Marketing for the environment

The Minnesota weather is finally shifting from Winter to Spring and it’s changing just in time. April 22 is this weekend which means, Earth Day! I personally love Earth Day. A day dedicated to raising awareness for environmental protection is right up my alley. Earth Day has been celebrated since 1970 and as many as 193 countries participate with various Earth Day events.

Every year, there are great marketing campaigns centered around Earth Day. My favorite one this year is “End Plastic Pollution”.  The campaign’s goals are to change human attitude/behavior around plastics and to significantly reduce plastic pollution. I am strong supporter of using reusable water bottles which is why I love this campaign. In line with the “End Plastic Pollution” campaign there are a few businesses who have capitalized on this and decided to join the movement.

Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen is a family-owned company that manufacturers stainless steel reusable water bottles. They are offering 20% off for Earth Week. This promotion encourages consumers to purchase reusable water bottles instead of using plastic bottles. Creating a non-toxic solution to single-use plastic water bottles has been one of the driving forces since the company’s inception in 2004.

Adidas

For the second year, Adidas partnered with Parley, to create soccer jerseys from reclaimed coastal plastic waste before it reached the ocean. These jerseys will be worn by all 23 MLS teams playing the weekend of Earth Day. These jerseys are also available to purchase online for a limited time, along with a whole other line of products ranging from shoes to workout clothes. This campaign is meant to inspire other collaborations between companies to reuse ocean waste.

Parley for the Oceans

Parley is the space where creators, thinkers, and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction.

Parley collaborates with multiple companies who also take the pledge to reduce plastic waste that enters our oceans. Another recent collaboration is with Soma and Starbucks. Together, Soma and Parley created a BPA free glass water bottle with a bamboo cap and a sleeve made up of 90% plastic from the ocean. These bottles are sold in Starbucks across the nation.

Past campaigns

Ben and Jerry’s

In 2016, Ben and Jerry’s created a page on their website encouraging people to sign a 100% clean power petition.

Hydroflask

Also, in 2016, Hydroflask partnered with Deschutes Land Trust and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council to donate a tree for every Hydroflask that was purchased.

This Earth Day, I challenge you to use less plastic. Whether that includes buying a reusable water bottle or not using a straw at a coffee shop or restaurant. One small change from you can lead to a huge impact on the environment. Let me know what you will do this Earth Day to help our planet in the comments below or share your favorite Earth Day campaign!