Community Spotlight: Congruent Digital Commits to Going #StrawFree
Brian Jensen, owner of Congruent Digital, sharing his passion for the ocean with his son.
What does it take for someone to shift from passive observer to passionate advocate? In this Q&A we talk with Brian Jensen, the owner of Congruent Digital.
Congruent Digital is a Huntington Beach-based digital marketing firm. In this interview, Brian talks about his recent shift to going plastic straw-free and why Congruent Digital made a donation to StrawFree.org’s education and outreach program.
How did you hear about StrawFree.org?
I saw a post on Instagram and loved the concept!
Why are you passionate about the cause?
We treat the ocean as both our bathroom and our kitchen. There’s a floating patch of garbage in the Pacific that’s twice the size of Texas and 9 feet deep. Remote islands that were once pristine are now littered with plastic. Marine life and birds are eating this plastic and literally starving to death. It’s easy to slip into an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude – I’m as guilty of that as anyone. As a consumer, it’s almost impossible to avoid plastic, however, there are ways we can cut down on the amount of plastic we use and throw away. Making a conscious decision not be wasteful is a mindset.
I know you grew up in Salt Lake City, how did you develop a passion for the ocean?
I’ve always appreciated the beauty of the ocean and feel fortunate I get to experience it every day.
Tell us what you hope to see in the world or the US in the next 5 -10 years.
An awakening and a realization that we’re all in this together. Conservation, preservation, and sustainability shouldn’t be an issue that’s split between party lines or a priority for one country, but not another. The world is a beautiful place; my hope is that we can work together to keep it that way. Germany and Sweden are great examples of countries that have made recycling and waste management a priority. In Germany, 87% of the roughly 50 million tons of waste per year its citizens produce is recycled. Sweden is using waste-to-energy plants that incinerate somewhere around 50% or their garbage and that produces heat and energy for hundreds of thousands of homes. The movement has been so successful, they are actually importing waste from other countries.
Do you think businesses should actively take part in global issues like climate change and plastic pollution? If so, how do we support a shift in business models to think more global and intergenerational?
Absolutely. I think that many businesses are realizing that sustainability and being eco-friendly doesn’t have to translate to less profits. As consumers, we can work to influence and accelerate this shift by supporting businesses that are already working to make a positive impact.
Tell us about Congruent Digital?
Congruent Digital is a full-service online marketing agency located in Huntington Beach, CA. Our specialty is cross-channel digital marketing, which simply means we help our clients reach customers across the online channels they use to find information and purchase products or services. These channels include search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click advertising (PPC), email, social media and more. We also offer website development and PR services, so really anything a business needs to succeed online. I have a passion for the psychology behind what influences consumer purchasing decisions. I love helping businesses grow!