Our first Social Enterprise Profile is on Kenai Sports, a unique and innovative sportswear brand that makes clothing out of trash – yes, trash – pulled from landfills across the country. Every day, they take tons of plastic bottles, cell phone cases, keyboards, and organic waste like coconut shells, corn husks, soybean shells, and more, and turn it into the world’s best sportswear, here in North America – building jobs, supporting a weak economy, and strengthening our future. Charlie Bogoian, the company’s founder and COO, spent some time discussing Kenai Sports for us.

If you’d like to support Kenai Sports, please visit their Kickstarter Campaign page by Clicking Here.

Why did you start your business and how did you get it started?

We started Kenai Sports because of our acknowledgment that the world is made up of finite resources, and businesses have a duty to protect the environment through their operations. The garment industry is one of the biggest culprits on the injustices done to both people and the planet — there had to be a way to innovate and bring socially-conscious practices to this old industry. We found out that the upholstery industry was utilizing recycled fabrics, and then the wheels began turning. From there, we connected with a local Cut and Sew apparel manufacturer, shared our vision, and were “off to the races.”

What do you sell?

Kenai Sports is a unique and innovative sportswear brand that makes clothing out of trash – yes, trash – pulled from landfills across the country. Every day, we take tons of plastic bottles, cell phone cases, keyboards, and organic waste like coconut shells, corn husks, soybean shells, and more, and turn it into the world’s best sportswear, here in North America – building jobs, supporting a weak economy, and strengthening our future.

Who are your customers?

At Kenai, we work with collegiate athletic programs and government agencies to create sustainable apparel programs to implement in their respective organizations.

How do you measure success?

Working with college and university athletic programs on swapping out traditional sportswear items like uniforms, training gear, and general issues items, Kenai has revolutionized the sportswear industry. What once was a market dominated by players polluting rivers, consuming mass amounts of petroleum for fabric production, and emitting exorbitant carbon emissions, now stands a market challenged to deliver goods that make a difference – where customers now know to ask, “Can we do this sustainably?” For Kenai, this is marketplace adoption; this is success.

What part of your business are you most passionate about?

In the process of understanding the impact of pollution and trash on our planet, all of us at Kenai have become acutely aware and passionate about the importance of animal rights – both wild and domesticated. Organizations like the WWF, protection groups like the MSPCA and IFAW, and countless others, are doing work that we support in both volunteer hours, and financial contributions. We feel passionately in protecting members of the natural world whom are completely defenseless – through no doing of their own.[/one_third_last]

What value do you bring to the community that you are a part of?

Kenai’s direct impact is on the earth; every order placed results in materials being harvested directly from a landfill (two “football fields worth” of trash to date), and manufactured into a useful product. Kenai also provides customers with thought leadership, assistance in research and mentoring to others, and help in creating a sustainable brand message. With its North American supply chain, Kenai will directly contribute to domestic manufacturing job creation as more orders are placed.

What sets your business apart from others?

Kenai is poised to assume a market-leading position in sustainable apparel. The competitive advantage comes from the comprehensive “green” offering the company can provide customers. From a product standpoint, there are few competitors currently offering apparel made from recycled content harvested from landfill. Going beyond the product, to the process standpoint of the business, the company was intent on creating an Operations plan that was as environmentally-conscious as the clothing itself. A transparent, locally-based supply chain not only allows for a collaborative relationship, but also provides Kenai Sports with the ability to confidently believe in the socially-conscious nature of their production process.
Sustainability is undoubtedly becoming an increasingly important factor in consumer buying decisions. More media coverage is dedicated to highlighting environmental and social issues — the public is becoming more aware that the Earth is a finite resource, and it is incumbent upon to reflect this in their operations. Kenai is at the forefront of this movement, and the company has noticed great support from a more educated customer base.

What is the biggest challenge that you are facing right now with your business?

A constant challenge for us at Kenai is to overcome is the entrenched customer mindset that products of value can’t come from recycled sources – that, in fact, trash is trash. Breaking through this barrier is very much a show and tell endeavor: showing samples, explaining how it is that we make our innovative products, and why it matters so much. Through simplifying steps and showing the conviction in creating measurable impact, we become thought leaders – and can begin to define our own meaning of “value.” On an even broader scale, Kenai represents a redefining of value in the apparel industry. Instead of focusing on cost minimization (and inherently ignoring harmful effects this brings throughout the supply chain), Kenai presents their business to potential customers on a strictly value-creation basis. We’re asking buyers to reshuffle priorities in their purchase decisions, and begin to see how much power they have with the choices they make.

Why do you think that social enterprise is important?

Social enterprise, at its core, is market-based solutions for community-based problems. It’s a way to solve the greatest issues facing how we live – social injustice, economic loss, environmental damage, and more – driven by mutual benefits between corporations, customers, and the disadvantaged. From Kenai’s perspective, social enterprise is important because it is an expedited driver in providing answers, making change, and satisfying many more people, instantly, than the non-profit model of yesteryear. If by selling more product, or providing greater services for profit, we can increase our capacity to do good – and not just because we have more money, but because it is intrinsically tied to what we do – everyone wins, and we’re encourage to grow. Far more than a model that requires community donation of time and resources, social enterprise creates a cult of do-gooders, energized by a common goal, and satisfaction with a return on their investment.

What role has reSET played in your business development?

reSET has played a critical role in our development as a company, thought-leaders, and entrepreneurs. Having an organizing and leading authority guide our progress has been an invaluable tool that has given us direction in times of need, funding to encourage growth, and press when headway is made. reSET, from early on, recognized our mission as an arduous one – and has been there every step of the way to provide their network, talent, and experiences in helping guide our own.

If you’d like to support Kenai Sports, please visit their Kickstarter Campaign page by Clicking Here.