Maya Ellison
National Geographic has been at the forefront of raising awareness about the global plastic waste crisis. The publication has launched several initiatives, including 'Planet or Plastic?' to address the growing plastic pollution crisis. The initiative aims to reduce single-use plastics and their impact on the world's oceans. With its rich history of scientific discovery and exploration, National Geographic is uniquely positioned to tackle this crisis through storytelling and science. The organization has also urged its global audience to take the 'Planet or Plastic?' pledge, committing to reducing their use of single-use plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the initiative | Planet or Plastic? |
| Objective | Reduce the amount of single-use plastic that enters the world's oceans |
| Target audience | Global audience, including kids and families |
| Key activities | Scientific research, consumer education and engagement, corporate partnerships, internal sustainability commitments |
| Key partners | National Geographic Kids, National Geographic Education, National Geographic Explorers, NGOs, local and national governments |
| Key messages | Choose the planet over single-use plastic, reduce plastic footprint |
| Related campaigns | Kids vs. Plastic, Tackling Plastic! GeoChallenge, Ocean Plastics Explorer Classroom program |
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What You'll Learn
National Geographic's Planet or Plastic? pledge
The Planet or Plastic? initiative leverages the power of National Geographic's media portfolio and the expertise of its explorers and scientists, who witness first-hand the devastating impacts of this crisis. The organisation-wide effort includes scientific research and documentation, consumer education and engagement, updated internal corporate sustainability commitments, and innovative partnerships with like-minded corporations and NGOs worldwide.
National Geographic is dedicated to documenting how plastic travels from source to sea and filling critical knowledge gaps. They began with an expedition in 2019 to study the type and flow of plastic in a river system, providing science-based, actionable information to help governments, NGOs, businesses, and the public implement solutions.
The Planet or Plastic? pledge is part of a comprehensive consumer awareness and engagement campaign executed across multiple platforms, including a three-day social media takeover, where National Geographic polluted its Instagram feed with dramatic photos of plastic pollution, reaching 760 million consumers. The campaign also includes a $10 million commitment to Sky Media's Sky Ocean Ventures, an initiative seeking investment opportunities in businesses helping to solve the ocean plastic crisis.
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National Geographic's multiyear initiative to reduce single-use plastics
National Geographic has launched a multiyear initiative to reduce single-use plastics and their impact on the world's oceans. The initiative, called "Planet or Plastic?", aims to raise awareness about the global plastic waste crisis and encourage people to reduce their use of single-use plastics.
Single-use plastics account for 40% of the plastic produced every year. These products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, have a very short lifespan but can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Plastic pollution is most visible in developing Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or non-existent. However, even in developed countries with low recycling rates, properly collecting discarded plastics can be challenging. As a result, about eight million tons of plastic waste escape into the oceans from coastal nations annually, equivalent to setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline worldwide.
The Planet or Plastic? initiative leverages National Geographic's media reach and the expertise of its explorers and scientists, who witness the devastating impacts of this crisis firsthand. The initiative includes a major research and scientific component, with National Geographic embarking on expeditions to study the type and flow of plastic in river systems. This scientific research will provide actionable information to help governments, NGOs, businesses, and the public implement innovative solutions to reduce plastic waste.
Additionally, the initiative includes a consumer education and engagement campaign, with National Geographic asking audiences worldwide to take the Planet or Plastic? pledge. By taking this pledge, individuals commit to reducing their single-use plastic consumption and joining a global community working to address this issue. National Geographic will provide ongoing information and tips to support their efforts. The campaign will utilize National Geographic's social media platforms, such as Instagram, to educate people about the impact of single-use plastic through powerful visuals and storytelling.
Through this multiyear initiative, National Geographic aims to contribute to the health of marine ecosystems and benefit the countless marine animals harmed by plastic pollution each year.
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Plastic pollution facts and information
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues, with the rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelming the world's ability to deal with them. It is a human health, social justice, environmental, climate, and wildlife issue. Plastic is made from fossil fuels, so it emits carbon at every stage of production, worsening climate change. Plastic production has increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015, and it is expected to double by 2050. The amount of single-use plastic in the world's oceans continues to grow, with about eight million tons of plastic waste escaping into the oceans from coastal nations every year. This plastic waste comes from land and from the fishing and shipping industry. Once in the ocean, plastic can be transported by currents around the world and can be ingested by marine animals or entangle them, causing their death. Plastic is also harmful to humans, as microplastics have been found in the blood of 80% of people tested in a recent study.
