I had to take my “Chelsea Tractor” in for a service last week (and two new tyres this week – urg).
Before I did, I got a little email from the good folks at my local Landrover dealership asking me whether I actually WANTED to have my car washed, whilst they fettled about with it.
Technical garage term there.
“errr…well HELL YES, for THAT price“
I thought, wondering who says “nah, leave it mate“.
I am a keen gardener, live in the sticks and have two labradors – a car clean is always welcome.
Then I clocked it.
Just about anyway.
They want to reduce waste and carbon footprint.
Smart move Landy.
Or at least, they SAY they do on the little email they sent.
Which got my PR brain whirring.
If I was running their group’s PR, there would have been a PROPER campaign around this.
- Why they were doing it.
- How they were going to make the biggest impact possible.
- What they hoped to save in water.
- Any carbon footprint impact.
- Who is involved – any charity partnerships.
- Any major milestones they wanted to reach.
- Any tie-ins with local schools to learn about conservations
Spoiler alert….none of the above has happened.
Now, this isn’t greenwashing YET, it is actually a really good idea that someone in their team has had but no b*gger has bothered to make the most of.
So nobody knows about it.
That’s a shame.
If more people did, more people would indeed say “nah, leave it mate” and the world would be a little greener.
Now, I appreciate Landrover has a LOT of work to do to gain any credibility with their carbon credentials but it is just odd that this policy was buried when it could be part of a proactive PR effort.
What do you do in your business (or could you do) that if you implemented it properly and shouted about it smartly would make a big difference to the planet and your PR?
PS you have to go planet first, so do think about it properly and give a sh*t!
PPS I realise the irony of driving a landrover and writing this but my PR point stands!