Several well-known brands went “brandless” over the weekend to celebrate the WWF’s #WorldWithoutNature activation returns this year.
Delivered by Manchester’s Bank of Creativity, the activation saw brands, NGOs and sports teams around the globe removed images of nature from their branding, across websites and digital platforms, as well as digital billboards.
The aim was to drive awareness of nature and biodiversity loss, by prompting audiences to look twice at well-known logos, which removed iconic images of wildlife and biodiversity to raise awareness about the planet’s rapid loss of biodiversity among their own supporters.
Some of the world’s most popular brands took part this year, including the digital language learning app Duolingo, as well as Old Mout Cider, Gorilla Glue, Taskrabbit, Gymshark and Brewdog. Sports teams taking part this year included Championship-topping Burney FC, Hull City and Derby County.
Now in its third year, #WorldWithoutNature comes hot on the heels of a defining year for nature. In October 2022, WWF published its latest Living Planet Report, which revealed a 69 per cent average decline of global wildlife populations in less than fifty years. WWF warns that the world’s continued overexploitation of wild species and destruction of habitats is driving the loss of wildlife we’re seeing, which poses immense social and economic risks, as well as catastrophic consequences for the planet.
Since then, the world committed to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 under the Global Biodiversity Framework adopted by 196 countries in December at COP15 – an agreement that WWF is now urging governments, businesses and financial institutions to deliver on.
Felicity Glennie Holmes, executive director for communications and marketing, WWF International, said: “We want this year’s #WorldWithoutNature to make audiences think twice about the beauty and nature that we’ve long taken for granted, but which is quickly disappearing before our eyes. We need more people, more than ever to get behind our efforts to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. That’s exactly why we’re asking some of the world’s best-loved brands and sports teams to show the world what nature loss could look like. We’re delighted to see so many brands get involved as part of this year’s #WorldWithoutNature digital activation.”
WWF’s #WorldWithoutNature digital activation was originally the brainchild of One Minute Briefs, an online community of creatives and designers led by the Bank of Creativity. Visit One Minute Briefs’ Twitter for more information.
Later in March and as part of WWF’s wider efforts to celebrate nature, WWF will also celebrate the Biggest Hour for Earth as part of this year’s Earth Hour 2023 (25 March 8:30pm local time). As landmarks and homes across the planet take part in the iconic switch off, WWF is inviting individuals and communities across the world to take a break from their routine and everyday distractions before spending 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet and the nature around us.