To combat this issue, National Geographic has launched Planet or Plastic, a multiyear initiative to reduce single-use plastics and their impact on the world's oceans. The initiative will leverage the power of National Geographic's media portfolio and the expertise of its explorers and scientists who are witnessing the impacts of this crisis firsthand. National Geographic will also be educating people about the impact of single-use plastic and encouraging them to take the pledge to reduce their use of single-use plastic.
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National Geographic's social media campaign against plastic pollution
National Geographic has launched a social media campaign against plastic pollution, titled "Planet or Plastic?". The campaign is a multiyear initiative aimed at raising awareness about the global plastic waste crisis and reducing the amount of single-use plastic that enters the world's oceans. As a global brand with a rich history of scientific discovery and exploration, National Geographic is uniquely positioned to tackle this crisis through storytelling and science.
The campaign kicked off with National Geographic's iconic June 2018 magazine issue, which took an in-depth look at the role of single-use plastic in society and its environmental repercussions. To extend the impact of the campaign, National Geographic is dedicating resources to scientific research and documentation to better understand the issue. They are also forming corporate partnerships to raise awareness and making an internal commitment to reduce plastic use within the organization.
As the No.1 social media brand, National Geographic is using the power and reach of its platforms to educate people about the impact of single-use plastic and to encourage them to take the "Planet or Plastic?" pledge. The pledge is a commitment to reduce personal use of single-use plastic and invites individuals to become part of a global community working together to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans. National Geographic will continue to provide information and tips to help those who have taken the pledge in their efforts.
The social media campaign includes a three-day social media takeover, during which National Geographic polluted its Instagram feed with devastating photos and videos of ocean plastic pollution taken by photographer Randy Olson, whose work was featured in the June 2018 issue of the magazine. The organization is also leveraging its media portfolio and the expertise of its explorers and scientists who witness firsthand the impacts of this crisis. National Geographic Kids and National Geographic Education are also offering ways for families to reduce their single-use plastic consumption, such as making their own lunch bags instead of using plastic ones.
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National Geographic's partnership with Wattpad to empower writers
National Geographic partnered with Wattpad in 2019 to raise awareness of the plastic crisis through the first-ever global writing contest. Wattpad is the world's largest social network of readers and writers, with around 80-89 million hyper-engaged monthly users. The platform has become the brand of choice for companies to create stories, share stories, and engage Gen Z.
National Geographic's partnership with Wattpad is an excellent example of how brands can leverage the platform to drive campaign pledges and raise awareness for critical issues. Through this contest, National Geographic was able to tap into a dedicated audience of writers and readers, resulting in thousands of stories submitted.
Wattpad has become an influential platform for writers, offering opportunities for publication and prizes. It has also proven to be a valuable scouting platform for the entertainment industry, with several Wattpad stories being adapted into films and TV shows. The platform provides writers with a global audience and the potential to build a fan base.
Wattpad's partnerships with brands like National Geographic empower writers by offering them monetary incentives and the chance to have their work discovered and adapted. The platform's contests and initiatives, such as the National Geographic writing contest, provide writers with unique opportunities to showcase their talent and make a social impact.
Overall, National Geographic's partnership with Wattpad is a powerful example of how brands can collaborate with the platform to empower writers, drive engagement, and raise awareness for important causes. By utilizing Wattpad's global community and storytelling capabilities, National Geographic was able to create a successful campaign that resonated with users and promoted a crucial environmental message.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, National Geographic has been criticized for its plastic wrapping. However, it has launched the Planet or Plastic? initiative to reduce single-use plastics and their impact on the world's oceans.
Planet or Plastic? is National Geographic's multiyear initiative to raise awareness about the global plastic waste crisis. It includes a major research and scientific initiative, a consumer education campaign, updated internal corporate sustainability commitments, and innovative partnerships with like-minded corporations and NGOs worldwide.
National Geographic will leverage its media portfolio and the expertise of its explorers and scientists who witness the impacts of this crisis first-hand. The organization will also dedicate resources to scientific research and documentation to better understand the issue.
Individuals are invited to take the Planet or Plastic? pledge, committing to reduce their use of single-use plastic. By taking the pledge, individuals become part of a global community working together to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans.
National Geographic, as the No.1 social media brand, will use its platforms to educate people about the impact of single-use plastic. It will also continue to publish in-depth articles about the role of single-use plastic in our society and the environmental repercussions.
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