Corporate Responsibility

Corporate Responsibility

WPP recognises the importance of high standards of social, ethical and environmental behaviour.

We focus our efforts on the issues we have identified as being most material (relevant and significant) to WPP. In 2006 we revised our assessment in light of increased global attention to climate change. We consider five corporate responsibility issues to be of significance to WPP:

• The social and environmental impact of our work for clients.
• Marketing ethics, compliance with marketing standards, and protection of consumer privacy.
• Employment, including diversity and equal opportunities, business ethics, employee development, remuneration, communication, and health and safety.
• Social investment, including pro bono work, donations to charity and employee volunteering.
• Climate change, including the emissions from energy used in our offices and during business travel.

These issues represent opportunities for us to strengthen our business by enhancing our reputation with clients and our people.

The social, demographic and business changes that will take place in response to climate change will present numerous communications and marketing opportunities for WPP. Our decision to become carbon neutral will help our companies leverage these opportunities.

In the event of poor performance or high-profile failures in marketing ethics or employment, there is a potential for reputational risk to our business.

Of less significance, but still part of our corporate responsibility program, are our other environmental impacts (including waste and recycling) and our suppliers' corporate responsibility performance.