The Coca-Cola Arctic Home is the world’s first temperature-controlled installation created to raise awareness of the polar bear’s disappearing habitat. Inside the display is a sculpture of two polar bears, surrounded by real ice and water. By pledging to reduce their carbon footprint or spreading awareness of the cause via video, text, our website or Twitter, individuals could decrease the temperature inside the display by -0.05ºC, keeping the polar bears’ habitat frozen, while increasing awareness of the effects of global warming. With 10,000+ pledges and a high degree of digital engagement, the initiative raised awareness of the polar bear’s plight.

The Coca-Cola Arctic Home brought a symbolic demonstration of the fragile Arctic ecosystem to urban Canadians who felt disconnected from the Arctic because of its remote location. By demonstrating that their actions could make a tangible difference, we symbolically showed Canadians how their collective action can have a remarkable effect on the environment. Given Coca-Cola’s long-standing association with polar bears and Canadians’ belief that the polar bear is an important national symbol, the display was an ideal vehicle to engage Canadians to take action.

Engaged both online and in-person, over 10,000 individuals were inspired to take action as a result of Coca-Cola’s Arctic Home installation. Post-intercept interviews showed that 87% of participants were more concerned about the global warming issue, and 69% now viewed the Coca Cola brand more favourably.

And, the display had an even broader social impact beyond Coca-Cola with 61% of citizens stating that they would now support other companies targeting climate change, and 96% committed to spreading the word to an average of 8 others: an ROI that is priceless to the future of the polar bears’ habitat.