Advertising industry draws green criticism

摘要

Responsible companies must reduce the environmental and social impact of advertising, according to a report by the Public Interest Research Centre (PIRC) and WWF. It recommends authorities ban adverts in public spaces. The report aims to spark debate about the effects of advertising, which the authors say have received little attention from environmental campaigners. It argues that advertising is contributing to unsustainable levels of consumption, leading to pollution, resource depletion and climate change. Advertising strategies that encourage people to seek happiness through material consumption damage society and lead people into debt, it says. The report reviews evidence to challenge the advertising industry. It argues that many adverts appeal to values such as image, status and financial success to sell products. In doing this, they validate and strengthen these values in society.