Do The Green Thing

That Guy by Oliver Cheshire

With his cheeky illustration, superstar fashion model and style writer Oliver Cheshire asks us not to be the fool that forgets to flick the lights off when they leave the house.

Why?

Because turning off the lights demands the same amount of effort as leaving them on - none at all. So, if you're 'that guy' in your building whose lights are on 24/7, you run the risk of your entire neighbourhood thinking you're a lazy so-and-so who doesn't give a damn about the environment. 

How?

Here are a some spellbinding switch off songs that will get you turning lights off everywhere you go without you even having to think about it. 

Nelly Furtado - Turn Off The Light

Santogold - Lights Out

Teddy Pendergrass - Turn Off The Lights

If you can think of any others, please tweet us @dothegreenthing​ and we'll add them to the playlist.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.

Be a Gentleman by Jason Bruges

The work of interactive designer and architect Jason Bruges is always intriguing and thoughtful. He built us a brilliant domestic intervention by hacking a switch to transform it into a well-spoken gentleman who thanks us each time we flick the lights off in an empty room.

Why?

Leaving one light on for one day only wastes a fractional amount of electricity and might only cost you a few coppers. However, if you make a bad habit of it and leave multiple lights on every day for the rest of your life, we’re wasting thousands of pounds, not just a couple of pennies.

How?

It may be an old school green tip, but switching off the lights is a pretty bright idea. An even brighter idea is switching to LED lights. This article by the Guardian gives you everything you need to know about replacing old, inefficient bulbs with better ones.

We’re selling this poster printed on FSC paper with sustainable ink for £12 plus postage and packing with all proceeds going back to the Do The Green Thing charity.

Favourite Things by Ben Weeks

Canadian designer and freehand illustration fan Ben Weeks draws all of his most prized possessions - a gentle overconsumption message to remind us that the things in our life we value most are the ones that have been around the longest.

"One of the best things that can be gained is contentment. Whenever we start feeling we need more stuff to be happy, our inner anxiety rises. Focusing instead on gratitude I've found dissolves my illusions into joy." 

Why?

Money can't buy you love or happiness but it can buy you lots of stuff you don't need. We must try to resist the persuasive pressures of ads that are selling us a shinier model of something we already own. Our love for all things new is not just a drain on our resources but rather unfair on all the old things in our homes that are still quietly serving their purpose.

How?

Buying not-so-new things continues the story of pre-loved possessions that are too precious to be thrown away. Here’s a rundown of the world’s most unmissable vintage fairs and flea markets where you can grab a beautiful bargain.

We’re selling this poster printed on FSC paper with sustainable ink for £12 plus postage and packing with all proceeds going back to the Do The Green Thing charity.

World Wired Web by Jessica May Underwood

LA-based artist Jessica May Underwood has created a dramatic illustration of mother earth tangled up in a web of wires and chargers, a symbol of the constrictions that we experience by always being plugged in and powered up.

Why?

Very soon there will be more mobile devices on our planet than human beings and some 40% of all smartphone owners access the internet and their apps before putting their slippers on. Electronics are taking over our lives and they're taking up all our energy too.

How?

Summer is on its way and the sun is coming out to play - but we won't be the only ones soaking up the rays. Get a SolarBee charger, unplug your devices from those sockets in the wall and power them with glorious sunshine.

We’re selling this poster printed on FSC paper with sustainable ink for £12 plus postage and packing with all proceeds going back to the Do The Green Thing charity.

Let The Stars by Rebecca Charlton

The shining star of our 29 Posters for the Planet campaign is Rebecca Charlton, the winner of WWF and Do The Green Thing’s Young Creatives competition. With her intricate and dazzling illustration, she reminds every person in every building in every city that stars not bulbs are the best sources of light in the night. 

Rebecca said:

“We need to put the lights back in the sky at night. Nothing spoils the beauty of a starry sky more than the luminous glow of street lights and uselessly lit buildings. My poster shows a city’s lights being transformed into their rightful state in the sky, with the trail taking the shape of an hourglass to signify that we need to switch lights off now.”

Why?

