SUSTAINABILITY: PAIN TO NET GAIN
Sustainability is good business. Achieving it can be cost-neutral and even create net gain. That's what 1,000 senior business and finance leaders across the UK & Europe told us when we spoke to them about: the financial risks and gains companies are facing; when to act; and which companies are most at risk. Failing to shape your sustainability strategy now could mean business-critical challenges in the very near future.
EVENTS – RECORDINGS AND UPCOMING
VIDEOS
RESEARCH FINDINGS
SUSTAINABILITY HOMEPAGE
2-MINUTE TAKEAWAYS
FINANCIERS ARE THE NEW ACTIVISTS
SUSTAINABILITY IS JUST GOOD BUSINESSES
SUSTAINABILITY: NOW OR NEVER?
ACT NOW TO GET AHEAD
BE GREEN OR BE GONE
Finance providers (investors, lenders and insurers) are now putting sustainability at the heart of how they operate and are demanding that other businesses do the same. Making banks a more significant influencer than any other group, including government and consumers.
Proactive sustainability strategies and initiatives are bringing immediate financial gain as well as assuring an organisation’s longer-term success.
Business leaders need to embed sustainable thinking into their organisations. Those that don’t act now risk losing access to funding.
Companies that take action now have the chance to get an edge over competitors. Now is the time for businesses of all sizes to develop, articulate and embed their sustainability strategy across their business.
Mid-market businesses, which typically have fewer resources than their larger competitors, are struggling to prioritise sustainability.
Proof that sustainability is good business
Survey conducted in 2021 under the ethical research guidelines set by both the MRS (Market Research Society) and ESOMAR (European Society for Opinion and Market Research). With 550 senior business leaders and 450 finance leaders (including investors, banks and insurers) based in the UK, Germany the Netherlands and France.
Survey conducted in 2021 under the ethical research guidelines set by both the MRS (Market Research Society) and ESOMAR (European Society for Opinion and Market Research). With 550 senior business leaders and 450 finance leaders (including investors, banks and insurers) based in the UK, Germany the Netherlands and France.
Survey conducted in 2021 under the ethical research guidelines set by both the MRS (Market Research Society) and ESOMAR (European Society for Opinion and Market Research). With 550 senior business leaders and 450 finance leaders (including investors, banks and insurers) based in the UK, Germany the Netherlands and France.
Survey conducted in 2021 under the ethical research guidelines set by both the MRS (Market Research Society) and ESOMAR (European Society for Opinion and Market Research). With 550 senior business leaders and 450 finance leaders (including investors, banks and insurers) based in the UK, Germany the Netherlands and France.
Financiers are the new activists
Survey conducted in 2021 under the ethical research guidelines set by both the MRS (Market Research Society) and ESOMAR (European Society for Opinion and Market Research). With 550 senior business leaders and 450 finance leaders (including investors, banks and insurers) based in the UK, Germany the Netherlands and France.
2020
95%
of business leaders
say that sustainability-driven initiatives were a net gain (avg 2% increase) or cost neutral for their business in 2020.
2025
98%
of business leaders
expect a net gain of 3.5%
2021
21%
of businesses
say sustainability is a top two priority now
2025
76%
of businesses
say sustainability will be a top two priority by 2025
100%
of the finance community
say they will have stopped providing services to at least two sectors by 2025
17%
of medium-sized businesses
say that sustainability is in their boardroom’s top two priorities, compared to over a quarter of very large businesses (26%)
92%
of companies
have felt more pressure from banks than media or social influences (51%)
86%
of businesses
are feeling significant pressure from investors and insurers
Why you have just 4 years to act on sustainability
Which companies are most at risk?
76,000,000,000
76,500,000,000
76,800,000,000
50,000,000,000
1,000,000
70,000,000,000
1,000,000,000
0
£
billion
76,800,000,000 billion
The potential growth from sustainability initiatives (for our respondents sample alone). More than double the 2020 growth figures.
Act now to get ahead
Sustainability represents a range of business risks and opportunities and should be considered and managed holistically alongside other business risks and opportunities.
DOWNLOAD THE RESEARCH FOR YOUR INDUSTRY SECTOR
Fill a form and download new research findings on perspectives of how sustainability is impacting your industry sector.
SUSTAINABILITY: PAIN TO NET GAIN
Find out what 1000 business and finance leaders said about sustainability in your industry sector. Download a short PDF summary below.
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GREEN IS GOOD
SUSTAINABILITY IS JUST GOOD BUSINESS
TRANSITION NOW
SUSTAINABILITY: NOW OR NEVER?
