The improved understanding of the ROI hasn’t translated into increased investment yet, however the last 12 months saw significant progress in sustainability roadmaps and shifts in business models.
Paris, November 22, 2023 – In a context of record high temperatures and with climate disasters on the rise, three times more executives across industries are now clear on the business case for sustainability compared to last year. A growing number also acknowledge the benefits of incorporating sustainable business practices and processes, according to a new report from the Capgemini Research Institute, ‘A World in Balance 2023’. However, limited concrete impact can be achieved if investment levels remain unchanged.
Climate disasters and regulatory pressure driving the sustainability business case
Now, in its second year, the report found that 63% of executives agreed that the business case for sustainability is clear. This percentage has tripled in comparison to the summer of 2022, when only 21% of executives agreed. In addition, the percentage of executives that claim the cost of sustainability initiatives outweighs the benefits, has dropped from 53% to 24% and those that felt sustainability initiatives are a financial burden has declined by more than half (from 53% to 22%).
The increase in extreme weather events affecting every continent and their rising associated cost is certainly playing a significant role in this shift in perception. In addition, the report found that regulatory pressure and expected ROI are key motivating factors for adopting environmental and/or social sustainability strategies and initiatives: three-quarters (74%) of executives hope to increase future revenue (up from 52% in 2022), and 64% cite compliance with current regulation (up from 51% in 2022).
Businesses focused on key foundations in 2023, but critical areas such as investment or reporting are still lagging
Organizations have significantly progressed in defining their sustainability roadmaps since last year: 61% of executives now say their company has a defined priority list of sustainability initiatives to implement in the next three years (up from 49%), and 57% shared that their organization is in the process of redesigning its business/operating model to be more sustainable (up from 37%).
Despite this positive shift, limited impact is to be expected without increased investment in terms of mitigatory action against climate change. In 2023, the average annual investment in environmental sustainability initiatives and practices as a share of annual revenue of companies across industries has only increased by 0.01 percentage point compared to last year. Organizations are also continuing to fall short in terms of reporting, especially in measuring and collecting scope 3 emissions. The share of executives that say their organization has the ability to measure and collect data on scope 1 and 2 emissions has remained unchanged, year on year. For scope 3 emissions, the share has even declined from 60% in 2022 to 51% in 2023. Similarly, action around sustainable product design has seen limited to no movement. More executives are also using third parties to audit sustainability data (54%, up 4 points since last year) but paradoxically, fewer are doing the same to disclose and benchmark progress.
“The summer and fall of 2023 were the most disturbing in terms of record high temperatures across continents, and extreme weather events bringing unprecedented damages. The consequences of climate change are becoming impossible to ignore, and so is the future cost of not taking action,” says Cyril Garcia, Head of Global Sustainability Services and Corporate Responsibility and Group Executive Board Member. “What we really need to see in the months to come is companies investing in future-proof sustainability measures and pivoting their business models to build sustainable products and services. It’s now or never for organizations: only those who will have invested early enough and put sustainability at the center of their strategy will be able to truly realize the benefits.”
Social sustainability moves up the corporate agenda
Over half of executives (56%) say their organization is increasingly focused on the social dimension of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), with organizations’ own employees being the primary beneficiaries. However, the research revealed that organizations could do more to support workers in the supply chain, with almost two thirds (64%) of executives saying their organization considers the ESG ratings and environmental pledges taken by suppliers during supplier selection but only 38% saying they only work with suppliers who pay a living wage.
A greenwashing perception gap
The report also found a perception gap between executives and consumers when it comes to greenwashing, with only 17% of executives saying that they believe consumers are concerned by the risk of greenwashing, while 33% of consumers globally believe organizations and brands are greenwashing their sustainability initiatives. Consumers in India (45%) and Canada (43%) are the most suspicious of sustainability claims, and in the UK the least (16%). Likewise, Generation Z is far more suspicious of such claims (50%) than boomers (18%). Ultimately, 49% of consumers never, rarely, or only sometimes trust an environmental claim about a purchase they are considering, with skepticism rising to 65% among Gen Z consumers.
Generative AI is expected to be a core focus within sustainability strategies
Organizations are pinning their hopes on digital technology and, in particular, generative AI, to help them achieve their sustainability goals, with over half (59%) of executives believing it will play a key role in their organization’s sustainability transformation efforts. In parallel, the same proportion of executives (57%) say their organization has started to take steps to mitigate the environmental impact of using generative AI models.
