Since 1999, UNEP has developed partnerships with several organisations, in order to spread information on sustainable issues and benefit from the input of the advertising industry in its activities related to Communication.

ACT - Advertising Community Together

This non-profit initiative has the goal to gather, promote and inspire worldwide advertising creations for a sustainable future. On AdForum's website and in exhibitions, ACT gathers in 2005, in partnership with UNEP, international advertising campaigns focusing on sustainable development and global solidarity. This will serve to stimulate dialogue between agencies and their clients, to share good practices and inspire advertising creation with regards to sustainable development.

The Compass Network

The Compass Network is a global exchange for knowledge and creativity in sustainability communications. It is a place to share, to learn and to meet like-minded people working towards the same goal. This network is run by the UK-based consultancy firm, Futerra, and the Sustainable Development Commission. It is supported by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

McCann-Erickson

The advertising agency has proposed its creative assistance to UNEP as well as sharing with us its knowledge about consumer attitudes and expectations. A UNEP/UITP (International Union of Public Transport) TV spot on public transportation has been produced by McCann-Erickson in 2005 and was broadcasted on several TV channels in English, French, German and Spanish.

Hakuhodo

UNEP has started in 2004 a new partnership with Hakuhodo, one of the largest independent advertising agencies in the world. A unique advertising campaign concerned with climate change and the Kyoto Protocol was launched in all of Japan’s national and main regional newspapers in early 2005. It is envisaged that other high profile joint initiatives will follow in the months and years ahead.

EACA - The European Association of Communications Agencies

The 16 largest International Communications Agencies in Europe are all members of EACA. EACA also represents National Agency Associations on a European level and has a Media Agencies Council.

ESOMAR - The World Association of Research Professionals

ESOMAR is the World Association of Opinion and Marketing Research Professionals. Founded in 1948 , it gathers over 4000 members in 100 countries, both users and providers of research. Members come from all industry sectors, from advertising and media agencies, universities and business schools as well as public institutions and government authorities. ESOMAR's mission is to promote the use of Opinion and Marketing Research, for improving decision making in business and society, worldwide.

WFA - The World Federation of Advertisers

This organisation represents 50 National Advertisers Associations and around 30 Corporate Members including multinationals like Unilever, Nestlé, Pepsi-Cola, etc. Through its members, the WFA covers around 85% of the global advertising expenditure. One of its main objectives is to monitor the major advertising markets and trends in commercial communications.

Unilever

The company is involved in several actions like the washright campaign to raise awareness about green issues among consumers and also provide regular support to UNEP's activities in this field.

IAA- International Advertising Association

The International Advertising Association (IAA) is the only global tripartite association present in 96 countries with 60 chapters and 75 corporate members, plus 3000 individual members. Created in 1938, the IAA's main objectives are freedom of advertising for advertisers, advertising agencies and media; self regulation in advertising;sustained education in advertising and marketing; the improvement of international advertising links through sustained actions of regional area directors and chapters and to promote advertising as playing the key role in sustainable development. The World Service Center of the IAA is situated in New York.

The Centre for Sustainable Design

The Centre for Sustainable Design hosts the Sustainable Marketing Knowledge Network (or Smart: Know-Net), whose mission is:

1. to take a lead in the integration of marketing and sustainability, by providing a support network for marketers which will:
   
   - facilitate discussion
   - create new ideas
   - produce knowledge, and
   - disseminate intelligence
   
   
2. to bring together people, ideas and agendas from the perspectives of marketing and sustainable development. This involves both the inclusion of sustainability issues into marketing thinking and practice, and the application of marketing thinking and techniques to the promotion of sustainability and more sustainable businesses.
   

Other partners

Advertising agencies/associations

• AACC - The French Association of Communications Agencies
• Advertising Association (UK)
• African Association of Advertising Agencies
• Asian Association of Advertising Agencies
• Brand Sellers DDB RIO (Finland)
• European Advertising Standards Alliance
• J. Walter Thompson
• St. Lukes

Companies

• Coca Cola
• Electrolux
• Ikea
• Interface
• Kraft Foods International
• Les Trois Suisses
• Procter & Gamble
• RATP
• Sony
• Unilever
• Xerox

Consultants

• Environics International
• Futerra
• KPMG Hamburg
• Lloyd Masters Consulting
• SustainAbility

International organisations

• OECD
• UNESCO

Non governmental organisations

• Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft (Germany)
• COMAM (Brazil)
• Consumers International
• Consumer Unity & Trust Society (India)
• EKWO (France)
• Friends of the Earth
• Media-Ecology-Technology Association (Belgium)
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Universities

• Oxford Centre for the Environment, Commission on Sustainable Commission (UK)
• Politechnico di Milano (Italy)
• Strathclyde University UK)
• University of Oslo (Norway)
• University of Siena (Italy)
• Virginia Commonwealth University, Adcenter (USA)