Earlier this year, CSR Europe and GlobeScan, with the support of Solvay, ran their first Sustainability Leadership Salon event in a two-part series: a journey with CSR Europe Leadership Hubs’ member companies coming together with peers, civil society leaders, and policymakers to advance the Just Transition and create a Social Green Deal 2024–2029 for Europe. Download this summary document which lays out the outcome of this event, the key topics discussed, and the opportunities for business and policy leadership moving … “Report: The Role of Companies in Shaping a Social Green Deal 2024-2029”
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Keep up to date with our latest news, webinars, and reports.
Keep up to date with our latest news, webinars, and reports.
About the 2023 Sustainability Leaders Survey Findings from the 2023 Sustainability Leaders Survey, by GlobeScan and The SustainAbility Institute by ERM, finds that sustainability leadership is increasingly measured by the integration of sustainability into business strategy. This year’s findings draw from more than 500 sustainability experts who once again came together from over 60 countries. At the mid-point of 2023, the global economy is still feeling the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine continues changing geopolitical … “2023 Sustainability Leaders | Report & Webinar”
Chris, Mark and David are joined by Kate Nash, the creator and CEO of PurpleSpace, the world’s only professional development hub for disability employee resource groups. PurpleSpace’s mission is to make it easier for employees to navigate the experience of ill health, disability or the experience of an accident or injury, at the same time as flourishing at work.
As we pass Earth Overshoot Day on August 2nd, the day when humanity has collectively used more resources than Earth can generate for the whole year, we are reminded that our overuse of natural resources is a continuous threat to the planet.
Insight of the Week: North Americans and Europeans Are Least Interested in Eating a Plant-based Diet
North Americans and Europeans express the least interest in switching to plant-based food and are currently the least likely to say they follow vegetarian diets. The largest gaps between interest in plant-based eating and current habits can be seen in the Latin American countries surveyed.
As temperatures rise around the world, nearly two-thirds of the global public that feel personally affected by climate change say they experience it through extreme heat. Many also connect climate change with their experiences of increasing food prices, followed by drought and diseases. Extreme heat is the most-perceived effect of climate change in Europe, Asia, North America, and Latin America, while food price increases is the most-perceived effect by those surveyed in Africa.
The latest research from the Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs 2023 Survey Report finds that geopolitical risk and uncertainty are once again perceived to be the greatest short-term category of risk to global businesses, having risen to the number-one slot in last year’s survey as the continuing war in Ukraine and heightened East-West tensions embed these threats. Climate change is the second most significant risk, specifically reflecting deep concerns over the impact of the environment, but with growing political resistance in … “Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey 2023 | Report”
Corporate Affairs professionals believe that using AI and digitization is the biggest opportunity available to global businesses.
The perceived urgency of climate change among experts still surpasses other sustainability challenges, emphasizing the prominence of climate change followed by the closely rated issues of biodiversity loss, water scarcity, deforestation, and poverty. Experts’ concerns about climate change have been validated by the recent surge in natural disasters worldwide. Instances such as wildfires in Canada, severe droughts in Latin America, and devastating floods in China exemplify the tangible consequences of climate change, highlighting the urgent need for action. Source: GlobeScan/SustainAbility Survey of 520 … “Insight of the Week: Climate Change and Related Issues Are Urgent according to Sustainability Experts”
Corporate advocacy for sustainability is becoming an important dimension of being a sustainable company. This coincides with rising public expectations for companies to advocate for people and the planet. Leading companies and global non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are increasingly working together on joint advocacy initiatives bringing together other stakeholders (peers, value chains, investors, etc.) to collectively shape policies and market incentives that deliver positive change on key issues (improving society, accelerating action on climate change, and shifting the systems that can … “Joint Corporate Advocacy: What It Is and How to Make It Work”
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For the past year, inflation rates have been rising in many parts of the world and inflation forecasts have been consistently revised upwards. GlobeScan’s research also shows that 57 percent of consumers select food price increases as one of the real impacts of climate change on their lives. This constant economic stress puts pressure on consumers who are forced to make trade-offs between buying products that align with their values and saving money for necessities. Now is an opportune time … “How Product Certification Can Help Consumers Make More Sustainable Choices during Tough Economic Times”
Sustainability experts name a range of legislative initiatives along with several disclosure frameworks as key recent sustainability breakthroughs, pushing compliance to the forefront of the sustainability agenda. Legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and EU Green Deal, disclosure standards, and the COP15 biodiversity agreement are considered by experts to be the most important sustainability developments in the past year. Other highlighted developments include recent action and commitments by businesses and the rise of green financing. Source: GlobeScan/SustainAbility Survey of 520 experts … “Insight of the Week: Legislation, Disclosure Standards, and Advancing Biodiversity Named Most Significant Sustainability Breakthroughs”
Expectations of sustainability leaders in companies and other organizations are higher, and the remit broader, than ever.