It’s always a good thing to turn your light off at night, but tonight it’s a great thing. Earth Hour is the world's biggest call to action on climate change. It’s a moment to reflect, an opportunity to put up your hand to be counted and tell everyone you care about the future of your planet. Most of all, it’s a call to governments, organisations and individuals to act on the rise in global temperatures we are experiencing, not just during Earth Hour, but for every hour after it. So flick your switch at 8.30pm tonight.

How?

If you haven't already, sign up for Earth Hour tonight and join millions of people in over 157 countries around the world in turning off your lights tonight. Click here to find out  when Earth Hour is wherever you are in the world and where the candle-lit celebrations are taking place.

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour this Saturday at 8:30 pm.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.

Less Light by Siobhan “Shiv” Ward

Illustrator and art director Shiv uses a blend of photography and computer trickery to create a bewitching image to get us warmed up for Earth Hour tomorrow evening. Her poster urges us to switch off, save energy and enjoy the the galaxies above. Shiv said:

"I moved out of London nearer the countryside a couple of years ago and what I love is how much of the sky at night i can see now. I think Earth Hour is a great opportunity to see the stars while the urban lights are down, and that everyone should take advantage of this."

Why?

Lighting our world accounts for 6% of global CO2 emissions - we need to start doing it more efficiently. Switching off our lights at night is a good start, but if every home in the U.S. replaced their five main light bulbs with Energy Star bulbs, the reduction in CO2 emissions would be equivalent of taking 10 million cars off the road. Two simple actions to help us reach one achievable goal.

How?

Are you and your friends and family switching off your lights for Earth Hour tomorrow? Have you made grand plans for how to spend your sixty minutes in the dark? If not, here are nine bright ideas for fun things we can do when the lights are off, like candlelit yoga, an unplugged jam session or a night-time bike ride.

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour this Saturday at 8:30 pm.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.

Let’s Ride by Josh Higgins

Josh Higgins built and led the design team behind Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign and is now Communication Design Manager for Facebook. Using fresh colours and geometrical shapes, his poster rallies the world to do more bike riding and less driving.

"I have always loved cycling and rode a bike since age 6 because it is fun," says Josh. "Now I am a bit older I realize it is so much more. Riding a bike is a proven stress releaser. It is great for our environment and whether you are riding purely for pleasure or to get from point A to point B, you will arrive feeling relaxed, energized and happier about the world."

Why?

Despite Portland holding the title of America’s Most Bike Friendly City, only 6% of commuters go on bike - a figure slightly overshadowed by the 43% that cycle to work in Amsterdam. Some places are miles better for bikers, so if you want to be greener, feel richer, live longer, why not play with the idea of setting up on another city?

How?

American road trips don’t have to be about blistering down Route 66 in a red open-top mustang. Here are 25 incredible road trips you can make on two wheels.

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour this Saturday at 8:30 pm.

We’re selling this poster printed on FSC paper with sustainable ink for £12 plus postage and packing with all proceeds going back to the Do The Green Thing charity.

Better By Bike by Sir Paul Smith 

Today we are delighted to present a poster from a man who needs no introduction, but that won’t stop us from introducing him anyway. Sir Paul Smith is one of the most admired figures in the world of fashion: a style guru, a gentleman and a mad keen cyclist. He has created a piece of heartfelt pro-pedal propaganda featuring one of his own cycles and a message in his own writing: “it’s better by bike". We agree.

Why? 

On a bike, you can travel up to 1037 kilometres on the energy equivalent of a litre of petrol? That’s right, up to 1037km. Cycling is the most efficient way of getting from A to B without all the CO2. 

How? 

For daily information and inspiration around all things to do with cycling, follow these influential spokespeople on Twitter:

@citycyclists @sustrans @artcrank @london_cycling @CycleHatred @_Cycle_chic

But don’t just follow them, follow their passion and get on a bike.

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour this Saturday at 8:30 pm.

We’re selling this poster printed on FSC paper with sustainable ink for £12 plus postage and packing with all proceeds going back to the Do The Green Thing charity.

Extermination Workshop by Michael Wallis

Step forward Michael Wallis, a left-field thinker and co-founder of branding agency Corke Wallis. In this satirical poster-cum-drama set in the future, he speculates on the totally ridiculous idea of standby mode, and makes us ask ourselves: “why on earth would humanity come up with such a hopeless invention?” 

