The Environmental Services Association of Nova Scotia is an organization that represents business in the environmental services field—evidently a self-defining group that includes everything from academics to engineering firms to composting facilities to law firms. Think: consultants that help other businesses and governments meet environmental regulations. According to its website, ESANS is “dedicated to the promotion of environmental products, services and organizations within the environmental industry.” The organization hosts a variety of events geared toward such industries.
Many of the people working for these firms have helped nudged Nova Scotia in a much more enviro-friendly direction, and we are without a doubt a better place because of them.
But we live in a cynical age, and it doesn’t take much for people to think, “oh, this is just so much more bullshit coming down the pike.” Case in point: this morning The Coast office received the monthly ESANS e-bulletin, complete with the following notice of the “weekly give-away,” a promotional tool used to keep people engaged with the org:
Almost immediately, a co-worker raised the issue with me: “Why does ESANS give away gift cards to Tim Hortons?” Indeed, I’ve never much considered Timmys to be environmentally friendly, between the throw-away cups and the coffee that’s not certified organic. And especially so in the face of Nova Scotia competition like certified organic and fair trade coffee roasters Just Us!
So, I asked Adam Cooney, ESANS’s communications person, for comment. He responded:
I agree, Tim’s is likely not the best choice – but
people sure like it! Can you provide constructive suggestions as to what
would make a good <$25 giveaway?We tried to get $50 in gift certificates from the Farmers’ Market, but
they’re not that organized yet. It is tricky, because we serve all of NS
and need prizes that can be redeemed anywhere.I’d love to hear your thoughts on this matter.
So, I’m throwing it out there to readers: Is promotion of this sort so important that Tim Hortons is a valid prize for an environmental organization? Are there better approaches? Better prizes?
My point here isn’t to rag on ESANS, but rather to help us all take a step back and consider what we’re doing. I do think that in the face of all the incredible challenges we face—financial collapse, resource depletion, climate change and more—the greatest challenge of all is to rise above cynicism. Unfortunately, I can’t help but seeing both the ESANS giveaway and our response to it as feeding cynicism.
There’s got to be a better way.
This article appears in Aug 5-11, 2010.
Agreed. Lack of consistency is rampant enough – I’d expect better from an environmental organisation.
Is it not as simple as choosing to buy local/socially responsible instead? Why not use Just Us? cards as incentives rather than TimH’s?
Agreed… like I love Tim Hortons, but encouraging more people to go there is not really advancing environmental causes in any way.
But in terms of offering a prize that most people want, it’s hard to beat Tim Hortons. You also want something that works province-wide. Just Us! would be a better “themed” choice, but their footprint doesn’t compare to Tim’s. (Which might be part of the point, j/k…)
I guess I’d go with Just Us!.
How about partnering with Music Nova Scotia for some sort of coupon to download a few free tracks from MSN artists? Printed on recycled paper the coupon could feature artist profile, a URL and a code you can redeem for the tracks.
Tim’s environmentally irresponsible??? More like Tim’s customers
NSLC sells gift cards, carries various products made in NS, in recyclable containers (sometimes reusable too).
same for Sobeys and probably other food chains
I agree it should be something that can be redeemed anywhere in NS but how do certificates for the Farmers’ Market meet that criteria?
Why don’t they simply give the winner a Local Source gift card, instead of a market gift card. Same food, slightly more expensive, but hey, its a gift card dummy!
Gift cards to Starbucks, Chapters, free passes to the Nova Scotia International Air Show or next year’s Tattoo. The sky is the limit.
the environmental movement is getting out of hand.it is getting very foolish and unnecessary.worrying about things that really do not make any difference to anything.get off the wagon people.