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In the March edition of Set in Stone®, we’re highlighting a leader in dairy packaging, taking a closer look at the impacts current events are having on the global climate, and tapping into the minds of behavioral scientists to understand what influences consumer behavior
OKEANOS ® BUSINESS NEWSLETTER – March 2025
LechiaCo is changing the dairy game by delivering high-performance plant-based dairy alternatives that are as indulgent as they are sustainable. Scaling across Thailand, the UAE, and the US, the company has redefined what it means to produce dairy-free products—building a fully traceable, low-carbon supply chain that prioritizes both environmental impact and quality.
Embedded with sustainable practices from the start, LechiaCo has invested deeply in regenerative agriculture, forming lasting partnerships with farmers to ensure that every ingredient—from coconuts to macadamias—is sourced responsibly. By sourcing and processing locally and using packaging Made From Stone™ – traceable back to the stone source – the company has created a decentralized, circular model that eliminates unnecessary emissions and waste.
Thailand is the first market to experience this model in full effect with LechiaCo’s coconut yogurt. The entire process happens within the country: coconuts are grown on local farms, processed on-site, and packed in sustainable packaging made from locally sourced calcium carbonate, proving that plant-based products can be made sustainably without greenwashing or compromise.
LechiaCo isn’t just another plant-based brand. It’s a blueprint for the future of food—one that proves sustainability and indulgence can coexist.
Sustainable dairy isn’t easy
We often point fingers at cows and plastic pollution for our carbon footprint, but armed conflict is an often-overlooked climate catastrophe. War doesn’t just reshape borders—it scars the planet.
On the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a report from the Initiative on GHG Accounting of War revealed a staggering toll: Ukraine’s war-related emissions have surpassed 230 million metric tons of CO₂ since 2022. That’s equivalent to the annual emissions of 120 million fossil fuel-powered cars.
These emissions stem from tanks, fortifications, and the production of ammunition, explosives, and military equipment. Attacks on energy infrastructure, reconstruction efforts, and an increase in wildfires have further compounded the environmental damage, pushing total emissions beyond those of Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia combined.
Despite this immense impact, no formal mechanism exists to calculate or hold accountable the environmental destruction caused by war. However, Ukraine’s Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources has signaled that the country is preparing a reparations case against Russia—a step toward making ecological devastation a recognized consequence of conflict.
Learn more about the environmental impacts of global conflict.
This year, the global climate summit—COP30—will take place in Belém, Brazil, a city deeply intertwined with the climate crisis. Surrounded by the vast Amazon Rainforest, Belém is set to welcome 55,000 attendees, including government leaders, NGOs, and climate advocates. However, as preparations ramp up, concerns are mounting over the environmental cost of hosting such a large-scale event.
To accommodate the influx of visitors, 30 major infrastructure projects are underway, including a newly constructed 8-mile (13 km) four-lane highway slicing through the rainforest. While intended to improve access, scientists warn that roads like this fragment delicate ecosystems and disrupt wildlife. Additional projects include new hotels, a redeveloped port, a larger airport, and a city park—all raising questions about their long-term environmental impact.
The Amazon Rainforest absorbs 340 million tons of CO2 annually, roughly equivalent to the UK’s yearly fossil fuel emissions. Yet, rising deforestation rates have started reversing this process, turning parts of the forest into a source of carbon emissions rather than a sink.
This isn’t the first time a COP summit has required extensive development—past conferences in Egypt and Azerbaijan faced similar scrutiny. But a larger issue lingers: Does flying tens of thousands of people across the globe each year to discuss climate change contradict the very mission of reducing emissions?
As COP30 approaches, the world will be watching—will this summit drive meaningful action, or will its environmental footprint overshadow its purpose?
To learn more about Okeanos’ participation in global climate events, get in touch with our Government Affairs Team.
“You can’t do a don’t.” That’s the most important takeaway from our podcast with leading behavioral psychologist, Margarita Quihuis who is the Executive Director of the Peace Innovation Lab at Stanford University.
Here’s a quick Q&A to explain what it is and how it can help you reach your customers more effectively.
Q: What is behavioral design?
A: Behavioral design is the practice of structuring environments, choices, and experiences to influence human behavior. It draws on psychology, behavioral economics, and persuasive technology to encourage desired actions.
Q: How can brands use behavioral design to engage customers?
A: Brands can use behavioral design to simplify decision-making, create habit-forming experiences, and drive engagement. Techniques include social proof (customer reviews), urgency (limited-time offers), and friction reduction (one-click checkout).
Q: What are the three key elements of behavior change?
A: According to BJ Fogg’s behavioral model, three variables drive behavior:
Motivation – The desire to act (e.g., rewards, social influence).
Ability – How easy the action is (e.g., one-step processes, intuitive design).
Prompt – A trigger that cues action (e.g., notifications, limited-time deals).
Q: Why is simplicity so important in behavioral design?
A: People are more likely to take action when it’s easy. Reducing complexity—such as removing unnecessary steps in a checkout process—improves conversion rates. Brands like Amazon have mastered this with features like one-click purchasing.
Q: How do brands create long-lasting behavior change?
A: Instead of telling consumers what not to do, brands should introduce desirable alternatives. For example, rather than banning plastic straws outright, companies successfully shifted behavior by offering aesthetically pleasing and functional alternatives.
Q: What role does emotion play in behavioral design?
A: Emotion is a powerful motivator. Brands can leverage emotional triggers—such as nostalgia, excitement, or urgency—to influence decisions. For instance, sustainability campaigns that evoke personal responsibility or future impact can be more effective.
Q: How can brands make sustainability appealing to consumers?
A: By integrating sustainability into desirable lifestyles rather than forcing it as a restriction. Visual storytelling, aspirational branding, and economic incentives (e.g., cost savings for eco-friendly choices) can make sustainability a preferred choice.
Feel like you have more to master in the world of sustainability?
Catch the latest episode of Mastering Sustainability with Behavioral Design expert Margarita Quihuis on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you podcast.
Listen to Margarita on Mastering Sustainability!
Yvette Kuo joined our North American Sales team at the Okeanos Innovation Center in 2024, bringing with her a unique skillset, a positive attitude, and knack for problem solving. Read on to see what moves her, and what makes her tick.
I work in the Sales Department, and my job is dynamic!
Before landing at Okeanos, I built my experience as a classical pianist and music director, and studied at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
The Made From Stone application I’m currently most excited about is dairy packaging, because I love a good latte or milk tea every morning.
When I’m working, I’m listening to the Bossa Nova playlist on Spotify!
For news, I’m always tuned into Classic fm.
Outside work, I’m currently reading about alternative lifestyle choices that minimize PFAs exposure and promote better health for both people and the environment.
Number of countries lived in: 3.
Next place I want to travel: Sequoia National Park .
Learn more about career opportunities at Okeanos
Connect with our HR Team Today!
Global News You Should Know:
Scientists Tested 3 Popular Brands For Nanoplastics and YIKES! – Upworthy
Is Edible Packaging The Future ? – CSR Universe
Chewing Gum is Plastic Pollution, Not A Litter Problem – The Conversation