International Advertising Association (IAA)’s India Chapter organized the 14th Olive Crown Awards 2024 on April 5th at ITC Grand Central, Mumbai. These awards honored sustainability champions in ‘green advertising’.
The event was graced by senior professionals in marketing, media, and advertising nationwide. Partners included The Hindu Group, ZEE News, Blue Star Ltd (cooling partner), Radio City (radio partner), Vijay Sales, Rajasthan Patrika, ASUS, News18 (associate partners), Laqshya Media Group (outdoor partner), and Awardor (strategic partner).
An eminent jury comprising renowned professionals such as Anupama Ramaswamy (Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide India), K.V. Sridhar (Global Chief Creative Officer Nihilent Limited & Hypercollective), Pateek Bharadwaj (Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas India), Tista Sen (Creative Brand Consultant) , Carlton D’Silva (Co-Founder, Musemakers & House of Awe) & Mukund Olety (Chief Creative Office, VML) shortlisted the winners through a rigorous process.
Avinash Pandey, President IAA India Chapter said “I believe these awards are not just unique but also very special. Unique because they are a symbol of intra-industry collaboration. Even though this is an IAA India Chapter property, it was launched 14 years ago at the GoaFest which is jointly run by the Advertising Club and the Advertising Agencies Association of India. Even now, it is associated with the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations, thereby being the only property with a real reach in both the Eastern and the Western parts of the world.
Special, because these awards symbolize the commitment of the Marcom industry to be not just guardians of their respective brands, but also guardians of Brand Earth..”
Janak Sarda, Chairperson, IAA Olive Crown Awards adds, “Any awards are only as good as the jury that judges them. So let me begin by thanking our jury members who were a real asset to us.
Our event could never have been held without the help of our supporters. Some have supported us for the second and third time. This clearly marks them as loyal supporters of the environment.
And then I would like to thank those who have sent in their entries from all over the world. Their active participation shows that the marcom industry is indeed populated with people who believe that what’s good is also good for business. Finally, I would like to thank each and everyone who is here today. All true friends of the environment. Planet Earth needs you.”
VML bags 9 awards across categories including the ‘Green Agency Of The Year’ & Green Campaign of the Year’- for ‘#UnplasticIndia’. The Times of India wins the ‘Green Brand of the Year’- Gold and Earth Brigade Foundation gets Gold in the category ‘Green NGO of the Year’.
‘Corporate Crusader Of The Year’ – Gold bagged jointly by Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd for the work ‘Mathrubhumi SEED’ & The Times of India for their work ‘#UnplasticIndia & Saving Our Stripes.’
Padma Shri Jadav Payeng was honored with the ‘Green Crusader of the Year’ award for his remarkable work in planting and nurturing trees, transforming a sandbar into the expansive Molai Forest in Jorhat, Assam. His efforts have made him famous as the Forest Man of India.
Malhar Kalambe, awarded ‘Young Green Crusader,’ leads beach clean-ups in Mumbai for 5 years. Through social media, he raises awareness on environment conservation, plastic pollution, and gathers volunteers for weekly clean-up activities. He is an environmentalist, founder of BeachPlease, and recognized by the Government of India and the U.N. “I am the change I want to see in the world.”
Additionally, Ramesh Narayan honored as the ‘Most Sustainable Marcom Personality Award’ by EARTHDAY.ORG. The ‘International Green Campaign of the Year’ Gold was won by Grameenphone ltd & Grey Advertising from Bangladesh for their truly outstanding campaign – Green Solar Network.
A ‘Committee Special Mention Award’ was conferred upon an initiative that brought together singers, artistes, green custodians and actors to act on the menace of Plastic waste. Asif Bhamla (Bhamla Foundation), Neeraj Roy (MD, Hungama), Ricky Kej, Shankar Mahadevan and Armaan Malik are a few of those who contributed to the cause.
