Different Bears

Founded in 2019, Different Bears emerged from a recognition that many organisations were grappling with how to communicate their sustainability efforts authentically and effectively. Based in Newbury, United Kingdom, the consultancy was established to help businesses, charities, and public bodies navigate the complex intersection of environmental responsibility, operational change, and stakeholder expectations. The team behind Different Bears saw that while many organisations had compelling stories to tell about their sustainability journeys, they often lacked the strategic communications expertise to tell those stories in ways that resonated with audiences and drove meaningful engagement.

Core Focus and Approach

Different Bears positions itself as a communications consultancy specifically for organisations on the front-line of society's biggest sustainability challenges. The agency works across multiple sectors, but its clients share common characteristics: they care about the environment, the sustainability of their own activities, and their reputation. For some clients, tackling sustainability challenges is their core business proposition, while for others it involves adapting business practices and sometimes entire business models in response to consumer and stakeholder demands. Different Bears helps these organisations identify their unique stories and transform action and ambition into compelling, effective communications with those that matter most.

The consultancy's approach is grounded in strategic thinking rather than tactical execution alone. Different Bears combines expertise in internal communications, sustainability reporting, communications measurement, brand strategy, and behaviour change campaigns to deliver integrated solutions. The agency's work often involves helping organisations navigate the tension between genuine progress and the risk of greenwashing, ensuring that communications are both truthful and impactful.

Services and Specialities

Drawing from the agency's stated expertise and industry keywords, Different Bears offers a range of services tailored to organisations addressing sustainability challenges:

• Internal communications to engage employees in sustainability initiatives and cultural change
• Sustainability reporting and disclosure communications
• Communications measurement and evaluation to demonstrate ROI
• Brand strategy and positioning around environmental and social purpose
• Media relations and public relations campaigns
• Social media strategy and content creation
• Behaviour change campaigns for consumers and stakeholders
• Market research to understand audience perceptions and expectations
• Content creation including case studies, white papers, and thought leadership
• Strategic counsel on reputation management and stakeholder engagement

The agency's work in communications measurement is particularly notable, as it enables clients to move beyond anecdotal evidence and demonstrate the tangible value of their communications investments. This data-driven approach helps organisations refine their messaging and allocate resources more effectively.

Who Benefits from Different Bears

Different Bears is best suited for organisations that are committed to sustainability but need help translating that commitment into effective communications. The agency works with businesses that are new to sustainability challenges as well as those that have been tackling them for years. Clients range from companies where sustainability is the core business proposition to more traditional organisations adapting their practices in response to market demands. The consultancy is particularly valuable for organisations that want to avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing while still telling compelling stories about their progress. Based in Newbury, United Kingdom, Different Bears serves clients across the country and beyond, bringing a focused expertise that larger, generalist agencies often cannot match. For any organisation looking to communicate its sustainability journey with authenticity and impact, Different Bears offers a specialised, strategic partnership that goes beyond traditional public relations.