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ABOUT SUSTAINABLE CARIBBEAN
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Where the planet, people, policy and partnerships co-exist.
Sustainable Caribbean serves clients from a diverse range of public, private and third sectors within Barbados and the greater Caribbean region. Rooted in a roofs to reefs approach, our focus is on enhancing the sustainable development of the blue and green economy in the region. Driven by innovation including digital and with a key cross - cutting theme being gender equity, we offer a range of services from consulting to training and moderation. Some of our key strengths are built upon a community to cabinet approach where grassroots voices including those of women and youth inform all of Sustainable Caribbean's work.
The key sectors of the blue - green economy that we operate in include waste management, marine conservation, renewable energy, fisheries and tourism.
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Within these sectors, our areas of key expertise include natural resource management including fisheries management, sargassum management and marine conservation, restoration & regeneration, climate change resilience and adaptation, innovation, economic and digital transformation, all within the context of sustainable development of the Blue - Green Economy.
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As a social enterprise, we continue to ensure that our work has social and environmental impact and changes our island, region and the World for the better.
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SMALL CHANGE BIG IMPACT!
Sustainable Caribbean inspires individuals to make small changes that create a big positive impact towards an environmentally sustainable and conscious Caribbean.
about the crate
After watching the documentary “ A Plastic Ocean” for the first time, Nikola left feeling a mix of emotions. She further realized that there was a need for greater education on and accessibility to alternatives to single use plastic products available in Barbados. This served as a catalyst for her to act. Taking two small pallet boxes (crates), Nikola attended her first pop up shop selling a small range of sustainable living products. From this sprouted The Crate Barbados.
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The Crate is the first of its’ kind in the Caribbean. It is your one stop eco shop for all things sustainable and for conscious Caribbean consumption. We pride ourselves on providing products that are single use plastic free and package free as much as possible to help you make simple swaps to low waste living.
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The Crate is much more than an online retail space; it is a community hub where individuals can come to learn, share, empower, inspire, act and encourage others to reduce waste and become more conscious consumers.
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Reach out to learn more on how you can join the movement for a more conscious Caribbean!
One Stop Eco Shop
Welcome to the Crate Barbados, the Caribbean's first one stop eco shop! At the Crate, we encourage you to make simple swaps to sustainability while being a more conscious Caribbean consumer.
ABOUT NIKOLA SIMPSON
Coming from a family of ocean lovers, Nikola has always been a water baby. From the first time that she saw a pod of over 300 dolphins in the wild at around age 6, she knew that her life would surround the sea.
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Whether she is referred to as a marine biologist, coastal manager, fisheries or sustainability consultant, whale, shark, turtle, mermaid, sargassum or plastic girl, what is clear is that she has a deep love and passion for the environment and ocean and the people whose livelihoods depend upon it.
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From the oxygen that we breathe to the fish that we eat and the jobs that these provide, we are more connected to our environment and ocean than we realise.
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Nikola, using her voice to speak and act for the environment raises awareness on sustainable fisheries, ocean conservation, plastic pollution and climate change within the context of the Blue - Green Economy in Barbados and the Caribbean.
After realising the negative impacts of plastic pollution on human and environmental health, Nikola realised that many alternatives were not available in Barbados. Over the past year, she has made a conscious effort to reduce her waste while educating and encouraging others to do the same. Out of this has grown a sustainable living retail store - The Crate. Nikola has also been instrumental in driving the plastic ban in Barbados.
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Further inspired by the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the store will work to tackle many of the areas of sustainable development - from good health and well-being to responsible consumption and production to life below water and climate action.
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Nikola is founder of Sustainable Caribbean and The Crate Barbados. As a marine biologist and natural resource environmental manager, Nikola has over 8 years experience working within the region.
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She is currently the Resident Explorer at the UNDP Accelerator Lab in Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean.
