There is no denying it: climate change is the greatest threat to our world and future generations. Calls for businesses to act on the climate in their corporate practices have become louder and more urgent among consumers – particularly young people – on social media. These so-called “sustainability influencers” have been successful in gaining support and admiration from the public, putting pressure on brands to implement eco-friendly production and practice. This is where your brand enters the chat. Influencer marketing is a powerful way for your brand to reach out to your target audience and encourage them to engage with your product and services. Here we have compiled a list of our top-five activists and influencers in the sustainable sphere that your brand should gain inspiration from and collaborate with to endorse your latest campaign or help you promote the right message for your brand.
- Kate Brandt is Google’s Chief Sustainability Officer and is responsible for the tech giant’s environmental impact on the planet. Brandt shares Google’s industry advancements on LinkedIn, such as how their AI will help whales avoid ship traffic. Brandt’s positive attitude and dedication to the environment from a business-perspective has earned her an impressive 40K followers – demonstrating that inspiring, sustainability content sells.
- Chris Hines, the owner of A Grain of Sand and former Sustainability Director at the Eden Project, is a popular LinkedIn influencer. Whether it is supporting the environmentally sustainable efforts of his peers, directing his followers to the other sustainability champions tackling climate change or promoting the exciting sustainability events he is invited to speak at, Hines is a master at implementing small but effective social media strategies to raise awareness about brand environmental commitment.
- If you are a business owner, Pia Heidenmark Cook is a must-follow as her LinkedIn is full of practical sustainability strategies. Following her 14-year stint as IKEA’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Advisor, Heidenmark Cook has amassed over 15K followers on LinkedIn and is popular for her posts on corporate sustainability, ESG (environmental, sustainable and governance) and renewable energy. Follow her example.
- Instagram influencer marketing starts with Monika Poppy, one of the most famous environmental sustainability influencers on the platform. A well-known sustainability influencer, public speaker, and consultant who has been cited as one of the UK’s Leading Environmentalists by Forbes, Poppy launched her website Sustainability is Cool in 2016 to help brands and businesses optimise their social media presence by creating engaging content for their sustainability campaigns. Her platform also provides practical tips that encourage people to live more sustainably and ethically. Poppy has worked with some of the biggest names in sustainable fashion and food brands. A collaboration with the influencer is calling.
- France is a major climate actor in the EU. It is little surprise then that it should have a highly influential environmental personality. Boasting an impressive 261k followers on her Instagram account, social and climate justice activist Camille Etienne is at the forefront of French climate politics and online climate advocacy. Engaging with young people and government officials alike through informative videos, televised debates and documentary films, Etienne is a valuable source of inspiration for any brand seeking to advance their eco-conscious practices and online sustainability campaigns – especially if English is not their first language.
