Upwelling Collective is a purpose-led sustainability advisory tailored to coastal lifestyle and adventure brands.
Our name draws from the oceanic phenomenon of upwelling where cold, nutrient-rich water rises from the depths to the surface, creating conditions for life to thrive. We’re building a collective of brands that care for and positively impact the communities and ecosystems they affect.
Your Principle Advisor
Happy day! I’m Matt, founder of Upwelling Collective and Ventura-based surfer and ultramarathon prone paddler. For nearly a decade, I directed ESG strategy at Nisolo, LLC, an ethical footwear and accessories brand, across a global supply chain spanning Asia, Latin America, and Africa. I crafted the brand’s sustainability framework then proved it could hold up under scrutiny: leading the organization to Certified B Corporation status, four consecutive years of Climate Neutral Certification, and a spot on Real Leaders' Top 100 Impact Companies list. The Sustainability Facts Label I developed was a Fast Company “World Changing Ideas” finalist and inspired the methodology you'll go through with Upwelling Collective. That in-house experience is what I’m stoked to bring to coastal lifestyle and adventure brands, minus the in-house overhead.
Our Approach to Sustainability
All brands want to do well by people and the planet, but most have not yet set sail on the journey to assess their impact and chart the course they want to take. Others have left the harbor, but are navigating heavy seas: competing business priorities, limited bandwidth, and no clear guide. Wherever you are on the journey, we’re here to guide you. Upwelling Collective's approach to sustainability is grounded in nearly a decade of hands-on experience with the certifications, standards, and frameworks that define best-in-class practice. Most sustainability efforts are fragmented. We navigate differently, assessing a brand's practices holistically across five interconnected pillars that together reveal where the gaps are, where the opportunities lie, and what it's going to take to realize your purpose.
1. Planet
Nature is the heartbeat of your brand. Our Planet pillar examines your carbon footprint, raw materials integrity and durability, manufacturing practices, packaging and distribution, and product end of life to understand your true environmental impact and identify your highest-leverage opportunities for improvement.
2. People
There are humans behind everything you make. Our People pillar examines wages, health and safety, worker rights, gender equity, and labor practices across your supply chain.
4. Accountability
The world's most credible sustainability certifications require documented systems, measurable targets, and verified progress. Our Accountability pillar builds that infrastructure into your organization so that when you're ready to pursue a certification, we walk with you from first assessment to final verification.
3. Transparency
Consumers, retailers, and regulators are asking hard and important questions. Our Transparency pillar examines whether your sustainability claims are specific, substantiated, and verifiable. We identify the gap between what you say and what you can prove, and partner with you to hone your sustainability story.
5. Governance
Sustainability that lasts requires sound governance. Our Governance pillar examines your ownership structure, board-level sustainability commitments, legal frameworks, and succession planning to ensure your values are protected as your brand grows and evolves.
Upwelling Collective is a proud member of 1% for the Planet.
We give 1% of our annual revenue to Ocean Conservancy.