Neste and Chicago Bulls’ Lauri Markkanen to spread climate awareness during away games this NBA season

Neste’s new campaign has basketball player Lauri Markkanen dunking for a good cause. This season, Chicago Bulls player Lauri Markkanen will be taking more than just his game to cities around the US. A series of basketball dunks designed by Markkanen will help raise awareness for extreme weather brought on by rising temperatures.

“The world hits new record average temperatures year on year, and catastrophic weather has been on the increase. More and more people as well as companies have already realized the seriousness of this issue. We hope that this collaboration with Lauri will help spread the message to new audiences. As a company focusing on renewable and circular solutions, fighting climate change is at the core of our business,” says Neste’s Marketing Director Sirpa Tuomi.

“As a young dad, the future of our planet is especially important to me. We should stop and think about the planet we are leaving for future generations. To me, this is an important message and I am happy I can bring it across America,” says Markkanen.

Markkanen has created namesake dunks for different types of weather, such as blizzards, hurricanes and flash floods. The five dunks will be premiered ahead of selected away games during the spring. 

“The dunks will help spread awareness of the direct link between global warming and the increase in extreme weather. The clock is ticking, and we must act now if we are to tackle climate change. We need to develop innovative and renewable solutions but also help those in need. For every point scored by Markkanen in these five games, Neste will donate USD 1,000 to a disaster relief fund in the US to aid victims of natural disasters,” Tuomi adds.

The first dunk will be premiered on Markkanen’s social media channels on 16 January 2020. The Blizzard dunk calls attention to the increased occurrence of blizzards in the Philadelphia area, attributed to climate change: five of the top ten largest snowstorms ever recorded in the city have occurred since 1996. 

Throughout the NBA season, the climate dunks will be launched online at neste.com/climatedunks. 

Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates sustainable solutions for transport, business, and consumer needs. Our wide range of renewable products enable our customers to reduce climate emissions. We are the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel refined from waste and residues, introducing renewable solutions also to the aviation and plastics industries. We are also a technologically advanced refiner of high-quality oil products. We want to be a reliable partner with widely valued expertise, research, and sustainable operations. In 2018, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 14.9 billion. In 2019, Neste placed 3rd on the Global 100 list of the most sustainable companies in the world. Read more: neste.com

Lauri Markkanen

Lauri Markkanen is a Finnish professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. With roots in the untouched nature of central Finland, Lauri has risen from a unique environment to celebrity status, and discovered a platform to make a difference. Known for his achievements on the court, he is also set to become a forerunner in raising awareness for environmental issues.