At DDB we enjoy making our clients successful; it is most rewarding when we're able to help them spread goodwill as well. Take the most recent spot DDB Chicago did for Midas to promote their latest venture with Make-A-Wish. Through June 28th, every time someone goes to a Midas facility and orders a vehicle maintenance package, Midas will donate $5 to the Make-A-Wish foundation. Our goal is to help Midas raise as much money as possible for this awesome organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Giving consumers the opportunity to contribute to a good cause while having their vehicle serviced can shine a bright light on those tedious Saturday chores! It's our hope that something as routine as an oil change can help to affect a positive change in a child's life.

For more information about the promotion and to see the inspirational spot featuring some Make-A-Wish children, go to www.midaswish.com

At DDB we have a culture that truly believes in giving back. Isn't it about time you brought your vehicle in for an oil change?

Mia Sissac
Senior Marketing Communications Associate
DDB Chicago

Posted on June 18, 2008 3:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Everyone is going green these days. More and more companies are expanding their corporate social responsibility profile through green initiatives. At DDB we care about our environment and so much more. I have enjoyed our green blog and thank all of you who have posted your thoughts and opinions. We have decided to broaden these chats to include all our CSR (corporate social responsibility) ventures. In the coming weeks more reportage and discussion of CSR and DDB will be our focus. We welcome your feedback and look forward to hearing what you have to say.
--Frank Palmer

Social networking site created by Tribal DDB to enlist and mobilize support.

Check out www.thebigwild.org, the new social networking site created by Tribal DDB, the online division of DDB Canada. The new social networking site allows Canadians to share stories and media about wilderness experiences and learn more about the country's wild spaces in need of protection. Most importantly, it will also act as a catalyst to raise awareness and mobilize support for conservation campaigns. The evolving site will continue to have features added throughout 2008 and 2009. Read more about it under "Who We Are – DDB Cares" and let me know what you think.

Posted on May 12, 2008 9:25 PM | Permalink

There is a supplement in the New York Times today called the "Business of Green".

BASF has taken the full back page to profile a story of its plastic bags that have a shelf life of one year then biodegrade in compost within weeks. Their website has eight other cases including; ethanol extract from corn, reduction of diesel exhaust from school buses, and an 80% more energy efficient home. It is too easy to be cynical that this is just BASF marketing when, in fact, the accomplishments are extremely impressive. Check it out at www.basf.com/stories.

Frank Palmer, Chairman & CEO, DDB Canada

Posted on March 26, 2008 9:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We know that going green is good for the earth and we are quickly learning that it is increasingly good for business. But how sustainable is sustainability as a business differentiator? If everyone is doing it - where is the competitive advantage? Green is quickly becoming tablestakes - there may be more risk in not doing it than benefits in doing it. If you agree, how can companies benefit and differentiate in green going forward?

Posted on February 22, 2008 9:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

• The Ibis Porte de Clichy has a façade covered in photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity


• San Francisco's Orchard Garden Hotel rooms have the city's first door-key-card controlled electricity system—remove your card when you leave and the whole room automatically "turns off" (something that Europe has had for some time)


• Hotel Triton has decorated a room on each floor using environmentally safe paints, furniture created from salvaged forest-fire wood, and organic hemp towels and sheets

Posted on February 18, 2008 9:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Green was once associated with sacrifice - it was painful to be green if you were a business. We associated green with extra cost, extra effort, questionable impact and return, compliance, and sacrifice. That is no longer the case. Green is now associated with strong and important branding, increased revenue, price premiums and deeper customer loyalty. Now green forces you to be better at everything you do. It is an extra lens that promotes greater innovation and awareness of impact. Think of the Lexus Lhs luxury hybrid that is priced at $125,000 and promises (according to their literature):

• A Powerful Statement
• Three Operating Modes
• Responsive Performance
• Fuel Efficiency
• Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV)

Posted on February 13, 2008 9:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Andrew Shapiro of GreenOrder recently spoke at an event on Corporate Image and stated that we are currently using our resources as if we had 1.25 earths. A chilling and very simple description of the challenge before us. Check out more at www.greenorder.com and share your comments.

Posted on February 8, 2008 8:31 PM | Permalink

In my first post, I said that Green is good for business.

That thought is now more widely shared than ever. But decision-makers I have dialogued with are frozen with fear of being labeled a poser, greenwasher, or too preachy and the result is many are not taking any risks in acting and promoting a relevant green agenda. Any business regardless of size and industry can make strides and be proud of what they accomplish. This can be in the following areas:

Strategic Planning: senior management can kick start the whole thing by developing or revising sustainability goals to align with their core business.

Supply Chain and Operations: environmental audits of all practices can point out cost-competitive improvement strategies.

Green Real Estate: a business' physical footprint and practices can create value in real estate.

Renewable and Cleaner Energy: yes swapping out lightbulbs is step one but there are much deeper programs for renewable and cleaner energy projects.

Greenhouse Gas Management: this requires an audit of greenhouse gas emissions to arrive at cost-effective strategies to reduce or offset impacts related to manufacturing, operations, and travel.

Understandably this is an investment but one that will pay off in may ways. Thoughts?

Posted on February 5, 2008 7:50 PM | Permalink

If you haven't already, check out Larry Light's article in the November 12 issue of Advertising Age.

It is called Marketers, Seize the Opportunity to Help Heal Society's Ills. It helps separate the posers from the prophets. And it was fun to read that 360 Vodka is claiming to be the world's first environmentally friendly vodka. This is based on the 85% recycled-content bottle and that all labeling, packaging and promotional materials use 100% recycled paper along with water based inks. Share with us examples of other products that are paving the way...

Posted on November 26, 2007 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

It is a great question because it puts us all on the spot.

Would you pay more for a product or service based on the associated corporate responsibility efforts? These efforts could include green/environmental programs, trade practices, work and employment policies and programs, etc. A study commissioned by Greenpeace International with Ipsos MORI shows that PC users in nine countries would pay more for an environmentally friendly PC (respondents from Mexico indicated they would pay $240+ more). Whole Foods' entire business model is based on premium pricing for natural products. A recent Maritz study shows that 47% of Generation Y'ers said they would be willing to pay more for environmentally friendly services, products or brands. How about you? Would and do you pay more for services, products or brands that do good? What values are you looking for from the companies you purchase from? Make sure you vote on this very topic off our homepage under "Be Heard."

Posted on November 5, 2007 9:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)