BBDO Lanka pioneers Asia’s first mechanical air cleaning billboard

With a reputation for consistently delivering innovative and creative ideas that work; BBDO Lanka, a part of BBDO World Wide, last week presented an idea that has the potential to revolutionise the scope of environmental conservation.  

The launch of Asia’s first mechanical Air Cleaning hoarding – a hoarding that actually filters certain harmful content from the surrounding air, purifies it, and releases the purified air back to the environment.

Speaking on the thinking that led BBDO to take this step BBDO Lanka Managing Director Santosh Menon explained, “At BBDO Lanka we wanted to make a contribution to the environment. Our initial step was becoming the first advertising agency in South Asia to become ‘Carbon Neutral’, but we wanted to do much more. So we came up with an idea that has immense potential – an air purifying hoarding. While this is a great idea – there is always room for improvement; we welcome input from engineers, corporate, advertisers and the general public on how we can make this idea better and more effective in combating the scourge of air pollution.

The environment we live in – particularly the air we breathe, is continuously under attack from the various pollutants released into the atmosphere. As South Asia’s first advertising agency to go carbon neutral, we decided we wouldn’t stop there. Our aim to give back to the Sri Lankan community is what brought about the revolutionary idea of utilising something as integral to advertising as billboards in order to provide a solution that will – in time – impact the entire Sri Lankan community.”

The air cleaning hoarding comprises a mechanical filter and activated carbon which draws in air from the back of the billboard and filters the dust particles and certain gasses that are most harmful to breathe. The purified air is then released back into the environment.

Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa commenting on the initiative said, “It is heartening to see companies take the initiative and work toward conserving the environment. With the fast pace of life, we often forget the importance of the air we breathe. I would like to encourage all companies across Sri Lanka to adopt this technology and carry it forward. BBDO Lanka is taking the first step toward providing a form of sustainable air purification – and for this I commend them.”

Speaking at the event Deputy Minister for Environment Abdul Cader said “BBDO Lanka, from what I have seen, has gone to great lengths to enhance the scope of environmental conservation in Sri Lanka; first by becoming South Asia’s first Carbon Neutral Advertising Agency - and now with the launch of a visionary idea – Asia’s first Air Cleaning Mechanical Hoarding. The fact that they not only initiated this idea but are also willing to give the idea for the technology out for free to any company interested in implementing it speaks volumes for the level of commitment the company has toward improving the standards of living for the community.

Many great ideas start small. But with the commitment shown by BBDO Lanka and with the support and partnership of companies across Sri Lanka this initiative has the potential to become a major influence in all of our lives.”

Menon went on to explain that this mechanism can be carried forward and improved.

“We have looked into many ways to better this technology, with endorsements from leading engineers and test after test, we have established that it works. However, at BBDO we believe that everything can be enhanced – which is why we would like to offer the idea behind this technology – free of charge – to any company that is interested in implementing it as an environmental initiative. If one billboard alone is able to clean this much air – imagine if all – or even half – of the billboards around Sri Lanka adopted this mechanism. The impact and implications would be massive.”