Sustainability in research – the Net Zero Pledge

The research sector is taking steps to be part of the solution to the growing climate emergency.

Our sector has two key responsibilities:

1. To mitigate our impact on the environment
2. Through insightful research help customers understand their impact and recommend solutions

The MRS Sustainability Council was established in 2020 to review the key sustainability issues facing our sector. With an ever-increasing number of clients demanding a commitment from suppliers on inclusion and sustainability issues we need to take these steps before they are forced upon us.

The first sustainability step for the research sector is the MRS NetZero Pledge designed for research agencies and teams to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices.

While we are not the first services sector to launch a pledge (the Ad Association established Ad NetZero) we are responding to the groundswell of support from professionals and leaders in the sector. The NetZero Pledge also builds on the learnings from the launch and success of the Inclusion Pledge.

We are delighted to have the support of the the Insight Climate Collective which recently conducted research on attitudes in the research sector and helped us bring this initiative to market.  

If you would like to sign the NetZero Pldge on behalf of your organisation please email mrs.ceo@mrs.org.uk

The NetZero Pledge

The MRS NetZero Pledge asks CEOs to make four commitments towards ensuring their organisations are sustainable by 2026. The pledge includes: to be NetZero, publishing carbon emissions, collaborating across the sector and encouraging call outs by employees and clients on environmental concerns. Signees of the Pledge are required to be an Accredited Company Partner.

Download a copy of the NetZero Pledge

Read our FAQs on how to implement the Pledge

The NetZero pledge has been signed by:

Behaviorally
Big Sofa Technologies
Box Clever Consulting
Britain Thinks
Bulb Share
Cobalt Sky
Deep Blue Thinking
Empower Translate
Firefish
GFK
Ipsos MORI
mTab
MTC Research
MTM
Opinium
RED C Research
Vela
VST
Zappi

Find out why leaders have signed their organisations up to the Pledge

Sustainability in our sector – resources

1. Sustainability 101 – what sustainability and net zero means, difference in degrees of warming, the timelines required to stay in a safe space for humanity, and what cultural shifts we might see in a net zero economy

2. Sustainability Key Concepts – the sustainable development goals, life cycle thinking, the circular economy, and stakeholder capitalism

3. Paddy Loughman presentation from Impact 2020 – How can business meet the climate challenge 
4. Research Live – selection of articles on sustainability
5. ICC Attitudinal Research 2021 – survey headline results report
6. Professional Webinar: ICC survey results – what researchers think about climate change. Sign up to the webinar on 7 July to discover what research professionals think and feel about the climate crisis and sustainability solutions.
7. Business Climate Hub – support for SMEs on how to achieve net zero emissions.