United By Blue (UBB), the sustainable outdoors brand with a mission to remove a pound of trash from the world’s oceans and waterways for every product sold, and Luke’s Lobster (Luke’s), the Maine-bred seafood restaurant group, are working together to show the importance of keeping the world’s coastal waterways healthy. The two like-minded brands are selling a seasonal lobster grain bowl, and for every one sold, they pledge to remove a pound of trash from the world’s oceans and waterways at three co-hosted cleanups in Philadelphia, New York City and Maine.
“Our business relies on a healthy ocean to sustain our lobster population. So when we discovered United By Blue and learned about their mission and commitment to sustainably-produced apparel, we couldn’t think of a more natural partner in our efforts to support the coast,” said Ben Conniff, co-founder of Luke’s Lobster.
The co-hosted and promoted cleanups will leverage volunteers in New York City (March 24) and Philadelphia (late Spring) to pull trash from coastal waterways. They will culminate at a cleanup in Maine (June 10) where volunteers will pull trash from boats captained by the Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s Co-op, a co-op founded in part by Luke Holden, founder of Luke’s. The co-op is comprised of Maine fishermen dedicated to providing sustainably sourced lobsters to Luke’s Lobster customers around the world.
“The oceans are a primary source of protein for almost a billion people on Earth,” said Kelly Offner, UBB’s head of cleanups. “We’re really looking forward to hosting joint cleanups with a fellow B-Corporation who cares as much for the health of our oceans as we do. This is the first time our cleanup’s efforts will take us onto islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and this wouldn’t be possible without the partnership with Luke’s and the co-op.”
The commitment to coastal waterway conservation is paramount in this partnership. UBB believes that products made for the outdoors should be kind to the outdoors and uses materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester and hemp in their apparel and accessories to mitigate their ocean impact. Luke’s is committed to sustaining our coasts and the livelihoods of fishermen by ensuring their seafood is traceable and sustainably harvested.
“We’re honored to partner with and put our names next to Luke’s,” said Mike Cangi, UBB’s brand director. “Their commitment to strengthen fishing communities and to support waterway and coastal cleanup efforts made working together an easy choice.”
Two Flannels, the warm grain bowl made with a chilled split lobster tail, farro, greens, watermelon radish, artichokes, almonds and a lemon garlic vinaigrette, pays tribute to UBB’s organic cotton flannels. The seasonal bowl is available now through April 30 in nearly all Luke’s Lobster shacks and in UBB’s flagship cafe in Philadelphia.
To learn more about and get involved with UBB’s and Luke’s cleanup efforts, go to unitedbyblue.com/cleanups. Enter to win a trip to Maine and join in the effort to conserve our coasts: lukeslobster.com/win-a-trip-to-Maine.
Photo courtesy United By Blue
