With only 9 years left until the SDGs deadline, what has Dentsu Inc. International achieved?

With the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) just nine years away, public scrutiny of companies is intensifying. It is no longer enough to offer fine words; companies must clearly demonstrate and communicate what concrete actions they are taking for the future of people and the planet. This importance has never been greater for businesses worldwide.

Amid this social climate, in July 2021, Dentsu International, the Dentsu Group entity responsible for overseas operations, released its "Social Impact: 2020 Highlights" report. This document compiles the various initiatives undertaken last year to address environmental and social challenges.

" Our ambition is to be a beacon of relentless innovation and a driving force for positive change in the world."

This report begins with this powerful statement from Wendy Clark, Global CEO of Dentsu Inc.

<Table of Contents>
▼The Three Pillars of Dentsu Inc. International's Social Impact Activities
▼Achieving 100% Renewable Energy Procurement
▼Increasing the proportion of women in senior leadership roles to 35%
▼Providing Digital Learning Opportunities to 8,633 Young People Worldwide
▼ And by 2030, the Dentsu Group Will Unite to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions
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Achieved 100% Renewable Energy Procurement

Among Dentsu Inc. International's activities to realize a "Sustainable World," a notable achievement was meeting the ambitious goal of "sourcing 100% of electricity from renewable energy by the end of 2020." This aligns with the standards of the international initiative "RE100," which aims for companies to source 100% of their operational electricity from renewable energy (※).

Additionally, the company achieved an 85% reduction in carbon emissions per full-time employee (FTE) compared to 2015 levels. While factors like office closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic contributed, Dentsu Inc. had already surpassed its 2020 numerical target by 2019, well before the pandemic. This represents a strong step toward the company's goal of achieving "net-zero emissions" by 2030.

※To comply with RE100, energy must be purchased domestically where it is consumed. However, in nine markets (Russia, Taiwan, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Argentina) accounting for 9.7% of Dentsu Inc. International's electricity demand, domestic renewable energy procurement was not possible due to factors beyond Dentsu Inc. International's control. Therefore, we have adopted the approach recognized by RE100 as a temporary measure: purchasing as many Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) as possible from neighboring countries (reporting in accordance with RE100 guidance, treating the European Economic Area as a single market).

Increased the proportion of women in senior leadership roles to 35%

Dentsu Inc. International also implemented various initiatives both internally and externally to realize a "fair and open society." A particularly groundbreaking internal initiative was the appointment of a Chief Equity Officer (CEO) in the Americas region to promote "equal opportunity" globally, with plans to subsequently appoint such officers in the APAC (Asia-Pacific) and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) regions.

To address gender disparities, the company also promoted the advancement of female leadership both internally and externally. At Dentsu Inc., the proportion of women in senior leadership roles increased from approximately 32% in 2019 to approximately 35% in 2020. The goal is to raise this proportion to 50% by 2025.

Externally, the global mentorship program "Female Foundry," designed to encourage female entrepreneurship, has been rolled out across multiple countries and regions. To date, mentors have supported over 100 aspiring female entrepreneurs, helping them realize their dreams.

Wendy Clark (left), Global CEO of Dentsu Inc. International, and Ana Langley (right), Chief Sustainability Officer of . These women powerfully lead the company's social impact activities.

Providing digital learning opportunities to 8,633 young people worldwide

Furthermore, as the COVID-19 pandemic prolonged periods of home confinement, Dentsu International actively expanded its activities to "enhance the value of the digital society."

The digital education program "The Code," targeting young people in their mid-to-late teens in regions including poverty-stricken areas, was made available online during the stay-at-home period, reaching a total of 4,255 young people. This program has provided young people in 11 countries worldwide (UK, USA, Canada, China, Singapore, Poland, Bulgaria, Denmark, Mexico, France, UAE) with opportunities to enhance the digital skills essential for thriving in the future.

Combined with other related programs, Dentsu International provided digital education to 8,633 young people last year. The cumulative total through 2020 is just under 30,000, steadily increasing the number toward the goal of "providing digital education to 100,000 young people cumulatively by 2030."

Participants in " ," which included young people from areas in the UK with high ethnic minority populations and relatively low incomes. They learned not only digital skills but also methods like media planning, based on real client briefs.

And by 2030, the Dentsu Group will unite to achieve net-zero emissions.

"Social Impact: 2020 Highlights" also features numerous other initiatives. These include the "Zero Malaria" campaign, a global effort led by Isobar Global and involving staff from Dentsu Inc. worldwide under a UN initiative, as well as numerous examples of bold responses to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency from around the world. If you are interested, please download the report from this page. (English only)

The goal for the Dentsu International initiatives introduced thus far is 2030. Aligned with the same target as Dentsu Japan Network, which handles the Group's domestic operations, we have established the "2030 Sustainability Strategy" as the destination for the entire Dentsu Group.

The "2030 Sustainability Strategy" is the Dentsu Group's shared strategy. Under three pillars that align with our social impact activities, it outlines specific goals—including measurable targets—spanning climate change countermeasures to digital citizenship.

With just nine years remaining until 2030, achieving our numerous goals—including the industry-leading target of "achieving net-zero emissions by 2030"—and becoming the "driving force for positive change in the world" as Wendy Clark described, requires greater synergy than ever before between Dentsu Inc. International and Dentsu Inc. Japan Network. This synergy will be actively pursued.