Green Doers

Aug 1, 2009

Rod Siegmund
President, Eco-Alberta Sales Agency
Calgary

While many environmentalists consider our culture of consumption to be at the root cause of environmental degradation, Calgary-based marketing company Eco-Alberta Sales Agency believes changing that culture is where it can do the most good. It has taken on the task of educating and informing retailers and consumers about its 20-plus clients’ products and their green advantages. Eco-Alberta president and sales manager Rob Siegmund explains that being a sustainable company is about educating and encouraging everyone to do any small part for the environment, because that will make the biggest difference.

AV: How did you get into this business?
Rob Siegmund: I’d always had a passion for the eco-realm. After about 25 years of sales and marketing, I felt the timing and the opportunity to enter and focus on green products could not be better. So what we did is we began researching various companies and the products that were available, ensuring that the companies themselves as well as the products took the environment into consideration. Over time, we have grown our product offering and the opportunities to introduce new products, like treeless paper products, eco-cleaners, baby care products, skin care cosmetics and lots more. We strive to be an all-inclusive solution for businesses, regardless of their industry.

How are you different from other marketing agencies?
I think we differentiate ourselves simply by our desire and willingness to educate not only our retailers but the public in general on eco-friendly products that are available. We have a team right across Canada that is passionate and continually excited to teach and inform business, industry and governments about the newest technologies and the options available in the industry. When we introduce a new product to a workplace or a retailer, we ensure that the staff and the employees understand the product, the applications, how to use it. [We] make sure everyone feels good about the product and they’re not afraid of it. People will speak on things they’re excited and passionate about, and we want to make sure they have the education and support to be passionate and excited about the products that they have.

How do you assess the companies you represent?
We’re fairly particular in that respect. We insist our partners are committed to sustainability and all that it stands for. For a company to produce an eco-product that during production is harming the environment seems to be rather ironic. We certainly want to make sure the operations themselves are in good standing and obviously take the environment into consideration. We also look for fair wages for their workers, minimal environmental footprint and a single effort to improve and push the envelope in regards to technology and so forth.

What do you see for the future of Eco-Alberta?
We see a tremendously bright future as our principles emblaze. I think we’ll become more of a norm than the exception. The global challenges aren’t going away, we know that. Eco-Alberta is here to help business understand and adjust their procedures to minimize the environmental impact.

What’s in store for sustainable companies?
Innovation and change always come about for this industry. This industry is no different than the other ones. There are new products entering the vertical that are not only green and equal but also highly needed within the province. Companies that embrace and excel with these new technologies will be ahead of the curve with respect to sustainability, which can only enhance their position in the marketplace and in their competitive offering.