WMG outlines plans to minimize the company's environmental impact in a new report

In the spread of Warner Music Group ESG Report 2023released Tuesday (Jan. 30), the company outlined plans and goals for its workforce, artists and environmental impact.

“We are determined to transform our business and drive change in the industry to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis,” the report says in an extensive section on sustainability practices. “This includes measuring and understanding WMG's environmental footprint, setting science-based targets to reduce emissions…and leveraging our scale, experience and partnerships to promote cross-sector collaboration to minimize environmental impact. of creating and distributing music”.

For the company, these changes start with the company's premises, with the goal of “WMG sourcing 100% renewable energy for our operations” by 2030.

The plan is to first implement this initiative in WMG's global offices and workplaces before rolling it out to WMG-owned and operated facilities. The company also plans to power its workplaces with 100% renewable energy by 2030.

The report states that WMG joined with Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group in 2023 to create the Music Industry Climate Collective. The first initiative of this working group supported the development and implementation of specific guidelines for the calculation of Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions within the recorded music industry. “Scope 3” refers to indirect emissions that occur in the value chain, such as those from the manufacturing, distribution and licensing of products.

The company also noted a previously announced partnership with MIT, Live Nation, Cool game and Hope Solutions for understanding and mitigating the environmental impacts of live events.

The company cites a goal of increasing the use of public transport by 20% at Warner Music live events. This effort has already led to a partnership between Warner Music Finland Live and Helsinki City Public Transportation, which provided fans with free public transportation included in their concert tickets.

With environmental impact data independently reviewed and assured by a third-party auditor for the first time in 2023, WMG reports that in the past year, it has made “significant strides” in the collection, analysis and methodology of Scope 1 and 2 data. (Scope 1 and 2 refers to emissions owned or controlled by the company and to indirect emissions resulting from the company's activities.)

“Despite our return to duty,” the report says, its efforts “resulted in an overall reduction in reported Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions for 2023.”

The report also cites successful employee-driven initiatives, including its UK Wrights Lane office eliminating single-use plastic and converting to reusable cutlery and servingware. The WMG office in France has phased out paper cups and improved waste management to increase recycling.

In terms of sustainable products and merchandise, the company describes “an industry-first method” of creating vinyl albums using PVC alternatives. Says the report: “We're delivering these changes in partnership with our artists and songwriters, many of whom are increasingly looking for ways to share music with their fans in a sustainable way.”

Read the full report here.