Industry Sustainability Resources

A practical resource centre to help agencies navigate the Environmental, Social and Governance landscape

Here we have compiled resources to help you progress in your sustainability journey, to learn more about the climate crisis, ESG standards and how to move from commitment to action to reach real net zero by 2030.

Ad Net Zero

Ad Net Zero

Ad Net Zero is an initiative led by the Advertising Association, that is an industry-wide drive to reduce the carbon impact of developing, producing and running advertising to real net zero by 2030 and commit to make practical changes how advertising operations are run.

Ad Net Zero Essentials Certificate

Ad Net Zero Essentials Certificate

The Ad Net Zero Essentials Certificate was developed and launched by the IPA to help people working in the advertising and marketing services industries understand the climate crisis and the actions to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

Advanced Sustainable Marketing Course

Advanced Sustainable Marketing Course

Lifting the lid on marketing's impacts on sustainability, both through the commerce it generates and its own behaviours. Practical advice and tools to help drive change in organisations including how not to greenwash.

IPA Media Climate Charter

IPA Media Climate Charter

Launched in June 2021, the IPA Media Climate Charter provides media agencies with the tools and resources (including the Media Carbon Calculator) to support the transition to a zero-carbon future.

EcoEffectiveness

EcoEffectiveness

Caroline Davison, Managing Partner and Sustainability Lead, Elvis and Ben Essen, Global Chief Strategy Officer, Iris, pose the question of whether there is a ‘missing measure’ in our examination of advertising effectiveness to date – analysing and tracking the carbon impact of our work.

B Corp Certification

B Corp Certification

Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

Purpose Disruptors

Purpose Disruptors

Purpose Disruptors' mission is to catalyse the advertising industry’s climate transition to align with the IPCC’s 1.5 degree global warming target. The IPA has a relationship with the Purpose Disruptors, who have participated in IPA events at Advertising Week Europe.

#ChangetheBrief

#ChangetheBrief

#ChangeTheBrief Alliance is a not-for-profit partnership between agencies of every size and type and their clients, learning and acting together to directly address the challenge of the climate crisis by promoting sustainability via every channel available to them.

Accreditations

Accreditations

There are some credentials that an organisation can obtain to prove their carbon reduction efforts such as effective environmental management, working carbon neutral or providing healthy, highly efficient and cost-effective green buildings.

IPA Sustainability Survey 2022

IPA Sustainability Survey 2022

The core objective of the survey is to create benchmark data to help agencies navigate the topic of sustainability and the role that the IPA can play in guiding them through the process.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Research centres and foundations share learnings and education around environmental sustainability by industry sub-sectors. The Foundation has a mission to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

Low Carbon Across the South and East

Low Carbon Across the South and East

Free business support and grants in the South and East to help businesses become more competitive and profitable while protecting the environment and encouraging low carbon solutions.

Thought Leadership Reports

Gaining the competitive edge

Gaining the competitive edge

Launched at the Business Growth Conference in 2021, this free-to-download report helps agencies to navigate the ESG space by identifying the role of ESG in marcoms decision making.

Framing Sustainability

Framing Sustainability

The main premise of this report is to understand the formation of opinions around climate and to suggest actionable advice on how to frame sustainability messages to best fit an audience's views.

Legal Notes

Sustainability in Advertising

Sustainability in Advertising

Truthful claims can still be greenwash. An update on the ASA’s latest rulings on environmental claims in ads.

Carbon Neutral, Net Zero and Offsetting

Carbon Neutral, Net Zero and Offsetting

Essential reading for those making carbon neutral, net zero or low carbon claims in advertising.

Greenwashing - CMA Issues Green Claims Code

Greenwashing - CMA Issues Green Claims Code

The CMA calls time on misleading environmental claims.