Survey: New Generation of Corporate Leaders Emerge to Lead Sustainability Stakes
Saturday, 26 Jul, 2009
0
Jonathan Porritt of Forum for the Future talking at SW Regional Conference
Business and political leaders are lagging far behind non-governmental organization (NGO) leaders and social entrepreneurs in driving the move to sustainability, according to a new global poll of sustainability experts. But a new generation of corporate leaders driving change may be starting to emerge.
Findings from the inaugural annual Sustainability Survey by GlobeScan and SustainAbility show that thought leaders across the world view corporate leadership on sustainability to be far behind that of NGOs and social entrepreneurs, and only slightly better than governments in pushing the sustainability agenda forward.
More than 1,600 experts were surveyed in March 2009 on a range of topics related to sustainability. Respondents are drawn from corporate, government, NGO, academic, research, and service organizations, and span more than 90 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand. The Sustainability Survey is the largest global poll of the views of sustainability experts.
The survey also suggests that a new generation of corporate leaders in sustainability is starting to emerge. When asked to name individual companies that are committed to sustainability, experts identified a diverse range of companies from many sectors. Interface, GE, Toyota, and Walmart receive the most recognition from experts.
Expert opinions about corporate sustainability leadership have been shifting over the years. Interface, Toyota, BP, and to a lesser extent, Shell, remain high on the list of leaders, but with fewer mentions than in past years; while mentions of GE, Walmart, Marks & Spencer, and Google are rising in prominence. This new mix of leaders may reflect a shift in expectations about the type of companies—and sustainability strategies—which appear to be driving the necessary change.
A credible public commitment to sustainability grounded in the company’s core values is cited as a key factor behind experts’ choice of corporate leaders in sustainability. While experts surveyed also say a company’s products, services or policies are important signs of sustainability leadership, it is clear that a company’s ability to communicate a strong commitment to sustainability resonates the most. This suggests companies that integrate sustainability as a core value are also expected to follow through with more sustainable products and services.
Jeff Erikson, Vice President at SustainAbility, comments: “While our global sustainability challenges are growing both in urgency and complexity, it is clear that our political and business institutions have some distance to go before they are seen as providing adequate sustainability leadership. Companies must continue to integrate sustainability throughout their core business practices, while government leaders must do a more effective job at developing policies which drive positive social and environmental change. Those which do so will gain the trust of the public, and be more likely to succeed in these changing economic times.”
Chris Coulter, Vice President, Global Insights and Strategy at GlobeScan, adds: “It is those companies that are able to communicate effectively with stakeholders and distill their commitment to sustainability into a convincing theme that seem to be able to occupy the highest regard in the minds of stakeholders. Interface’s Mission Zero, Marks & Spencer’s Plan A, GE’s Ecomagination and more recently, IBM’s Smarter Planet, are all emblematic of this approach and allows for the connecting of the company’s core essence – its brand – with its sustainability commitments.”
Valere
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Clearing CSS/JS assets' cache... Please wait until this notice disappears...
Updating... Please wait...
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026