Humanaut and Apeel Create Blockbuster Ads Encouraging Consumers to Reduce Food Waste

Oct. 17, 2022

Humanaut has launched a new video, paid social and display advertising campaign to promote Apeel, a food-system innovation company that enables more time for produce to stay fresh so that less food goes to waste throughout the supply chain. Apeel is doing this through an edible, plant-based coating that extends the shelf-life of fresh fruits and vegetables by keeping moisture in and oxygen out—the two primary causes of spoilage.

"Spoiler Alert!" features six videos—five 15-second spots and one 60-second spot—disguised as previews for tense action blockbusters starring various pieces of produce. The creative will run on YouTube, Hulu, TikTok, Instagram, and other CTV streaming publisher sites like Warner Media, Fubo, Vudu and SlingTV. Additionally, Humanaut created five social and display ads for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. This is the agency’s first work for the client.

The spots begin with a familiar voiceover saying, "In a world…" and explaining the stakes, as dramatic music pumps, then everything comes to a halt when a knowing grocery clerk character pops up on the screen at the sound of a "ping!" prompt. "SPOILER ALERT!" he exclaims. "Apeel’s already in grocery stores." And changing the tone from doom and gloom to something more hopeful to act upon.

 

The average American household wastes 31.9% of their food, according to the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. By extending the shelf life of produce with plant-based protection, Apeel makes it easier for people to use and enjoy groceries while ensuring that less food and the resources that go into providing it get wasted. Apeel is applied to produce after it is harvested and is then distributed to retail stores where shoppers can purchase their longer-lasting produce. Consumers can find retailers who carry Apeel-protected produce on Apeel’s store locator.
 

David Littlejohn, founder/CCO of Humanaut said:

"Most of the news we hear about climate change feels like a doomsday movie with no hope. Fortunately, Apeel is an exciting and simple solution that already exists in a grocery store near you, which means the story of our planet may have a happy ending."

 

Jason De Turris, SVP of Marketing Sciences at Apeel said:

"At Apeel, we’re focused on working with nature to reduce food waste. We wanted this creative to capture people’s attention and show the world that when we work with nature instead of against it, there is a better story we can shape together."

 

Apeel’s plant-based protection keeps produce fresher longer, reducing waste and spoilage throughout the supply chain. In fact, in 2021, Apeel helped prevent 33 million pieces of produce from going to waste, avoided 7.3K metric tons of CO₂-eq of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of planting 120,000 trees; and conserved 1.5 billion liters of water, enough to fill 610 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Check out Apeel.com to learn more and to find Apeel-protected produce at a store near you.