Gabriella Javinett
Abiola Giwa
Chris Heanue
St. John's University
Charles Wankel
Keep this story going! Share below!
Sustain the Mag is an online media platform taking the taboo out of the traditional reduce, reuse, recycle mantra of sustainability. Through this platform, Sustain publishes articles, organizes community events, and produces video content to develop an engaged community dedicated to learning and furthering the sustainability movement.
Sustain the Mag was originally founded in 2017 by Reza Cristian. The main UN Sustainable Goal that is being achieved through this innovation is the goal to promote responsible consumption and production. Sustain the Mag offers style, food, and wellness tips that are beneficial to creating a balanced lifestyle that is also beneficial for the earth.
Sustain the Mag is run by a powerful team of fashion gurus, wellness experts, writers, and eco-friendly advocates. These former graduates banded together on the Queen Campus of St. John's University. Sustain the Mag delivers these sustainable lifestyle tips through informative online articles. For example, the magazine produced an article in their wellness section about "Drinking Your Way to Health." This article gives alternatives for the common whole milk option. This simple article advocates for the Life on Land Sustainable Development Goal. Each and every day cattle are being abused on dairy and meat farms, and these suggested milk alternatives that contain nuts or oats provide a way for the abuse of cattle to decrease.
The founder of Sustain the Mag, Reza Cristian, is a former St. John's University student who saw the need to improve the way that sustainability is seen in our world today. She believed that the way sustainability was presented to the general public was outdated and difficult to comprehend. To solve this problem, Cristian decided to curate a platform where she and her friends could share modified tips on sustainable living. It was her desire to deliver this life-changing information in a trendy, hip, and innovative way. Alyssa Ford, the wellness editor of Sustain the Mag, sat down with us last week to share the mission of the magazine with us. Ford stated that, "the primary goal for Sustain the Mag was to show that sustainability can be normalized." Ford also mentioned that sustainability is not only for the rich and wealthy; neither is it for those who live in California. Ford believes that sustainability in achievable for all mankind. Achievement of this goal is possible through a "less is more" approach.
Ms. Ford repeatedly mentioned in our interview that educating people and helping foster ideas that are in sync with "saving the earth" are a key part of the organization's focus.
Regarding the short-term effects of Sustain the Mag, the leadership team is hoping to focus on developing sustainability habits in their community. They have started spreading awareness throughout the St. John's community and New York City. Last year, they participated in an Earth Day event on the Great Lawn. They also hosted a Launch Party event in Brooklyn, NY. This event allowed people to enter for free through the donation of clothes. Collaboration is a large part of Sustain the Mag's outreach. For their launch, they collaborated with over 20 artists who were invited to showcase their work and collections. Teaming up with other businesses and enterprises that share similar beliefs is a more effective way to spread and grow.
Through outreach, collaboration, and other methods, Sustain the Mag has reached a large base of followers. Their ideas, events, and articles will help to keep the momentum they have created. Educating society on the importance of sustainability is both a short-term and long-term goal because it will have lasting effects in our society. As mentioned in our interview, a long-term goal of Sustain the Mag is to actually produce a print version of the magazine using sustainable resources and highly degradable materials so as to leave the least amount of effect on the environment.
"Normalizing sustainability" through three platforms of food, style, and wellness allows people of all walks of life to unite their passions with the idea of sustainability. Using these three pillars, Sustain the Mag has grown from a business of one (Reza Cristian) to a functioning company with hired editors for each platform, writers, and development developers. Employees that share the same passion as Ms. Cristian and Ms. Ford are attracted to a workplace environment where they can help others recognize the great need and importance of sustainability in the world today.
Ms. Ford serves as an editor of the Wellness section of Sustain the Mag, but also uses her skills in video editing to create video content and other materials that can be easily shared electronically. Ms. Ford also operates the Sustain the Mag Instagram page (@sustainthemag), which currently has over 3,800 followers. Using social media as well as collaborating with local businesses will help Sustain the Mag to spread their content and reach a larger audience.
Monthly activities also constitute a large portion of the outreach efforts of Sustain the Mag. These events help others to come together and share ideas, promote local businesses, as well as network with those who have the same passion for sustainability.
Sustain the Mag recognizes that we live in a community in this world, sharing the planet and resources, and have dominion over our land. They also recognize that we must be mindful of protecting our planet, for our current life and for future generations to come. It is for this purpose that Sustain the Mag wants to "normalize sustainability" so that everyone will understand their actions and work to "save the planet," as Ms. Ford stated, in a similar way.
Did you know that landfills are full with clothes that are not biodegradable? Did you know that if you buy your clothes from certain retail shops, you may be supporting businesses with unethical methods of producing clothing materials? Sustain the Mag aspires to spread truths such as these to the ignorant so that more people will be mindful the next time they go shopping or throw out some old clothes. An alternative to an unethical clothing chain could be supporting a local thrift store. By providing support to local businesses, helping small businesses, and at the same time saving money, this can make a big impact on the globe.
Sustain the Mag has a direct impact on society and the environment based on their articles published, the collaborations currently in place, as well as through social media and those who follow them and are exposed to their material. As they work to "normalize sustainability" they make direct impact on the planet they are working to save and protect.
Get stories of positive business innovations from around the world delivered right to your inbox.
Sustain the Mag is an online media platform taking the taboo out of the traditional reduce, reuse, and recycle mantra of sustainability. The company publishes articles, produces videos, and hosts events to bring awareness to different areas of sustainable living, disrupting complacency and refusing the old habits of an "over-consuming," "throw-away" society.
