John Elkington among interviewees for new Economist special report on business and sustainability

03 Feb 2008 – SA in the News

From EIU.com:
Global companies that have delivered strong share price growth over the past three years are more proactive on corporate sustainability issues than those that have seen their share price stagnate or decline, according to a major new research report from the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The report, which is sponsored by A.T. Kearney, Bank of America, ExxonMobil, Jones Lang LaSalle, Orange, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SAP and SunGard, illustrates the growing importance of corporate sustainability in enabling companies to compete and to attract customers. The research is based on a global survey of 1,254 senior business executives, including more than 300 CEOs.

Key findings from the research include:

• Business leaders are open to more regulation on social and environmental issues.
• Communication, then the environment, are top corporate priorities on sustainability.
• The supply chain is the weakest link.
• Sustainability reporting needs more work.
• Sustainability does pay.

Other highlights within the full 52-page report include ten lessons for corporate leaders on sustainability – and an overview of how businesses are making sustainability pay.

Download the full report attached to this artcle, or read more at EIU.com.