MID-SIZED BUSINESS RISK
SUSTAINABILITY: BE GREEN OR BE GONE
SUPPLY CHAIN PRESSURES
TRANSPORT
UNDER PRESSURE
REAL ESTATE
SUPPLY CHAINS, INVESTMENT, METRICS
RETAIL & CONSUMER
REPORTING STANDARDS ARE CAUSING CONFUSION
BORROWER
POSITION OF INFLUENCE
LENDER’S LENS
UNLIKELY ACTIVISTS
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
DIFFERING VIEWS
LITIGATION
XXX XXX
HEALTHCARE COMING SOON
LEEWAY TO TRANSITION
ENERGY
XXX XXX
SUSTAINABILITY: DATA AND REPORTING
COMPLEXITY AND TRANSPARENCY
SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAINS
PRIORITISE THE ‘S’ OF ESG
SUSTAINABILITY: ENGAGING PEOPLE
ADD TO OPERATING PLAN NOW
SUSTAINABILITY: JUGGLING PRIORITIES
SUSTAINABILITY: THINGS TO CONSIDER
Weather & Climate Governance Transport Property Supply chain Waste & recycling People Carbon offsetting Heat & energy use
SUSTAINABILITY MATRIX
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Our virtual sustainability toolkit, identifies key sources of risk. For a discreet, 30 minute conversation about what this specifically means for your company, please get in touch.
We can take you through a quick, interactive, online summary of key points to consider.
60 SECOND VIDEOS
SUSTAINABILITY: JUGGLING PRIORITIES
Sustainability is good business.
ON-DEMAND RECORDINGS
Don't worry if you missed us live. Watch our webinars on-demand. Just click the link below.
SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAINS
Sustainable Supply: break the mould or break the chain?
SUSTAINABILITY: ENGAGING PEOPLE
SUSTAINABILITY: JUGGLING PRIORITIES
SUSTAINABILITY: DATA AND REPORTING
SUSTAINABILITY: NOW OR NEVER
SUSTAINABILITY: BE GREEN OR BE GONE
View 60 second videos on three key insights from our interviews with 1000 business and finance leaders across the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands: Sustainability is good business. Sustainability: we have four years to act. Sustainability: mid-market companies are most at risk.
SUSTAINABILITY IS JUST GOOD BUSINESS
Proactive sustainability strategies and initiatives are bringing immediate financial gain as well as assuring an organisation’s longer term success.
Mid-market businesses, which typically have fewer resources than their larger competitors, are struggling to prioritise sustainability.
Business leaders need to embed sustainable thinking into their organisations. Those that don’t act now risk losing access to funding
Sustainability: we have four years to act.
Please also download a PDF summary of each insight.
Sustainability: mid-market companies are most at risk.
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RESOURCES
Explore all sustainability & ESG insights and watch webinars
Access all related insights
WHAT ARE COMPANIES SAYING?
THE BIGGEST IMPACT WE CAN HAVE IS SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS TO TRANSITION AND ACCELERATE THEIR OWN ESG IMPROVEMENTS. WE CAN HELP TO EQUIP BUSINESSES WITH THE AWARENESS AND THE KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED, AND THEN SUPPORT THEM TO INVEST IN EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE THE TRANSITION
BUSINESSES DO NOT FACE A TRADE-OFF BETWEEN SHORT-TERM PROFITABILITY AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY; PROACTIVE SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES CAN BRING IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL GAIN AS WELL AS ASSURING AN ORGANISATION’S LONGER TERM SUCCESS
SUSTAINABILITY IS MORE THAN JUST GOOD BUSINESS; IT’S A NECESSITY. THE INCENTIVES FOR ACTING SUSTAINABLY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND HAVING A BUSINESS THAT’S SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG-TERM. THE BUSINESSES OUTPERFORMING ON SUSTAINABILITY METRICS WILL OUTPERFORM IN TERMS OF CAPITAL.
THERE’S A REALISATION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT WE CAN ALL DO. COVID HAS MADE US UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IN ORDER FOR THEIR BUSINESS TO COMPETE AND SURVIVE, THEY WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS AGENDA.
Philip Newborough, co-CEO, Bridges Fund Management
Kirsty Britz, Director of Sustainable Banking, NatWest
Amanda Gray, Co-head of Financial Services Sector, Addleshaw Goddard
Sarah Banham, Head of Community & Sustainability, Battersea Power Station Development Company