WHO WE ARE
Planet+Purpose Solutions, PBC is a women-led, boutique B-Corp Certified consulting practice that provides strategic guidance to management teams on targeted sustainability initiatives to advance core business objectives and create positive impact.
Since 2015, we have been working with organizations to build brand awareness by connecting our clients to their purpose and their purpose to consumers through authentic action. Our experience spans the outdoor, sports, eyewear, apparel, beauty, pet, natural products and logistics industries, as well as cultural institutions and private equity. Our team has extensive experience helping clients identify, prioritize, implement and communicate sustainable business practices that are aligned with international frameworks.
We support companies with research and implementation of circular economy initiatives, and to establish carbon emissions, single-use plastic and broader waste reduction goals. We are ocean advocates with an extensive network and expertise related to plastic pollution and single-use plastic packaging policy and alternatives.
We also shape communications plans that help our clients share their sustainability goals in ways that are meaningful, accurate, and transparent.
Our clients’ award-winning sustainability and purpose-driven initiatives reduce their environmental impact and increase employee engagement, consumer loyalty, industry leadership positioning and brand recognition.
There is a growing movement among organizations to demonstrate environmental responsibility through sustainability and purpose-driven initiatives.
Consumers are rewarding brands that have a strong, transparent sustainability ethos, and employees want to work for purpose-driven companies.
The global regulatory environment is trending towards greater accountability related to packaging, textiles, climate action and supply chain management.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG commitments, transparency and reporting are increasingly attractive to investors.
The landscape and requirements are evolving rapidly; managing a successful corporate sustainability strategy requires clear goals, transparent communication and coordination, and leadership.
THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS
Successful companies have a clear purpose, develop robust corporate responsibility strategies and consistently measure their impact.
PURPOSE
The reason why a company or a brand exists. The essence that makes a company compelling to its customers. Purpose is the North Star and informs every business decision.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
The framework that ensures companies conduct their business in an ethical way, taking account of their social, economic and environmental impact, and consideration of human rights.
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL + GOVERNANCE
The policies and activities that drive a quantifiable assessment of a company's actions, including environmental impact, corporate oversight, treatment of employees and supply chain footprint.
OUR APPROACH
We offer a hands-on, customized approach to developing targeted sustainability initiatives that deliver compelling results for your organization.
ORGANIZATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY
Planet+Purpose Solutions collaborates with clients to develop a cross-functional strategy that fosters a sustainability mindset throughout an organization. We support organizations to become B Corp Certified and The Climate Label Certified. We conduct landscape analyses to understand and prioritize the myriad elements at play— regulatory, consumer, competitive, retailer, investor—that will ultimately shape the direction of the sustainability initiative.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
We help organizations identify cause partners, trade associations, sustainability certifications and other strategic partnerships that further our clients’ goal of imbuing sustainability and purpose authentically and deeply within their brand. PPS has extensive experience engaging an organization’s business and consumer communities, creating a meaningful connection between brands and their stakeholders.
PLASTIC POLLUTION SOLUTIONS
Our team advises organizations on their plastic reduction initiatives in their offices, at events, in their supply chains and distribution centers. We support product and packaging innovations and help brands respond to retailer and policy requirements around packaging. We also assist organizations with broader waste diversion efforts.
GLOBAL NETWORK
Our team has a wide range of expertise and connections that we tap into when collaborating on client initiatives. We provide customized, fact-based research, interviewing experts around the world to provide our clients with the most relevant knowledge around sustainable business practices and innovations. We are well versed in launching movements by activating an organization’s extended brand ecosystem.
COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS
We guide our clients’ purpose and sustainability storytelling. From drafting creative content for packaging, blogs, newsletters, articles and press releases to preparing presentations and impact reports, PPS helps clients raise awareness of their sustainability efforts by creating educational, inspiring and impactful content.
MEET OUR TEAM
Lia Collabello
Managing Principal
Leads the PPS team in igniting the spark for organizations and managers to be a force for good. Puts her marketing muscle and sustainability smarts to work building customized initiatives for clients. Educates, connects and inspires in pursuit of proactive solutions. Her international network spans multiple industries, having worked around the world in ocean conservation, and prior to that, international sports event management.
Valerie Howell Principal
Brings her background in finance and business to help clients prioritize sustainability goals and create engaging, high-impact sustainability initiatives. Leads on business management and operations, customized research, compliance, communication strategies and creative content development. Her international business leadership experience includes managing the trading desk of a global bank.
