Over three quarters of companies increased investment in sustainability over past year, Deloitte survey

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on ESG Today or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Companies are continuing to increase sustainability spending, but with a more targeted focus on financial returns
• Deloitte’s 2026 survey found that 78% of executives increased sustainability investment by more than 5% over the past year, while companies are pursuing fewer initiatives and placing greater weight on measurable business value

🔭 The context: The survey of more than 2,150 C-suite executives across 29 countries found that the average number of sustainability initiatives per company fell from 5.0 to 3.4
• Financial benefit was the leading decision criterion for 51% of respondents, while 77% said sustainability investments generated higher ROI than other investments

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The findings suggest sustainability is increasingly being integrated into business decisions through resilience, efficiency and risk management rather than treated solely as a standalone environmental agenda
• However, a stronger financial focus could also concentrate investment on initiatives with clearer near-term returns

⏭️ What’s next: Technology, environmental data tracking, resilient infrastructure and supply-chain improvements are among the leading areas of investment
• AI is widely being tested, but more than 70% of respondents said its sustainability applications remain at an early stage

💬 One quote: “The next phase of sustainability leadership is defined by intention and precision,” said Jennifer Steinmann, Deloitte Global Sustainability Business leader.

📈 One stat: 77% of executives said the ROI from their sustainability investments was greater than that from other investments

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