New research from GlobeScan and the SustainAbility Institute by
ERM finds that sustainability experts believe
the global pandemic
will help draw attention to environmental issues — but will also deepen
socio-economic challenges such as poverty and inequality.
The GlobeScan / SustainAbility Leaders
Survey has tracked
global expert opinions on the evolution of the sustainability agenda since 1997.
This 25th edition of the report has taken place against the unprecedented
backdrop of the pandemic, with nearly 700 sustainability experts from over 70
countries reflecting on its implications for the sustainable development agenda.
Overall, experts are now more optimistic that the pandemic will not derail
action on sustainable development. In 2020, almost half of sustainability
professionals (49 percent) predicted a de-prioritization of corporate
sustainability agendas over the coming decade due to the coronavirus; in 2021,
just one in four experts (24 percent) believe this will happen. Furthermore, a
third of experts believe more attention will be given to the environment due to
the pandemic.
However, COVID-19 is perceived to be exacerbating socio-economic challenges,
with nearly four in ten experts believing that increased poverty and inequality
will be one of the most likely effects of the pandemic. When asked to rank the
most urgent sustainable development challenges, experts believe that climate
change remains the most pressing issue; but issues such as access to energy,
food
security,
diversity and
discrimination
have increased the most in perceived urgency over the past year.
“Once again, this survey of
sustainability experts and influencers across the world reinforces the urgency
of the planetary challenges that we face from climate change to inequality and
offers hope in comparison to last year that sustainability is being prioritized," says GlobeScan CEO Chris Coulter. "The collective wisdom of this distinguished panel of experts needs to be heeded.
We need to do more at scale to facilitate the transition to sustainable
development at a far greater pace than we are currently doing.”
Within this context, Unilever
ranks first (for the 11th consecutive year); with Patagonia second (for the
5th consecutive year), as the companies most recognized by experts for their
sustainability leadership — but the gap is narrowing among corporate leaders.
Brazil’s Natura &Co
has overtaken IKEA and
Interface to break into the top three. Companies filling out the top 15
include IKEA, Interface, Danone, Microsoft,
Nestlé,
Tesla,
Ørsted, Google,
Kering,
Schneider Electric, Brazilian pulp and paper company Suzano, and
Walmart. In a signal that the hallmarks of leadership have shifted,
sustainable business models and strategy are now considered the strongest driver
of recognized leadership, overtaking target-setting and articulating
sustainability values or purpose.
Mark Lee, Director at the
SustainAbility Institute by ERM, said: “What we’re seeing as a result of the
pandemic is a triple whammy of interconnected social, economic and environmental
challenges. None of these can be tackled in isolation, which requires
organizations to have more comprehensive sustainability strategies integrated
into their business and operating models. Leading businesses are showing the way
as we enter the decade of action.”
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Sustainable Brands Staff
Published Jul 29, 2021 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST