We are lucky enough to live in an amazing world. The raw beauty of nature is awe inspiring and something that we must be continually grateful for. As I write this, the sun is shining, the sky is blue and I know that opportunity sits just around each corner.

The mountains are only a days drive away and I could hop in the car and head off for a week of snowboarding in the alps, or drive down to devon for a couple of days  surfing. Staying closer to home, I could get  covered in mud on the mountain bike, or go out for a long trail run on the South Downs. Enticing as all of these choices are they also serve to remind me that, for the sports and outdoor pursuits that we all love so much (and everything else in life) we are totally dependent on Mother Nature. It is so easy to get bogged down in life, distracted by the material currency of society, cars, TVs and cash that you forget this. It takes a real effort to lift up your head and have a look around at the bigger picture, but it is now, more than ever, that we must make that extra effort and stop burying our heads in the sand if we are to avert the crisis. Areas of natural wilderness, species, natural resources and fossil fuels are disappearing at an alarming rate and global temperatures are on the rise. Weather patterns are becoming unpredictable and more volatile and the polar ice caps are melting faster than ever. The world is changing and not for the better. Despite the many climate change cynics, we can all help to create change, it is not too late. In fact, we all have a responsibility to do so. If more of us focus on doing the little things in our own lives, then they will add up to big things and we can start to fight back, to show people that actually, some of us do care and intend to do something about it.

Running a socially and environmentally responsible company has always been at the heart of Moah’s core values and ambitions. We see a future where multi-national corporations no longer dominate and an enlightened consumer chooses smaller, ethically run and sustainable brands and businesses.

In this future, each purchase is carefully thought out and there is a wide choice of environmentally sound product that is no longer the alternative, but the norm. Businesses will co-operate and be less concerned with competing and more with serving their customers by creating excellent, needs driven products. This is still a dream and we, along with everyone else, have a long way to go before we can claim to be sustainable. We have an impact and the things we do cause pollution and damage to the environment. That is why we come to work everyday and strive to improve the way we run our business, the products we create and to reduce our impact on the planet. The current ways in which we can make a difference are by investing in more environmentally sound production methods, continually monitoring the conditions in the factories we use, finding more sustainable materials, using organic cotton and natural fabrics wherever possible and by our membership of 1% For the Planet. These are just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. For a full run down of our environmental efforts and what sets Moah apart from the competition, see The Way We Are.

Where others don’t, we like to take a positive view. Life is to be enjoyed but that doesn’t mean we should treat the planet as our playground at the expense of the environment. We need to preserve what we are privileged to have and safeguard it for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. On an individual level we can all think a little more, buy a little less, consider each purchase we make carefully and ask ourselves whether we really need it. Maybe there is another year in that jacket after all? Broaden your horizons this winter, examine how you get to the mountains and what you do when you are there. How much carbon are you responsible for emitting and what can you do to reduce your personal foot print? Climate change is not something that will just go away if we don’t think about it. We are all accountable and must do what we can. If we all stop and think and put in a little more effort, maybe we can turn this thing around.

Olly