This summer, Sustainable Carolina and Hanesbrands are hosting interns for an eight-week internship. Meet the three interns who are getting a crash course in public-private partnerships and the impact of these collaborations on sustainability efforts.
Last fall, our newly established Champion Sustainability Fund, in partnership with Hanesbrands, Inc., gained momentum. As we began receiving project ideas, we found ourselves asking, “What’s next?” Luckily, our partners at Hanesbrands had the same question — we both hoped to expand our collaboration.
We started dreaming up summer internship ideas together. We landed on two different internship roles: a social marketing and policy analysis internship. The social marketing internship would focus on developing a pilot campaign on Cold Water Wash. The policy analysis internship would take a deep dive into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Social Marketing Interns
According to Hanesbrands Sustainability, every year, 90% of the energy used in washing clothing comes from heating water. When you consider that the United States and Canada wash 25 billion loads annually, that’s a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside Tide, Hanesbrands carried out a memorable campaign on cold water wash with Ice-T and Steve Austin in 2022.
By the end of summer, the social marketing interns hope to better understand student behavior when it comes to doing laundry. They’ll be researching Carolina’s current on-campus laundry facilities and what motivates behavior change in students. With this information, they’ll develop a campaign that can be used not just here in Chapel Hill, but also across the state and country.
Hanna Berger
Hanna Berger is a recent Carolina graduate. This past May, she received a degree in environmental studies. She also minored in advertising and public relations at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media.
“I’m passionate about using strategic communication as a force to successfully implement sustainability initiatives and evoke powerful change,” said Berger.
Berger hopes to expand her marketing experiences through this project and gain knowledge on how leading companies can think outside the box to reduce their impacts on the environment.
Sierra Pfeifer
Sierra Pfeifer is a rising senior at Carolina studying at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. She’s also majoring in Spanish. She grew up in Hillsborough, NC and is passionate about sustainable practices, environmental conservation and environmental storytelling.
“I’m excited to use my experience with graphic design, reporting and research to change the way students think about incorporating practices in their daily life,” said Pfeifer.
During the second week of the internship, Pfeifer and Berger traveled to Hanesbrands corporate headquarters in Winston Salem to learn more from the company’s consumer insights team. This site visit will be instrumental as they assess laundry facilities on campus and think about ways to get more students to wash their clothes in cold water.
Energy Efficiency Policy Review Intern
Hanesbrands sustainability goals are grouped under three umbrellas: people, planet and product. By diving into the IRA, the energy efficiency policy review internship will help the company achieve its goals under the “planet” umbrella. Specifically, by 2030, Hanesbrands aims to reduce scope 1 (direct) and 2 (electricity) emissions by 50%. It also aims to reduce scope 3 (indirect) emissions by 30%. Scope 3 includes things like how consumers use their products — how are they washing and laundering the products?
Ella Feathers
Ella Feathers is a rising senior studying economics, environmental studies and journalism. Through UNC Student Government’s Department of Environmental Affairs, Feathers helped coordinate the University’s first energy transition town hall this past semester.
“Throughout my time this summer, I hope to learn more about modern environmental policy and environmental sustainability, as it relates to consumer industries,” said Feathers.
Feathers also works as a research assistant for the Data-Driven EnviroLab, led by Angel Hsu. The lab looks at large-scale and unconventional data sets to create policy solutions to the world’s environmental issues.