SAS release ‘Crap’, ‘Rubbish’ & ‘Toxic’ adverts

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are delighted to have collaborated with M&C Saatchi and Coy! Communications on the release a new series of campaign adverts, which highlight the ongoing environmental campaigns in an extreme and humorous way. This is classic SAS territory, and a technique that has been used since the organisation’s very inception in 1990 with giant turds and gas masks amongst other items making a regular appearance on the campaign trail.

The three adverts depict the ongoing campaigns on sewage, marine litter and toxic chemical campaigns in a graphic and perhaps, shocking way. The issue of marine pollution is a significant threat to the UK’s oceans, the wildlife that inhabits these areas and all those that use our beautiful beaches. SAS has a whole range of campaigns and community initiatives tacking environmental and health issues relating to the UK’s shores.

Whether it’s sewage or marine litter, toxic chemicals or wave protection, SAS are campaigning harder than ever to protect waves, oceans, beaches and water users’ health around the UK. This May, SAS are launching new online and text-based real-time sewage alert systems so you can check water quality at your favourite surf spots.

The day of the shoot was like no other. SAS’s faithful team riders and models Celine Gehret, Jack Johns and Chris Ranford all got a bit of a shock when they saw the outfits SAS needed them to wear – not quite the glamorous assignment they had envisaged. So, a huge thank-you to them for the massive effort and support for the campaigns. Massive thanks too to M&C Saatchi PR and Coy! Communications for doing this all for free for SAS and, in particular, to Graham Fink, Chris Hides, Mark Denton and photographer Sean de Sparengo who were the creative driving force behind producing them. Thanks too to Gul for providing the wetsuits, sorry they were slightly soiled when we returned them…

Hugo Tagholm, Executive Director of SAS commented: “We are delighted to have such an attention grabbing series of adverts, which will help raise awareness about our campaigns and real-time sewage alert systems. We believe the wider public need to be able to make a more informed decision about how and when they use the sea. Thanks to everyone who gave up their time and expertise to create these shocking images to support the campaigns!”