Fast Read

Sustainability is important to WPP. We aim to reduce the environmental impact of our business, and to make a positive contribution through the work we do for our clients and our interactions with our stakeholders.

We focus on six important issues:

• The impact of our work for clients, particularly sustainability-related marketing campaigns;
• Marketing standards including culture and values and our commitment to leading privacy and data security practices
• Employment including diversity and our investment in training and development;
• Environment, particularly our focus on reducing carbon emissions
• Supply chain standards
• Social investment, including the contribution we make through pro bono work for charities

Becoming more sustainable supports our business strategy by giving us better access to the skills we need to grow; opening up new business opportunities and supporting the expansion of our digital and data businesses; and protecting our business from reputational risks.

More leading brands are incorporating sustainability into their long-term strategies and working practices. Our agencies help them to use marketing and communications as powerful tools for engaging stakeholders, enabling clients to enter new markets for products and services with social and environmental benefits.

As the number of sustainability-related briefs grows, our companies are building their expertise in these areas, supported by WPP. Improving our own sustainability performance helps us understand the global social and environmental trends that impact our clients’ businesses.

Progress so far:

• Our companies have specialist sustainability offers including Burson-Marsteller’s Global Corporate Responsibility Practice, Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ CR + Sustainability Communications offering, JWT Ethos, OgilvyChange, OgilvyEarth, P&G’s S-Team and PSB Green.
• Clients who engaged with us on sustainability were worth £1.26 billion in 2013

In the work that we produce for our clients and the way we work with others, we strive to meet high ethical standards. We set great store by maintaining high standards of integrity and honesty and are guided by the WPP Code of Conduct and Sustainability Policy.

Data is central to our business as our companies collect, store and use consumer data on behalf of clients. We take action to protect consumer privacy and we engage with consumers, regulators, clients and industry to improve privacy practices across the sector.

Progress so far:

• Over 120,000 employees completed our Ethics and Anti-Bribery and Corruption training
• Data Code of Conduct launched and Global IT Security, Privacy and Social Media policies rolled out
• 63% of agencies have a dedicated privacy lead and have introduced bespoke privacy training

To make sure we get the best people, we have developed rigorous recruitment processes, attractive working conditions and rewarding training opportunities. We put great value on workforce diversity as a source of creativity and consumer insight. We support education around the world to widen our talent pool and support social mobility.

Progress so far:

• £64.4 million investment in training and welfare
• 47% of senior managers are women
• 18% of senior managers in the UK and US from ethnic minorities
• 4,000 internships globally to support young people

We are working to make WPP a low-carbon and resource-efficient group, with benefits to the environment, our own costs and our credibility with clients. Our priority is to cut our carbon footprint and we have an ambitious target to reach 1.8 tonnes of CO2 per person by 2020, a 47% reduction from 2006.

Our strategy to reduce our footprint focuses on: improving the energy efficiency of our buildings and IT systems; reducing non–essential flights by promoting videoconferencing and collaboration tools; and purchasing green-tariff electricity for our offices where available. We offset our unavoidable emissions from air travel by investing in renewable energy generation in fast growing economies.

Progress so far:

• 31% reduction in carbon emissions per employee since 2006
• 10% of floor space certified to green building standards such as BREEAM or LEED
• 672 new videoconferencing units installed
• Offset 100% of our carbon emissions from air travel
• Included in the CDP’s Climate Disclosure Leadership Index with a score of 95B

We purchase goods and services from thousands of suppliers around the world. Much of our procurement is made on behalf of clients.

We aim to select suppliers that protect the environment, meet high standards on employment practices and commit to acting ethically in all aspects of their business. This is important to WPP and our clients.

In 2013, we piloted a new approach to supplier risk assessment in partnership with Sedex, the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange.

Progress so far:

• Sustainability included in global Procurement Leadership Team objectives
• Launched simplified supplier selection process aligned with the WPP Code of Conduct and anti-bribery and corruption policies
• Pilot project run with Sedex to assess supply chain sustainability risks

WPP companies support good causes around the world working on issues such as education, health, human rights and environmental protection. We provide services to many charities, NGOs and voluntary groups on a pro bono basis, forgoing a commercial fee. These campaigns are an opportunity for exceptionally creative, and often award-winning, work.

Progress so far:

• £19.6 million social investment
• Social investment equivalent to 1.5% of pre tax profits
• £19.8 million in negotiated free media space
• Total social contribution worth £39.4 million
• Value of pro bono up by 31%