Corruption is the second highest concern for Spaniards, behind unemployment. Politicians and business people were involved in exchanging envelopes containing dirty money.

A direct marketing agency that historically sends thousands of envelopes wanted to restore their honest use. The goal is to increase the spontaneous notoriety of the agency among marketers, which can only be achieved with very striking actions that transcend advertising media.

To achieve this, we developed a creative concept that was simple but convincing, using the symbol of corruption - envelopes - at the center of our campaign. We decided to restore the lost dignity to something that has provided both ourselves and our clients with the most rewards: envelopes. How? With “Honest Envelopes”, the first-ever protest stationery.

Honest Envelopes are the first envelopes that allow you to certify whether its contents are honest or not. These envelopes include a peep hole to view its contents. Its optimized size means it is not suitable for distributing wads of cash, it has been produced using biodegradable materials, and it is sold at cost price.

The envelopes were placed on sale as not-for-profit items at kiosks and other distribution points. But the center of their circulation was the distribution of packs to clients, prospects and journalists, as well as to politicians.

We achieved our goal of having this message make its mark on all types of media. And we converted a direct marketing agency into the co-star of the biggest news in recent years.

Honest Envelopes were sent to all of the agency’s clients, 50 prospects, 110 journalists and 60 politicians together with a suggestion: to support our cause by using them as their official stationery for 2014. They were also placed on sale as a not for profit item.

Thanks to this, we created a simple yet direct message of social protest: if the envelopes are a symbol of corruption, the Honest Envelopes are a symbol of regeneration. A newsworthy message that we used to demonstrate that an advertising agency can have a social side.

And all with some envelopes. Empty, of course.

The campaign achieved its objective. We created a simple but direct message of social vindication: if envelopes are a symbol of corruption, the Honest Envelopes are a symbol of regeneration: all with a design solution that achieved the conversion of a debate about corruption into a debate about design.

Our envelopes have become the official stationery of 5 of our clients, 2 prospects and 3 communications media. The message penetrated all types of media thanks to its appearance in both general and trend-related media, including interviews about the project and even invitations to participate in political gatherings.