The Ocean Produces More Oxygen Than the Amazon Rainforest
That is right—over 50% of the Earth's oxygen comes from marine plants, particularly tiny organisms like phytoplankton.
During my time as a strategy intern at Back to School for the Planet (BTSP), I was constantly engaged in practical tasks that brought sustainability principles to life. This non-profit, dedicated to adapting lifelong learning to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, provided a platform for me to apply my passion for sustainability in a real-world context. The role was both challenging and rewarding, offering deep insights into the complexities of driving sustainability initiatives beyond just theory.
My three core responsibilities included:
- Developing a product launch strategy
- Defining and creating an impact report
- Researching and mapping out a customer journey for the business
My first major responsibility was developing a product launch strategy for a new product aimed at gamifying sustainability to make it more accessible and engaging for our target market—consumers, corporates, and educational institutions. This task required a deep understanding of our audience and what would motivate them to engage.
Balancing profitability with sustainability was a delicate challenge, especially when factoring in eco-friendliness and a 1-for-1 donation scheme.
Another key takeaway was aligning supply chains with the company's mission. Through vendor research, it became clear that ensuring the product's positive impact would heavily depend on working with suppliers whose values aligned with ours. This experience deepened my understanding of ethical sourcing and taught me how to make tough decisions that ensured every part of the process truly reflected our sustainability commitments.
The second major responsibility was creating an impact report for BTSP. Initially, I thought it would be a straightforward data-gathering task, but I soon realised that defining and measuring impact is much more complex. I designed a reusable template and identified key performance indicators (KPIs) – such as programme adoption rates and carbon footprint reductions – to track quantitative and qualitative results, from the number of schools adopting our programs to reducing carbon emissions.
I gained key insights into connecting these metrics to a broader narrative. It wasn't just about presenting numbers; it was about demonstrating the tangible difference our work made and quantifying the Social Return on Investment (SROI). Developing these KPIs and measurement methods emphasised the importance of impact assessment and the importance of communicating these outcomes effectively to stakeholders.
My third responsibility was researching and creating a customer journey for BTSP, which involved mapping out how educational institutions would interact with our products and services. Through empathy mapping and user research, I outlined each stage of the customer experience—from initial awareness to post-purchase engagement.
This wasn't just about designing a logical flow; it required understanding the emotional and practical challenges faced by our target audience. For instance, I uncovered key pain points such as limited budgets and scepticism toward sustainability initiatives, which allowed me to develop strategies that made our offerings appealing and essential. This task taught me to think from the customer's perspective and create solutions that addressed both their needs and our sustainability goals.
Overall, my summer at BTSP was a transformative learning experience that went far beyond the specific tasks I was assigned.
Each responsibility pushed me to think critically about the real-world challenges of sustainability. I learned how to strategise, research, and implement solutions that address environmental goals while ensuring long-term sustainability and impact. More importantly, I developed a deeper appreciation for the complexities of turning sustainability ideals into actionable outcomes and the balance between creativity and pragmatism required to navigate these challenges.
Moreover, this experience made it clear that sustainability doesn't necessarily require highly specialised technical knowledge or prior experience. It indeed demands tenacity and the ability to act as "change agents." This mindset, more than anything, empowers individuals to overcome challenges and continue pushing forward in the field of sustainability—no matter how daunting the obstacles may be.
This internship experience was supported by the INSEAD Hoffmann Institute Impact Internship Stipend and gifts from alumni.
