Coca Cola, Bill Nye 'demystify' recycling for us
- Amusing
- Creative
- Informative
- Controversial
- Amusing
- Creative
- Informative
- Controversial
Hm, what are your thoughts on this stop-motion film put out by Coca Cola and featuring an animation version of popular TV science educator Bill Nye? The soft drinks giant says that: "The film takes viewers on the circular journey of a plastic bottle, starting from the time it’s placed in a recycling bin to it coming back on the shelf as a 100% recycled bottle (excluding cap and label) - in other words, how both the company and consumers can work together to 'close the loop'.” However, appealing though such complicity on behalf of the environment may seem at first glance, most of us are aware by now that only a small percentage of plastics - particularly the ubiquitous single-use bottles - are in practice recycled as per the theory. Is it disingenuous of a company like Coca Cola to be teaming up with a 'science' personality like Bill Nye to present a cartoon-style illustration of what many of us see as a harsh reality? Is it insulting to treat people as though we are 'mystified' by waste? Or is this a really effective and appealing way to raise awareness? Here is a different take on the same topic, https://youtu.be/CLeccbkBZzs: this video by international environmental organisation Greenpeace also uses the apparently appealing format of animation, and riffs off the feel-good Coca Cola 'whole world' jingle. Greenpeace says: "Big Brands want you to believe they are taking steps to reduce plastic but they are actually working hand in hand with Big Oil to produce even more. Their plastic bottles have devastating effects for our health, our planet and our communities. And only 9% of all plastic waste ever made has been actually recycled." The Greenpeace campaign, from 2021, proposes a different kind of complicity - we take our plastic bottles back for re-fills when they're empty. Your thoughts?
Keywords: Coca Cola World Without Waste, Coca Cola and Bill Nye, plastics recycling, Greenpeace and Coca Cola plastic bottles, animation in ads, environmental damage, plastics pollution, taboo topics, consumer waste, Mackinnon & Saunders
Comments
Both animations are really clever and make good points. Though the Coca Cola one seems made for children it is interesting how the recycling process works. While obviously a good thing it's complicated and energy-intensive, so the Greenpeace idea of refilling/re-using bottles makes more sense (as long as they're cleaned). Will it ever be possible for a brand like Coca Cola to convince people that it cares about the planet?
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