SOUTH POLE ENERGY CHALLENGE

TitleSOUTH POLE ENERGY CHALLENGE
BrandSHELL
Product/ServiceSHELL - BRAND
Category A11. Consumer Services
Entrant EDELMAN London, UNITED KINGDOM
Idea Creation EDELMAN London, UNITED KINGDOM
Idea Creation 2 ELECTRIC ROBIN London, UNITED KINGDOM
Media Placement MEDIACOM London, UNITED KINGDOM
PR EDELMAN London, UNITED KINGDOM
Production ELECTRIC ROBIN London, UNITED KINGDOM
Credits
Name Company Position
Olivia Clifford-Beeston Edelman Account Director
Ed Courtenay Edelman Associate Director
Noor Kheir Edelman Global Head of Digital
Bernard Wong Edelman Senior Account Manager
Joseph Eddy Edelman Account Executive
Rosie Metcalfe Edelman Account Manager
Adam Hunt Edelman Director
Kevin Batchelor EndemolShineGroup - Electric Robin Creative Director / Co-Founder
Ross Brandon Edelman Co-Founder
Jules Fuller EndemolShineGroup - Electric Robin Head of Special Projects
Joss Crowley EndemolShineGroup - Electric Robin Producer
Temujin Doran EndemolShineGroup - Electric Robin Director
Chris Jones EndemolShineGroup - Electric Robin Executive Producer
Jacqui Saunders EndemolShineGroup - Electric Robin Production Executive

Why is this work relevant for PR?

Shell is a renowned player in the oil and gas industry. What is less well known is their commitment to developing renewable fuels: Shell’s purpose is to create more and cleaner energy through solutions like biofuels, solar, wind and hydrogen to power progress. This campaign created an engaging platform on social media to improve their image in this respect, focussing on a very specific 18-34 year old audience group who may have a warped perception of Shell and low awareness of its active commitment to a sustainable energy future.

Background

Achieving a more sustainable energy future requires an energy transition that allows society to reduce its emissions and tackle climate change, while extending the economic and social benefits of energy to everyone. Shell is a willing and able player in this transition - but the perception isn't changing as fast as the company. We wanted to take our most important skeptics on a journey to overthrow dated perceptions. Whilst our Millennial audience care about energy issues, they prioritise their own life experiences and interests, such as travel, technology and family, over deeper engagement with the global energy challenge. We needed to break into their lives and put the importance of renewable energy on their radar, encouraging this skeptical audience to: • Reappraise perceptions of Shell; a company pushing the boundaries of clean energy innovation • Improve their understanding of what renewables mean, and their viability in the future energy mix.

Describe the creative idea

We sent acclaimed polar explorer Robert Swan and his son Barney on a perilous journey across the inhospitable Antarctic - they would attempt the world’s first polar expedition using only renewable energy, including Shell advanced biofuels. We proved that renewable energy is reliable and available today – if it works in Antarctica during a 600-mile, 56-day expedition - to keep the explores warm, dry and fed - it can work everywhere. We followed their every step with unprecedented coverage - live updates, mobile-first maps, and short-form content shared across social, giving our audience extraordinary access. We brought a human face to the renewables debate and Shell’s #makethefuture mission. We made it relevant to a whole new audience with content that was gripping and shareable: from films featuring the biofuel in action to more humorous takes on the trials of exploring, such as the challenges of performing daily ablutions in -40°C.

Describe the strategy

We needed to reach Energy Engaged Millennials (EEMs), a key audience for Shell’s renewable energy message. Our research showed that this 18-34 y/o audience was marginally engaged with climate and sustainability, but still prioritised their own life experiences and interests, such as travel, technology and their relationships. They over-index on social platform use and sharing, so we kept this in mind when planning our activities across Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Our insights gave us a single clear strategy that would ensure their attention was captured and held for the duration without demanding their commitment to a linear storyline. Our content was bite-size, entertaining and awe-inspiring. They would feel moved to share and they would re-evaluate Shell as a leader in sustainable technologies, understanding that the brand is taking active and real actions to allow the energy transition.

Describe the execution

We followed our heroes across 5 continents, training and learning about the technology that would keep them alive. Using the world’s first interactive, geographically accurate, ultra-HD, mobile map, people could follow their journey using satellite phone technology, voice recordings and real-time footage from the ice. All social interactions pointed back to Shell’s owned channels, ensuring deeper levels of brand engagement. The explorers’ story was in huge demand: despite 4 other expeditions competing for airtime we had extensive coverage across Sky, Reuters and BBC, including features during the Christmas season. The campaign came together in just 10 weeks, despite the challenges of Antarctic conditions and a short expedition window. The strength of our content mitigated backlash against any association between Shell and the Antarctic, and the duo were invited to the World Economic Forum in Davos, from where they shared their experiences via a Facebook Live interview.

List the results

• Over 33 million views across social media for 44 pieces of content • +4.8 million engagements across all social channels with positive sentiments – with an average engagement rate of 1.8% achieved • 600 million people reached through earned media including in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reuters, The Times, Sky News, BBC, ITV News, International Business Times and the Mail Online • 422 pieces of coverage achieved to date with 92% including mention of Shell and 100% positive in tone • People who saw the campaign are 31% more likely to believe that Shell is committed to cleaner fuels and 26% more likely to agree that we’re working to provide a sustainable energy future • Brand favourability increased by 12% • Robert and Barney spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos to share their experiences, discuss the importance of renewable energy and conduct a Facebook Live interview (attracting 917k views) that was also shared on Facebook’s official Influencer page • A culmination of the positive sentiments and the following the campaign achieved, turned Barney Swan from fiercely opposed to Shell into an active brand advocate.