More than 230 million people “choose to refuse” in an award-winning social movement to help us all be part of the solution to plastic pollution.
Making a global commitment to a plastic-free future
Plastic Free July
Global call for change
Our planet is facing exponential harm from single-use plastic pollution. Each year 380 million tonnes of plastic waste is created and while that figure continues to increase, less than 10% of all plastics have ever been recycled. We consume more single-use plastics than can be sustainably recycled or dredged from our oceans, calling for critical global change. Rebecca Prince-Ruiz recognised the power of individual action and founded Plastic Free July to make it happen.
Together we can
Creating a global social movement takes sustained commitment, awareness, and engagement. Since 2018, Mars has supported PFJ in organisational development and global brand awareness. Mars engaged behaviour change experts to develop a campaign strategy underpinned by research and user-testing methodologies, designed a new website, branding, and a multimedia digital campaign to engage global participation with individuals, organisations and governments to participate in the challenge.
Make impact
Mars has seen securement of investment to grow the organisation and activity, driving global recognition of the brand and campaign to receive more than 2,100 sites of media coverage and almost doubled participation numbers in the month-long challenge. In 2022, PFJ was a finalist at the UN SDG Action Awards and leads to influence global policy-making. Strong and sustained campaign engagement with stakeholders, funders, government and participants sets PFJ to make a global impact.
Services: Branding, Website, Illustration, Animation, Social media, Communications
Media on Mars has taken a deep dive into our organisation to really understand it and, most importantly, listen to our participants. They go above and beyond to support us professionally and personally engaged in our campaign.
Rebecca Prince Ruiz, Founder and Executive Director, Plastic Free Foundation
Global illustration
As an Australian not-for-profit, Mars recognised that photography would limit the visual scope of design to an Australian-centric voice for Plastic Free July’s critically global message. Employing illustrations allowed creative freedom to express the diversity of participation in the PFJ campaign across continents and oceans.
Designing for participation
Mars’ Plastic Free July website provides a simple and clear user experience for people wanting to participate in the Plastic Free July challenge, integrating an interactive map and surveying tools, a membership area and donation facility.
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Strategic communication for social change.
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