most user-friendly. Instead of switching to plastic caps like other brands, theyâve acknowledged their customersâ concerns and are actively seeking a solution that doesnât contribute to the wider plastic problem. By being open about these challenges and engaging with their consumers, they create a sense of community and demonstrate that their customers are at the forefront of product development.
Work with trusted partners: AKT is working with Ecologi to âplant trees in trackable forestsâ, which you can see here. Theyâve also picked Futureproof to support them on their B Corp journey.
Shout about your journey, wherever you are along it: Through their blog, AKT shares their ongoing journey towards B Corp certification, explaining what this means to them, even though they havenât yet submitted their application. Acknowledging the journey and providing evidence of their impact is crucial, especially for smaller businesses. This transparency fosters trust and highlights their commitment to making a positive difference.
We can't help but be inspired by AKTâs unwavering commitment to sustainability, transparency, and community. With our arms confidently raised (odor-free, of course!), we're keen supporters of AKT. Wishing all our readers a very happy Pride!
> Monthly Events Roundup!
đ 5 CPG x Climate Events Coming Up:
27th June - How to Kick Start a Data-Driven Sustainability Strategy for Food Companies
Why? Wouter Staal, Founder of YB (formerly Yoghurt Barn) and Climates, will share how to begin developing a sustainability strategy, identify and engage key stakeholders, and leverage data to reduce your brandâs carbon footprint.
Organisers: CarbonCloud
Location: Virtual
28th June - London Climate Action Week - Food, Technology, Investment and Climate
Why? A stellar line up of speakers, foods to try and topics to discuss - this is the fete to incur all FOMO.
Organisers: Food Tank, Google Cloud, and Nomad Foods
Location: Google, St Giles, London, WC2H 8AG
2nd July - Indigenous Led Conservation is Critical for Truly Responsible Sourcing
Why? Rainforest conservation and achieving climate and biodiversity goals are about people, and the undisputed best guardians of the rainforest are Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. This webinar will help you understand how your brand can work with them.
Organisers: The Forest Conservation Fund
Location: Virtual
Why? A PNW Climate Week speaker panel featuring leading experts in the softgoods category, this event will dig into all things innovation in fashion, footwear and apparel.
Organisers: âBrevay Cycling and Catalysis
Location: Catalysis, Seattle, US
9th July - Circular Economy and Fashion
Why? âWere you aware that a pair of silver hoop earrings can make one solar panel? No? Well - this event might be for you. Head along to learn more about how a more circular economy can benefit us all (planet included).
Organisers: Jackie Moe
Location: Seattle, US
> In Our Basket
đ What we loved and consumed this week:
From Rosalin in Manchester: I've had these pride month collab socks by Hippie Feet Socks with artist Rosie Hall in my basket all month, as I'm a big fan of all of her illustrations! They are the cutest socks and 50% of the profits go to supporting youth homelessness.
From Jenny in New York: After coming back from a trip I hightailed it to Maison Jar (read my fan mail here) to refill my tin of Nellieâs Laundry Soda, which I will admit I originally bought because yes, it was plastic free but more importantly because I loved the packaging. Itâs been a great replacement for liquid detergent in plastic containers! Â
From Laura in Manchester: I can't say I've been enjoying my Smol dishbrush, because I donât love doing the dishes (shock) but love that I'm not shedding loads of plastic using a regular sponge. The fact that there isn't a damp sponge to fish out of the sink is a bonus!
Thatâs it for today!Â
Know a brand we should spotlight next? Let Leone know!Â
Have links that can make the team learn or laugh? Share them with us, we might just share them in The Check-Out next week.Â
Hungry for more? Youâll see us on Monday! Thatâs when we suit up and get serious, digging into a topic that is guaranteed to make you look smart at standup.Â
Much love,Â
Team FTF