Margherita Cornaglia and Harj Narulla instructed in landmark OECD Complaint against WPP over advertising work for polluters
Margherita Cornaglia and Harj Narulla are instructed in a landmark complaint against WPP, the world's largest advertising and PR company, under the OECD Guidelines. The complaint accuses WPP of contributing to adverse human rights and environmental impacts through the advertising and lobbying services it provides to its clients.
Brought by the New Weather Institute and Adfree Cities, the complaint calls on WPP to disclose its advertised emissions and implement policies to cease promoting high-polluting industries. The New Weather Institute is a co-operative think tank dedicated to driving a fair and sustainable economic transition, while Adfree Cities, a Bristol-based campaign and Community Interest Company (CIC), works to mitigate the harmful effects of corporate advertising on the environment and public health.
The complaint alleges that WPP has violated the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct—government-backed recommendations for ethical and sustainable business practices. It further claims that WPP has not only breached these internationally respected standards but has also acted contrary to its own publicly stated commitments by continuing to provide advertising services to major polluting industries.
A key argument in the case is that WPP’s advertising for clients in high-emission sectors—including fossil fuels, automotive, and plastics—actively drives demand for carbon-intensive products, undermining global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more about the complaint here.
