The Sheba Hope Grows™ program gives an inside look at coral restoration efforts with new “Reef Builders” documentary
ICRI Member Mars, states that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today – and we’re seeing that happen through our purposeful impact in coral restoration, brought to life in a new documentary called “Reef Builders,” presented by the SHEBA® brand. The brand believes in the power of storytelling to spark real-world change, and “Reef Builders” is a story that needs to be told—a story of resilience, hope and the people on the front lines of one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time: the loss of the world’s coral reefs.
As Mars continues its mission to become the most pet parent-centric organization in the world, they recognize that the SHEBA® brand has been hard at work making a difference through its Sheba Hope Grows™ program, a global movement to restore coral reefs and part of one of the world’s largest coral reef restoration programs led by Mars Sustainable Solutions.
Despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor, coral reefs support a quarter of all marine life and over one billion people worldwide — yet these critical ecosystems are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. If action isn’t taken now, we risk permanently losing the reefs, marine life, coastal communities and global food systems that depend on them. Mars and its partners through the Sheba Hope Grows™ program are working to ensure a healthy ocean food web, spanning more than 70 restoration sites across 12 countries, including the iconic Great Barrier Reef, Mexico, Kenya and Hawaiʻi.
What is the Sheba Hope Grows™ program?
This impactful program unites coastal communities, NGOs and scientists to restore coral reefs, support thriving fish populations and protect the people and ecosystems that depend on healthy oceans.
The restoration teams across the globe use a variety of methods that can adapt to different reef sites, but the most widely adopted solution is the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS). The hero of this approach is the Reef Stars – hexagonal structures planted in webs across large areas of dead coral, providing a strong platform for new coral to grow within a few years. The new coral can eventually grow to cover the Reef Stars, which become fully integrated into the reef, creating new habitats for marine life, encouraging the settlement of more native corals and bringing the entire reef back to life.
So far, the MSS team has worked alongside its partners to install more than 87,000 Reef Stars with approximately 1.3 million corals attached (Reef Star and coral numbers monitored by MSS team and MSS partner network, MSS Impact Report, 2024, p23).
Stream with Us to Support the Reefs
Now available to stream on Prime Video, “Reef Builders” spotlights the inspiring stories of the people behind the Sheba Hope Grows™ program.
The film chronicles the experiences of coastal communities worldwide who are facing a threat to homes and livelihoods due to the impacts of coral reef decline caused by warming oceans, destructive fishing, changes in coastal land management and over-tourism. Throughout the film, viewers will witness the challenges, successes and the hope that drives this program forward, as the SHEBA brand and Mars continue to scale coral reef restoration efforts worldwide.
“As a brand, we have a wide-reaching global platform, and we recognize it’s our responsibility to use that platform to help fuel positive change,” said Mindy Barry, Global Vice President of Marketing, SHEBA® brand. “The release of ‘Reef Builders’ is a powerful new chapter in our larger mission behind the Sheba Hope Grows™ program. Through the documentary, we want to inspire and educate people on coral’s plight and its importance to our everyday lives.”
The documentary takes viewers across the world to reef sites in Hawai’i, Kenya, Australia and Indonesia, diving into the stories behind the coastal communities and local partners of the Sheba Hope Grows™ program.