Maggie Wiles
Associate
Combines her strong background in sustainability with an eye for design to present complex environmental and regulatory topics with clarity. Known for careful organization, accurate data tracking, and attention to detail across projects. Has contributed to a range of sustainability programs and client-facing materials. She holds her master’s in Sustainability Management from Columbia University.
EMPLOYEES
Employees want to work for companies with an inspiring culture where they feel connected to the company’s mission and purpose.
CONSUMERS
Consumer trends indicate demand for authentic and transparent sustainability initiatives. There is opportunity to increase NPS and brand engagement to drive long term results.
INVESTORS
The integration of ESG factors into analysis and decision making provides investors with additional confidence in the management of organizations they are investing in.
RETAILERS
Retailers are requiring brands to report on Corporate Responsibility/ESG initiatives and support brands that are aligned with these goals.
POLICY
Climate policies and disclosure rules are becoming the global norm. Large companies are increasingly required to report on ESG factors, while packaging, textiles and EPR policies are on the rise.
INDUSTRY
Brands are working together through trade associations and community engagement initiatives to scale sustainability best practices and impact.
WE HELP BRANDS PRIORITIZE AND RESPOND TO THE FORCES THAT SHAPE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES.
OUR APPROACH
PPS develops sustainability strategies that drive change from within.
LEAD WITH PURPOSE
• Clarify and align purpose hierarchy
• Promote best practices
• Manage and align certifications and industry affiliations
• Provide vibrant internal and external communications
EMPOWER A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY
• Educate and manage internal teams
• Activate the brand’s ecosystem
• Design low impact office and event guidelines
• Identify and support effective cause partnerships
ASSESS, REDUCE + OFFSET IMPACTS
• Priority setting
• Impact assessments and reduction initiatives
• Innovative product and packaging guidance
• Climate action plans, reduction strategies, offsets and goals
CLIENT HIGHLIGHTS
Sustainability is challenging work, and our team brings the boundless energy and passion, grounded in science and data, that is required to make impactful change within an organization.
Costa Sunglasses
PPS began supporting Costa’s sustainability and conservation initiatives in 2015. We manage Kick Plastic, an ambitious endeavor to reduce the brand’s single-use plastic footprint in its operations, at events and in its supply chain. PPS helped design, implement and manage Kick Plastic programs to engage Costa’s communities, working with 1500 businesses in the optical and outdoor industries to eliminate single-use plastic from their operations. This includes the Kick Plastic Ambassador program, where we work with eye care professionals across the country to recycle more than 70 tons of polycarbonate lenses to date.
PPS also helped design, launch and manage Costa’s Kick Plastic Guide & Outfitter Program, which educated and activated fishing guides & outfitters around the issue of plastic pollution. Our team was responsible
for program management and support, the development of print and digital assets, guide onboarding and impact tracking. More than 750 businesses in 14 countries have eliminated millions of single-use plastic water bottles since the program’s launch.
In addition, PPS quarterbacks the Costa biennial PROTECT Purpose Reports that highlights the brand’s efforts to protect the watery world through its innovative products, internal initiatives and conservation partnerships. The report also captures the ethos, heart and history of the brand to inspire the brand’s community, and current and future leaders.
Costa’s corporate responsibility efforts earned the brand numerous awards and recognition as a sustainability leader in the outdoor and optical industries.
Alexander Siegel for Surfrider Foundation
Costa and Oakley
PPS designed an employee community engagement initiative for Costa and Oakley to support the International Coastal Cleanup in 2024 and 2025. Each year, more than 150 people picked up 125+ pounds of trash, the majority of it being microplastics, at Salt Creek Beach Park in Dana Point, California.
VIOLETTE_FR
PPS worked with French clean beauty brand VIOLETTE_FR to develop a sustainability strategy using an international ESG framework. We also conducted a primary packaging assessment on materials and recyclability and provided recommendations on end-of-life options.
Free Fly Apparel
PPS worked with the leadership team at Free Fly Free Fly to develop and implement a strategy for the performance clothing company to become B Corp Certified in 2025. Along the journey, we supported their efforts to put social and environmental impact policies in place, that engaged their employees and global supply chain, and to assess and reduce their environmental impacts. We also drafted their first impact report that documented initiatives.
