Brands Come to Action This Earth Day

While we continue to grapple with an unprecedented economic, health and livelihood crisis, it somehow counts for a good time to reflect on our surroundings and plan solutions for a better tomorrow. This time has indeed been a learning for us, to reset our settings and change our perspective towards the mother Earth.

Especially during this time, when humans are nesting and the environment is healing itself, brands are effectively leveraging, celebrating and spreading the right message to lift spirits this World Earth Day. They are voicing and adjusting to the environmental concerns and actioning their agendas. They are smartly crafting strategies around these dynamic shifts and making the most of this special day, along with ensuring to be on top of their consumers’ mind.

L’Oréal is one inspirational brand in this respect. Over the years, it has come up with carefully designed campaigns and thoughtful ideas to encourage environment-friendly activities. L’Oréal Paris this year will embrace the ambitious mission of reducing its carbon footprint by 50% per finished product. It will also contribute 10 million Euros to environmental projects whose beneficiaries are communities of women around the world through its sustainability program, “L’Oréal For the Future, Because our Planet is Worth it”, initiating the brand’s latest set of ambitions for 2030.

“Now is the time to accelerate sustainable innovation, to make the shift to a circular economy and to reduce the impact of our products,” said Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, Global Brand President, L’Oréal Paris. “We are not starting from scratch. Between 2005 and 2020, our factories and distribution centres have already reduced CO2 emissions by 82%, water consumption by 44%, and waste generation by 35%.”

Reebok too has joined the bandwagon by launching a new version of its innovation in running footwear: Floatride Energy GROW, the plant-based running shoe for high-performance. It guarantees at least 50% of the used materials are plant-based. 

“This no-compromise, sustainable approach is wonderful to experience as Reebok takes steps (no pun intended) towards doing their part for the future of our planet," commented Joel Charley, COO Midnight Runners UK.

Reebok is majorly focusing its sustainability efforts under two pillars: [REE]GROW, which focuses on the creation of products from natural materials; and [REE]CYCLED, which focuses on creating products using recycled or repurposed materials. 

As part of a continued commitment to sustainability, and in celebration of Earth Month, Fossil has also launched their latest pro-planet assortment. The launches follow commitments that Fossil announced in 2019 as part of our ongoing Make Time For Good initiative, dedicated to making change in communities throughout the world through pro-planet materials, products and packaging, as well as reducing our footprint in water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The cactus leather totes and Solar Watch are an example of new materials and sustainable partners that Fossil has cultivated in an increased push towards leaving a lighter footprint for a more sustainable future.

Fossil is one of the first retailers to introduce vegan cactus leather, an innovative material new to the industry. The leaves come from cactus plants that require only rain water and Earth minerals for growth. Once harvested, the leaves are dried in the sun for three to six days, which removes the need for any additional energy source for the drying process. Not only is this an energy-efficient processing technique, but no herbicides, pesticides or irrigation systems are used in the production of the cactus.

"After witnessing first-hand the impact that tanneries have on the environment, we sought to create a vegan alternative that leaves a lighter footprint while meeting our rigorous quality standards," mentioned Desserto cofounder Marte Cázarez. “Almost immediately, we decided to leave our jobs and dedicate the next two years to designing and creating a solution."

National Geographic in India, with a mission to ignite hope and change among the planet-conscious viewers, is bringing in Planet Possible to celebrate Earth Day 2021. It seeks to inform, inspire and empower viewers by bringing them stories of ingenuity, grit, hope, and optimism.

Encouraging viewers to bring about a change – either through the biggest or smallest of actions, Planet Possible aims to inspire people of all ages to step outside their realities, ask questions, look closer, and forge a deeper understanding of the world and their place in it.

“At National Geographic, we draw audiences with our creative storytelling; taking them on immersive, empathetic journeys. With an unwavering commitment to the world we live in, Planet Possible hopes to provide a perspective-shifting inspiration through our narratives - ‘Tiger Queen of Taru’ & ‘On the Brink’ and illustrate the most effective ways to help our world,” asserted Kevin Vaz, President & Head - Infotainment, Kids & Regional Entertainment Channels, Star & Disney India.

Godrej is also urging people to help slow down climate change, by turning to smart usage of resources, through a digital film.

It highlights the Godrej Group’s dedication and promise to India to limit global warming, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for energy-efficient processes by using renewable energy, water positive by reducing, recycling and reusing, and protecting our environment and its precious species.

Tanya Dubash, Executive Director & Chief Brand Officer, Godrej Group, said, “We are privileged to represent India by being one of the conglomerates participating in The Paris Agreement which aims to limit global warming. We are constantly striving to make all our businesses as efficient as possible to help create a cleaner, greener and better world. Our campaign #TwoDegreesCooler attempts to capture our deep commitment towards our country and our planet, to restore and heal and at the same time sensitize people to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.”