NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rapport, the global out-of-home (OOH) media buying and planning agency arm of IPG Mediabrands, today announced the launch of their newest offering for U.S. clients: Rapport Beyond —billboards and related media products that effectively offset carbon emissions and purify the air. The latest initiative in Rapport’s long-term commitment to sustainability, Rapport Beyond gives brands the power to reach consumers while simultaneously reducing the carbon footprint of their advertising campaigns.
“We are excited to be scaling a new green technology for outdoor advertising that will demonstrably improve the environment and help us support and propel our clients’ sustainability goals,” said IPG Mediabrands Global CEO, Daryl Lee. “A single Rapport Beyond billboard has the capacity to offset twelve cars averaging 10,000 miles per year, the equivalent of planting 88 trees. Imagine the environmental impact when this becomes the new standard.”
Rapport began testing sustainable OOH print ads in the spring of 2017, working with partners and vendors to perfect the technology for various outdoor environments. A special coating of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is applied to printed materials that removes NOx gases such as carbon emissions and other industrial pollutants from the air while the ad is posted. The coating uses sunlight to attract greenhouse gases, smog and more, operating like millions of microscopic sponges to soak up carbon. The harmful gases are then neutralized, turning them into harmless nitrates and purifying the air. The technology even works on organic matter transmitted in the air, destroying a wide range of substances including volatile organic compounds, viruses, bacteria, molds, allergens and more. Eighteen of the world’s most prolific advertisers participated in the soft launch, spanning industries such as CPG, food and beverage, sports and entertainment. The work Rapport did with those advertisers is equivalent to planting 20 acres of trees.
“As an industry being challenged by a pandemic lockdown, we have a responsibility to drive innovation in OOH in ways that deliver new value to our clients,” said Chris Olsen, President US, Rapport. “Our goal is to print 2.5 million square feet of material with the air purifying coating in 2021, and this launch is a significant step towards achieving that. Rapport Beyond ads can actually help cleanse the air simply by existing in a physical space, something the world needs now more than ever.”
Though applying the air purifying coating to billboards in high traffic areas is extremely effective for combatting emissions, it can also be used on many different printed materials and surfaces for purifying benefits such as facades of buildings, retail signage, in-stadium surfaces and more. Rapport’s UK unit recently launched a digital version of Rapport Beyond that offsets greenhouse gas emissions arising through DOOH advertising, providing a net positive contribution across activity that is already using renewable energy.
For more information on Rapport’s commitment to sustainability, please visit: https://rapportww.com/beyond/.
ABOUT RAPPORT
Rapport is the out-of-home (OOH) media buying and planning agency of IPG Mediabrands. Best known for the strength of its relationships, and rewarding connections, Rapport is a collaborative and forward-thinking agency that delivers valuable results for both clients and partners. As OOH becomes more engaging, interactive and content-driven, Rapport can seamlessly navigate through the ever-evolving media landscape.
