MUMBAI: Mumbai's glitterati gathered at the ITC Grand Central on 4 April for the 15th IAA Olive Crown Awards, where sustainability champions were given a right royal pat on the back. Forget your garden-variety awards show; this was a green jamboree, a veritable eco-extravaganza.
Packmate Grrreen LLP sprouted as "Green Brand of the Year," proving they're not just leafing around when it comes to eco-consciousness. RK Swamy reaped a harvest of four Olive Crowns, including "Green Agency of the Year," showing it’s not just another agency, it’s a green machine.\
Adani Enterprises Ltd and Ogilvy struck gold, bagging multiple awards, including the coveted "Corporate Crusader of the Year" for their campaign, "Pehle Pankha Aayega, Phir Bijli Aayegi" ("First the fan, then the electricity"). Turns out, the company is not just blowing hot air. Eastern Media Ltd and Reliance Foundation shared the "Green Campaign of the Year" gold, proving that when it comes to saving the planet, two's company.
Dharmesh Barai, the man who makes mangroves look marvellous, was crowned "Green Crusader of the Year" for his Herculean efforts in cleaning up Maharashtra's coastlines. He's not just cleaning up, he's cleaning up good. Earth Brigade Foundation bagged gold for "Green NGO of the Year," proving it’s not consisting of just a bunch of tree-huggers, it’s making a real difference.
Rahul Narwekar, honourable speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, graced the event, praising the IAA for their long-standing commitment to sustainability. "They took up this initiative when sustainability was perhaps not a known concept the way it is today," he said, adding that the IAA has helped to drive the thought of sustainability through young minds, old minds and people at large.
IAA India chapter president Abhishek Karnani stated, "Sustainability is no longer a choice, it is a responsibility," and that the IAA is heartened to see corporates, advertising agencies, and media houses doing the same.
Janak Sarda, chairperson of the IAA Olive Crown Awards, added, "It is our industry’s promise to be guardians of Brand Earth."
A special award for "Best Continuing Effort" was given to The Bhamla Foundation and Hungama Digital Media for their "Bhoomi Namaskar" campaign, proving that consistency is key when it comes to saving the planet.
And for the IMC and IAA campaign, Ogilvy, with Rahul Rudra and Abhishek Kaddi's "Pinky Promise" campaign, took home the win.
The event, a veritable who's who of the advertising and marketing world, was sponsored by Deepak Builders & Developers, Blue Star Ltd, Mobligent Media, and Awardor. It was a night of green glory, where the planet was the real winner