Michael says: "I’m supporting Green Thing and Earth Hour so that when the apocalypse comes it is at the hands of something really epic like aliens or cyborgs or giant reptiles from another dimension, not DVD players." 

Why?

Standby produces around 1% of the world's CO2 emissions. It might not sound like much, but when you consider that air travel contributes 3%, it’s huge. All that power going absolutely nowhere. 

How?

Fight the power by plugging into standby saver sockets - it will cut your electricity bill by £85 a year - just like that.

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour this Saturday at 8:30 pm.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.

Take It Slow by Natasha Jen

Pentagram partner Natasha Jen has created a beautiful, encrypted message to inspire us to take our foot off the gas and discover our surroundings on foot, on a bike or by bus.  “When you take it slow, you will uncover the beauty of the journey,” says Natasha’s script, a wise piece of advice that you have to slow down to enjoy, just like the journey itself.

Why?

When we drive, we speed down every street assessing everything ahead of us - except the planet’s future. When we walk, we can enjoy our surroundings, and the fact that we’re travelling in a more planet-friendly way.

How?

The Guardian have a bunch of walking podcasts that are real-time audio guide for city strolls. Relive the 1968 student protests in Paris, discover the 17th century coffee houses of London or get a personal tour of Edinburgh from Ian Rankin. Press play, put one foot in front of the other and enjoy a richer journey.

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour this Saturday at 8:30 pm.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.

World for Walking by Sue Timney 23/29

Colours meet cartography in this beautiful, energetic poster created by world famous interior designer Sue Timney. Whether we’re travelling across the Himalayas or to the corner shop, Sue's poster inspires us to stride the world by foot.

"Simple solutions are the best," says Sue. "Walk to respect your body and mind, walk to respect our natural resources, walk to respect the planet."

Why?

40% of the journeys we take are less than one mile, but less 10% of our journeys are made on foot. Do the maths: that’s 30% lazy and 100% crazy. The world is for walking, so let’s treat our feet as the first step not the last resort.

How?

Whether doing a school run or a hike in the hills, using your feet is a walk in the park when you have the right apps to keep you on track. 

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour next Saturday at 8:30 pm.

We’re selling this poster printed on FSC paper with sustainable ink for £12 plus postage and packing with all proceeds going back to the Do The Green Thing charity.

Night Shine by Jamie Eke

Jamie Eke, runner up in our Young Creatives Competition, has created a clever and interactive poster that changes its meaning according to the direction of light. Shine a light on the poster from below and its cut-out tabs reveal a light pollution map of the UK. Turn that ground light off and shine a light from above and the tabs reveal a view of the universe. Jamie said:

“We are losing touch with the night sky thanks to artificial light sources creating ‘sky glow’ over urban areas. This piece aims to instill a sense of the impact of this light pollution as well as a sense of what could be and the power we have to bring about change.”

Why?

‘Sky glow’ is the result of overlighting our cities at night. It sounds beautiful but it’s actually bad - it’s the haze of scattered light that looms over populated areas obscuring the pretty views of the stars above. Residential and commercial buildings account for about 45% of UK CO2 emissions. If we didn’t light them through the night it would make the our CO2 emissions lower and our stars clearer.

How?

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour next Saturday at 8:30 pm.

We’re selling this poster printed on FSC paper with sustainable ink for £12 plus postage and packing with all proceeds going back to the Do The Green Thing charity.

The School Run by Camilla Rutherford

Actress Camilla Rutherford and her three beautiful kids have their own traditional version of the school run. Rather than sitting in a hefty black 4 x 4 stuck in traffic, they prefer to leg it to school, and Camilla made this joyous poster to inspire us to do the same.

Why?

In the last 20 years, the number of children driven to school in Britain has doubled. And crazily, most of these journeys are less than two miles. Come on mums and dads: walking is more sociable, less stressful, boosts concentration in the classroom and reduces exhaust emissions. Also, your kids need at least an hour of physical activity each day, so walking to school is a great start.

How?

Spring is officially here and walking is officially the best way to getting to school and back. Map out your journey on WalkIt and plan a scenic route to take you through nearby green spaces.