Corporate advocacy for sustainability is becoming an important dimension of being a sustainable company. This coincides with rising public expectations for companies to advocate for people and planet. Leading companies and global non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are increasingly working together on joint advocacy initiatives in the pursuit of achieving shared sustainability goals. On 22nd June 2023, GlobeScan and WWF hosted a webinar to explore how we can harness the power of joint advocacy to deliver positive impact. We shared insights on … “Webinar | The Future of Joint Corporate Advocacy for Sustainability”
Sustainability professionals increasingly say that the reasons they recognize companies as sustainability leaders are integration of sustainability into business models and strategy, demonstrated impact of sustainability initiatives, ambitious targets, and innovation, suggesting companies striving for sustainability leadership should take note of the growing importance of these key drivers of recognized leadership in an era where attention is often focused on compliance. Sustainability experts in all regions and sectors agree that integrating sustainability into business models and strategy is a top … “Insight of the Week: Experts Say Integration, Impact, Targets, and Innovation Drive Corporate Sustainability Leadership “
More than any other NGO, sustainability experts continue to recognize the World Wildlife Fund as the leader in sustainable development (named by 42%) followed by Greenpeace and organizations tied to the United Nations such as the Global Compact (15% each) and the World Resources Institute (14%). Collaborations and stakeholder engagement most drive recognized leadership among NGOs according to experts surveyed – nearly half of those mentioning WWF as a leader say this is because of its collaboration and engagement efforts (48%) … “Insight of the Week: WWF Continues to Be Recognized as the NGO Leader in Sustainable Development”
For the first time, Patagonia has become the most recognized corporate leader by sustainability professionals, overtaking Unilever which held the top spot for over a decade as the most recognized corporate leader for sustainability in the new GlobeScan/SustainAbility Survey. Patagonia is the most mentioned sustainability leader after transferring ownership of the company to a trust that seeks to address climate change and protect nature. IKEA (10%), Natura &Co (9%), and Microsoft (6%) round out the top five most mentioned companies. Source: GlobeScan/SustainAbility Survey of 520 experts … “Insight of the Week: Patagonia Overtakes Unilever as Most Sustainable Corporate Leader”
June 8, 2023: The latest research from GlobeScan and the SustainAbility Institute by ERM finds that sustainability leadership is increasingly being measured by the integration of sustainability into business strategy. For the first time, Patagonia has surpassed Unilever as the most recognized corporate leader in this space after transferring ownership of the company to a trust that seeks to address climate change and protect nature. As the largest and longest-running survey of its kind, The GlobeScan / SustainAbility Survey has … “Report: New Research Finds Sustainability Leadership is Increasingly Measured by the Integration of Sustainability Into Business Strategy”
It’s been well documented that most people these days have high awareness of and concerns about sustainability issues. Yet far fewer are actually reflecting those values in their purchasing behaviour. How can we bridge this so-called ‘aspiration-action gap’, especially in the current global financial situation? On 6 June 2023, GlobeScan and Fairtrade International hosted a webinar to explore consumers’ aspiration-action gap, the role of certifications in bridging this, and consumer expectations on which types of organisations are responsible for protecting … “Webinar | Helping Consumers Make More Sustainable Choices During Tough Economic Times”
Over the last few years there has been a slow but steady increase in people taking action to reduce the amount of plastic waste in their daily lives. In most of the countries that produce the highest amount of plastic waste, including the USA, India, China, Brazil, Indonesia, Germany, the UK, Mexico, and Japan, people are now more likely than before the pandemic to say they frequently avoid plastic items that will only be used once. Recycling and people using their … “Insight of the Week: Global Consumer Actions to Reduce Plastic Waste Surpass Pre-pandemic Levels”
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Consumers all over the world are staying loyal to Fairtrade as the most visible and trusted ethical label, according to new research findings released by GlobeScan and Fairtrade today. Close to three in five (56 percent) shoppers surveyed in 12 countries said they were willing to pay more for a Fairtrade product, despite the increased cost of living. While consumers are increasingly concerned about rising food prices, small-scale farmers also face skyrocketing fuel, transport and fertiliser costs, putting their livelihoods … “Consumer Support for Fairtrade Remains Strong Despite Global Cost of Living Crisis”
Joined by Tom Firth and Joanna Yarrow, Co-Founders of M&C Saatchi LIFE, who bring their parent organization’s successful history of marketing, branding, and advertising to the world of corporate sustainability.
With increased pressure from regulators and stakeholders, two-thirds of Corporate Affairs professionals are now worried about being accused of “greenwashing” or making exaggerated environmental claims, up from just over half in 2022. This sharp increase in concern suggests that Corporate Affairs professionals are taking the consequences of greenwashing more seriously. New regulations, increased awareness of environmental issues, and the threat of investor pressure may lead many companies to become more cautious in their communications to avoid reputational damage and other repercussions of making … “Insight of the Week: Fear of Greenwashing Accusations Rises Among Corporate Affairs Professionals”
And how brands can help break the disastrous cycle. The culture of unconscious consumption may finally be shifting. Conversations around sustainability have become mainstream, forcing retailers across categories to rethink their approaches to sustainability. The recent GlobeScan Healthy & Sustainable Living report finds there is strong interest in sustainable shopping, particularly among Gen Z consumers. When compared to baby boomers plus, Gen Z in the U.S. is significantly more interested in buying products secondhand (71% versus 34%), bringing their own … “Report: Inside Gen Z’s Conflicting Passions for Both Sustainability and Shopping”