CEOs say sustainability is key to success

By Christina Williams, Sustainable Business Oregon

Sustainable Business Oregon

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Of 766 global CEOs surveyed by Accenture for a new study, 93 percent say sustainability is important to their company's future success.

The shift is significant since 2007, the last time the survey was conducted and sustainability was just staring to arise as a business issue. In 2007, 72 percent of CEOs surveyed said sustainability issues including environmental, social and corporate governance should be embedded in company strategy and operations. In 2010, 96 percent of CEOs shared that belief.

The Accenture survey and resulting report, "A New Era of Sustainability," published this week in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact, provides a snapshot of thinking about sustainability on the part of global executives.

For example:

  • • Consumers are driving the sustainability bus: CEOs say the consumer is the most important influencer in how they will operate over the next five years.
  • • New technologies will be crucial: 91 percent of CEOs report that their company would employ new technologies to help meet their sustainability goals.
  • • Collaboration is no longer optional: 78 percent of CEOs say that companies should cooperate with industry partnerships to address development goals.

The report states that execution is now the critical challenge for embedding sustainable practices into everyday business.

Other figures of note include:

  • • 72 percent of CEOS cite "brand, trust and reputation" as one of the top three factors driving them to take action on sustainability.
  • • 88 percent believe they should be integrating sustainability throughout their supply chain. Only 54 percent of them say they've done it already.
  • • 86 percent of CEOs see "accurate valuation by investors of sustainability in long-term investments" as important to reaching a tipping point in sustainability.
  • • 72 percent of CEOs see education ans the most critical global development issue to their business. Climate change was second with 66 percent.

The full report is available for download here.

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