Our sustainability statement
We are committed to playing our part in making the world a better place for the living and for generations to come. Our founder and Lead Photographer carries the sustainablity vision for our team. Each member of the team is encouraged to assess their impact in society and how they contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Rallying behind such a cause has forced us to re-examine our predispositions, practices and workflow. In our endeavor to make an impact through our craft we have over time made a number of personal and business changes.
If we are to end poverty in the world, one major consideration should be access to opportunities. We have a business model that provides freelancers the opportunity to work with us on a non-binding basis. We deliberately leave room to outsource some of our labor for big events and assignments allowing us to be a conduit for other talented people in our line of work to get an income. We also mentor young people who are interested in photography/videography and are proud to see many of them join the industry as professionals.
We have upgraded some of our portable lighting equipment to enable us switch from using ordinary AA alkaline batteries to rechargeable lithium ion batteries. A standard on-camera flash unit takes 4 AA batteries and would consume power from over 2000 alkaline batteries from the time it is brand new to the time it is decommisioned. Upgrading our gear means an on-camera flash unit now cycles through a maximum of two lithium ion batteries in it's lifespan. Since some of our equipment still require AA batteries, we have opted for rechargeable NiMH batteries that can typically be recharged for 1000 cylces. Therefore, where a total of 2,000 batteries would have been used before, we now use a maximum of 8.
Eclectic Media delivers soft copy content through online platforms or re-usable media like flash disks and portable hard drives instead of DVDs. This has seen us switch from collectively purchasing and delivering over 1,000 DVDs a year to our clients.
We have cut back on printing of quotes and invoices by 80% and resorted to sending said documents via email. Invoice validation (signing and stamping) which necessitated printing of invoices is now facilitated using online tools.
We use our art to address social issues. Our genre gives us the platform to tell stories and highlight agendas that are aligned with the SDGs. When we focus too much on trying to make a living we may forget that we have the power to convey strong messages through our art form. One of our highlights is the WiziKE project which is a photo story that spoke against corruption and painted a picture of the gap in social classes within Kenya.
As we decomission equipment and related accessories, responsible disposal is key. Rechargeable batteries are known to be harzadous to the environment due to their toxic nature. Our batteries shall be disposed in "Call to recycle" bins positioned in or next to different malls within Nairobi and our dead equipment shall be handed over to repair techs who will strip them and re-use any viable parts.
"Move, act, do something....intent means little, impact matters more." - Carlisto Ochieng