In our pick of the latest in video communications we see a renewed focus on sustainability and environmental challenges. For more from #CommunicateLens, follow @Communicatemag on Twitter.

Estrella Damm

The beer of Barcelona Estrella Damm launched the first part of its campaign ‘Soul,’ which aims to raise awareness of the ecological issues facing the world today and the need to protect one of the greatest riches: the Mediterranean Sea, home to the beer for more than a century. ‘Soul’ features Canadian dancer Claire Friesen, who represents the sole of the sea, dancing underwater to the rhythm of song lingers which say’ there must be another way of living.’ Through her dance, the campaign aims to sensitize the viewer to the high levels of pollution found in the ocean and appeal to the audience to search for effective solution. The video reflects Estrella Damm’s overarching commitment to the environment, including only using green energy and 100% natural ingredients to brew its beer. Now, Estrella Damm is taking its commitment one step further and will be replacing all plastic rings on canned packs with 100% biodegradable cardboard from sustainably managed forests by early 2021. The Canadian performer held her breath underwater for three minutes for every shot while a team of up to 20 divers captured her movements with high definition cameras.

“The Mediterranean is part of our DNA since 1876 and through ‘Soul’, we want to give visibility to the environmental issues that our Mare Nostrum is enduring and raise awareness of the urgent need to protect it,” says Anna Ferrer Magrià, UK marketing manager for Estrella Damm.

Orange

French multinational telecommunications corporation Orange worked with creative agency Publicis Conseil to create a new campaign ‘The Toy’ to raise awareness on the environmental impact of mobile phones (made of plastic and glass), when it is estimated than more than 100 million phones in France sleep in drawers. The 60 second video emphasises one simple message, give a second life to their old phone by bringing it back to the store, by recounting the intimate and unconditional relationship between the little girl and her toy, the famous ‘Fisher Price’ rolling phone. As years go by, the girl abandons her toy in the attic, but when she becomes a mother, her daughter in turn adopts the phone. Through this analogy, Orange encourages viewers to try and give a second life to phones.

"To deal with a subject like the second life of mobile phones, it seemed essential to me to show a story of transmission: it's time to see the world through the eyes of those who will live it." said Marco Venturelli, the president overseeing the creativity at Publicis Conseil.

In a second phase, Orange will roll out several programs in Europe to give phones a second life by encouraging the return or recycling of old phones, as well as the repair or purchase of reconditioned phones.    

Refuge

The UK’s largest specialist provider of services for survivors of domestic abuse Refuge launched ‘The Naked Threat,’ a campaign backed by Victims commissioner and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner that calls the government to make the threat to share intimate images a crime as it begins the report stage of the Domestic Abuse Bill. By recounting the true story of survivor Natasha Saunders, the video sheds light on this very real issue, where a rising number of women are reporting threats to share intimate images. The fact that the video has no image but is just a black screen with words coming out as if they were taken from the web or social media- such as Instagram hashtags- helps direct all the audiences’ attention to Sanders’ voice. The steady narration of her lived experience is extremely powerful and intimate, and helps to provide insight into how this form of abuse is developing and the barriers survivors face in accessing support.

“I’d been in a relationship with my ex-husband for six months when he first ordered me to remove my clothes and pose for intimate photos. In the beginning, I thought taking these photos was an act of intimacy, but they were actually being used as another form of domestic abuse – and as another way to control me. The threat of those intimate photos being shared was my worst nightmare – I had no choice but to comply with his continued abuse or face potential shame and humiliation,” says Saunders.

“Sharing an intimate image is already a crime – rightly so – but now the law needs to move with the times and recognise that threats to share these images causes serious harm regardless of whether the threat is then carried out,” says Ellie Butt, head of policy and public affairs at Refuge.

Rio Tinto

Mining and metal company Rio Tinto launched an new video to salute the head of Growth & Innovation, who has retired from the company after 33 years. The video includes one second clips from different Rio Tinto employees who describe their colleague Stephen McIntosh, with one word, from caring to leader to passionate and generous, and different shots of Steve in action through out three decades.  The video is a good example of how this medium can be used within the professional and internal comms environment without necessarily having work-related content. It is a way to truly value employees’ work and give them the deserved recognition, both on a professional and personal level.

Vondafone Foundation & UNCHR

UK charity Vodafone Foundation, which allocates Vodafone Group funds to projects around the world, worked its ambassador, World renowned footballer Mohamed Salah, with the UN refugee agency UNHCR to launch a campaign that highlights the need for every child to access quality education, including refugees. The campaign will be brought to the first-ever virtual UN General Assembly by Salah, as part of the Instant Network Schools programme, a charity set up by the Vodafone Foundation and the UNHCR to provide quality education to refugee and host country students. A two-minute video brings to life the campaign by introducing four refugee students that have accessed education through the INS programme; each refugee student is seen writing messages about their journey to Salah, who then reads them from across the world.

‘It is very important to have a tablet or the internet. It has helped me to get new learning materials,’ says Fatna, a refugee, to the camera.

The refugees are then seen watching a message from Salah on their laptops and tablets, a scene that emphasise how much digitalisation is necessary to remain connected and receive support.

“These four young people have inspired me and given me hope. They have shared their dreams for the future and told me what education means to them. Having access to technology and the internet transformed their classrooms and I want to make sure other children in refugee camps and communities have the same opportunities,” says Salah.