Sky launches the ‘Sky Zero Footprint Fund’ – a £2m campaign to inspire change and help fast-track sustainable initiatives

With the climate crisis impacting our planet, it’s critical that individuals, businesses and organisations play their part to reduce their carbon emissions. Over the last 15 years, Sky has ‘believed in better’ by committing to reducing its impact on the environment and is now using its experience to inspire others do the same with the launch of the ‘Sky Zero Footprint Fund’.

Established by Sky as part of its Sky Zero campaign to be net zero carbon by 2030, the new £2 million initiative will support brands that are committed to driving positive behavioural change and tangible impact towards a more sustainable future. Open to media agencies, creative agencies and brands, the fund will support businesses to accelerate and amplify their initiatives to change the world for the better through the power of TV and advertising.

The winning ideas will be selected by a panel of credible and knowledgeable judges with strong views on advertising, creativity, and sustainability. The judging panel will evaluate entries based on their commitment to a carbon zero future – whether this means showcasing how their business operates in a sustainable way; how their products are built to help reduce their carbon footprint, or how they are inspiring and normalising positive behavioural change amongst their customers to protect the environment.

Judges include advertising legend Sir John Hegarty, Su-Mei Thompson, CEO of the Media Trust, Juliet Davenport, CEO of Good Energy, Linsey Clay CEO Thinkbox, Stephen Woodford, chair of the Advertising Association, Jo Combs, founder of AdGreen, Gideon Spanier, UK editor in chief of Campaign and Karen Blackett OBE Country Manager at WPP & GroupM UK CEO.

The panel also includes senior Sky representation from Debbie Klein, Sky’s Group Chief Marketing, Corporate Affairs and People Officer, Group Director of Bigger Picture, Fiona Ball and new Sky Media Managing Director Tim Pearson.

Debbie Klein, Group Chief Marketing, Corporate Affairs and People Officer at Sky, said,

“We want to use our knowledge and passion to help others make a difference. The Sky Zero Footprint Fund builds on our track record and commitment to reducing our impact on the environment. At Sky we have pledged to be net zero carbon by 2030, but we understand that we’re all in this together and as a media industry, we have a duty to use our voice to drive tangible change. We’re delighted to announce this new initiative to realise the combined benefits for our planet when we work together

Tim Pearson, Managing Director of Sky Media, commented,

“Using the power of TV we truly believe we can help transform attitudes and inspire real change. The Sky Zero Footprint Fund is designed to support businesses that want to foster positive change and protect our environment. We believe there is no better way to demonstrate this than through the scale, reach and storytelling capability of TV/Video advertising.

Applications will be open from the 6th April until the 14th May. From all entries, 10 brands will move forward to a live/virtual pitch with the judges. From this process, the five most creative and impactful ideas will go-on to share the £2 million pot of media value. Each business is guaranteed at least £250,000 with the best and strongest execution securing £1 million for its campaign. The 5 winners will be announced in June with £1m winner judged and selected in October. All winning ads must be produced in line with the Advertising Association’s AdGreen standards and brands will be supported through the process.

Sky is Europe’s leading media and entertainment company and is proud to be part of the Comcast group. Across six countries, we connect our 24 million customers to the best entertainment, sports, news and arts including our own award-winning original content.

Our technology, including the market leading Sky Q, connects people to everything they love – with entertainment from Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer, and apps like Spotify, YouTube, BBC Sounds, Highbrow, Fiit, and more, in one place, easy. Our streaming service, NOW , brings viewers all the enjoyment of Sky with the flexibility of a contract-free service.

Building on the success of Sky Originals like Chernobyl, Bulletproof and Brassic, we are doubling our investment in original content by 2024 through Sky Studios. Sky News provides impartial and trustworthy journalism for free, while Sky Arts, the UK’s only dedicated free-to-air arts channel, makes the arts accessible for everyone. Our new TV and movie studio, Sky Studios Elstree, which will open in 2022, is expected to create over 2,000 new jobs and generate an additional £3 billion of production investment in the UK over the first five years.