Nuun Hydration
PPS provided award-winning strategic guidance to Nuun, a leading clean-ingredient sports drink supplement brand, on their Pro Planet brand pillar. Our team supported the development of Nuun’s corporate responsibility priorities, including harnessing the energy of Nuun’s leadership and employees to foster a strong culture of sustainability through the creation of a green team.
PPS managed Nuun’s successful B Corp Certification process and led the transition for Nuun to become Climate Neutral Certified for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Our team provided guidance on innovative alternatives for Nuun’s packaging including supporting the launch of the Endurance series made using post-consumer recycled plastic. We also built a rubric to support Nuun’s cause partner selection process.
As a natural extension of its Pro Planet brand pillar and the brand’s own efforts to reduce single-use plastic at events, PPS helped Nuun launch a partnership with the Council for Responsible Sport to support race events across the US in their efforts to reduce their environmental impacts. We also managed select industry affiliations, environmentally focused certifications and retailer sustainability requirements.
Innersense Organic Beauty
Planet+Purpose Solutions worked with Innersense Organic Beauty – a clean beauty brand founded on a commitment to be a business force for good – to develop and launch a comprehensive sustainability plan that included a packaging stewardship transition plan, a B Impact Assessment and transition to full B Corp Certification, and alignment of its philanthropic program with 1% for the Planet. As a result, over 90% of the brand’s plastic packaging has been converted to postconsumer recycled plastic and a refillable model has been launched. Innersense also collected five years of its historical plastic output and offset its 2020 plastic footprint by 150% through partnerships with RePurpose Global and Plastic Bank. Innersense Organic Beauty has won awards, industry praise, and customer loyalty through its commitment to “Be Well, Be Beautiful, and Be Conscious."
AFTCO
In 2021 and 2022, PPS worked with AFTCO, an award-winning fishing apparel, tackle and gear company that is dedicated to innovation and conservation. We worked on a project to help to further develop AFTCO’s sustainability strategy by completing a landscape analysis of similar businesses to identify common themes, best practices and opportunities for differentiation in communicating AFTCO’s sustainability strategy. We also reviewed AFTCO’s current set of conservation and sustainability web pages, and identified opportunities to weave a cohesive through-line focused on the identified overarching goals.
Eddie Aikau Foundation
PPS was asked by the Eddie Aikau Foundation to manage media relations for the 2025-2026 Rip Curl Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau surf contest, considered the “Super Bowl of Surfing.” PPS works closely with Rip Curl, other event sponsors, and the City & County of Honolulu to ensure that the media has timely and accurate information related to THE EDDIE competitors, Opening Ceremony and swell alerts.
Pet Sustainability Coalition
In order to ensure the objectivity and integrity of the Pet Sustainability Coalition’s (PSC) accreditation process, our team provided independent, third-party verification and oversight for their Accreditation Program. PSC’s Accreditation Program uses the SDG Action Manager, a globally recognized third party assessment, as a starting point to evaluate a company’s strengths and weaknesses to inform the development of custom sustainability strategies for each PSC member company.
In addition to serving as the Verification Team for PSC, our team provided ongoing, strategic guidance to PSC related to the Accreditation Program.
Shedd Aquarium
Planet+Purpose Solutions supported Shedd Aquarium’s goal to divert 90% of its waste from landfill by conducting a large-scale operations and supply chain single-use plastic audit followed by recommendations and implementation of cost-effective, sustainable alternatives and solutions.
PPS also worked with Shedd to provide support to single-use plastic policy efforts in the region. We also helped Shedd implement a local business engagement initiative to reduce single-use plastic food service ware called Let’s Shedd Plastic.
Shedd is one of the world’s most respected aquariums with research, rescue and rehabilitation facilities. This landmark cultural institution in Chicago welcomes 2 million guests a year.
Rachel Chesnes (@raychezzy)
Rachel Chesnes (@raychezzy)
Global Critical Logistics
Global Critical Logistics (GCL) completes more than 10,000 projects per year in over 160 countries, enabling some of the world’s most iconic moments including coveted live music tours, global mega-events and tournaments, sports broadcasting, film and television production, and experiential events. PPS worked with the team at GCL to draft the company’s annual impact reports for 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Atlantic Packaging
In 2022, PPS supported Atlantic Packaging’s EcoVadis successful scorecard application. EcoVadis is a business sustainability ratings and ESG compliance software that is used by companies around the world to evaluate their supply chain. We also reviewed additional sustainability questionnaires provided by Atlantic Packaging’s key customers in order to develop a roadmap to address opportunities and gaps in their sustainability strategy.
