NAVIGATING THE EVOLVING SUSTAINABILITY LANDSCAPE: INSIGHTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY LEADERS

Organisations are prioritising carbon footprint reduction within their sustainability strategies amid growing ESG maturity, research from our recent Sustainability Seminar shows.  

Our poll of diverse organisations also shows widespread recognition of the importance of Corporate Sustainability Reporting, in light of new and evolving regulations.  

The findings have been published from a poll of delegates at the Bureau Veritas UK Sustainability Seminar, which brought together a range of businesses to discuss modern approaches in an evolving sustainability landscape, unpack the latest CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) requirements with Bureau Veritas experts and share best practice reporting.  

They highlight the importance of staying informed on the latest sustainability regulations and best practice approaches, particularly as companies continue to invest in developing their capabilities.  

Common themes from the survey include:  

The rise of carbon footprint reduction

More than half (54%) of respondents said that reducing carbon footprint was their organisation’s top sustainability priority, followed by improving ESG reporting (31%) and enhancing supply chain sustainability (13%).  

This shows a strong commitment to addressing climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon economy, which is inevitably important in light of global climate action.  

There are of course a range of measures organisations can take to effectively measure, manage and reduce their carbon footprint, many of which are identified within an environmental management system.  

Adoption of sustainability reporting

More than eight in ten (85%) companies we spoke to have published a sustainability-related report, suggesting a widespread recognition of the importance of transparency and accountability in sustainability performance. This is particularly important with CSRD requirements now either in place or coming soon for eligible organisations.  

Transparent and comprehensive sustainability reporting offers a range of benefits. It can boost stakeholder engagement and confidence, identify cost savings, drive better-informed decision making and help achieve compliance, where applicable.  

Remember, CSRD requires all large companies (according to specific eligibility criteria) to publish regular reports on their environmental and social impact activities. Our event offered advice on how to ensure the quality and credibility of sustainability disclosures in line with reporting frameworks.

Evolving sustainability expertise

When we asked organisations to rate their sustainability expertise, there was an even split between advanced (48%) and intermediate (43%). Speaking to our delegates, this shows the progress that some organisations have made in developing their sustainability capabilities, even if there is still room for improvement.  

It’s vitally important to understand applicable regulations and continuously develop knowledge, particularly for those with intermediate expertise. However, it was pleasing to see that solid progress is clearly being made to recognise the strategic importance of ESG matters, with many companies already investing in building their skills, aligning with regulations, and making sustainability a core part of how they do business. 

Want to know more? Get in touch with our Sustainability team today to see how we can support your sustainability strategy and reporting obligations.