Creative campaigns for change—Earth Day ads that made a difference

As customers increasingly prioritize sustainability, brands are using Earth Day ads and marketing campaigns to showcase their eco-friendly credentials. According to the National Retail Federation, 80% of Americans find a waste-free lifestyle appealing. That means consumers are paying attention and looking for companies that walk the sustainability talk.

So why not use Earth Day to highlight your company’s sustainable practices? Show off your commitment to the planet in fresh, creative ways—by highlighting your eco-friendly initiatives, sharing behind-the-scenes sustainability efforts, or launching a feel-good green campaign. As you plan your marketing for Earth Day 2025, let’s look at some campaigns from previous years that have hit the spot.

Consider donating to a cause as a part of your Earth Day marketing. One example of this is Disney donating to the Disney Conservation Fund. Disney nature films have shown the natural world in all its glory and advocated for appreciation and protection of the planet. A portion of the profits from these films goes to its conservation fund, which focuses on giving grants to environmental programs and safeguarding wildlife for future generations.

Another example is General Mills partnering with Amazon. In its Earth Day ads, it specified that if you stream specific titles, the company would donate $1 to the National Park Foundation.

Sustainable products are an excellent idea for your Earth Day marketing campaign to show your audience that you care about the environment. One company that does this is Nike, with its Hippie footwear collection. The shoes in this collection are made from recycled plastics and trash.

As part of its Earth Day marketing campaign, Logitech announced that it aims to make more sustainable products. Currently, 1 in 3 Logitech products are made with recycled materials. The company is also focused on making more products with recycled or more efficient materials. It uses Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly program to highlight its products. This program features products with first- and third-party certifications that meet sustainability standards.

Apple made a short film for its Earth Day marketing campaign, emphasizing that humans are part of a bigger picture. We must take care of the planet because it will affect future generations. The short film emphasizes that the earth is our real home, and we should take care of it. Creating a short film is a creative way to convey your point through emotional storytelling.

Blueland’s Earth Day ads went beyond one day and made environmental activism into a mission. Its website has a whole section dedicated to how it helps the environment, broken down into areas such as planet, product, people, and policy. Its environmental campaigns go on throughout the year, showing that it isn’t just taking advantage of one day to do some good—it’s a core part of its company values to make a difference.

On Earth Day, the hair care brand Amika announced that it is officially climate-neutral certified. This means it will measure greenhouse gas emissions, purchase eligible verified carbon credits to offset its footprint and implement plans to reduce its emissions.

Collaborations are a great way to mark Earth Day. For example, the online styling service Stitch Fix and the Green Matters Dye Company partnered to launch a capsule collection. The dye company uses pollution-free colors, and together with Stitch Fix, they launched a sustainably made and size-inclusive clothing collection. Along with creating the clothing, Stitch Fix donated money from the collection to One Tree Planted, a global reforestation organization.

As part of its Earth Day marketing campaign, the skincare brand Murad collaborated with TerraCycle to turn landfill plastic into recycled products. With their Murad Recycling Program, customers can sign up to recycle product packaging while donating to charities. With this campaign, Murad is making it easy for customers to recycle their empty product packaging rather than just throwing it away so it can end up in a landfill.

Brilliant Earth is an ethically sourced jewelry company. In 2023, the company released a mission report detailing its goals to certify its practices and ensure that the diamonds and materials it uses are conflict-free and carbon-neutral. A report is a great way to maintain transparency with customers and reassure them that you’re doing your job to be an ethical company.

Another company that released a report is General Mills. This report shares the company’s impact in three priority areas: planet, people, and food.

Want to make a report? Here are some templates to get you started:

Leading up to Earth Day, you can conduct a giveaway of your products or a partnering company’s products as a part of your Earth Day marketing campaign. An example is Grandy Organics, an organic granola company that partnered with Ecobags, a reusable bag company, for an Earth Day giveaway. This is an excellent idea because it gets people excited about the day and while also encouraging some new customers to try your product for the first time.

Reclaim Wellness, a self-care brand, made an informative Earth Day marketing post on Instagram and offered a discount. The company suggests seven simple ways to help the earth in its post. This is great because customers get a discount and some simple ideas to improve the environment.

Another example is Circular and Co, which created some informative Earth Day ads showing how you are making a change by using its product. This is a good way of advertising a product while staying aligned with the core message of Earth Day.

Creating a limited-edition product is exciting for customers who are brand fans. An example of this type of Earth Day marketing is the beauty brand Summer Fridays, which launched a limited-edition shirt. This shirt was made from 100% cotton in a sustainable, eco-friendly factory. It was only available briefly, so it became a collectible for people who love the brand. 

Physicians Formula launched a limited-edition Earth Day collection as a part of its Earth Day marketing. The collection featured the Butter Bronzer and Butter Blush, which have recyclable components and reduced packaging. The company also improved its manufacturing to save energy, recycle, and reduce waste.

An Australian online retailer, Princess Polly, created an Earth Club program for its Earth Day ads. As a part of the program, it featured products made with sustainable materials such as recycled polyester, recycled nylon, and organically grown cotton. Princess Polly also donated a portion of its profits to Lonely Whale, a nonprofit whose mission is to keep plastic out of the ocean.

Reformation is a clothing brand that ran a RefRecycling program, taking pre-loved Reformation clothing and exchanging it for store credit. The company’s goal is to be climate-positive, and by 2030, everything it makes will be part of a circular fashion system.

Highlighting sustainable practices through authentic Earth Day ads is a valuable way for companies to connect with an increasingly eco-conscious consumer base. By engaging in creative initiatives like donations, collaborations, or limited-edition products, brands can demonstrate their commitment to environmental causes and reach customers looking for genuine sustainability efforts.

Envato has everything you need to create your Earth Day marketing campaigns. You can use many different Earth Day elements in your campaigns—whether you’re building a website, product packaging, social media post, or poster, Envato can help you.

Read more in our posts on sustainable advertising and 8 creatives fighting for environmental change.