Clean Creatives

In a late-breaking DeSmog exclusive, it was revealed that WPP has shut down their sustainability-focused agency AKQA Bloom which was launched just three years ago. The shocking closure is reportedly tied to the agency’s declining revenues and a renewed focus on other clients - including increasing fossil fuel billings - to support their balance sheet. WPP, which already holds more fossil fuel contracts than any of its major competitors including Shell, bp, and Saudi aramco, appears to be doubling down on profits. It’s hard for a sustainability agency to thrive in a holding company that is so committed to fossil fuels. Clients with serious sustainability agendas are not lining up to work with agencies with deep ties to polluters like BP and Aramco. There’s no other way around it - this dissolution signals a clear deprioritization of climate-conscious work at WPP, backtracking on a bold statement they made in their 2023 annual report - a guarantee to not take on client work, “designed to frustrate the objectives of the Paris [climate] Agreement”. Read more about the closure here:? ?? https://lnkd.in/g8PJZFEW ?? https://lnkd.in/eWe9Vi_m

???? Clean Creatives South Africa recently hosted a jam-packed Climate Mixer in Cape Town. Here’s a re-cap ?? They organized a panel that included ???? Jarred Cinman (VML South Africa), Bradly Howland (Alkemi Collective), Tom Fels (animarem), Lazola Kati (Fossil Free South Africa), Ronell (??) Swartbooi (Voxeon Communications), Annelie Maré (Plentify), Emma King (The Friday Street Club), Stephen Horn (Clean Creatives South Africa) and moderator Lester Kiewit Please give Clean Creatives South Africa a follow (https://lnkd.in/ezKUNi9W), and keep an eye out for even more upcoming Clean Creative events like this across the globe.

Here’s a look into our most recent Clean Creatives Happy Hour. ???? It was inspiring to see our community in London, and we’d like to give a huge thank you to our co-hosts, Harriet Vocking of For.Tomorrow Communications and Adrian Ma of Fanclub PR for joining us ?? Haven’t been to one of our events before? Everyone is welcome. The room was full of energy with Clean Creatives Pledge signers new, old and curious. Don’t miss our next event happening soon in Chicago alongside AIGA Chicago. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/eSGJSUTG ?? #CleanCreatives #FanclubPR #ForTomorrow #Networking #Sustainability #Advertising #Creativity #London

The US Supreme Court just upped the risk to fossil fuel companies - and their agencies - over false climate advertising. ?? This past Monday, March 17th, the U.S. Supreme Court decided it ?? wouldn’t ?? review a case that’s been in the works for months aimed at blocking climate-related lawsuits in five states that directly mentions false advertising practices (greenwashing and worse) used by big oil co’s. Those states are seeking financial damages from oil and gas companies, accusing them of hiding how their products contribute to global warming. If the lawsuits proceed, it could mean that agencies working with fossil fuel companies have their internal communications subpoenaed and their strategies interrogated. ?? Thanks to the Grist and ExxonKnews for the updates:? https://lnkd.in/daH4Wepn https://lnkd.in/dMwwX9Sm?

?? We’re hosting our first ever Clean Creatives Happy Hour in Chicago! Join us on Wednesday, March 26th alongside AIGA Chicago and get to know your local Clean Creatives community. ?? Wednesday, March 26th @ 6pm ??Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery, 1746 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 ?? First drinks are on us for the first 15 RSVPs. We’re excited to grow the Chicago community alongside AIGA Chicago, a professional association and network of creative changemakers, problem solvers, and design industry leaders. ?? RSVP at https://lnkd.in/eSGJSUTG ?? See you there! #Chicago #Networking #AIGA #Sustainability #CleanCreatives #Advertising #PR

We all know the walls have ears, and they’re starting to talk.?? In a recent Financial Times article, it outlined how former Creative Partner at AMV BBDO, Polina Zabrodskaya, became a whistleblower and reported the agency for greenwashing and deceptive advertising. It’s a rising trend, and will only continue to grow as employees are fed up with the moral dilemmas and ethics they’re facing working with tough clients - such as fossil fuel - every day. Clean Creatives was also mentioned in the article as a prime example of employees organizing organically both from within and outside of their day to day jobs. We’re also a movement that is going to continue to grow, and we’re here to help you along the way. ?? Join us by signing the pledge at cleancreatives.org ?? Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ehrsjU77?

