Growing up in Singapore had a profound effect on Brian Linton, CLA ’08. Life on an island allowed him to develop a deep appreciation for waterways.

Linton moved to the U.S. to attend Temple, where he majored in Asian Studies. As a student, he was able to blend his eco-friendly ethos with entrepreneurship. By the time he was a senior, he had created Sand Shack, a jewelry and apparel website that donated a portion of its profits to protecting Cape Cod’s ecosystem, and won the 2008 Be Your Own Boss Bowl, a business plan competition for Temple alumni, faculty, staff and students. His winning plan was a coffeehouse that also sold organic produce and flowers.

In 2010, Linton founded United By Blue. The mission behind the outdoor apparel and lifestyle company was driven by his passion for protecting oceans and waterways. Linton chose to associate the sale of each product with a concrete environmental action. Now, for every product sold, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from the oceans and waterways that have fueled Linton’s passions. The company also has organized and hosted more than 135 cleanups in the U.S. and Canada.

In a world without Temple, we would be one step removed from living on a greener planet.

Learn more about the impact of Temple alumni.

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