Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP
Dentsu·Advertising / Marketing Services·Tokyo, Japan·Founded 1901·Last verified 1 May 2026
52
out of 100
Making progressPending Review

Dentsu publishes comprehensive GHG and sustainability data with SBTi validation and third-party assurance, but serves 18 active fossil fuel clients including Shell and Chevron. NGO investigations document greenwashing: DeSmog found advertising work promoting carbon capture for Chevron, InfluenceMap identified more obstructive than supportive climate clients. The firm's net-zero claims exclude its advertising portfolio's material climate impact.

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale
Industry base impact
Advertising / Marketing Services sector ceiling.
60 / 100
Performance score
Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.
52 / 100
Raw score
Weighted average before scale penalty.
(0.3 × 60) + (0.7 × 52) = 54.4
Scale penalty
Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.
× 0.95
Final score
Rounded. Making progress.
52 / 100
The ten questions

Where Dentsu is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Targets & Commitments and Transparency & Accountability (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Controversies & Red Flags and Water Impact (3/10, 4/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

14 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Self-reported
ESG Data Book 2024
2024
Q1Q2Q3Q4Q5Q8Q9
View →
[2]Self-reported
Sustainability Strategy 2030
2022
Q1Q3Q6Q7
View →
[3]Self-reported
TCFD Report 2023
2023
Q2
View →
[4]Self-reported
100% Renewables Announcement
2020
Q4
View →
[5]Self-reported
Financial Report 2025
2025
Q4Q6
View →
[6]Self-reported
dentsu-ho.com — articles
Unknown
Q5
View →
[7]Self-reported
group.dentsu.com — corporate data
Unknown
Q7
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[8]Self-reported
SBTi Validation News Release
2024
Q8
View →
[9]Self-reported
Dentsu Net-Zero Action Plan
2024
Q8
View →
[10]Self-reported
Global Chief Sustainability Officer Announcement
2024
Q9
View →
[11]Third-party verified
InfluenceMap: Aligning with Net-Zero in the PR and Advertising Sector
2024
Q10
View →
[12]Public record
DeSmog: Carbon-Sucking Mural Campaigns for Big Oil
2024
Q10
View →
[13]Public record
DeSmog: Ad Firms Make Oil Companies Look Green
2025
Q10
View →
[14]Public record
DeSmog: Mad Men Fuelling the Madness
2026
Q10
View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Dentsu in context

Where Dentsu sits among advertising / marketing services peers.

Among the 4 major advertising / marketing services brands we've scored, Dentsu sits 3rd of 4.

3/4
Dentsu's rank
51
Industry average
47
Industry low
52
Industry high
How this score has moved

Dentsu's score over time.

today

Score history begins 1 May 2026.

As Dentsu's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Dentsu

Dentsu is a Tokyo-based advertising and marketing services conglomerate founded in 1901, operating globally through offices across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The company provides creative, media, and digital marketing services to multinational clients across consumer, financial, and industrial sectors.

Founded
1901
Headquarters
Tokyo, Japan
Employees
~67,000
Annual revenue
Net revenue ~¥1.0T (~$6.5B); total revenue ~$9.6B (PitchBook TTM)
Company website ↗
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