Sustainability Propaganda – The Oatly case : A qualitative content analysis of Oatly's external communication.

Abstract: The brands' commitment to sustainability is being developed into an established market strategy, which means that the concept of brand activism is becoming increasingly common. Due to this development, the external communication that these brands drive also tends to adopt a more convincing and coercive approach in order to influence the consumers. This study aims to concretize how consumers are exposed to propagandistic methods in the strategic communication that value-driven brands conduct. In this case study, the Swedish, activist, food company Oatly is the subject of analysis. The study is based on the well-established theories of propaganda, persuasion, rhetoric, and strategic communication. In addition to these theories, the study also relates to the rules for advertising and marketing communication established by the International Chamber of Commerce. In order to be able to illustrate which propagandistic methods are used, a qualitative content analysis is used where the communication is deconstructed and analyzed in two steps. First, the communication is analyzed through the rhetorical perspective as an analysis tool, then it undergoes a uniquely designed propaganda analysis based on IPA's seven devices. The results of the study clarify that there is an unethical approach in the communication that Oatly conducts, and it illustrates in an uncomplicated way how Oatly's communication uses a large proportion of propagandistic tactics. Although Oatly claims to be a value-driven company, the results of the study show that the commercial aspects tend to be implicit even in the brand's political context - which tends to be a propagandistic procedure in itself. The results of the study thus indicate a significant relevance to shed light on, and simplify, the public's understanding of how they are being exposed for propaganda in their everyday lives, but also to avoid stricter restrictions and legal regulations regarding advertising and communication.