2 top drivers of corporate sustainability, according to leaders
Long live making sustainability central to business. Read More
- Making sustainability central to business strategy is the strongest signal of sustainability leadership, according to experts.
- Demonstrating measurable impacts and actions is critical to building trust with stakeholders.
- Engaging suppliers and partners to drive systemic change reinforces leadership perceptions among stakeholders.
New research from nearly 400 global sustainability experts show the biggest driver of corporate sustainability is the ability to integrate sustainability the core business strategy and provide proof of sustainability action.
To understand what drives stellar sustainability, Trellis data partner GlobeScan, along ERM, asked sustainability experts to name a company they consider a leader and to explain why. The most influential factor, cited by 26 percent of experts, was making sustainability a core business driver. Close behind, 21 percent emphasized demonstrating evidence of impacts and actions.
Other key elements include:
- Driving sustainability across the supply chain (12 percent)
- Showing unwavering commitment (11 percent)
- Setting ambitious targets (11 percent)
- Aligning purpose and values (9 percent)
What this means
These results show that companies are expected to double down on integration and evidence, not just as best practices, but as levers to activate and demonstrate the business value of sustainability. In today’s era of backlash, greenhushing and regulatory uncertainty, making sustainability a core business driver signals resilience and relevance, while also providing measurable impacts and actions builds trust and counters skepticism.
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Tove Malmqvist
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