“The results of this survey are powerful,” says CBI head of energy and climate change Dr Matthew Brown, because the results clearly show that it is being prioritised by businesses across multiple sectors and of all sizes. Seven in 10 businesses consider sustainability as a business driver and almost a third putting it at the core of their business strategy.
The report, available for download here, investigates how the economic pressures of the past five years have shaped the current sustainability landscape. It examines the extent to which sustainability has been embedded in business practice, both as part of efficiency initiatives during tougher times and, perhaps more interestingly, how businesses are pushing forward to drive value creation from it.
It determines what targets are being set in businesses, and what issues are on the sustainability agenda for the immediate future, from efficiency drives and resource initiatives, to climate change planning, both to mitigate the perceived risks, and exploit potential opportunities.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment CEO Jan Chmiel said: “This research clearly demonstrates that the strategic management of environmental issues is now inextricably linked to business resilience, economic growth and competitive advantage.
“If ‘green and lean’ is the watchword for today- with resource efficiency driving sustainability in organisations- this research clearly points to ‘green and growth’ as the vital next stage in business innovation delivering competitive advantage.”