Dentsu Aegis Network hits target of 100% renewable electricity

Global advertising and marketing company, dentsu, today announces that it has achieved 100% renewable electricity across its worldwide operations where markets allow.

Employing 45,000 people across 145 markets, Dentsu Aegis Network achieved its landmark goal of becoming 100% powered by renewable energy (where markets allow) ahead of schedule.

Wendy Clark, Global CEO, dentsu commented:

“I am extremely proud that we are now powered by 100% renewable electricity, and that we are leading change in our industry on one of the most critical challenges facing society today. Our industry has so much capacity to deliver positive change and at dentsu we are committed to achieving meaningful progress for our clients and society.

“This achievement demonstrates that it is possible to embrace better and more sustainable ways of working at pace and scale. I’d like to thank our passionate teams across the world who have worked so hard to reach this ambitious goal.”

dentsu’s transition to renewable energy has been supported by RE100, a global initiative that brings together most influential companies that are committed to 100% renewable power and is led by the Climate Group in partnership with CDP.

As an RE100 member, Dentsu Aegis Network achieved the ambitious goal it set itself in 2015 to procure 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2020 in all markets in accordance with RE100 strict technical criteria. Challenges remain in sourcing renewable energy in certain markets that are unable to provide the necessary renewable infrastructure that businesses require to achieve full RE100 status. dentsu will be joining forces with RE100 this October in the coalition’s global campaign to encourage fully certifiable renewable energy resources in all markets. 

Anna Lungley, Chief Sustainability Officer, dentsu said:

“As global leaders in media, digital and creative communications services , we have the ability to inform and influence the choices people make every day. We are committed to using that influence to tackle the climate crisis, to raise awareness of the issue, help decarbonise the global economy and address sustainable consumption and production. Change starts at home and we need to walk the walk first. In 2015 we set ourselves the most ambitious targets among global marketing holding companies, which required us to rapidly transition to renewable energy across the entirety of our business in only five years and we have achieved that goal ahead of schedule. The work does not stop here. We are now laser-focused on achieving our 2030 science based targets.”

Mike Peirce, Director of Corporate Partnerships, the Climate Group said:

“We are delighted by dentsu’s ambitious progress towards their RE100 goal and pleased that the company is working with RE100 to encourage fully certifiable renewable energy resources in all markets.

“dentsu are leading the way in the advertising industry, showing that commitment to 100% sustainable, renewable power is the new standard for businesses.”

dentsu is committed to procuring renewable electricity, even in some of the most challenging markets for corporate renewable purchase. Where it cannot procure renewable contracts directly, it has worked with Natural Capital Partners to purchase renewable electricity certificates or Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs). EACs provide the systems required to reliably track generation and consumption of renewable energy and demonstrate demand for increased supply. dentsu has secured EACs in new and emerging renewable electricity markets such as the UAE, Morocco and Israel.

Through dentsu’s rapid drive to switch to fully renewable electricity it has become apparent that some energy markets are behind the curve in providing the necessary renewable infrastructure that businesses want and need to achieve full RE100 status.

The announcement is the latest in a series of efforts to reduce its environmental impact. Last year dentsu joined forces with Bristol University, Sky and the BBC to launch DIMPACT – a ground-breaking collaboration to map the carbon impacts of digital value chains.

For more details about Dentsu Aegis Network and its Social Impact strategy please visit https://www.dentsu.com/who-we-are/social-impact