'Buy a band, spread the word'
Sustainability is such a huge buzzword right now, with the current generation desperate to do 'their bit' for the environment. But aside from opting for bamboo toothbrushes and swearing off face wipes, it's often hard to work out what we can actually do on an individual level.
Well, British sustainable accessories brand BOTTLETOP has just launched a campaign for that very purpose, and it's inspired.
Introducing #TOGETHERBAND, a campaign setting out to engage the world with the 17 Global Goals, raise the public awareness around them and inspire action to achieve them.
How? Through the spreading of sustainable friendship bracelets of course.
The Global Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030, devised by the United Nations in 2015. But to achieve these 17 global goals, we need awareness around them, something that has proven difficult.
BOTTLETOP's answer? The #TOGETHERBAND campaign, launching 17 friendship bracelets representative of each goal.
Setting out to humanise the Goals, the brand is inviting everyone around the world to choose the Goal that matters most to them and share it with someone important to them.
Yes, with every friendship bracelet purchase, you receive a second band to give someone close to you, helping spread the Goals' critical message.
But there's more to it than that. The 17 sustainably and ethically produced friendship bands in the colours of the Goals are made from up-cycled ocean plastic from Costa Rica and re-cycled steel from seized illegal firearm metal from El Salvador, with the bands' production generating livelihoods for women working as artisans in Nepal.
With every purchase, 1 kilo of ocean plastic will be removed from the ocean and 100% of profits from each #TOGETHERBAND sold will be used to fund life-changing projects working to advance the Goals.
The Mini #TOGETHERBAND is £20, the Regular #TOGETHERBAND is £35.
'At BOTTLETOP we have always believed in the power of sustainable design and creative culture to engage people powerfully in development issues,' BOTTLETOP's C0-Founder Cameron Saul explained. 'Through #TOGETHERBAND we are thrilled to combine artisanal craftsmanship with the immediacy and reach of social media to facilitate a cross cultural conversation around the Global Goals as we engage everyone who wants to come together for a healthy future.'
What are the Global Goals?
No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life On Land, Peace Justice and Strong Institutions and Partnerships For The Goals.
'From tackling climate action and empowering girls to protecting the ocean and standing up for equal rights, UN agencies are working hard to build a better future for us all through the Global Goals,' explained Kathy Calvin, President of the UN Foundation. 'But they can’t do it alone. Thanks #TOGETHERBAND for connecting people everywhere to the Goals and encouraging us all to take action in our own communities!'
BOTTLETOP's aim is to engage over a billion people with the UN Global Goals in partnership with the UN Foundation, WWF-UK, Project Everyone, Eco Age, to.org, MECA, Global Citizen and the Founding Partner UBS.
If you'll excuse us, we're off to pick our bands.
