A global insurance and risk management company you may never have heard of called Assurant, is also one of the world’s leading recyclers of mobile phones.
By 2021 they had recycled over 100 million mobile devices and either refurbished them, or salvaged the components and parts. The buyback part of the scheme reportedly put $11billion back in the pockets of people who owned those devices 😳
They have an ESG document which I’m sure outlines their commitment to sustainability (I didn’t read it), but there’s a different reason they popped onto my radar.
Recycling mobile phones is very different to what Assurant people do as a day job.
Which means this is a sidestep for Assurant – they saw a need that wasn’t being met, looked at what they could do with the people and capabilities they already had, and made it happen.
It’s a ridiculously large, but awesome example of how making a climate impact can be in the hands of anyone.
If you’ve read my emails or other articles that’ve said everyone can contribute, and you’ve thought “but I’m just an accountant/ plumber/ photographer/ consultant/ risk management advisor, what could little old me possibly do?”, then this story is for you.
It doesn’t have to match your day job.
When you spot a gap that’s not being met, ask:
You might hit on a few that you can’t fix and that’s ok. Keep your eyes peeled, and keep asking.
For self-employed creatives, normal business traps are easy to fall into and overcomplicate things - but they’re totally avoidable when flying solo.
Learn how to keep things simple, enjoyable, and climate-smart in around 2 minutes a day by joining The Climate Soloist.