Kenneth's blog

Interning at UBB this summer has been a great experience that will likely have a lasting impact on my life. My recently acquired taste for sustainability will probably stay with me forever, but I’m talking about more than just my unwillingness to buy plastic water bottles going forward. Throughout this internship I’ve learned a lot. The first things that come to mind relate to the oceans and the challenges that they’re currently facing. Some of the statistics I’ve encountered during my time here have been literally unbelievable, and the experience has been eye-opening. But when it comes down to it most of us seek internships for a learning experience and a preparation for future jobs. When I consider the ways that this internship has shaped my professional skills I’m glad that I chose to spend my summer with UBB. Here are some interesting facts that I’ll take with me as I sail into the marketing career that is my open horizon:

This is part one of a two part series that will explore people’s current perception of sharks and the major influences that have shaped the human attitude toward these creatures. This post will focus on a series of events that is largely responsible for today’s distorted reputation of sharks. Next week a follow-up post will discuss the impact of the media on our views, focusing primarily on the pros and cons of the Discovery Channel’s popular Shark Week.

Sharks have long been feared by the human race. From their cold, beady eyes to their razor sharp teeth it’s hard not to view these creatures as an enormous threat to our well-being. I know I’m one of the first ones to swim back to shore at the slightest hint of a fin on the horizon. Yet experts claim that sharks pose little threat to beach-goers. With shark week quickly approaching I thought it would be a great time to address the question: why is it that we have such a warped view of sharks?

Kenneth is our Marketing Intern.  He blogs about company related issues and practices.  Shoot him an email at kenneth@unitedbyblue.com

Having the least amount of harm on the environment is something that we live and breathe here at UBB.  We pride ourselves on worldly values and transparency in everything we do.  So we’d like to share with you the product life-cycle of our organically grown t-shirts:

The life of our shirts begins with the planting of a cotton seed.  This seed is planted in natural soil, avoiding the harmful chemicals used in typical fertilizers.  The seeds slowly grow into cotton in the expansive fields of Tirupur, a textile city on the banks of the powerful Noyyal River in Southern India.  During its growth process our cotton is certified as organically cultivated by the Control Union World Group, an accredited certifying agent of the United States Department of Agriculture.  This certification means our supplier must pass annual inspections to ensure that no pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used in their fields.  The certification also means that no pesticides or chemical fertilizers from our crops will drain into the Noyyal River or make their way to the Indian Ocean.  On the other hand traditionally grown cotton accounts for about 25% of the world’s pesticide use; pesticides that eventually find their way to the ocean through streams, rivers, and air pollution (you can learn more about the harmful effects of pesticides and chemical fertilizers on our Blue Movement “Water Problems” page).  We’re proud to say that our organic t-shirt growing process doesn’t come at the expense of our oceans. 

Kenneth is our Marketing Intern.  He blogs about company related issues and practices.  Shoot him an email at kenneth@unitedbyblue.com.

Earlier this year Globeride Inc., a Japanese company based in Tokyo, unveiled a fishing line product that actually dissolves in water over time.  The company was originally skeptical about demand for the product, but it has been selling out of stores since its introduction in February.

The product makes use of microorganisms present in water to break down into carbon dioxide and water.  Tokuo Ichikawa, the creator of the product, claims that it takes about five years for the line to completely dissolve.  Although limiting the product’s life to five years will not eradicate all of the problems that fishing line creates, it will go a long way in reducing the amount of the line present in our oceans. Hopefully ensuing improvements to the product will speed up the dissolution process.