WPP

Carbon per million dollars of revenue. The legacy industry-standard reference (CDP, MSCI). Useful for cross-sector context, but distorted by margin — high-margin firms appear artificially efficient. Read alongside the operational and asset intensities for the full picture.

OpEx (operating expenditure) is the running cost of the business — staff, services, energy, materials. This shows how carbon-intensive operations are per million dollars of spend. Removes the margin distortion that revenue-based ratios introduce.

EVIC (Enterprise Value Including Cash) is the firm's total capital footprint — equity + debt + cash + minority interest. The EU's standard intensity measure (SFDR PAI 3) — answers: how much carbon does each million of capital deployed in this business produce?

PP&E (Property, Plant & Equipment) plus leased real-estate assets is the firm's physical infrastructure on the balance sheet. This shows the carbon intensity of that physical footprint — uses Scope 1+2+3 for consistency with the other headline intensities. Surfaces stranded-asset risk for asset-heavy firms.

Carbon per FTE (full-time-equivalent employee) — the diagnostic measure for people-leveraged businesses where headcount, not capital, drives delivery. Captures the office, energy and travel footprint per person.

• · berkeley_voluntary_registry
• · gold_standard
• · RE100

WPP is a member of RE100 and in 2025 achieved its target of purchasing 100% of electricity from renewable sources (99.8% after RE100 Technical Criteria exclusions). This was driven by centralised procurement of green and renewable electricity across all major markets, with 118,097 MWh of green/renewable electricity (location-based) in 2025. The firm also advanced building efficiency through its campus programme, consolidating offices into fewer, more energy-efficient buildings. WPP partners with world-leading cloud providers who operate global data centres using low-carbon energy management.

WPP's Environment Policy sets out how it manages the cost and quality of carbon credits purchased to offset emissions it cannot avoid. The firm states the first step to limiting emissions is to reduce its total footprint as far as possible. In 2026, WPP aims to set its first long-term emissions reduction target and update its net zero commitment consistent with the SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard. The firm uses sustainability-linked finance, with its $2.5 billion revolving credit facility tied to specific sustainability metrics.

• Office energy efficiency through campus consolidation programme

  WPP's campus strategy consolidates people into fewer, larger, more energy-efficient buildings, replacing smaller offices and lowering the environmental footprint. In 2025, 49 campuses accommodated 73,000 people. The newest London campus (One Southwark Bridge) retained 75% of original structure, saving ~60% embodied carbon vs demolition and achieved BREEAM Outstanding certification. Campus consolidation drove Scope 1 and 2 emissions down 89% from the 2019 baseline.

• Enterprise technology decarbonisation - cloud migration and server decommissioning

  WPP's technology estate (6% of 2019 baseline Scope 3 footprint) is being decarbonised through migration to cloud-based solutions and decommissioning of on-premise hardware. In 2025, 1,100+ on-premise servers were decommissioned, and 80% of computing workloads are now hosted in public cloud (2024: 62%). Strategic partnerships with Google, Microsoft and AWS accelerate transformation while reducing costs, and cloud providers operate global data centres benchmarked in low-carbon energy management.

• Business air travel reduction - 60% emissions reduction since 2019

  WPP tracks and manages business air travel as a key Scope 3 category (~3% of baseline footprint). Air travel emissions decreased 60% compared to 2019, reaching 49,528 tCO2e in 2025. Centrally contracted flights (74% of air travel) are subject to PwC limited assurance. Travel management companies have implemented new processes to improve data quality following restatement of 2024 data.

• Real estate consolidation and energy-efficient campuses

  WPP is reducing its real estate portfolio by moving people into fewer, more efficient buildings — launched seven new campuses in 2024 (47 global total). New campus technology standards have reduced IT equipment room sizes by 75%, lowering construction costs, power consumption and cooling needs. Real estate is one of five identified emissions hotspots.

• Electric/hybrid company car transition

  Company cars account for 63% of Scope 1 emissions. In 2024, 63% of centrally-leased company cars were electric or hybrid (2023: 46%), largely driven by Belgium and Germany (half of company car contracts), where all new contracts are electric or hybrid.

• Enterprise technology / Cloud Acceleration Programme

  Enterprise technology generates 6% of WPP's Scope 3 footprint. Through the Cloud Acceleration Programme WPP has decommissioned more than 1,000 servers and moved 800 to the cloud, replacing older hardware with cloud-based solutions powered by renewable electricity. This is one of five emissions hotspots overseen by the Net Zero Leadership Group.

