Canadian Creations
Coastal Running Co.
It took Matt Smith a summer away from the Atlantic Ocean to become most aware of a growing problem threatening it. “In the summer of 2017,” says the Moncton, N.B. native, “I was working in the western provinces and kept hearing about the waste accumulating in the oceans back home on the East Coast, and everywhere for that matter.” An increasing amount of reports of dirty sandbars, beached whales and toxicity levels prompted the Saint Mary’s University cross-country and track-and-field student-athlete to take matters into his own hands when he returned to school in Halifax in the fall.
A business and arts double-major, Smith founded Coastal Running Company, a running and casual apparel brand dedicated to raising funds for ocean clean up and increasing awareness about the accumulation of waste in the ocean. Ten per cent of the company’s proceeds are donated to the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax.
A passionate runner, Smith wants to convey his message to a familiar demographic. “On the East Coast,” he says, “the running community is small and tight-knit.
Reaching out to people I know is my best chance at making a difference. Smith also points out that he was motivated after seeing running clubs and events around Canada focusing on trail and mountain preservation. “We wanted to be the first running-related brand that is dedicated to preserving the ocean,” he says.
While learning more about his market’s impact on the environment, Smith became concerned about unsustainable manufacturing processes. “The clothing industry is the second-most environmentally harmful industry in the world, behind energy,” states the 22-year-old. “Polyester and nylons break down, and their plastic wastes seep into the ocean.” Accumulation of plastic in the Atlantic Ocean has peaked in recent years. “People like to have an excess of clothes,” Smith says, “but to buy these products in bulk poses a big problem.” For that reason, Coastal Run Co. exclusively manufactures goods out of cotton and other recyclable materials. “We cannot stop people from wearing polyester,” says Smith, “but we want them to learn about the harms of these materials, and about what one person can do, even on a small scale, to be a solution to the problem. We want people to learn about how they can help.”
Smith has already come a long way since presenting his idea to a few teammates months ago. His brand is increasingly recognizable in Maritime running circles. Aside from helping out and supporting local track meets, the company now has an ambassador program, in which they endorse runners from all over North America. “We want to be visible, and spread our message without the use of expensive campaigns,” he says. “We love to connect with runners who care about their environment. The more people we can reach out to, the better.” In the near future, Smith envisions a Coastal Run Co.-sponsored race, at which an ocean clean-up event will follow the run. “I’m passionate about the beaches,” says Smith, “they have been a part of my life since I was little. It would be a shame for them to go to waste.” Alex Cyr is is a graduate student and varsity track runner living in Windsor, Ont.