Unhinged consumption, excessive packaging and doing anything-and-everything to
push sales, sales, sales is slowly becoming what cigarette advertising was in
the last decade: Shameful. When I started in advertising, it was common practice
to add the agency’s name in fine print on the ads; often in the top-right
corner. For me it carried a sense of pride, but also a sense of responsibility.
However, what’s viewed as responsible is fast-changing. When Hollywood
blockbuster producer Harvey Weinstein was confronted with a tirade of sexual
harassment allegations, his lawyer termed it, “An old dinosaur learning new
ways.” Perhaps Weinstein should have spent more time in history class — we all
know the fate of the dinosaurs. For my parents’ generation, the post-war
generation, a good life was defined by material security and a steady job. For
new generations, that is giving
way
to a definition where self-development and self-actualisation matter more; where
meaning trumps pay; where story beats stuff; and where ownership of things is
just one of many options. We don’t buy stuff; we rent, share or loan. It’s time
we as an industry learn new ways.
Let’s use creativity to charter a new course
Sustainability is mainstream and brands are investing in changing products,
services and activities in a more sustainable direction — such as adidas’
recycled ocean plastic
shoes,
Carlsberg's
Snap
Pack
(eliminating the six-pack ring); or the circular product platform
Loop,
where packaging is collected, cleaned, refilled and reused.
These are great strides; and ultimately, what is needed — but has advertising
really changed its selling tune? As advertising watchdogs are doing their part
on equality and health, consumption is still under the radar — but for how long?
I don’t think we as an industry should wait for regulators; we should dare to
use creativity to charter new territories. Some campaigns are stepping up to the
challenge, such as REI’s
#OptOutside,
asking people to enjoy the outdoors rather than go shopping. Or Patagonia’s
“Don’t buy this
jacket,”
suggesting that people either “Reduce, repair, reuse, recycle or reimagine”
before they buy a new one. The clever startup, Doconomy — with its “Do
Black” credit card — shows the carbon footprint of your shopping, but it also
puts a carbon (consumption) limit on the
card.
And do we really need all that stuff? In the Western world the answer is simple:
We don’t! Fashion retailer Carlings has launched an all-digital clothing
line, “adDRESS_THE_FUTURE” — no new clothes, but young people can still look
fashionably cool on Insta!
More wholesome communication calories
Consumers increasingly savvy about sustainability claims
Join us to hear insights from brands including Applegate on marketing lessons from consumer response to sustainability claims on CPG packaging, at SB'24 San Diego — October 14-17.
If you’re busy selling, that’s what’ll you’ll become: A salesperson. Someone
easily ignored, skipped or having the door slammed in their face. We need to get
back to building brands that serve as lighthouses, rather than the cheapest
possible, towering, concrete slabs; somewhere for people’s brains to seek
shelter. I don’t expect us to succeed tomorrow, but I want us to have this
dialogue — as uncomfortable as it might seem.
I believe, naively maybe, that if we feed people’s brains with wholesome,
nutrient-rich communication calories; we will see healthier people, healthier
communities and healthier, longer-living brands.
What you need versus what you want
It’s a fine line to walk between what people want and what they need — what’s
good for you versus what you like or are tricked into thinking you want. It’s
like math. Take the alarming health crisis, with people getting fatter. There’s
nothing wrong with drinking a Coke; it’s when you add those calories up —
you either choose to stay within what’s needed, calorie-wise, or get tempted to
go beyond. Everyone has the right to draw their own lines as individuals, but as
an industry we have a significant role to play. The indecipherable nutritional
value charts on food and beverages don’t exactly help people make the choice
they need. So, what is the balance between what people need versus what we are
selling? Coca-Cola in 3-litre bottles? Buy 3 Snickers for the price of 2?
Get three jerseys and save the price of the least expensive? We shouldn’t lure
people into buying more than they need — that’s neither good for brand, people
or planet in the long term — but rather help people make it all add up to a more
meaningful life. If it’s not an informed choice, it’s called deceit. Brands
might be able to keep afloat on a short-term strategy and hide behind a cloak of
innocence, but every dinosaur step is one closer to extinction.
Would you put your name on a cigarette ad? What about a 3-for-1 promo?
The founder of Adbusters magazine, Kalle Lasn, has called advertising,
“The single largest psychological experiment ever carried out on the human
race.” When you do that next ad, think about if your children or your loved ones
would be proud to read your name on it! David Ogilvy famously said, “We sell
or else,” to emphasise his namesake agency’s effectiveness; but do we really
want to put the health of our planet, communities and those we love at stake for
another cheeky birthday sale? I don’t have the solution, but I want us to have
the conversation — let’s reimagine a new, responsible way forward. To do so,
I’ve attempted what I’m calling an ‘Unconsumption List’ — a new way of thinking
about how we consume and how we encourage others to do the same. Please do
include your ideas and input; this is only something we’ll be able to solve
together!
The Unconsumption List:
-
Don’t promote consumption as a route to happiness, success or love.
-
Excess promotions like combos, two-for-ones and three-for-twos are predatory
and unnecessary.
-
Promote needs, not wants.
-
Create meaning, not materialism.
-
Don’t use sales to promote mindless shopping.
-
Don't turn every day of the year into a shopping holiday. Christmas is
enough!
-
Fight the superfluous, from packaging to advertising.
-
Less is more, and is in fact what you need. No more three litre sodas!
-
When in doubt, refer to the 5 Rs: Reduce, repair, reuse, recycle or
reimagine.
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Thomas Kolster is an internationally recognised marketing & sustainability expert, author and keynote speaker, and founder of the global Goodvertising movement that’s inspired a shift in advertising for the better.
Published Jan 31, 2020 7am EST / 4am PST / 12pm GMT / 1pm CET