Bite has a unique practice that combines experts in sustainability with our global communications team. We apply a mix of communications and operations expertise to help corporate, cleantech and consumer brands build sustainable business strategies that are transparent, authentic and credible. The result is a clearer connection between sustainability and business initiatives. This helps our clients maximize brand equity and drive profitability.
Why Has Bite Gone Green?
There’s a clear market need. Cleantech is an emerging sector that is receiving significant investment ($2.6 billion in 2007). The broader issue of sustainability – and the role of business – is at the center of a new wave of consumer and policymaker interest, garnering broad media and analyst attention and is at the center of a $227 billion market in the US alone. To compete successfully in this marketplace requires expertise in sustainability and communications to avoid the very serious threats of greenwashing.
Combined with this interest in sustainability is an evolution of the communications and media landscape. Today, audiences are reached through disparate outlets and mediums that enable more transparency and direct access. Participative journalism, social networks, and increasing grassroots consumer concern about corporate social responsibility (CSR) and global environmental issues require businesses to reinforce rhetoric with specific proof points.
Bite’s Cleantech Practice, founded in 2006, supports established and emerging companies as they align their activities and communications with sustainability issues. The practice helps clients navigate through the communications opportunities and challenges faced as they develop sustainable products and solutions. These efforts enable clients to align operations with communications, to develop strategic partnerships, and to weave compelling stories. Bite reaches key audiences and builds understanding and support, which helps transform the marketplace.
What Happens When Communications Goes Green?
Numerous aspects of cleantech communications are different from traditional public relations. For example, in the “clean and green” marketplace, consumers ask as much about the company as the product. In addition, cleantech communications have historically failed to achieve a direct audience. In the past, the market was an issues-driven arena defined by a variety of external forces and sources.
Only recently have the savviest business and communications leaders begun to assess what key audiences are asking for and to determine which messages are most effective at translating the complex issues involved. Furthermore, knowing the “who” in this space is often both as important and as difficult as knowing the “what and why.” On sustainability topics, business decision-makers must engage in conversations with a broad group of stakeholders.
The complexity of these challenges requires businesses competing in the sustainability marketplace to identify a public relations partner that can drive environmentally-friendly communications efforts with traditional strengths and distinct skills relevant to these emerging markets. Bite’s Cleantech Practice is an integration of Bite’s audience-centric account planning methodology with our "fearless and boundless" style. In-house expertise in sustainable business, cleantech, CSR and environmental social marketing, enables Bite to deliver unique consultancy and communications services.
Why Bite?
It’s our business to know communications best practices and to evolve those efforts when new markets and channels emerge. In practical terms this means providing a range of services that go above and beyond traditional PR and making real commitments in our business to align with the values of the cleantech market.
Bite has a global sustainability strategy for its own operations (its headquarters was certified by the San Francisco Green Business Program in 2007) and Bite’s new practice is anchored by cleantech experts that have advised Fortune 500 companies, colleges, government organizations and other institutions on how to integrate sustainability into both near and long-term strategies. Let us help you maximize the opportunity in cleantech and sustainability.
For further information contact: cleantech@bitepr.com |
