2 top drivers of corporate sustainability, according to leaders

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new GlobeScan–ERM study surveying nearly 400 global sustainability experts finds that the top driver of corporate sustainability leadership is the ability to embed sustainability into core business strategy
• The second most influential factor is demonstrating clear, measurable evidence of sustainability impacts and actions, underscoring the growing expectation for transparency and proof-based performance

🔭 The context: The findings emerge amid rising scrutiny, political backlash, and growing “greenhushing,” where companies downplay sustainability efforts to avoid criticism
• As regulations tighten and stakeholder expectations shift, experts increasingly reward firms that integrate sustainability into governance, operations, and long-term value creation, not those treating it as an add-on

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: When sustainability becomes a strategic driver, companies are more likely to invest in low-carbon technologies, improve resource efficiency, and influence markets toward climate-aligned solutions
• Likewise, measurable impacts enhance accountability and help close the gap between pledges and real-world emissions reductions, a critical step to accelerating global decarbonisation and strengthening supply-chain resilience

⏭️ What’s next: Experts expect companies to intensify integration across supply chains, set credible science-aligned targets, and disclose progress transparently
• Firms that fail to demonstrate evidence-based sustainability may face increasing reputational, regulatory, and financial risks, while leaders that pair integration with proof stand to differentiate themselves in a volatile policy landscape

💬 One quote: “Making sustainability a core business driver signals resilience and relevance — and evidence of impacts is what builds trust”

📈 One stat: 26% of experts say the No. 1 marker of sustainability leadership is embedding sustainability into business strategy, followed by 21% who cite evidence of impacts and actions

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance — carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies

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