“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

AKQA is an optimistic company. We are designed to be an organisation that has endurance, courage and an open mind.

An audacious spirit, rooted in adaptability that – despite the world’s unrelenting change – enables us to look ahead, do the things that might never have been done before, and sustain beyond any individual. We are idealistic about the kind of business we want to be and the future we want to create.

However, we know that our longevity is inextricably linked to the health of our planet and each living organism that calls it home. We believe in our shared responsibility to work toward solutions that are in service of planet Earth, the natural world.

Around the world, in each of our studios, we are continually assessing how the work we do and the way we do it can enhance the service we provide for our employees, clients, society and environment. From the suppliers we engage, to the local communities we touch and the spaces in which we function.

For more on our four pillars of impact, as aligned with the WPP Sustainability Report, see below.

Planet

Impact

• As part of our vision for a more sustainable company and future, we require our studios to structure and implement an environmental management system (EMS) covering waste generation, energy consumption, water usage and carbon footprint.
• We continue to track towards our science-based carbon targets, with net-zero carbon emissions across scope 1 and 2 by 2025, and scope 3 by 2030. Learn more about our targets in the WPP Sustainability Report.
• We launched AKQA Bloom, a studio focused on sustainability and social impact. AKQA Bloom has also developed Seed Sessions in which experts across sustainability share thought leadership with our network.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

• We continue to increase the Recycle and Re-Use Rate in each studio, where the benchmark is at least 50%.
• The recycling efforts of our Paris studio in one year conserved 17,500 litres of water and 300kg of CO2. Waste recycled in the studio was transformed into 1,050 bottles, 1,011 cardboard boxes and more.
• Recycling continues to improve throughout our studios. For example, in San Francisco receptacles for recycle and compost are used instead of standard bins. Bespoke signage has been designed with icons that indicate the common items that are acceptable.
• We are systematically eliminating single-use items such as plastic cups, bottles and utensils in every studio. WPP’s plastic audit ensures actionable solutions are made to tackle pollution from single-use plastics.
• In San Francisco, all single-use dishware has been eliminated and standard dishwashers have been replaced with industrial machines. Instead of taking one hour and 20 minutes to clean a single load, it now only takes three minutes, while only using two gallons of water instead of ten.
• Clothes donation programmes are held across studios. In Shanghai, an initiative has been held since 2019 to donate clothing to remote areas. In Paris, over 50kg of clothes have been donated to local associations helping migrants, with employees regularly volunteering at charities to assist.
• We are ensuring that as little food goes to waste, through initiatives such as the Rescuing Leftover Cuisine programme in New York, where 200kg was donated to the less fortunate – equivalent to 365 meals.
• In Paris, a studio library and regular flea markets allows for books, clothing and homeware to be shared between each other, giving unwanted items a use.
• To reduce printing, monthly pay slips are automatically downloaded via an online platform. Electronic food vouchers are also distributed to prevent paper waste.
• Where possible, old or broken IT hardware are recycled through companies who collect and salvage.
• Our team in Paris has created the site SaveGive, a playful experience for those who have kept their current incomes during the Covid-19 pandemic, and are saving money as they are stuck at home. Data determines users’ savings, inviting them to donate a percentage.
• Ongoing sustainability discussions, events and content continues across studios. For example, digital waste workshops to explain the importance of managing mailbox for productivity and environment impact. Each sent email generates 10g of CO2.

Sustainable supplies

• We take the necessary steps to ensure that our suppliers, contractors and partners employ best practice in sustainability, from reduced-plastic sanitary products to neutral, organic, biodegradable, chemical-free tea bags and bamboo tableware.
• In Atlanta, this includes the provision of plant-derived cleaning supplies, made from renewable natural resources which do not contain chemicals such as chlorine bleach, ammonia, paragons or phosphates.

Human powered

• We are finding more sustainable ways to travel, from reducing the number of flights we take, to encouraging the use of two wheels over four with Cycle to Work schemes. In Amsterdam, 90% of our employees commute to work by bicycle.
• This includes our suppliers, where in Amsterdam and Paris, all of the studio’s environmentally friendly cultivated fruit and flower deliveries are brought by bicycle.

Greener spaces

• Our motivation for a more sustainable environment extends to the physical spaces and structures in which we work.
• New technologies and an awareness for conservation of natural resources permeate AKQA Casa, our studio in São Paulo. The roof uses thermo-acoustical tiles to control insulation, while reclaimed materials and the introduction of sustainable systems such as solar panels, rainwater collection and LED lighting minimise the consumption of natural resources such as electric energy and treated water.

Taking it further

The actions and initiatives that will help inspire us to make further progress include:

Environmentally friendly office practices

• We continue to encourage behaviours from our employees that facilitate a reduction in environmental impact – from simple reminders on conserving energy such as switching off lights, to educational talks and training on sustainability best practices.
• We are working with our landlords in each studio to promote more environmentally sustainable conditions. Ultimately, the goal is for each studio to be located in a building with comprehensive green credentials (for example, LEED certification).

Water conservation practices

• Reducing consumption of natural resources has the biggest impact than any other sustainability initiative. The implementation of low-flow faucets, taps, toilets, urinals and shower heads will be a large step towards achieving our reduced consumption goals.

Low-impact renewable energy use

• We are working to increase our percentage of energy-use produced from low-impact renewable sources. This includes solar panel phone charging stations and rechargeable batteries.

Environmental design practices

• We are committed to carrying out recycling and reclamation programmes to support the proper disposal or re-use of products, including furniture and electronics.

Modern Slavery Act statement

• AKQA does not tolerate any form of modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of our business. AKQA is a subsidiary of WPP, therefore please refer to WPP’s Modern Slavery statement here.

AKQA supply chain

• Wherever possible, AKQA uses suppliers who are appointed by WPP Group Procurement teams for commonly purchased goods and services. These suppliers are selected in accordance with the WPP Procurement Policy. If AKQA needs to use a supplier outside the approved supplier list, then it is the responsibility of AKQA to select suppliers in accordance with the process and due diligence requirements outlined in the WPP Procurement Policy.

Clients

We are committed to working with clients that share values towards people and planet, and in ambition to build a better future.

Impact

• 78% of WPP’s top 50 clients have set science-based targets. We work closely with the rest of our client roster to help them define and realise their own sustainability commitments.
• We use the WPP Green Claims Guide to help our teams ensure that any environmental claims made on behalf of clients are fair and accurate, and to avoid content that could be misleading in any way.
• We help clients realise their sustainability and social impact goals, with examples of our work including (re)boot, Follow the Flowers, Buy Better Wear Longer and Transparency Card.

Community

We are committed to shining a light on important issues and lifting up others as we grow. This way, we can build equitable futures for people across society. To do this, we support and engage with the communities we work within, striving to give access to new opportunities and sharing our expertise.

Impact

• We launched the educational platform SOMA+ to expand the professional knowledge of Black, indigenous and low-income students taking undergraduate communication courses in Brazil.
• We support charities and organisations through our pro bono work. These clients include Lewis Hamilton’s Mission 44 in London, the Duke of Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC, LYRIC in San Francisco and A Plastic Planet by Made Thought, among others.
• We launched Future Lions and the Future Academy to give a platform and a voice to the next generation of creative innovators which has, in turn, helped to discover and foster innumerable talents. Hundreds of alumni have gone on to join top creative and design agencies.