The 14th edition of the Olive Crown Awards 2024, hosted by the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA), concluded with Times of India clinching the esteemed title of ‘Green Brand of the Year,’ while VML claimed the ‘Green Agency of the Year’ accolade.

The awards ceremony, held at the ITC Grand Central in Mumbai on April 5, honored individuals and corporates for their outstanding contributions to sustainability and green advertising.

Attended by leading figures from the marketing, media, and advertising industries, the event highlighted the importance of environmental consciousness in advertising campaigns. Supported by The Hindu Group, ZEE News, and other prominent partners, the ceremony recognized exemplary initiatives that promote sustainability and environmental awareness, the company said in

The jury, consisting of distinguished professionals such as Anupama Ramaswamy, K.V. Sridhar, and Tista Sen, meticulously evaluated entries to select the deserving winners across 17 different categories. Notable recipients included Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd and The Times of India, jointly awarded the ‘Corporate Crusader of the Year’ for their impactful initiatives.

 

Padma Shri Jadav Payeng was honored with the prestigious ‘Green Crusader of the Year’ award in recognition of his lifelong dedication to environmental conservation. Popularly known as the Forest Man of India, Payeng’s efforts have transformed a sandbar on the Brahmaputra River into a lush forest reserve spanning over 550 hectares.

In the category of ‘Young Green Crusader of the Year,’ Malhar Kalambe was recognized for his remarkable efforts in organizing beach clean-ups and raising awareness about environmental conservation through social media.

Other notable winners included Earth Brigade Foundation, honored as the ‘Green NGO of the Year,’ and Ramesh Narayan, recipient of the ‘Most Sustainable Marcom Personality Award’ by EARTHDAY.ORG.

The international arena saw Grameenphone Ltd and Grey Advertising from Bangladesh clinching the ‘International Green Campaign of the Year’ for their outstanding initiative, the Green Solar Network.

A special mention was given to an initiative bringing together artists, singers, and environmentalists to address plastic waste, showcasing the collective effort towards sustainability.

Avinash Pandey, President of IAA India Chapter, emphasized the significance of the awards in promoting environmental stewardship within the marketing industry, highlighting the global reach and collaboration facilitated by the Olive Crown Awards.

He 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,” Pandey added.

The event concluded with a celebration of the commitment to environmental preservation, acknowledging the vital role of the marketing and advertising community in driving positive change for the planet.