The Economist, a leading source of analysis on international business and world affairs, this week unveiled a new experiential marketing programme encouraging Londoners to challenge their assumptions about plastic pollution and its effect on ocean health.

Entitled “Don’t bin plastics, yet” the activation, brought to life by global brand experience agency Sense, comprises an art installation of a fish made from recycled plastic dredged from the river Thames. The fish weighs 24 kilograms, equal to the weight of plastic dumped in the ocean every tenth of a second. The programme is inspired by a recent article in The Economist, The known unknowns of plastic pollution, which explores what we know and don’t know about the costs of the activity.

Visitors discover that of the 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste produced since the 1950s, only 9% has been recycled. On current trends, by 2050 there could be more plastic in the world’s waters than fish, measured by weight. Yet only 10% of 3.6 million tonnes of solid waste discarded each day across the globe is plastic. And the alternatives to plastic are not always better.

For example, a British government analysis from 2011 calculated that a cotton tote bag must be used 131 times before greenhouse-gas emissions from making and transporting it improve on disposable plastic bags. The Economist writes that the cost of plastic pollution is comparatively overstated, even if more can be done to reduce it.

“The ‘Don’t bin plastics, yet’ activation brings The Economist’s mind-stretching journalism to life and challenges consumers to rethink what they know about plastic pollution,” said Mark Cripps, Chief Marketing Officer, The Economist Group. “This programme ensures our globally curious readers are armed with useful information about the consequences of plastics versus other environmental pollution, and the gaps that remain in our understanding, to help them make educated decisions about their actions.”

“Visitors will be offered a free coffee in an edible cup by our brand ambassadors and encouraged to take part in a conversation about the plastics debate, including the impact on the oceans and the need for more plastics collection and recycling,” explained Sense Account Manager Loren Heer.

The ‘Don’t bin plastics, yet’ activity is part of The Economist’s live content marketing programme, which aims to attract new readers to The Economist through creative and provocative real-world experiences. People who take part in the programme have the opportunity to subscribe to The Economist at an introductory rate of £12 for 12 weeks, and receive a subscription gift.

The activation kicked off at London’s Paddington Station on 20th November and will continue to Waterloo on 29th November, Victoria on 11th December and Liverpool Street on 12th December. More dates will be announced as they become available.

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The Financial Times plans to invest heavily in a brand experience campaign this summer, aimed at supporting its recently-launched global marketing push for the FT Weekend section. As part of its plans, it has just hired Tamara Gates, formerly with TV, film and ad production and visual effects specialists Moving Picture Company, in a new role as experiential marketing manager. Her remit will include managing the planned brand experience activities.

The new Open Minds campaign for FT Weekend was inspired by the section’s colourful and provocative journalism and aims to encourage stronger engagement with FT Weekend by the FT’s core business audience, while attracting new readers to its world-class coverage of arts, culture, ideas  and lifestyle.

The campaign, which builds on a 2017 refresh and rebrand of FT Weekend under editor Alec Russell, will have two phases. The first will include out-of-home, digital display, online video and retail elements in high profile locations in London, Hong Kong and New York’s Times Square. The second phase, in the summer, will have a major experiential focus, marking a new direction for the Financial Times.

The creative concept and execution of Open Minds have been developed in partnership with The Brooklyn Brothers. The visually striking phase-one adverts were designed by a variety of illustrators and inspired by a range of thought-provoking FT Weekend articles:

• ‘Is mind control the tech industry’s greatest invention?’ (pictured) challenges readers to question their relationship with the smartphone.
• ‘Can we separate the art from the artist?’ challenges people to think about the character flaws of renowned artists and entertainers;
• ‘Is age a disease we can cure?’ poses questions about wellbeing and mortality;

Financial Times chief communications and marketing officer, Finola McDonnell, says: “We have created this campaign with editorial content at its centre to have strong visual and intellectual impact, sparking debate and conversation – exactly what FT Weekend aims to do. We’re positioning the FT Weekend as an essential read for those interested in arts, culture, ideas and lifestyle, just as the Financial Times and ft.com are essential to our core business readership.”

FT Weekend editor Alec Russell adds: “This campaign goes to the heart of my ambition for the journalism in FT Weekend each week. It is sharp, provocative, probing and embraces the big ideas of our age – yet it is also tinged with mischief.”

The campaign will be supported by social media activity on the FT’s Facebook, Twitter (@FTWeekendand @FTLifeArts) and Instagram (@FT_Weekend) accounts with the hashtag #FTOpenMinds. The articles which inspired the campaign can all be found outside the FT’s paywall at FT.com/OpenMinds.

The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy.  The FT marks 130 years in 2018 with a record paying readership of more than 930,000. The FT is now a majority digital content business, with digital subscriptions up to 739,554, representing more than three-quarters of the total paying audience. Content revenues represent almost two-thirds of total revenues, double the share of five years ago.

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