• Business air travel reduction

  Business air travel accounts for around 3% of baseline carbon footprint. In 2024 air travel emissions were 91,651 tCO2e (up 21% vs 2023 but 25% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels). WPP charges an internal carbon price of £6.88/tCO2e to agencies for centrally contracted flights to fund offsetting.

• Campus consolidation & building energy efficiency

  Scope 1+2 reductions largely driven by campus strategy — moving people into fewer, more efficient buildings — combined with electricity from renewable sources. Target: 75,000 employees in net zero campuses by 2025. Company cars (62% of Scope 1) being shifted to electric/hybrid: 46% of centrally leased cars EV/hybrid in 2023 (2022: 30%).

• Business air travel reduction

  Business air travel accounts for ~3% of baseline carbon footprint. 2023 Scope 3 business air travel emissions were 75,687 tCO2e (vs 122,967 in 2019 baseline). An internal carbon price of £6.93/tCO2e is recharged to agencies to incentivise reduction.

• Business travel reduction & travel class tracking

  Business travel accounts for ~3% of baseline carbon footprint. In 2023 air travel emissions were 75,687 tCO2e, up 36% on 2022 but still 38% below 2019. Centrally-managed data covers 79% of group air travel via three travel management companies. In 2023 travel by class was integrated into assured metrics for the first time.

• Campus consolidation and building energy management

  More than half (52%) of WPP people now based in 41 campuses (up from 8% in 2018). A new energy efficiency playbook was rolled out across facilities teams in 2023 — in Prague reduced energy use by up to 46% per month vs 2022 by controlling office temperature. Natural gas in buildings produced 33% of 2023 Scope 1 emissions.

• Production decarbonisation via virtual production and AI

  Hogarth is investing in generative AI, 3D and virtual production technologies. Example: Ford Mustang Mach-E BlueCruise expansion to 21 markets achieved 40% production emissions reduction while doubling content output. Hogarth and Makerhouse achieved AdGreen 'Superuser' status; AdGreen carbon calculator used across 22 WPP agencies.

• Electric/hybrid company car transition

  Company cars account for 62% of Scope 1 emissions. In 2023, 46% of centrally-leased company cars were electric or hybrid (2022: 30%). From 2023, new company car contracts in Germany and Belgium (representing 48% of contracts) are electric or hybrid.

• IT infrastructure migration to cloud

  IT (data centres to emails) generates 6% of Scope 3 footprint. Decommissioning older hardware and migrating infrastructure to cloud will reduce energy use and emissions. Working with technology providers to better track IT emissions reduction.

• Business travel reduction

  Business air travel accounts for ~3% of value chain footprint. In 2022 emissions were 55,662 tCO2e (387% increase vs 2021 post-Covid, but 55% below 2019 pre-pandemic). WPP collects centrally managed travel data covering 79% of group travel and offsets via permanently retired carbon credits.

• Campus consolidation to net-zero buildings

  By 2025 WPP aims to bring 85,000 employees into 65+ net-zero campuses on renewable electricity. Strategy focuses on repurposing existing iconic buildings to retain embodied carbon (e.g. Rose Court London BREEAM 'Excellent' - main structure retention preserved ~60% of embodied carbon). New offices >50,000 sq ft target LEED/BREEAM certification.

• Electrification of company car fleet

  Company cars account for 64% of Scope 1 emissions. In 2022, 30% of centrally leased company cars were electric or hybrid (up from 24% in 2021). WPP aims to shift to EV/hybrid in markets where charging infrastructure is feasible.

• Business travel reduction (~one-third permanent cut vs pre-pandemic)

  Business travel accounts for around 3% of WPP's value chain carbon footprint. WPP aims to permanently reduce air travel by around a third versus pre-pandemic levels. In 2021, air travel emissions were 11,421 tCO2e, a 51% decrease vs 2020 and 91% vs 2019. WPP partnered with Microsoft to launch Cloud Studio, enabling creative teams to produce campaigns remotely.

• Net zero campuses powered by renewable electricity

  WPP is consolidating office space into a global network of campuses powered by renewable electricity. By 2025, expects 85,000 people to work in at least 65 net zero campuses. In 2021 opened 9 new campuses, bringing total to 31. New buildings >50,000 sq ft must achieve LEED or BREEAM certification. Building optimisation technology (e.g., smart lighting at Dusseldorf saves up to 80%) reduces energy use.

