8 Sustainable Campus Ambassadorships for College Students
- Molly Sneddon
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Being a student at Penn State, I'm well aware of the many brands that advertise on campus. Sunny days on the HUB lawn are populated with folding tables and student brand reps, promoting everything from trendy tumblers to popular dating apps. As the ambassadors pass out free merchandise and encourage visitors to spin the wheel, one question comes to mind: how sustainable are these practices?
I know firsthand how valuable ambassadorship opportunities can be. As a Depop campus manager, I got to practice my interpersonal skills, organize events, and push myself outside of my comfort zone. Therefore, this is not intended to be a dig on companies that aren't sustainability-focused; instead, we aim to provide students with a curated list of opportunities that may align more closely with their personal priority of eco-friendliness. With that, let's dive in!
This is an opinion piece. It is not an endorsement for any of the companies listed and does not reflect the opinions of Penn State University. Ambassadorships are in alphabetical order.
Beverages
As a certified B-Corp with an overall score of 94.2 (compared to the assessment average of 50.9), Brew Dr. Kombucha has certainly integrated sustainability into their business practices. Most notably, their kombucha is marketed as organic and probiotic, without any of the fake stuff. Their impact extends beyond their product, as they are a member of 1% For the Planet, having donated over $585,000 to environmental and social nonprofits. Additionally, Brew Dr. utilizes a variety of sustainability practices throughout their product's creation.
Brand partner for Campus Collaborative, which partners students with branding and marketing opportunities.
Climate Marketing
Clean Creatives describes itself as "a movement of advertisers, PR professionals, and their clients cutting ties with fossil fuels". With 2400 creatives and over 1300 agencies having signed their Clean Creative Pledge, they are making a noticeable impact in phasing out fossil fuels. A unique feature of Clean Creatives is their F-list, which "documents known relationships between fossil fuel clients and advertising and PR agencies", providing a unique and valuable insight into which creatives are promoting fossil fuels.
Penn State students Charlie Hurwitz and Zoey Joseph currently represent Clean Creatives on campus, and recently shared their experience with student author McKenna Murphy on Onward State.
Food Delivery
"From our kitchen to your table: seasonal, scratch-made meals by our chefs".
While this program is currently only offered in New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston, DIG is still worth mentioning. From office catering and delivery to family dinners, DIG provides easy, healthy meals. With a menu of salads, sandwiches, sides, and more, DIG offers a new and innovative way to dine out responsibly.
DIG's college ambassador program application details can be found here.
Secondhand E-Commerce
At their core, Depop aims to make "fashion circular" and "secondhand second nature". Their platform allows individual sellers to post their own secondhand clothing pieces, giving everyday people the opportunity to sell their used clothes. They claim that "25 million items that already existed have been given a second life by Depop users since 2021".
As ambassadors, students organize events on campus with student groups and local sellers to create unique, sustainable opportunities.
Depop offers ambassador programs each semester. Application openings are shared on LinkedIn, social media, and app push notifications.
Snacks
The Good Shopping Guide ranks Hippeas as a top-rated brand on the Ethical Crisps Ratings Table. According to Hippeas, "Chickpeas and yellow peas are farmed using 10% of the water of most proteins", reducing water usage and lowering carbon footprints. With a focus on puffs, chips, and straws snacks made of chickpeas, Hippeas aims to further sustainable farming practices.
In collaboration with Avena Foods Limited, Hippeas has developed the Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program, going one step further to truly pursue sustainability.
Brand partner for Campus Collaborative, which partners students with branding and marketing opportunities.
Skincare
Founded by YouTuber Liah Yoo, Krave Beauty seeks to simplify the sometimes overwhelming space of skincare products. They operate on the idea of #SlowdownSkincare, as they see the current skincare industry as "akin to fast fashion" in its rate of production.
With an emphasis on vegan and cruelty-free products from the start, Krave Beauty has always pursued sustainability. Now, they are B-Corp, Climate Neutral, and Plastic Neutral certified, with future goals to increase biodegradability.
"We will use our business as a force for good. We put people and the planet before profit. Period."
Ambassadorship information can be found on their social media accounts or on their website.
Apparel
With an overall "good" rating from sustainability scoring website Good On You, The North Face backs up its outdoor aesthetic with environmental practices. In addition to their standard jackets, pants, and adventuring wear, they have introduced The North Face Renewed, which "gives gear a second chance". This program refurbishes and repairs used brand apparel, then resells it for a discounted price. When customers send in their old items, they get credit towards their next purchase, incentivizing consumers to take part in the sustainability initiative.
Brand partner for Campus Collaborative, which partners students with branding and marketing opportunities.
Apparel
Earning an "its a start" rating from Sustainable Review and a "good" rating from Good On You, Timberland has taken sustainability seriously. Though they fall short of The Good Shopping Guide's GSG category benchmark, the company is still worth featuring, as it has made an effort towards embracing sustainability.
Whether it's more sustainable materials or regenerative farming, Timberland claims to have a "robust portfolio of recycled, renewable, and regenerative materials to deliver on our commitment to quality and durability".
Brand partner for Campus Collaborative, which partners students with branding and marketing opportunities.
Have you ever taken part in a campus ambassadorship program? Let us know in the comments below!