LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Corona is taking the issue of marine plastic pollution to the global stage by hijacking iconic symbols of paradise for World Oceans Day. Roughly eight million metric tons of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean each year. To raise awareness of this fact, the brand is inserting plastic into other places it doesn’t belong. Corona is starting by twisting its own campaign tagline and imagery to show the unfortunate fate of paradise plagued by plastic pollution. Additionally, Corona and Parley are unveiling a limited-edition Hawaiian shirt design that incorporates plastic pollution imagery into the pattern. Last month, the partnership changed the name of the “Corona Bali Pro” World Surf League event to “Corona Bali Pro-tected” to make the point that even the most remote and aspirational paradises around the world are suffering.
“As a brand that is synonymous with the beach, we are seeing the destruction of shorelines and oceans up close,” said Felipe Ambra, Global VP of Corona. “Our ads usually showcase paradise the way we assume it to be, pristine and beautiful, but today it’s increasingly hard to find a beach without plastic. Through our work with Parley, we hope to reverse this trend. This World Oceans Day, Corona wants to remind the world that we all need to protect our beaches to continue enjoying them.”
More information on Corona’s activities leading up to World Oceans Day:
“THIS IS LIVING” CAMPAIGN TAGLINE HACK: With its idyllic beach imagery, a Corona ad could be considered a symbol of paradise itself. In many countries around the world this week, Corona will hijack its own campaign tagline and creative by switching from “This Is Living” to “This Is Living?” and replace the beautiful beach images with images of paradise polluted. As a voice for paradise, Corona is dedicating it’s most visible advertising and social media channels to the cause in order to help raise awareness globally.
PLASTIC POLLUTION OVERTAKES CORONA BILLBOARDS: Corona is using plastic from nearby beaches to build sculptures in London, Melbourne, Santiago, Bogota, Santo Domingo and Lima. These installations serve as a representation of the issue with the local plastic seamlessly integrating into Corona’s paradise imagery. The “Wave of Waste” sculpture in Old Street, London, features Australian actor Chris Hemsworth surfing in a wave of plastic collected in the UK, including waste from Holywell beach by The Marine Conservation Society. It brings the total weight to 1,200kg of plastic, with over 10,000 individual pieces of plastic – representing the amount of marine plastic pollution found on the beach every two miles in the UK.
The public can contribute to this visual masterpiece by dropping off their own plastic waste at the site of the billboard, to be incorporated into the installation on the lead up to World Ocean’s Day (6 – 8 June), adding to over 10,000 individual pieces of plastic which will be included in the artwork. The installation will be located at 288 Old St, London EC1V 9LA.
Andy Billett, sculpture artist, said: “Creating this Wave of Waste has been eye opening. From cotton buds and plastic bottles to children’s dummies and plastic bags, it’s shocking to see the wide range of plastic that ends up being washed upon our shores. It’s taken more than 1,000 man hours to create this sculpture, and with it being equivalent to the amount of marine plastic pollution found per two miles of beach in the UK, I really hope it helps put into perspective the problem we have at hand with plastic waste.”
NEW HAWAIIAN SHIRT DESIGN: Corona and Parley for the Oceans are introducing a new Hawaiian shirt pattern that not only weaves marine plastic pollution into the design, but also the thread of the shirt itself. The shirt is made from Parley Ocean Plastic™ that is collected from the open ocean, remote islands, shorelines and coastal communities. The design subtly features everyday plastic items like toothbrushes and plastic bottles to represent the fact that the issue at a distance is hard to see, but pervasive up close. The limited-edition shirts are available in three colors and can be purchased at wslstore.com/corona for £53 ($70) from Wednesday 7th June. Proceeds from each Corona Hawaiian shirt will go to Parley for the Oceans to help support its mission to protect our oceans.
Although the focus for the week is to raise awareness, Corona and Parley are also committed to protecting 100 islands around the world by 2020. Launched last year, the partnership is already working with local communities in the Maldives, Dominican Republic and Chile and will continue to scale up efforts in several more regions within the next year. Corona x Parley also announced a fundraising platform called Clean Waves in May that upcycles plastic pollution into fashion products for purchase, with all proceeds going to additional island protection.
“When you are in the middle of the oceans, exploring magic islands and this belt of plastic bottles surrounds them, then you know, something is dead wrong. Corona turned out to be a dream partner, a key ally in our battle against this horrible threat. Our partnership proves that while economy is responsible for the destruction of our seas, some brands can be the key for the solution. Together, we will end single-use plastic in the beverage industry. I am certain.” Cyrill Gutsch, founder of Parley for the Oceans
For more information about marine plastic pollution and Corona and Parley’s commitment to protect islands around the world, visit 100IslandsProtected.com.
About Corona x Parley
In May 2017, Corona and Parley for the Oceans announced their alliance and made a commitment to protect 100 islands by 2020. The protection of 100 islands is made possible through the implementation of the Parley A.I.R. Strategy: Avoid, Intercept, Redesign. The first year of the Corona x Parley partnership focused on working with local communities to “avoid” plastic use and “intercept” it from shorelines before it enters the ocean. With approximately eight million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean each year, it is of equal importance to “redesign” the uses, sources and systems behind plastic pollution, not only collect it.
The partnership has already had an impact in several regions around the world. Over 25 islands are now under protection in the Maldives with new islands in Australia, Chile, Dominican Republic and Indonesia to be announced. The project led to the first virgin-plastic free World Surf League (WSL) event in Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa last July and most recently, resulted in a series of clean-ups down the coast of Chile led by big wave surfer and activist, Ramon Navarro.
For additional information on the partnership and 100 Islands Project, visit 100IslandsProtected.com.
About Parley for the Oceans
Parley for the Oceans is the global network where creators, thinkers and leaders from the creative industries, brands, governments and environmental groups come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of the oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction. The organization has formed alliances with major corporations including adidas, Anheuser Busch InBev (Corona), Intel; the United Nations; the Maldives and collaborators spanning the worlds of science, art, fashion, design, entertainment, sports, and space and ocean exploration. To know more: www.parley.tv
About Corona
Born in Mexico, Corona is the leading beer brand in the country, the most popular Mexican beer worldwide exported to more than 180 countries. Corona Extra was first brewed in 1925 at the Cervecería Modelo in Mexico City and is still proudly produced entirely in Mexico.
Corona is a pioneer in the beer industry by being the first to use a transparent bottle showcasing its purity and high quality to the world. Each glass bottle is produced in a glass factory in Mexico owned by the brand. The artwork found on the bottle is painted, highlighting our commitment to quality in our packaging and our Mexican heritage.
No Corona is complete without the lime. Naturally adding character, flavor and refreshment, the lime ritual is an integral part of delivering an experience that is truly unique to Corona. The brand is synonymous with the beach and celebrates time outdoors. It invites people to pause, relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. For more visit www.corona.com
