In our new report – Why wait to pursue net zero? Build a sustainable business model now we researched 1,000 executives and benchmarked their sustainability efforts in five key areas.
Respondents were from UK and Ireland (25%), Belgium (13%), Italy (13%), Mexico (13%), the Netherlands (13%) and the US (25%).
They came from a broad range of industry sectors: manufacturing (35%, including 20% from food and beverage manufacturers), retail (19%), healthcare (15%), construction (10%), education (10%), hospitality (5%), property and real estate (5%) and horticulture (1%). In terms of the seniority of respondents, 70% were manager-level while the remaining 30% came from the c-suite.
Based on their responses, we divided respondents into two groups: leaders (20%), and the organisations that have yet to embrace sustainability fully, which we call followers (80%).
Their sustainability efforts were benchmarked based on 14 indicators across five key areas:
Looking at sustainable business energy focus, we explored what the term ‘sustainability’ meant to our respondents. We asked about their organisations’ main priorities, the substantial risks they face on zero carbon and how they would characterise their organisations’ approach to growth and energy transition.
We analysed how aware respondents were about their corporate sustainability and upcoming decarbonisation regulations around reducing their business carbon footprint, and whether they were in-line or ahead of future policy requirements goals. Our research also explored how effectively they’re harnessing data to reduce their emissions; their awareness of Scope 3 emissions; and how comprehensive their current decarbonisation strategy is.
Respondents were asked a range of questions around how effectively their organisation manages sustainability. The questions explored how they’re building a zero carbon culture; the steps they’re taking to educate, engage and inspire their teams on sustainability; how sustainability is impacting their governance model, recruitment strategies, and supplier procurement and evaluation processes.
We asked respondents how they’re using low carbon technology as part of their sustainability journey. We explored the low carbon tech they already have and the benefits these are delivering today, alongside reviewing what technologies they plan to invest in over the coming years. We also looked at how their organisations are supporting "going green" across their supply chain as well as their commercial energy supply.
Our research on renewable energy funding explored how effectively respondents are making the business case for investing in low carbon technologies. We explored the barriers that are holding them back from making investments, and the approaches that are helping them to fund their journey to net zero. Read more by downloading our sustainability report.
Sign up to receive regular updates on:
By submitting your details you agree to process your personal data by Centrica Business Solutions as described on the Privacy Policy. Centrica Business Solutions will send you a regular newsletter and other marketing material we believe is relevant. You will be able to opt out of communications from us at any time.