• Company car electrification

  WPP aims to reduce emissions by shifting company cars to electric and hybrid vehicles in markets where infrastructure makes it feasible. In 2021 centrally-leased company car emissions were assured for first time; locally-managed car emissions had data inconsistencies. WPP plans to review and strengthen measurement in 2022.

• Business travel reduction (3% of scope 3)

  Business travel accounts for ~3% of value chain footprint. 2020 saw 81% reduction in air travel emissions due to Covid-19. WPP is working to capture remote-working best practice to reduce future air travel where alternatives exist. Internal carbon cost applied via offset credits charged to each agency since 2007.

• Building/Campus efficiency and green building standards

  Consolidating into shared Campuses (33% of staff in 2020, target 85% by 2025). Buildings >50,000 sq ft must be LEED or BREEAM certified; 75% of completed Campus projects certified to LEED Gold or above. Estimated 21% energy reduction per location. Climate risk assessment to be integrated into Campus due diligence in 2021.

• Media buying decarbonisation - 17% reduction since 2019 via vendor engagement

  Emissions from media buying generate 54% of WPP's 2019 baseline Scope 3 carbon footprint. WPP was the first among peers to include media placement emissions in science-based reduction targets, with a 2030 target of 50% absolute reduction. A 17% reduction in media emissions has been achieved since 2019, driven by progress of top 20 media vendors. EssenceMediacom's adaptive green media planning model demonstrated 19% emissions savings vs standard digital delivery without compromising ROI. WPP targets 52% of carbon-strategic suppliers having set science-based targets.

• Supply chain engagement - 52% of carbon-strategic suppliers with SBTi targets

  WPP operates a supply chain of ~70,000 global suppliers. The firm has assessed 64 carbon-strategic suppliers' emissions reduction maturity and launched an outreach programme to encourage renewable energy adoption and carbon reduction targets. 52% of carbon-strategic suppliers have set science-based carbon reduction targets. The supply chain engagement programme was awarded an A- rating in CDP's Supplier Engagement Assessment. Watershed platform implemented in 2025 to strengthen data quality and coverage across all emissions categories.

• Production decarbonisation via AI-enabled virtual production - 80%+ CO2e reduction vs traditional shoots

  Emissions from filming and content production on behalf of clients account for 14% of WPP's 2019 baseline Scope 3 footprint. WPP Production (launched February 2026) consolidates production resources globally. AI-enabled virtual production achieves 80%+ average reduction in CO2e vs traditional shoots (based on four virtual production campaigns). A production playbook guides decision-making before, during and after shoots. AI-driven tools within WPP Open support reuse of existing assets over new origination.

• Supply chain / procurement engagement (138 carbon-strategic suppliers)

  Supply chain (Scope 3) makes up 98% of total emissions. WPP identified that just 138 carbon-strategic suppliers contribute 56% of total indirect purchased goods and services emissions, representing $1.2bn in spend. WPP has assessed the maturity of these suppliers' emissions reduction plans and embarked on an outreach and engagement plan toward supply chain decarbonisation.

• Media placement decarbonisation

  Media placement represents more than half of WPP's supply chain emissions. In 2024 GroupM piloted new ways to estimate, optimise and reduce emissions with third-party AdTech vendors. WPP welcomed the launch of the Global Media Sustainability Framework — the first industry-wide framework to measure media emissions consistently per GHG Protocol.

• Production decarbonisation via Hogarth and virtual production

  Advertising production is responsible for 14% of supply chain carbon footprint. Hogarth (WPP's production agency) invests in generative AI and virtual production technologies to lower production emissions. A production playbook guides decision-making before, during and after shoots. The Production Studio on WPP Open automates content creation, reducing travel needs.

• Technology / cloud migration

  Technology (data centres, emails) generates 6% of Scope 3 footprint. Decommissioning older, less efficient hardware and migrating IT infrastructure to the cloud will reduce energy use and emissions. WPP working with technology providers to better track emissions of products and services used.

• Media buying decarbonisation

  Media placement makes up more than half of WPP's supply chain emissions. WPP is the only advertising holding company to include media buying emissions in SBTi targets. GroupM launched an omnichannel media carbon calculator in 2023, measuring ~2,800 campaigns. A client coalition representing $10bn in global advertising investment is driving standardisation of emissions measurement.

