Member Article

Dentsu International to be Net Zero emissions company by 2030

Worldwide media and creative communications company, dentsu international, has committed to become a Net Zero emissions business by 2030. The commitment includes a new science-based target to reduce absolute carbon emissions by 46% and offset all unavoidable emissions through certified greenhouse gas removal projects by 2030.

The Net Zero target builds on the significant reductions in carbon emissions already achieved by dentsu international. In July the company announced it had hit its carbon reduction target one year early, reducing emissions per full time employee by 43% since 2015. This significant cut in emissions was enabled in part by dentsu international’s switch to 100% renewable electricity across its operations worldwide, announced earlier this month, a first among the global big-six advertising holding companies.

Wendy Clark, Global CEO of dentsu international, said: “As a company we believe it’s imperative to help create meaningful progress for the brands we work with and for society as a whole. That’s why I’m delighted to announce this week that we are committing to becoming a Net Zero emissions company by 2030. In doing so, we join a select group of companies who are leading by example to prevent dangerous warming and keep global temperature rises below 1.5°C. By setting ambitious, science-based targets, as well as working with our ecosystem of clients, partners and suppliers, we will set about the radical decarbonisation of our entire value chain over the next decade.

“Building on our recent achievement of powering the company on 100% renewable energy, we are committed to a future of renewable electricity and, where emissions are unavoidable, certified greenhouse gas removal projects. Dentsu International has always been an industry first-mover and I’m thrilled that we are able to join those leading brands, many of whom are our clients, that have also pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.”

Dentsu international also announces an ambition to use its influence to help 1 billion people worldwide make better, more sustainable choices by 2030, starting with integrating sustainable behaviours into all of their design process from 2021.

Anna Lungley, Chief Sustainability Officer, dentsu international, explains: “Consumer insight sits at the heart of everything we do. As a global leader in media and marketing we have huge power to influence hearts and minds and inspire people to embrace a new type of lifestyle, one that is aspirational and rewarding, and that will help ease the burden on our planet. This is a collective challenge, one that is increasingly urgent and important to our global team of 48,000+ people. Together we can help brands to develop new strategies and campaigns that meet the demands of a more conscious consumer and help create a better future for all of us.”

Dentsu International’s new Science Based Target is aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, committing to reduce absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) by 46% by 2030 from a 2019 base year. To achieve their targets dentsu international will work closely with suppliers and clients to achieve the radical decarbonisation necessary across their value chain and maintain their commitment to being 100% renewable in all countries in which they operate. They will compensate for remaining hard-to-decarbonise emissions by using certified greenhouse gas removal projects which, where possible, deliver co-benefits aligned with the company’s wider social impact strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Dentsu International will continue full and transparent disclosure of its progress to reaching Net Zero through CDP, an international non-profit that drives companies and governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. In 2019 dentsu international was awarded an A- reflecting its strong progress on environmental performance to date.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Andrew McKay .