Why Spraying Systems Co is Climbing Real Mountains Instead of Attending Another Conference

In the ever-expanding universe of corporate sustainability, there's a new star on the rise: the sustainability summit. These gatherings of industry titans and government bigwigs are popping up faster than you can say "carbon neutrality." But here at Spraying Systems Co, we can't help but wonder: are these summits really moving the needle, or are they just another way to pat ourselves on the back for caring about the planet?

The Rise of the Sustainability Summit

Picture this: a grand ballroom filled with sharply dressed executives, sipping fair-trade coffee from compostable cups. The air is thick with buzzwords like "circular economy," "net-zero emissions," and "green innovation." Welcome to the modern sustainability summit, where good intentions and PowerPoint presentations collide in a whirlwind of eco-friendly enthusiasm.

Don't get us wrong, we love a good brainstorming session as much as anyone. But lately, it seems like these summits have become less about solving problems and more about being seen solving problems. It's as if we've collectively decided that talking about sustainability is just as good as actually doing something about it.

All Talk, No Walk

But let's face it, sustainability summits are the corporate equivalent of New Year's resolutions. We all show up full of determination, make grand promises about changing the world, and then... well, life happens. Budgets get tight, priorities shift, and suddenly that bold plan to revolutionize your supply chain gets filed away under "Maybe Next Year."

The problem isn't a lack of good ideas, nor is it a lack of enthusiasm. These summits are bursting with excitement, creativity and innovation. The issue is that too often, these ideas remain just that – ideas. They're big, beautiful, and utterly impractical for most companies to implement in the real world.

Consider the typical summit proposal: "Let's completely overhaul our entire production process to use only renewable energy and zero-waste materials by X date, 10 years in the future" It sounds great on paper, but in practice, it's about as realistic as deciding to climb Mount Everest when you've never even hiked a local trail.

Taking Sustainability to New Heights (Literally)

Here at Spraying Systems Co, we've decided to take a different approach. Instead of spending our time and resources attending yet another sustainability summit, we sent two of our team members to summit an actual mountain – Mount Rainier, to be exact.

Why, you ask? Well, for starters, it's a lot more exciting than sitting through another PowerPoint presentation. More importantly, it represents our philosophy that sustainability isn’t about talking big, it's about taking that first step and then keeping on climbing, no matter how tough it gets.

Our intrepid climbers didn't conquer Mount Rainier by discussing theoretical climbing techniques or debating the merits of various types of carabiners. They put one foot in front of the other, faced real challenges, and kept going until they reached the top.

The Obstacle is the Way

Think of sustainability like a mountain. From the bottom, it looks impossibly high. The summit is obscured by clouds, and the path to the top is steep and treacherous. It's easy to look at that mountain and say, "We need to get up there somehow," and then spend years planning the perfect ascent.

But while you’re spending all that time planning, the mountain isn't getting any smaller. Just like how climate change isn't politely waiting for us to finalize our PowerPoint slide decks, and waste isn't magically disappearing while we debate the finer points of circular economic theory.

At Spraying Systems Co, we believe the only way to climb that mountain... is to start climbing. Take that first step. Try something small but concrete. Learn from it. Adjust. Take another step. It's not glamorous, and it doesn't make for exciting conference speeches, but it works.

Small Steps, Big Impact

So, what does this look like in practice? Instead of drafting grandiose plans to eliminate all waste by 2030, we started by simply analyzing our waste streams. We identified quick wins – areas where small changes could make an immediate difference.

For example, our new SprayEASE^SM service suite is specifically designed to help our partners identify and implement simple, yet sustainable spray solutions. Practical things like rightsizing or replacing worn spray nozzles. It’s not revolutionary, but these small steps can have an immediate and extraordinary impact – helping to reduce water use, energy consumption and overall emissions production.

These aren't the kind of initiatives that make headlines or win awards at sustainability summits. But they're real, they’re tangible, and they’re making a difference right now, not in some hypothetical future.

The Power of Actionable Ideas

We don’t want to come off as judgmental, and to be clear we're not against big ideas. We love big ideas. But we love big ideas that are built on a foundation of small, actionable steps even more.

Want to reduce your water usage? Great! Start by conducting an assessment and fixing the inefficiencies you find. Want to revolutionize your supply chain? Fantastic! Begin by engaging with your suppliers and identifying areas where you can collaborate on sustainability initiatives.

These may not sound as exciting as pledging to become carbon-negative by 2030, but they're the kinds of actions that create real, lasting change. It’s like building your base camp before attempting a summit bid – the better outfitted your camp is, the better the odds of your success.

A Journey, Not a Destination

Here's another lesson we learned from our Mount Rainier expedition: sustainability, like mountain climbing, is a journey, not a destination. You don't just reach the summit and declare victory. You have to make it back down safely and then prepare for the next climb.

In the world of corporate sustainability, this means constantly reassessing, adjusting, and improving. It means celebrating your successes, but always looking for the next challenge. It means understanding that there is no "mission accomplished" moment – just a continuous commitment to doing better. 

The View from the Top

So, while our peers were attending their 100th sustainability summit of the year, discussing theoretical approaches to problems that seem insurmountable, our team members were standing atop Mount Rainier, looking out to the horizon.

From up there, the world looks different. Problems that seemed enormous from the ground look manageable. The path you took to get there is clear, and so is the path forward.

That's the perspective we strive for at Spraying Systems Co. We're not interested in simply talking about climbing the mountain of sustainability – we're actually doing it, one step at a time.

Join Us on the Climb

So, to all our fellow industry leaders, we want to issue this challenge: stop talking about sustainability and start doing sustainability. Skip the next summit and instead, take one concrete action to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't have to be big. It doesn't have to be perfect. But it has to be real.

Because at the end of the day, the earth doesn't care about our PowerPoint presentations or our well-intentioned pledges. It cares about results. And the only way to get results is to start climbing. So, we'll continue to lace up our boots and push to new heights. 

If you care to join, you know where to find us.