• Carbon strategic supplier engagement

  In 2023, WPP commissioned Anthesis to map indirect suppliers' carbon footprint. Around 800 suppliers make up 80% of total indirect purchased goods and services CO2e emissions — these 'carbon strategic suppliers' will be engaged on emissions reduction plans in 2024 and beyond.

• Supply chain decarbonisation via carbon-strategic suppliers

  In 2023 WPP commissioned Anthesis to map indirect suppliers' carbon footprint in detail — 80% of indirect purchased goods & services emissions come from ~800 suppliers across IT/Telco (23.5%), Real Estate (17.4%), Professional Services (10.5%) etc. These 'carbon-strategic suppliers' are prioritised for targeted engagement to reduce emissions.

• Media buying decarbonisation (industry-first Scope 3 inclusion)

  WPP is the only advertising holding company to include media placement emissions (>50% of total footprint) within science-based targets. GroupM released the first framework for measuring carbon emissions across the advertising lifecycle in 2022 and open-sourced it. In Feb 2023 GroupM launched an omnichannel media carbon calculator; in its first year ~2,800 campaigns were measured. A client coalition representing $10bn in advertising investment is driving standardisation.

• Production decarbonisation via virtual production & AI

  Production of films and content represents 14% of supply chain carbon footprint. Hogarth continues investment in generative AI, 3D and virtual production technologies, expected to lower production carbon footprint through reduced travel and more efficient content generation.

• Technology / cloud infrastructure decarbonisation

  Technology accounts for 6% of Scope 3 footprint. WPP is increasing use of cloud infrastructure powered by renewable electricity to reduce energy consumption, and has deployed low-cost sensor technology in server rooms to optimise energy use.

• Media buying decarbonisation (>50% of footprint)

  Media represents 55% of WPP's value chain emissions baseline. As first holding company to include media in SBT, GroupM developed and open-sourced a methodology for calculating emissions from media buying, launched a $10bn advertiser coalition, and in Feb 2023 launched a media omnichannel carbon calculator allowing channel-level emissions data in media planning.

• Production emissions via virtual production & AdGreen

  Production accounts for 14% of supply chain footprint. A single hour of film generates ~5 tCO2e. Hogarth is developing virtual production capabilities. WPP is a founding member of AdGreen, providing training, a renewable energy buy-in scheme, and practical resources to reduce production emissions industry-wide.

• Media decarbonisation programme (>50% of footprint)

  With over $50 billion in advertising placed in 2021, media comprises more than half (55%) of WPP's total supply chain emissions baseline. GroupM launched a media decarbonisation programme aiming to develop industry-leading carbon measurement methodology and tools, collaborate with supply chain to drive decarbonisation behaviours, and educate to enable change. WPP is the first holding company to account for media emissions in its science-based reduction targets.

• Sustainable production via Hogarth and AdGreen (14% of footprint)

  Production accounts for 14% of WPP's baseline carbon footprint. Through Hogarth's 'Sustainably Made' approach, WPP uses virtual studios, real-time camera-to-cloud technology, and AI-powered tagging to reduce location shoots and reuse footage. WPP is a founding partner of AdGreen, which provides free training, renewable energy buy-in and a carbon calculator for the advertising industry. Target: 75% of all global productions to be carbon measured, optimised and residually offset by end of 2023.

• Cloud and technology infrastructure decarbonisation (6% of footprint)

  Technology — data centres and digital communications — generates 6% of WPP's Scope 3 baseline. WPP is increasing use of cloud infrastructure powered by renewable electricity to reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions and waste. In 2021 partnered with Microsoft on Cloud Studio.

• Media spend decarbonisation (55% of scope 3)

  With over $60bn placed in advertising in 2020, media investment makes up 55% of WPP's scope 3 footprint. Plans to develop a media channel-level carbon calculator, ask vendors to share carbon data (top 20 markets first), factor carbon into investment decisions, and build industry standards for measuring emissions from media placement.

• Technology and cloud infrastructure decarbonisation

  Technology (data centres, emails) generates 6% of scope 3 footprint. WPP plans to increase use of cloud infrastructure powered by renewable electricity to reduce energy consumption and emissions.

• Advertising production emissions via AdGreen

  Production accounts for 14% of scope 3 emissions. WPP became a founding member of AdGreen in 2020 to eliminate negative environmental impacts of production, including a renewable energy buy-in scheme, training and a carbon calculator. Through Hogarth, using virtual production technology to reduce carbon-intensive location shoots. 40+ people across 7 agencies AdGreen-trained in 2020.