WPP sustainability score: 43/100
WPP is a London-based advertising and marketing communications conglomerate founded in 1971, employing 109,000 people globally. It operates as one of the Big Six agency holding companies, providing creative, media planning, and digital services to multinational clients across consumer, financial, and energy sectors.
More about WPP
The company generates revenue primarily from campaign development and media buying.
Founded 1971Head office London, United KingdomStaff ~109,000 (2022)Revenue ~£14.9BWebsite ↗
WPP has achieved meaningful operational carbon reductions (82% since 2019) and renewable energy coverage, but these gains are overwhelmed by unverified Scope 3 emissions and structural complicity. The company holds 79 fossil fuel contracts—more than any competitor—and two ASA-upheld rulings for misleading advertising confirm systematic greenwashing for major polluters including Shell and Toyota.
WPP scores 43/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Companies can never pay for anything about their own score. Last verified May 2026.
That places WPP joint 331st of 934 companies scored, and 6th of 6 in Advertising / Marketing Services.
What is WPP doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Emissions Trajectory (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Controversies & Red Flags and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (0/10, 3/10).
Where WPP lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain5/10Most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions aren't measured.
- Whether its emissions are falling7/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is6/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature3/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- How it uses materials and handles waste4/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets6/10Its targets aren't validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports7/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- Its record on controversies0/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is WPP's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is WPP's score based on?
14 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by WPP itself; the rest come from independent sources.
7 of 14 sources are independent of the company.
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does WPP compare with other advertising / marketing services companies?
WPP sits at the bottom of the advertising / marketing services pack.
Among the 6 major advertising / marketing services brands we've scored, WPP sits 6th of 6.
Who scores higher in Advertising / Marketing Services?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above WPP.
Dentsu operates as a Big Six advertising holding company with documented fossil-fuel client work—18 contracts in 2024–2025—undercutting its otherwise-ambitious net-zero science-based targets.
See the breakdown →Publicis Groupe publishes detailed Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data aligned with GHG Protocol, but absolute emissions rose 29% year-on-year to FY2024, missing its own SBTi 2030 targets.
See the breakdown →Omnicom reports credible operational emissions reductions and SBTi validation, but is structurally complicit in fossil fuel greenwashing.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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