Beyond the profits: Sustainability in business at a glance

Many will argue that profit can’t come at the cost of protecting people and the planet anymore. So, in an era when corporate responsibility extends beyond the balance sheet, we explore the intersection between business longevity, profit and ESG principles.

And, indeed, as the below data from Akepa and Accenture shows, there is a clear, positive impact of sustainability in the business environment:

• A massive 93 per cent of consumers maintained or even increased their purchases of sustainable products recently, despite the rising cost of living globally. This suggests that sustainability has become a priority in consumer behaviour.
  
  
• Environmentally focused startups have a much better survival rate; they are twice as likely to survive through their early development compared to those that are not sustainability conscious.
  
  
• Companies can significantly boost their operating profits, by as much as 60 per cent, by reducing material waste through zero and low-waste policies.
  
  
• Businesses with a strong environmental record can see a competitive advantage; 89 per cent of these companies outperform the market, indicating a direct correlation between sustainability and financial performance.
  
  
• Investing in sustainability is a trend on the rise; 80 per cent of companies plan to increase their investments in sustainability going into 2024, demonstrating a strong belief in the long-term value of sustainable practices.
  
  
• More than 90 per cent of CEOs believe that sustainability is crucial to their company’s success. This underscores the fact that leaders in the business world recognise the importance of sustainability for long-term profitability and corporate health.