Futerra
Futerra is an international sustainability strategy and creative agency with offices in London and New York. The company was founded in 2001 by entrepreneurs Solitaire Townsend and Ed Gillespie. The company specialises in branding, strategy, behaviour change and consumer campaigns in the field of sustainability.
 | |
| Industry | Sustainability Strategy and Communications |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Locations | London, New York, Stockholm |
History
In 2001, Solitaire Townsend and Ed Gillespie co-founded Futerra in London. Lucy Shea joined in 2003 and was later appointed CEO. In 2008, the company expanded its operations with the opening of an office in New York City and Stockholm in 2010. Originally a project funded by NESTA, Futerra became one of the first sustainability agencies in the UK.
Organization and Services
Today the company has offices in London, New York, San Francisco and Mexico City. Futerra became a founding B-Corp in 2015 and was the first Climate Solutions Service Provider named by the Exponential Roadmap Initiative.
Futerra’s change agency focuses on building sustainability strategies and creative communication campaigns for corporations, governments and non-profits.
In recent years, Futerra has expanded its offer to include comprehensive sustainability training through its Academy, as well as creating Futerra Makes: a product and services incubator responsible for such sustainable disruptors as Lovebug Petfood.
In 2019 the company launched Futerra Solutions Union – an independent charitable foundation of ‘culture hackers for sustainability’ which aims to use the power of culture and public education campaigns to accelerate the transition to a low carbon, socially just future.
Solutions Union projects include:
- The Solutions Survey – understanding what the world thinks and feels about climate change
- Climate Heroes – changing the face of climate action in the UK
- Planet Placement – putting climate onto the TV screen
- The Good Life Goals – helping billions act on the SDGs
- Client Disclosure Reporting – making transparency an advertising industry standard
Projects
Futerra describes itself as "mission-first, mission-owned and mission-led". The company works across continents and cultures to deliver sustainable development solutions that help 'Make the Anthropocene awesome'. Its portfolio includes clients such as KAO, Pepsi, Google, Mastercard, Netflix, Ikea, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Colgate, Grupo Bimbo, Danone, Formula 1, United Nation, WWF, Ipsos, Bafta.
Futerra Co-founder Solitaire Townsend was invited by the UN Race to Zero to join their ‘Scope 3 Working’ Group this year – setting their new criteria in advance of COP27.
Futerra works across sectors and markets to climate targets for clients such as F1. In 2021 they supported Google in developing their Biodiversity goals.
In 2022, they translated the IPCC AR6 WGIII Chapter 5 on Demand Management into a simple analysis for businesses and activists.