Sustainability is a core future-proofing strategy

Sustainability efforts are recognized as driving value, innovation, and resilience

Sustainability is a core future-proofing strategy

Sustainability efforts are recognized as driving value, innovation, and resilience

While regulatory compliance remains a strong driver of sustainability investments – noted by 71% of executives – organizations increasingly see sustainability as creating business value. In fact, 67% of executives cite business value, including benefits such as profitability, cost savings, and operational efficiency as a key impetus for sustainability investments. This reflects a growing understanding that sustainability is a strategic asset with measurable ROI. Close to half (49%) of organizations have already realized a positive ROI on their sustainability investments – half of them within a shorter timeframe than traditional investments.

_{Source: Capgemini Research Institute, Sustainability transformation trends survey, June–July 2025, N = 2,146 executives}

67%

of executives say that business value is a key driver of their sustainability investments

49%

of organizations have already realized a positive ROI on their sustainability investments

A recent study by Morgan Stanley supports these findings: it revealed that globally, 83% of organizations assess the ROI of sustainability initiatives using similar methods to non-sustainability initiatives. Moreover, one-quarter of organizations see increased profitability as the greatest value-add for sustainability over the next five years.²

Beyond business value, organizations see sustainability as a catalyst for long-term resilience and innovation. Three-quarters of executives (75%) say sustainability is a core future-proofing strategy for their organizations to drive long-term growth, competitiveness, innovation, and resilience. Competition is also top-of-mind, as businesses work to ensure regulatory alignment, strengthen stakeholder trust, mitigate emerging risks, and drive innovation. As global competition intensifies, 55% of executives feel the pressure to embed sustainability into their offerings.

Beyond compliance and risk mitigation, sustainability is viewed as a catalyst for innovation, competitiveness, and long-term resilience

Christine Maria Betz, Chief Sustainability Officer at BSH Home Appliances Group, explains how sustainability is embedded into their business strategy:

Sustainability is not a standalone initiative at BSH – it’s one of our strategic pillars that guides our entire business. We don’t treat it as a separate agenda; it’s embedded in how we design products, engage with consumers, and make investment decisions.”

_{² Morgan Stanley,}_{Sustainable Signals: Corporates 2025}_{, 2025.}

_{Source: Capgemini Research Institute, Sustainability transformation trends survey, June–July 2025, N = 1,616 executives that say that sustainability is a core future-proofing strategy for their organization.}