Welcome to our Sustainability Report

WPP is the world’s largest communications services group. Our companies exist to help clients compete successfully: in marketing strategy, advertising, every form of marketing communication and in monitoring progress. We help our clients to prosper and grow, expanding into new markets and engaging with consumers across every form of media.

We were named Holding Company of the Year at the 2015 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the fifth year running, ranked Most Effective Holding Company, globally, in the 2015 Effie Effectiveness Index for the fourth consecutive year and awarded top holding company in Warc’s 100 annual ranking of the world’s best campaigns and companies for the second consecutive year.

We directly employ 128,000 people and, when associate companies are included, we have almost 190,000 people working in 3,000 offices now in 112 countries; the latest: Cuba. We serve 352 of the Fortune Global 500 companies, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30, 77 of the NASDAQ 100 and nearly 830 national or multinational clients in three or more disciplines. We work for public sector clients in more than 60 countries. WPP is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ in New York (WPPGY).

We purchase goods and services from thousands of suppliers around the world spending around £6 billion a year on advertising production, research operations, facilities, IT and telecoms, travel and professional and recruitment services.

This report explores how our commitment to sustainability creates value for WPP through better access to skills, new business opportunities and reduced financial and reputational risks. It explains our approach to reducing negative social, ethical or environmental impacts associated with our business and to maximising our positive contribution to society. It details how we work with clients on sustainability, providing the insights and communications services they need to respond successfully to social and environmental change.

Information on our sustainability performance is also integrated into our Annual Report and Accounts.

WPP awards and rankings 2015/16

Member of Dow Jones Sustainability Indices In Collaboration with RobecoSAM

FTSE4Good

Climate Disclosure Leader

Holding Company of the Year at the 2015 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

WARC100 logo

Cannes Lions 2011-2015 holding company of the year award logo

effie awards

Ethical corporation Responsible business awards winner 2015

COP logo


WPP USA: Named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes magazine.