Video of the Day: Greenpeace Lets It Out With Kleenex

Perhaps you've seen the Kleenex commercials where an actor playing a therapist sits with a red couch in a busy public space, ready for people to share their thoughts and feelings - and maybe have a good cry. Well, the Kleenex "Let It Out" campaign was in Times Square over the weekend, where cameras were rolling for passers-by to add their experiences to the reel. Until Greenpeace came in.

Greenpeace activists infiltrated the filming by posing as people who wanted to share stories about loss, but capped it off by saying they were most upset that Kimberly-Clark, which manufactures Kleenex, doesn't use recycled fiber in Kleenex and instead uses "virgin" fiber . Videographer Kelly Loudenberg filmed the protesters on the scene - check out the last part, where Greenpeace activists unfurl a sign behind someone getting emotional on the couch. Apparently filming shut down right after.

Here's the Greenpeace site, Kleercut, that explains its problems with Kimberly-Clark. And here's the Kleenex Let It Out campaign site.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Miscellaneous, News on March 26, 2007 12:22 PM

Comments [rss]

Dare

Maybe all of you who don't give a shit better start to care. How about going to visit a clearcut. Go see the damage. I live near clearcuts. I use to work in the logging industry and quit because of the destruction it causes. Logging companies dump oil from their machines anywhere they like. They destroy streams which kills fish. Leave fallen trees that could be used for lumber. It's not logging, it's a war zone. Better start to Care! Boycott Kleenex!!

tissue

WTF go away greenpeace

I consume boxes n boxes per year

I love using soft tissue

greenpeacer just use ur hands to wipe?

tissue

WTF go away greenpeace

I consume boxes n boxes per year

I love using soft tissue

greenpeacer just use ur hands to wipe?

withhyperlink

classic surprise marketing at it's best. kleenex opened the door, and greenpeace walked right in.

this is great:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZCym0DB7hA

Adam

Just found this on youtube. Looks like a bit of a better video of the same action. Check it!

youtube.com/watch?v=sZCym0DB7h...

?

#33, please explain in more detail

the ghost of phoenix g.

then perhaps you should do your "homeworks" on greenpeace's principals concerning old growth forests, recycling, forest stewardship council certified wood, and plant-a-tree programs. then look up the practises of kimberly-clark.

and if you have time and the brain capacity, you may want to do your homework on what the word democratic means as well. i also don't see anyone "yelling" here, so it's probably in your best interest to just pick up a merriam-webster on the way home from school tomorrow.

a-toodle a-doodle.

nfoo

Recycling paper is BULLSHIT!

It's far, far, far worse for the enviroment than just planting tree schools.

Saving old forrests is fine with me! But recycling is harming the enviroment. Chemicals, transports, power ... cut down a tree, plant a new one.

And you know what? That's what actually happens in 99% of the time.

Go do your homeworks, before you start yelling at people. That's very bad and anti-democratic.

um and uh

I thought this was fantastic!

Why does a tissue need to be made from old growth? It doesn't. This isn't a new campaign, Kleenex has had plenty of opportunities to acknowledge the issue and they've ignored it. They might ignore this, too, but I don't really see how to get through to them besides persistence.

Or, we could pass a law. That would be sooo productive.

um and uh

I thought this was fantastic!

Why does a tissue need to be made from old growth? It doesn't. This isn't a new campaign, Kleenex has had plenty of opportunities to acknowledge the issue and they've ignored it. They might ignore this, too, but I don't really see how to get through to them besides persistence.

Or, we could pass a law. That would be sooo productive.

Brian

Kudos to Greenpeace for standing up for our old growth forests. It is absolutely appalling that in this day and age corporations are still wreaking havoc on our ecosystems. Ignorance is no longer an excuse. PURE GREED!! ITS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead

Thank You Greenpeace!

Adam

My favorite part is when the second dude on camera is talking about how Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday because of the turkey and the stuffing. He really liked the meal!

People should hijack corporate PR more often.

Jenny

The absolute best part about this is the totally condescending tone of the actor who has "whored himself out to the forest killers" (thanks for that one, ekb!)......the lightbulb totally switches on over his head and he realizes that Greenpeace is right (or at the very least, that his response makes him look like a jerk).

Greenpeace does have an "agenda," and it's an agenda that should be held by us all-not destroying our precious resources any more than we already have.

bikegurl

this was great! way to mess with the man Greenpeace!

and to #1: guess what, someone's gotta harass you on your way to class, heaven forbid anyone interrupts your day filled with self-importance and stubborn ignorance, most likely fueled with mom and pop's tuition fund? or did you manage to hold on to your part time job sneering at people behind the counter at american apparel, despite the demands of psych 101 and poli sci for retards? get a clue.......and then get up and do something that revolves around something other than yourself.

chris

This was sweet, and to the person that said it was a shame because they find those commercials to be "some of the best on tv these days."

damn. You need to seek out entertainment in other areas. But i'm glad you're behind the cause.

I'mrightyou'rewrong

this is a badass thing that Greenpeace did...........way to conquer the complete ignorant fools that walk our city streets everyday, completely oblivious of way that they rot our society by their very existence. oops did i say that? anyways, thanks for getting out there and shouting out the things that need to be said. Can we all get behind more stuff like this? Perhaps put a little more knowledge and power back into our hands?

nick

well. you guys really taught those freelance cameramen a lesson.

and re:#10 ...good job diverting from a good point that had been made by making a entirely unoriginal, unfunny Bush joke. keep up the good work!

and jen! come on! the couch is blue.. even the video still has the image of a blue couch! happy anniversary, but get it together!

Juan

Kimberly-Clark is an evil company that refuses to stop cutting down ancient growth trees. Great work GreenPeace on the promotions sabotage, and hopefully this will help consumers open there weary eyes and take a stand once and for all. Only people power can create lasting change... So step it up...

smitty

I think the Trader Joe's tissues are made from recycled fibers.

Recycled fiber tissues aren't made from recycled tissues. Duh.

db

#18: Trust me. The ad folks didn't love it, although the ad folks didn't put it on, the PR company did. Regardless, the organizers didn't love it because justly or not, the following things will happen as a fallout:

The client will blame them for the disruption.

The client will try and get out of paying for the event.

The promotion will likely have to be re-done.

The PR company will get fired if enough youtube videos are viewed.