Climate Change Data

YouGov plc

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2023, 2024)

Reporting Period: 2023

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:6164 tCO2e (FY23)
Scope 1 Emissions:29 tCO2e (FY23)
Scope 2 Emissions:117 tCO2e (FY23)
Scope 3 Emissions:6018 tCO2e (FY23)
Renewable Energy Share:46.3% (FY22)
Waste Generated:4 tons (FY23)
Carbon Intensity:23.80 tCO2e/£m revenue (FY23)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Data Privacy
  • Net Zero Strategy
  • Workforce Diversity & Inclusion
  • Responsible Research
  • Ethical Business Practices
  • Supply Chain Sustainability

Environmental Achievements

  • Achieved 100% renewable energy in London headquarters since 2018
  • Six global offices received SUPER certification for single-use plastic reduction
  • Published first global carbon footprint and TCFD report in 2023
  • Set net zero targets for 2030 and 2050 (submitted to SBTi for verification)

Social Achievements

  • Launched new Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
  • Maintained high employee satisfaction scores (4.0 out of 5 in FY23)
  • Increased Trustpilot rating from 2.8 in 2022 to 4.6 in 2024
  • Financial donations to charitable organisations amounted to £167,000 in FY23
  • Largest narrowing of the gender pay gap among UK market research companies since 2018

Governance Achievements

  • Achieved MSCI rating of AA in April 2024
  • ESG Risk Rating of 17.9 from Morningstar Sustainalytics (Low Risk)
  • Established a global privacy framework based on fairness, transparency, and accountability
  • ISMS certified to ISO 27001:2013
  • Implemented a Group Whistleblowing Policy and Group Grievance Policy

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • 90% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2050
  • 90% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2050
Short-term Goals:
  • Achieve carbon neutrality in the UK by 2026
  • Track 100% of waste generated in leased offices by the end of FY25

Environmental Challenges

  • Increased business travel emissions post-COVID-19
  • Need to recalculate baseline carbon footprint due to acquisitions
  • Balancing inclusion with data quality in survey design
  • Maintaining data privacy and security in a rapidly evolving landscape
  • Managing risks associated with the use of AI technologies
Mitigation Strategies
  • Developing a net zero strategy with interim targets
  • Implementing an e-waste disposal tracking system
  • Improving survey design for accessibility
  • Establishing a multi-disciplinary working group to consider potential uses of AI
  • Implementing robust security controls and regular security training

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Selected existing suppliers are audited.

Responsible Procurement
  • Business Partner Code of Conduct
  • Group Procurement Policy
  • ESG criteria in supplier evaluation

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: TCFD, SECR, SASB

Certifications: ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus, SUPER

Third-party Assurance: KPMG (internal audit), Inspired plc (sustainability consulting)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Not disclosed

YouGov focuses on six materially relevant SDGs, highlighted throughout the report.

Awards & Recognition

  • #RISK Awards 2024 (shortlisted)
  • AIM Awards 2023 (shortlisted)
  • PICCASO Privacy Awards 2023 (shortlisted)

Reporting Period: 2024

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:17069 tCO2e/year (restated)
Scope 1 Emissions:122 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:189 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:16759 tCO2e/year

ESG Focus Areas

  • Carbon emissions reduction
  • Data commitment
  • Social mission
  • Diversity & Inclusion

Environmental Achievements

  • Set near-term and net zero targets for carbon emissions reduction
  • Published inaugural stand-alone ESG Report
  • Signed up to the UN Global Compact
  • SUPER certification: Single-use plastic reduction achievements in six offices

Social Achievements

  • Launched Employee Value Proposition to articulate the unique YouGov experience
  • Incorporated ESG objectives into executive remuneration schemes

Governance Achievements

  • Formalized YouGov’s policy on neutrality
  • 100% staff tested for email phishing awareness via simulated campaigns
  • 37 x internal communications issued to staff on data privacy and security awareness
  • 1 x cyber crisis exercise facilitated by external experts
  • 98% completion rate of mandatory training package

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Net zero emissions by 2050
Medium-term Goals:
  • Medium-term revenue of £650 million
  • Medium-term adjusted operating profit margin of 25%
Short-term Goals:
  • Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030
  • Reduce Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030
  • Divert 100% of waste from landfill by 2035

Environmental Challenges

  • Client budgets under pressure
  • Prevalence of fraudulent data
  • Slowdown in sales momentum
  • Higher levels of staff and technology costs
  • Lower than expected growth
Mitigation Strategies
  • Invested in further improvements to systems
  • Reorganisation of commercial teams
  • Expansion of senior leadership team
  • Cost optimisation plan expected to generate annualised cost savings of £20 million

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 250+ suppliers aligned to our Business Partner Code of Conduct

Responsible Procurement
  • Business Partner Code of Conduct
  • ESG questionnaire (planned for FY25)

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Extreme weather events
  • Flooding
  • Heatwaves
  • Sea Level Rise
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes
  • Market shifts
  • Reputational damage from non-compliant suppliers
  • Increased supplier costs
Opportunities
  • Use and installation of low-emission energy technology
  • Use of more efficient suppliers and diversifying our supply chain
  • Disposal of under-utilised sites
  • Improved stakeholder reputation
  • Resilience

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: SASB, TCFD, UN Global Compact

Certifications: ISO 27001

Third-party Assurance: KPMG

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Goal 7
  • Goal 8
  • Goal 9
  • Goal 10
  • Goal 12
  • Goal 13

Awards & Recognition

  • IR Magazine Awards – Europe 2024: Best investor event: small to mid-cap (Winner)
  • Women in Governance, Risk and Compliance Awards 2024: Team of the Year (Winner)
  • AIM Awards 2023: Shortlisted for Best Use of AIM, AIM Transaction of the Year, and Diversity Champion