Climate Pledge Tracker

The first MRS Climate Pledge Tracker was completed in spring–summer 2026. A total of 78 signatories reported their emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 as well as sharing details of the steps they have taken in line with the Climate Pledge’s 10 recommended actions.

The Tracker marks a pivotal step in understanding and benchmarking the environmental impact of the UK’s market research sector. As the first ‘state of the nation’ assessment, it offers an informed perspective of where our industry stands today on emissions.

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Read how research organisations across the sector are reporting on and reducing their emissions as well as taking actions to be more sustainable. 

Overview of the Climate Pledge Tracker

• The Tracker reveals both the progress already being made and the collective challenges that remain, particularly around the measurement and reduction of emissions in our day-to-day operations.  
• This report is designed as a tool for reflection and action. It highlights tangible quick wins, celebrates best practice, and underscores that every organisation, whether a single person or a large corporation, can take action to reduce its footprint.  
• A big ‘thank you’ to the 78 Pledge signees who participated, providing data on emissions levels and where they have been taking action to help improve these.  It can be difficult to make these emission calculations, so participation in this study reflects commitment to the pledge.
• By sharing transparent benchmarks and real case studies, the MRS Climate Pledge Tracker aims to inspire collaboration, improve accuracy in reporting and help the sector move forward together on the journey to net zero.

Emissions

• At a total level, the average across all 68 repondees giving a valid response, was 2.54 tonnes CO2 per FTE (median). 
• This ranged from 0.02 (one of the 11-50 employee companies) to 14.06 (one of teh 51-200 employee companies).
• This compares to a realistic ballpark for UK services firms of 0.5-5 so right in the middle of which is encouraging.
• Excluding those with 0-1 employees the results suggest emissions increase in line with employee numbers until, possibly benefiting from economies of scale at the 201+ size. 

Overall observations 

• Calculating emissions is hard and getting it right is getting harder. Scope 3 is the big challenge (not just for our industry).
• It is not just about large corporations doing things/being able to do things and leaving the smaller ones behind - plenty of action is being reported by all organisation types who have sined the pledge, regardless of size.
• However, where 'power' is important the larger companies may find it easier to make a difference (e.g. improve energy efficiency for the building, supplier engagement).
• And there are definitely some quick wins if not already being done - more recycling and reduction of emissions from communitng (but less impact going to result here as many already doing this).