Thoughts on: Sustainable Logos

I was scrolling through my LinkedIn feed the other day when I stumbled across an article by The Think Tank which read: How can brands design more sustainable logos? What even is a sustainable logo? Eco Branding has the answers.

(Source: Eco Branding)

Created by Sylvain Boyer, a creative director at Interbrand Paris, Eco Branding is a project and initiative which aims to create more environmentally (and economically) friendly graphic and brand design.

Boyer founded the project back in 2013 with the intention of creating 'the first brand design agency dedicated to the ecological transformation of brands'.

While logos are just one part of Boyer's solution, Eco Branding have already started to edit existing company logos and ‘hollow out’ areas of solid colour, whilst maintaining the logo’s essence, which they claim results in 10-40% print cost savings without harming the integrity of the branding. The company points out, remarkably, that:

"Printer ink costs two times as much as Chanel No. 5. Limiting the use of ink can save millions on global production."

To put it into perspective, a bottle of Chanel No. 5 will set you back at least £45 - and that's for a measly 35ml bottle.

To kickstart their project, Eco Branding have mocked up ‘ecological transformations’ of some of the world’s best-known brands, including Coca Cola, Starbucks and McDonalds. Each design shows how they can reduce carbon footprints and printing costs without losing the identity of their brand; the McDonald's iconic golden arches remain, just without the additional colour.

(Source: Eco Branding)

Though some have been quick to comment that the new, proposed logos aren't quite as visually appealing as the current logos, I personally think that any opportunity to save resources - and ultimately help the environment - should be grasped.

You can find out more about Eco Branding on their website.