Sky Media has confirmed that its Sky Zero Footprint Fund will be back in 2025 with an expanded format designed to create meaningful environmental progress through advertising.
After taking a year’s break to refine the initiative, the advertising arm of Sky is once again offering £2 million in media support to brands and organisations at the forefront of sustainability—bringing its total commitment to £8 million since the fund’s launch in 2021.
In this new iteration, the fund moves away from a single structure and will instead feature three categories—Disruptors, Catalysts and Champions—each focused on different types of organisations looking to make an environmental impact. Disruptors will involve challenger brands scaling up with fresh ideas, while Catalysts will offer dedicated support to charities and not-for-profit organisations that often struggle to demonstrate measurable results. Champions will invite established brands to take a leading role in national sustainability conversations and help push environmental action to the forefront.
Sarah Jones, Director of Planning at Sky Media, emphasised the fund’s broader reach this year, saying that the aim is “to put sustainability front-and-centre for a wider range of brands, empowering a diverse range of organisations—from groundbreaking startups to influential household names—to take bold steps towards a more sustainable future.” The 2025 version also features a panel of expert judges from the realms of sustainability, advertising and media, who will evaluate entries based on their ability to drive positive environmental change.
Previous winners have demonstrated how effective the fund can be at raising awareness. Grub Club took the Grand Prix prize in 2023 for its insect-based pet food concept, which co-founder Alessandro Di Trapani called a game-changer. According to Di Trapani, “Winning the Sky Zero Footprint Fund was a game-changer for Grub Club. The process was an incredible experience, from refining our brand message to filming our first-ever TV ad. The exposure has put Grub Club in front of millions of pet owners across the UK, driving awareness and credibility in a way that would have been impossible for an early-stage brand alone. More than just visibility, the Footprint Fund has been a key catalyst in unlocking national distribution, helping us secure major retail partnerships that will accelerate our mission to make pet food more sustainable.”
Entry guidelines for the 2025 Sky Zero Footprint Fund will be published at www.skymedia.co.uk/skyzerofootprintfund, and the deadline for submissions will open in early March. More details on the judging panel and specific criteria will be announced soon. Successful applicants will not only gain substantial exposure but also have a chance at winning additional funding through the Grand Prix, a testament to Sky Media’s ongoing commitment to promoting environmental responsibility.