?? The Potential Biggest Ad Merger in History Comes with Huge Fossil Fuel Risks ?? Dear shareholders of Interpublic Group (IPG) and Omnicom - the proposed merger would ultimately create the world's largest advertising agency, ultimately consolidating various degrees of exposure to substantial business risks related to fossil fuel clients. Why? Here are just a few things to consider?? ?? 124 total fossil fuel contracts ?? Increased risk of legal subpoenas & lawsuits ?? Declining market & shrinking fossil fuel ad budgets will affect overall profitability ?? Conflicts of interest with other clients Several of Omnicom and IPG’s peer companies have acknowledged the business risks posed by fossil fuel clients. WPP listing fossil fuel clients as their top reputational risk in their 2023 annual report, Havas disclosed financial risks linked to Shell including the loss of ESG certifications like B Corp status, and dentsu found that its work with high-emissions clients threatens their ability to attract and retain talent. You know it’s dire when agencies publicly mention risks such as this, and it might be much, much worse behind closed doors. ?? We urge shareholders to push for a rigorous examination of fossil fuel client exposure as part of the upcoming merger process. Reducing reliance on these clients will strengthen the combined company’s long-term resilience and align its business strategy with evolving market trends. To learn more about the proposed merger, visit https://lnkd.in/e8RtZZr2

?? We’d like to introduce our Class of 2025 Clean Creatives Campus Ambassadors. What are Campus Ambassadors? These 5 college students are helping to bring the Clean Creatives Pledge to future employees of the Advertising & PR industry and taking action on fossil fuel advertising across their campuses. Learn a little bit more about our students ?? ?? Avery Thorpe - The University of Texas at Austin Avery is majoring in Advertising and says there's already a great deal of animosity towards elusive advertising and greenwashing at UT Austin. She’s engaging her peers in signing the Clean Creatives Pledge to materialize their morals and expectations for the industry. ?? Caitlin E. - S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University Caitlin is majoring in Advertising Art Direction, returning to our ambassador program this year to empower her peers to work with companies whose values align with their own. ?? Charlie Hurwitz - Penn State University Charlie is majoring in Advertising and believes although it’s easy to care about sustainability, not many people take that care and turn it into real world action. He’s ready to apply his passions and apply them to his community. ?? Luke Southall - University of Oregon Luke is majoring in Advertising and Public Relations, returning as a Campus Ambassador to highlight the intersection between advertising, public relations and climate advocacy. He’s excited to continue to build on his work from last year. ?? Zoey Joseph - Penn State University Zoey is majoring in Advertising and loves the positive spin Clean Creatives puts on advertising agencies. She wants to show people the influence and power they have so that the world can start to become a healthier and cleaner place. Welcome, and we’re so excited to have you on board! #CleanCreatives #UTAustin #SyracuseUniversity #PennsylvaniaUniversity #UniversityOfOregon #Students #Sustainability #Advertising #Communications #PR?

?? Over 100 people RSVPed for our incredible event in DC last week in partnership with Climate DC & MIT Climate Policy Center. Giving our DC community the opportunity to connect and imagine what taking action can look like together, we delved into En-ROADS, a climate data modeling platform developed by MIT and Climate Interactive, exploring different scenarios to decrease the rate of global warming. We did indeed solve the climate crisis in 60 min and it was below +1.9C! A huge thank you to our Clean Creatives DC team hosts Fernanda Secco, Anat Scham, Alfonso Cuesta, and Cedric Craig. Photography by Cedric Craig ?? Next up - our Happy Hour in Brooklyn, NYC! #WashingtonDC #Creativity #Sustainability #MIT #CleanCreatives #Networking

???? Based in London? Get ready for our first UK Happy Hour of 2025! RSVPs are now open at cleancreatives.org/ldn-hh ?? Tuesday, 18th March @ 5-7pm ??First drinks are on us! ??Spread Eagle, 141 Albert St, London NW1 7NB, UK ? Special guests include our Clean Creatives’ Executive Director, Duncan Meisel, and Harriet Vocking, Founder of For.Tomorrow Communications - a purpose-driven communications agency specialising in sustainability. Harriet spent the last decade growing an international client base for Eco-age, the original sustainability consultancy founded by Livia Giuggioli Firth More special guests to be announced soon! We can’t wait to see you there ??