RecycleMania Promo Strategies:
Tips from Oregon State University
Andrea Norris, Marketing & Development Coordinator
Oregon State University Overview
OSU by the numbers:
• 26,393 students
• From all 50 states and
100 countries
• Instructed by 3,481 faculty
• On a 400 acre campus in Corvallis, OR
• Since 1868
OSU goals for RecycleMania
• Promote and develop recycling and waste
reduction habits year-round
• Gauge OSU’s waste stats over time
TIP #1:
Go where the people are
Play a role in an already-popular event
• Co-sponsor an event
• Make an
announcement or
give a presentation
• Offer “zero waste”
event services
• OSU Example:
Presented to ~300
attendees at the
2013 Recycled
Fashion Show
Organize activities and competitions in res. halls
• OSU Example: Res. Hall
Competition
• 3 weeks long; based on per capita
recycling
• Halls will be rewarded points in an
already existing Inter-Hall Challenge
• Lessons learned:
• Mobilizing and involving housing staff
can be challenging and takes time
• Peer-to-peer promotion is important –
recruit building captains if you don’t
have Eco-Reps
• Post weekly results to provide feedback
during the competition
Host a booth, activity or display in high traffic area
• Locations might include dining centers, rec centers, memorial
unions, etc.
• OSU Example: Annual scrap sculpture display
•
Accompany display with RecycleMania logo, calendar, recycling tips, etc.
Host a booth, activity or display in high traffic area
Host a booth, activity or display in high traffic area
TIP #2:
Involve students & staff
in planning
Involve students and staff in planning
• Include both to maximize
your creativity and capacity
• Involve students in all
stages, including planning
events and marketing
• OSU Example: Student
volunteer team plans much
of the activities and assists
with carrying out event and
marketing tasks
TIP #3:
Collaborate with other
groups
Collaborate with other groups
• Organize events together
• Invite other groups to put on waste reduction-related events
during RecycleMania
•
You gain more activities and awareness while they gain more marketing
• OSU Examples:
•
•
•
Clothing swaps sponsored by
Womens Center
Career Wardrobe exchange
Scrap vinyl pride stickers by
Pride Center
the
the
TIP #4:
Promote existing
programs and services
Promote existing programs and services
• Offering something you
want people to know
about? Now’s the time to
promote it!
•
•
Promote it under the umbrella of
RecycleMania, i.e. encourage
people to participate to help your
university compete
Might include services (e.g. event
recycling), products (reusable to-go
containers) or programs
• OSU Example: Host
department compost
luncheon
TIP #5:
Tap into people’s
competitive nature
Tap into people’s competitive nature
• Host competitions within your university
• Piggyback on an existing school rivalry
• OSU Example: Oregon State v. Oregon Civil War
•
•
Established in 2010; based on per capita recycling + compost
Promoted via scoreboards in high traffic areas, website, social
media, school newspaper, etc.
TIP #6:
Establish and stick to a
standard design
Establish and stick to a standard design
• Create a “visual identity” – a look and feel repeated across all
marketing materials
•
•
May include standard fonts, colors, graphics, layout, etc.
Repetition across materials makes them more memorable
• Use RecycleMania logo and provide logo(s) to partnering
groups to use on their materials too
• OSU Examples: Utilize “visual identity” standards for OSU
along with RecycleMania logo and trash can graphic
¼-Sheet Flier
Hall Poster
Poster
TV Slide
Web Graphics
Questions?
For more information:
Andrea Norris
Andrea.Norris@oregonstate.edu
http://recycle.oregonstate.edu