A Collaboration Between Accounting for Sustainability, SustainableIT.org, the ERM Sustainability Institute, Salesforce, and GlobeScan to Explore Solutions to Accelerate Corporate Sustainability Progress
A pioneering new research partnership is bringing together five leading organizations with a shared vision for advancing enterprise-wide value creation based on sustainability. The Sustainability Value Creation partnership involves Accounting for Sustainability (A4S), SustainableIT.org, the ERM Sustainability Institute, Salesforce, and GlobeScan.
The partnership aims to accelerate how companies can most effectively integrate sustainability across their corporate finance, technology, and sustainability functions to drive long-term value. It is rooted in a shared belief that successful sustainability transformation cannot be delivered by any one department or function alone. Rather, maximizing sustainability-related value creation requires active leadership, sponsorship, and continuous collaboration from multiple corporate functions – notably finance, technology, and sustainability.
Each functional area has a crucial role to play both in its own domain and working cross-functionally with fellow C-suite peers and business units. Each corporate function must update its knowledge to meet the increasing demand for high-quality sustainability-related information and data to inform strategy and decision-making.
The partnership has begun to identify key integration challenges that must be overcome including divergent priorities and metrics, inconsistent reporting and data silos, and limited cross-functional collaboration. It has also started to recognize some opportunities to unlock more aligned enterprise-wide action including understanding the language used by different teams, aligning common metrics, and implementing integrated data platforms. Key steps include integrating the latest transformational technologies, particularly Generative Artificial Intelligence, which must be scaled effectively and responsibly across enterprises and industries.
Consortium partners will undertake joint research surveying senior professionals leading corporate finance, technology, and sustainability teams across regions and industries to identify the most effective cross-functional strategies and best practices for achieving enterprise sustainability goals and driving maximum social and environmental impact.
Preliminary research results and analysis are expected in early 2025. The partnership also includes combined outreach and engagement efforts with companies, civil society, investors, and governments both virtually (via webinars) and at key events.
- Brad Sparks, Executive Director, Accounting for Sustainability Foundation (US) stated, “Transforming finance to support sustainable business practices is at the heart of A4S’s mission.” He added, “We know finance’s work must be integrated with others across the business and this research partnership will help us understand how finance and accounting leaders can play a pivotal role in driving sustainability and building resilient business models rooted in value creation.”
- “Achieving meaningful sustainability transformation hinges on the comprehensive collection, analysis, and assurance of data integrity across all business information systems within the enterprise,” stated Josh Harbert, President of SustainableIT.org. “The IT organization plays a critical role not only in ensuring that robust data insights are readily available to key stakeholders such as finance, sustainability teams, procurement, legal, and compliance but also in actively leading the charge to reduce emissions within the technology value chain. As architects of a sustainable future, IT leaders must drive cross-functional collaboration, integrate innovative technologies, and fundamentally reshape business operations to deliver long-term value and environmental stewardship.”
- “Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have but a business imperative,” remarked Mark Lee, Global Director of Thought Leadership at the ERM Sustainability Institute. ”Sustainability transformation requires a holistic approach to embedding more sustainable business practices across an organization. This partnership gives us the opportunity to explore the critical factors that drive successful sustainability integration and to share these insights with organizations worldwide.”
- “The focus of our organizations is on solutions that turn research into real, actionable insights that everyone can benefit from,” said Brian Komar, VP of Global Sustainability Programs at Salesforce. “At Salesforce, we believe business can be a force for good, and this partnership shows our commitment to helping companies make sustainability a core part of their strategy, driving positive impact and business success.”
- “This partnership marks a significant milestone in the journey to create more value based on sustainability performance,” said Chris Coulter, CEO of GlobeScan. “By bringing together leaders in sustainability, finance, and technology, reflecting essential roles required to embed sustainability across the C-suite, this partnership offers a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time.”
Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) represents finance CFOs and professionals dedicated to transforming finance to support sustainable business practices. Established by HM King Charles III in 2004, when he was The Prince of Wales, A4S brings together leaders in the accounting and finance communities to promote resilient business models and a sustainable economy.
SustainableIT.org represents Chief Digital, Technology and Information Officers and IT professionals committed to advancing sustainability through technology leadership. The nonprofit organization focuses on leveraging technology to create sustainable solutions and drive positive environmental and social impact.
The ERM Sustainability Institute identifies innovative solutions to global sustainability challenges built on ERM’s experience, expertise, and commitment to transformational change, providing analysis and interpretation of the sustainability issues that matter most to business, from climate, nature, equity, and human rights to circularity, geopolitical pressures, and transparency and disclosure.
Salesforce is a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM) solutions, empowering companies to connect with their customers in new and innovative ways. Salesforce is committed to sustainability and has integrated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into its core business operations.
GlobeScan is a global insights and strategy consultancy helping companies, NGOs, and governmental organizations know their world and create strategies to lead a sustainable and equitable future. GlobeScan is a Certified B Corp and a participant of the United Nations Global Compact.
- Jamie Stewart,
Senior Manager, Communications,
Accounting for Sustainability - Ann Rosenberg,
EVP Strategy and Global Expansion,
SustainableIT.Org - Meryl Hanlon,
PR & Brand Communications Director,
ERM - Sunya Norman,
SVP of ESG Strategy & Engagement,
Salesforce - Stacy Rowland,
Director Marketing and Communications,
GlobeScan
The Sustainability Value Creation research partnership has benefited from early evidentiary support from University of Oxford Professor Robert Eccles and NYU Stern School of Business Professor Alison Taylor via their Harvard Business Review article on The Evolution of the Chief Sustainability Officer as well as subsequent research produced in partnership by Salesforce and GlobeScan on Sustainable Value Creation: Closing the Gap Between Commitments and Operational Realities.
