Moving Forward on Climate Action

To Global IPG Employees, June 9, 2021:

One of the qualities that we believe sets IPG apart is our fundamental belief that being a values-based organization makes us a stronger company. 

Today marks a further milestone on that front, as we announce major developments in our environmental, social and governance (ESG) programs and commitments.

As you’ll see in our announcement, we are taking three significant steps to tackle climate change: setting a Science Based Target, sourcing 100% renewable electricity by 2030, and committing to reach net-zero carbon across our entire network by 2040 by signing onto The Climate Pledge co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism. In a related step, we also published our SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board) Report, becoming the first-ever company to publish a report in alignment with SASB’s Advertising & Marketing Sustainability Accounting Standards. With our inaugural SASB report, IPG once again sets the standard for transparency in our industry sector, providing newly-enhanced disclosures for investors relating to our progress on ESG.

As we announce today’s climate commitments, we have been thoughtful about how we will adjust our operations to meet these promises, something we know is critical to us as we seek to become a wholly sustainable business. We are considering and deploying all of the levers we have available to create lasting positive change – including areas such as real estate, the way we work in our offices (whether they are on-site in traditional spaces, or remote workspaces), as well as our policies and practices when it comes to business travel. We hope all of our colleagues will join together as we embark on these next steps in our journey.

Given that we are a media and marketing company, IPG’s ESG goals focus not only on climate-related actions as key markers of progress, but also on other specialized areas where we can drive change. These include a focus on human capital (the way we support our people), workforce diversity, equity and inclusion, data ethics and data privacy, as well as the responsible use of digital media and content. Each of these is reflected in our SASB report, that is a natural outgrowth of our GRI reporting, which has tracked our global energy use and emissions across our portfolio for a number of years.

It is also encouraging to be working alongside a number of our clients on initiatives that will make us more responsible global citizens, working together to combat issues such as climate change. You can view some of the creative work our agencies and people are doing alongside marketers in the “Sustainability & Purpose” category of the “Work” section of our website.

Moving forward, each of us has an important part to play – from our role as consumers and as thought partners to our clients. Today, I hope you will familiarize yourself with our new commitments, as well as other recent accomplishments, which include our first-ever Human Rights Policy, our first time appearing on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America, Forbes ranking IPG in the top ten among all U.S. companies it graded as part of its “America’s Best Employers for Diversity” ratings, and our continued inclusion on the FTSE4Good Index.

Thank you for all the work you’re continuing to do as we come through the global health crisis, and for your contributions to these important ESG efforts, which reflect our values as a company. I look forward to working with you as we move through this journey together. It benefits our organization, the communities in which we live and work, and the greater long-term good.

Philippe