Join the world’s biggest celebration of our brilliant planet and sign up for Earth Hour on 29 March at 8.30 pm.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.

Travel Well by Neville Brody

Neville Brody is one of the most prolific and influential graphic designers of his generation: a leading type designer, art director and Head of Communication Art & Design at the Royal College of Art. Like alternative road markings, the type in his cinematic poster lays out the five yellow principles of greener travel.

Why?

Transport accounts for 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a rather unlucky figure. If we all walked more, cycled more, ditched our cars, took public transport and flew a little less, it would help cut it down to 7% and turn our fortunes around.

How?

Sometimes green travel isn’t an option and we’re forced to take the car or catch a flight. To make us feel better about it, try out this carbon calculator from The Converging World - it puts a price on the carbon footprint of each journey we make and suggests a donation to offset it. The money we give supports social and environmental projects in UK and Indian communities. 

Join the world’s biggest celebration of our brilliant planet and sign up for Earth Hour on 29 March at 8.30 pm.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.

Veg and Two Veg by Rankin

Rankin is one of the world’s greatest fashion photographers, and the human body is one of his specialist subjects. For his poster, has created a beautiful and playful image of a body part made out of vegetables to tell us that we shouldn't feel emasculated when we eat less meat - quite the opposite.

Why?

Cutting meat out of your diet saves far more CO2 than switching your average car for a G-Wiz. It's far more manly too.

How?

Summer is on it’s way and soon we’ll be hurling burgers and bangers on the barbeque like there's no tomorrow. Here are 38 vegetarian grilling recipes for when those glorious al fresco dining days come around - so delicious that you’ll be fending off the meatheads with a kebab stick.

Join the world’s biggest celebration of our brilliant planet and sign up for Earth Hour on 29 March at 8.30 pm.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.

Waste It Ain’t by Sophie Thomas 

Sophie Thomas, co-director of Design at the RSA, founding director of Thomas Matthews and mentor of our young creatives competition, inspires us to see rubbish as an untapped resource in her spectacular multicoloured poster created from waste ink.

“When litho printers finish a print run, the leftover ink gets sieved into a big barrel and downcycled into oil,” says Sophie. “But recycling should always be the last option. That’s why I wanted to get some extra printing out of the leftover ink. We should always look to find the beauty in waste before deciding it’s waste.”

“Calverts kindly gave me some of the leftover ink from their big barrel. I used it to print the message with wooden letterpress blocks, then squeegeed more if it across the page to create the background. The ink was so gloopy that it took two weeks to dry but if but if you look closely you can see all the colours of the rainbow in there.”

Why? 

Waste is only waste if it's wasted. There is more gold in a tonne of mobile phones than there is in a tonne of mined rock from a gold mine, which just goes to show how much we can gain by recovering resources instead of sending them to landfill.

How? 

Over the next two years Sophie's project The Great Recovery will be running a number of design residencies in waste and recovery facilities around the UK to kickstart creative innovation for end-of-life materials. There may be money in those mounds of trash.

Join the world’s biggest celebration of our brilliant planet and sign up for Earth Hour on 29 March at 8.30 pm.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.

Switch Off Engine by Harry Pearce

Today Pentagram partner Harry Pearce takes a warning sign from the depths of the car world and reuses it to create a messages that instructs us to step away from our vehicles and go by foot instead.

“The visual language of obedience demands our attention and compliance,” says Harry. “Maybe the car industry should follow its own rules.”

Why?

London motorists spent an average of 82 hours stuck in traffic last year. That’s 82 hours in a smoke-spewing, soul-crushing box on wheels that could’ve been spent doing something better. Like walking.

How?

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer and the idea of walking to work is back on the cards for many of us. Walk to Work Week is happening in the UK between the 12-16 May. Sign up and put your best foot forward.

Join the world’s biggest celebration of our brilliant planet and sign up for Earth Hour on 29 March at 8.30 pm.

You can buy this poster from Easyart as an A2 print (59 x 42 cm) on sustainably-sourced paper using water-based inks for £14.95. Please follow the link to be taken to the Easy Art site. Proceeds go to the Do The Green Thing charity to help sustain the service we provide.