Source aims to be envy of marketing world

Source Marketing of Westport, a member of the MDC Partners Network, has announced the launch of Envi Marketing, a subsidiary dedicated to integrated marketing focused on sustainability. Source and Envi have already engaged an affiliation with National Geographic and will also be moving physically to iPark in Norwalk.

Through a network of entertainment, media and lifestyle partnerships, Envi group is an attempt to work with companies to drive growth through marketing dedicated to social responsibility.

“The need to focus on sustainability is real and is now being embraced by consumers and companies in a more mainstream fashion,” said Source Marketing CEO Derek Correia. “There is a clear need for agencies that are specifically focused on helping clients navigate this area in ways that are good for both the environment and their bottom line.”

The company plans to move into its new offices in Norwalk”™s iPark, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified building.

The first endeavor for Envi Marketing is already underway, a program called Agents of Change, a 2008 awards initiative developed in partnership with National Geographic.

National Geographic will support the effort on all of its media platforms. An advisory board that includes scientists, celebrities and environmental experts will narrow down the nominees to a group of finalists, with winners chosen by the public via the program”™s Web site. Finalists will be honored in Washington, D.C., and provided with a series of grants and opportunities to further their visions.

“This is a tremendous and timely program,” said Catherine Gordon, senior vice president at Envi Marketing. “Sincere and authentic in its intent, participating sponsors will be able to have a meaningful, widespread impact in association with National Geographic, the voice of the planet for over 100 years,”

“There is a burgeoning segment of the population that wants to make a difference but doesn”™t have the time or the resources to volunteer or become an activist,” said Mark Toner, Source Marketing”™s managing partner. “An easy way consumers can be involved is through their purchase decisions. Every one of us can make a difference with our wallets.”

Other clients of Source Marketing include AOL, BIC, Boar”™s Head, HSBC, M&M Mars, Philips, Reckitt-Benkiser, Pfizer, TIAA-CREF and Time-Warner Cable.