Ads promoting unhealthy, industrially-farmed food are everywhere we turn. We never asked for this, so what can we do about it? We spoke to In a Nutshell podcast from #PlantBased Health Professionals, on what these ads conceal, how they limit us - and how we can resist www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZid...
Get outdoor advertising restrictions on the agenda for the local elections this May!
Ask local candidates to commit to ending outdoor advertising & addressing its harmful content by signing the Adfree Cities pledge: forms.gle/oGCBKN2Fe2yD...
Find out more: adfreecities.org.uk/2026-local-e...
We found that large digital billboards use more electricity than 11 average UK homes per year. This has been fact checked more recently on new applications for digital screens and is still correct - adfreecities.org.uk/2022/12/the-...
We found that large digital billboards use more electricity than 11 average UK homes per year. This has been fact checked more recently on new applications for digital screens and is still correct - adfreecities.org.uk/2022/12/the-...
We found that large digital billboards use more electricity than 11 average UK homes per year. This has been fact checked more recently on new applications for digital screens and is still correct - adfreecities.org.uk/2022/12/the-...
Our Unavoidable Impact research found that in Sheffield:
- 56% of outdoor advertising is in the 3 most deprived deciles vs 8% in the 3 least deprived deciles.
- The most deprived decile has 32% of all outdoor ads.
- 91% of outdoor ads are in the 5 most polluted deciles of the city
Our Unavoidable Impact research found that in Sheffield: 56% of outdoor advertising is in the 3 most deprived deciles vs 8% in the 3 least deprived deciles.
The most deprived decile has 32% of all outdoor ads.
91% of outdoor ads are in the 5 most polluted deciles of the city
Tireless work from Sheffield councillor @ruthmersereau.bsky.social fighting planning applications for digital advertising screens. It's hard work - which is why we're working to change the planning rules, to give councils and residents more power to keep these unwanted ad screens off our streets.
The gambling industry employs very aggressive marketing strategies despite the huge impact that gambling has on people's health & lives - it is good to see this @adphuk.bsky.social policy statement calling for a ban on all gambling advertising, promotion & sponsorship @endgamblingads.bsky.social
Great to see the key role of advertising being highlighted here as well as the way this is used to shape our environment which impacts on health - "we therefore need to change the environment to remove corporate influence & make healthy the easy, normal option."
How can we reclaim our food system to build something new including ending unhealthy advertising?
We are excited to be part of a @wellbeing-economy.bsky.social England Hub webinar with ecological economist Henry Leveson-Gower & Bristol-based community market garden Lush Greens
⏰12-1pm Tues 10 March
Massive congratulations to @adblockcardiff.bsky.social for blocking another digital billboard & keeping more space in Cardiff for people not corporations 🙌🥳😍
Calling all Scottish Local Authorities 📣 @biteback2030.bsky.social are giving you the opportunity to work with them & local young people to #ShapeOurStreets & address the impact of unhealthy foods in our communities including the outdoor advertising that we can't avoid. Find out more:
This is a clear way that councils can support reducing the demand for, & normalisation of, products & services that are damaging to the planet & to local populations. It also helps to start conversations about the amount of ads on our streets & what we would rather see there instead 🌳
We were pleased to see the Prime Minister championing the Pride in Place Strategy last week which aims to give more control to local people to improve their neighbourhoods & high streets - but this should be more ambitious that litter picking! People don't want outdoor ads in their public spaces
We are very pleased that the Nutrient Profiling Model has been updated - this identifies which foods & drinks are unhealthy & should not be promoted. With local policies in place there can be fewer unhealthy ads on our streets & more space for healthy products ✅But ideally we need a national ban ❌
More applications for ads in #Cardiff - if you live, work or play there support @adblockcardiff.bsky.social by sending in objections to show that these neighbourhoods are #BetterWithoutBillboards
Are there local elections taking place near you this May? 🗳️
Want candidates to commit to restricting harmful outdoor advertising & getting this on the political agenda? ✅
Get involved & take action: adfreecities.org.uk/2026/01/may-...
The role will focus on designing and delivering creative campaigns that challenge the power Big Oil wields through its advertising, marketing and PR, as well as lobbying policymakers for restrictions on fossil fuel advertising.
Ideally, the successful candidate would be Bristol-based.
📣We're hiring!📣
We're looking for a creative campaigner to join our small, dynamic team to support our efforts countering the influence of Big Oil.
Find full details and job description here: adfreecities.org.uk/work-with-us...
We’ve joined @oha-updates.bsky.social & others to welcome new rules restricting junk food ads on TV & online. This is a big step forward acknowledging the impact of advertising on public health - But there's more to do to include outdoor ads & remove 'brand' exemptions for healthier public spaces
Calling Penarth adblockers! 📢Here is how you can object to this ad screen before Jan 12th: adfreecities.org.uk/how-to-creat... #OurSpaceNotAdSpace
While the festive season remains culturally sacred, Amazon’s Black Friday-January Sales juggernaut of consumerism is uniting campaigners - Adfree's Robbie Gillett writes for @redpeppermag.bsky.social #MakeAmazonPay @ethical-consumer.bsky.social www.redpepper.org.uk/economics-un...
Calling all #Cardiff Adblockers - here is another sneaky application just in time for #Christmas 🎁 Get objecting to keep your public spaces free from ads ✅
This is exactly why we are calling for restrictions on harmful ads on our streets & in our public spaces where we have not consented to seeing them & can't turn them off! 😶 This is a public health issue that the Government must address & listen to people not advertisers 😡
We were very happy to be involved supporting the recommendation to restrict unhealthy food and drink advertising to address #publichealth
However, businesses can still:
1. Ensure that they are advertising healthier products across all media channels 🍏
2. Learn from the Councils which have HFSS bans or healthier ad frameworks to promote healthy products 🚫
3. Shift promotional spend and creative towards minimally processed foods ➡️
"Advertising, marketing and promotion are the cultural wallpaper that form the backdrop to our cultural, social and individual attitudes towards food, yet this is currently heavily skewed towards promoting less healthy and less sustainable food."
"McDonald’s is by far the largest spender on outdoor
advertising, spending a total of £86 million in 2024,
an increase of 71% between 2024 and 2021. This is
three times more spend on outdoor advertising than
KFC, and four times more than Mondelez." (who own Cadbury, Oreo etc.)
"... food business have increased their spend on outdoor advertising by over a quarter (28%) between 2021 & 2024... Of the top 20 outdoor advertisers by spend in 2024, almost half (45%) were food companies, with... two fast food outlets & 5 manufacturers featuring in the top 20 biggest spenders."