MSQ Achieves B Corp Status across Its Global Network

MSQ announces that it has achieved B Corp certification, demonstrating its commitment to be a force for good and belief that people and the planet are as equally important as profit.

Following a rigorous review process that kicked off in 2021, MSQ’s certification means that the group meets a number of social and environmental standards covering five key impact areas of governance, environment, workers, community and customers.

The certification applies to the entire MSQ group, which consists of 13 offices around the world, which are home to more than 1200 specialists working in creative, insight, technology and data.

Peter Reid, CEO of MSQ, says: “We believe that businesses can and should be a force for good and drive positive change. We’re proud to be a responsible business and achieving B Corp status is an important step in our journey as we join a global community of socially responsible businesses who share values similar to our own.”

MSQ scored highly in B Corp’s assessments for its breadth of training opportunities for professional development, as well as its extensive staff initiatives in the health and wellness space. More than 95% of staff are provided with healthcare coverage, in addition to Employee Assistance programmes and other incentive-led worker wellness activities and platforms, such as memberships to Treekly and Perkbox.

The MSQ DEI Council was recognised for its range of diversity initiatives and knowledge-sharing sessions, whilst MSQ is a member of Inclusive Employers, which is committed to prioritising inclusion and creating truly inclusive workplaces.   

Having been the first global marketing group to become carbon negative in 2020, MSQ’s sustainability journey scored highly in the B Corp assessment. The business has set formal Science-Based Targets, committing to reducing its carbon emissions by a further 50 per cent per employee by 2024 and signing up to the Million Tree Pledge, which will see the group plant one million trees by 2030. The group appointed its first chief sustainability officer, James Cannings, in 2021 and last year hired Jude Owens as its first head of people.

MSQ staff are offered a number of ways to reduce their own carbon footprint, via EV Lease Hire and Cycle to Work schemes, as well as a Renewable Energy Scheme for staff and a dedicated Giki App.

MSQ publishes its progress in sustainability through a dedicated Sustainability Report, the most recent edition of which was launched on World Earth Day as a low-carbon website. The report provides an in-depth look at the business’ total emissions and emissions per head, as well as breaking down its Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions.

In addition, the report also provides key resources for other agencies, brands and individuals looking to further their own sustainability agenda, and MSQ remains committed to helping others by open-sourcing its modelling tools and Net Zero strategy through a free-to-access course. As of April 2023, over 3,000 businesses have enrolled on the course via the Future Learn platform.

Through MSQ/Sustain, MSQ also works with a number of organisations on their own sustainability activity, winning business from the likes of Patagonia, AXA Investment Managers and the World Economic Forum. MSQ/Sustain rolled out a groundbreaking campaign for Nature Positive at COP27, and also launched a major government-backed commitment on the behalf of the Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnerships that pledges to halt and reverse forest loss.