Community-based Social Marketing (CBSM)

We implement community-based social marketing (CBSM) to meet communities where they are.

Cascadia applies community-based social marketing (CBSM) best practices to move goals from intention to strategy to action, focusing on the micro and macro barriers and motivators that drive an audience’s engagement. We conduct research and analysis to understand the community or audiences we are hoping to engage. We design programs that incorporate information, assistance, and incentives that meet audience needs. We test our approach with focused pilot programs that integrate ongoing evaluation and impact assessment, collecting insights and feedback to help us refine and relaunch—and then we scale up to maximize our impact.

Examples of our support include:

  • Contamination reduction campaigns for residential and commercial recyclers
  • Food waste prevention campaigns for families and commercial establishments
  • Reuse campaigns promoting durable alternatives to single-use disposables
  • Stormwater pollution prevention campaigns focused on leaks, spills, litter, and illegal dumping
  • Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and wastewater campaigns for households, campuses, and multi-use properties
  • Special collection and hazardous waste management
  • Climate workforce program development support for industries and institutions
  • Natural yard care campaigns promoting alternatives to herbicides and pesticides
  • Energy efficiency direct install programs for residents and small businesses in priority equity areas
  • Pollinator habitat protection campaigns for households and landscapers
  • Drive-alone trip reduction programs that promote ride share, public transit, and active transportation options with commuters and their employers

Selected Project Highlights

Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program

We’re supporting Pacific Northwest tribal communities with shaping inclusive long-range greenhouse gas reduction strategies.

Restaurant Grease Disposal Community Jobs Program

We developed and implemented a FOG interceptor training program to support local businesses with FOG compliance.

Oakland Recycles: Contamination Critters

We created a “contamination critters” campaign to help residents recognize contaminants when recycling.

Snohomish County (WA) Rainscaping Community Campaign Co-Design

We helped co-design a stormwater pollution reduction campaign for DIYers.

Seattle (WA) “Unflushables” Behavior Change Campaign

We worked to implement an effective CBSM wastewater campaign… in the bathroom.

SB 54 Waste Characterization Study

Cascadia, on behalf of CalRecycle, worked with partners at ReCreate Collaborative, MSW Consultants, and Stina Inc. to develop this foundational study.

Woodland Park Zoo Pollinators Campaign

We supported WPZ with designing and launching a statewide pollinator protection campaign.

King County Communities of Opportunity

We support COO in its mission with administrative, logistical, evaluation, and communications expertise.

Cascadia partners with USAgain to assess what it will take to address textile waste in California

California is landfilling nearly 1.2 million tons of textiles each year—at a cost of roughly $99 million annually. In partnership with USAgain, Cascadia analyzed how...

Cascadia partners with the Seattle Center to reduce landfill disposal by 50% by 2030

To help the City of Seattle cut landfill disposal in half by 2030, Cascadia partnered with Seattle Public Utilities to examine food waste at major public events....
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