5 World Environment Day Commercials That Delivered Wake-Up Calls With Profound Messages

Over the last month, we have covered many World Environment Day commercials, ranging from funny and impactful to ones based on government or private initiatives. The one common feature amongst all of them was the underlying message of environmental protection and conservation. When it comes to messaging in the advertising world, it can either be subtle as seen in the ads we have covered so far or it can be quite palpable as we are about to see in the ads lined up ahead.

So, here we are with 5 thought-provoking World Environment Day commercials that prove great advertising can stir not just conversations, but real change. Let’s dive in!

1. TataPravesh: DoorwaytoGreen (2018)

When calling for environmental protection measures, we come across an often-repeated phrase i.e. “Let's leave a greener earth for our children and future generations.’ Why? Because we adults are selfish and nothing exemplifies this better than this 2018 advert.

The ad opens against the backdrop of a social experiment with a woman asking a group of people to draw something from the crayons provided to them. Their only instruction is to pick their colors wisely as there would be another group coming in after them that would be asked to draw from the remaining colors. Despite the instruction, the adults use all the green colors to happily draw village and nature landscapes. The next group consisting of children is only left with black crayons, which resulted in black and white drawings from them.

While the adults express guilt and remorse later, the damage had already been done. Thankfully, it was only a drawing. But with such negligent and indifferent attitudes that we see from adults, can we ever be sure of the environment not being reduced to similar shades of black, gray, and white in the future as seen in those children’s drawings?

I’ll leave you to ponder upon that question!

2. MeshMinds: PLASTIK (2022)

Imagine a child drowning in a sea of plastic, and people and pets consuming plastic-made food. Seems scary, right? Unfortunately, such images aren’t too far away from turning into reality if we don’t put an end to plastic pollution now!

In this short film by the Singapore-based creative technology studio and nonprofit foundation MeshMinds, a child is shown looking at hyperrealist glimpses of a plastic-filled future through a plastic-made telescope. The message is rather simple- end plastic pollution today if you don’t wish to be drowned in it tomorrow.

3. United Nations: Only One Earth (2022)

There are billions of galaxies in the universe and our galaxy has billions of planets. But there is only one earth.

This United Nations advert sheds light on the highly adverse impact that industrial development has caused on the environment. From exploiting nature for products to creating a climate catastrophe and driving certain species to extinction and critical endangerment levels– our activities have taken a massive toll on the planet. Thankfully, the world has come together in the past to prevent environmental catastrophes. From repairing the ozone layer to restoring millions of hectares of land and marine ecosystems to protect thousands of species– there are shining examples of combined human efforts to seek inspiration.

But time is running out. Are you ready to act now?

4. Royal Enfield: Leave Every Place Better (2023)

There’s a reason why people like biking across uncharted or remote territories. It is the lure of exploring unknown lands that often makes them go biking across trails, gravel roads, or wilderness routes that may be partially unexplored or less developed.

But while some want to explore the unexplored, others simply tend to exploit the scenic gifts of mother nature. While some leave with countless memories of the natural beauty of the places they visit, others simply raid those venues and leave litter behind.

Thankfully, there are always a few who ensure to leave every place better than before. Which of the two kinds of visitors are you?

5. Hindustan Unilever: Water

And here’s my favorite and surely one of the most impactful adverts that we have covered so far in all blogs on World Environment Day commercials this year.

The ad showcases a group of villagers in India discovering a water shower in their village. By the time an urban resident finishes showering, half of the villagers had quenched their thirst. Need I say more about the messaging of the advert? I don’t think so!

Wrapping Up

That’s a wrap of our last blog on World Environment Day commercials. But while we might be done with our coverage of these ad campaigns this year, efforts towards environmental protection and conservation must keep going 247. And brands must do every bit to highlight these endeavors and the need for such efforts.

We’ll be back with more amazing ad campaigns for you. Till then, stay tuned!