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The Responsible Business Trends Report 2019 THE ETHICAL CORPORATION GLOBAL RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS BENCHMARK REPORT Outlining the global trends, opportunities and focus for sustainable business in 2019 #RBSEU
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Page 1: The Responsible Business Trends Report 2019globalsustain.org/files/The Responsible Business... · The Responsible Business Trends Report 2019 THE ETHICAL CORPORATION ... 2016 1,542

The Responsible Business Trends Report 2019

THE ETHICAL CORPORATION GLOBAL RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS BENCHMARK REPORT Outlining the global trends, opportunities and focus for sustainable business in 2019

#RBSEU

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The Dawn of Full Impact Reporting - Assess, Report and Drive Change

The 13th Annual

SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING AND COMMUNICATIONS SUMMIT16-17 October, 2019 | Amsterdam

Shape future strategies through full impact assesments:Develop systems and strategies that provide holistic assessments on current and future impacts

Investor preference:Report accurate data, demonstrate long-term value and deliver ESG disclosures fit for Investors

Robust climate-related disclosure:Engage key stakeholders on future climate risks and opportunities through TCFD-driven reporting

Impact-driven communications:Demonstrate leadership and build trust through transparent, impact-driven communications

JOIN 300+ OF WORLD’S LEADING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES FOR 2 DAYS OF IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS AND NETWORKING. SECURE YOUR PLACE TODAY AND SAVE €600

events.ethicalcorp.com/reporting

Be part of the change

300+Attendees

70+C-Suite and VP-level speakers

3Focused themes

20+Hours of networking

Richard Flint CEO

Anita McBain

Head of Responsible Investment

Frances Way Chief Strategy Officer

Thomas HügliChief Sustainability Officer

Andrew Wallis

Deputy CEO

Janice Lao

Director Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability

Tony HenshawChief Sustainability Officer

Tjeerd Krumpelman Head of Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement

#SRCEU

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

Our mission is to help businesses around the globe do the right thing by their customers and the world. We believe

this is not only how to guarantee a future for all, but makes good business sense. We serve CSR, compliance,

risk and governance communities with topical and insightful business intelligence and meeting places.

We provide business intelligence to more than 3,000 multinational companies every year. Our customers are also NGOs, think-tanks, academia, governments

and consultancies. We publish the leading responsible business magazine, website, and research reports. Our

conferences are widely recognised as the best in the field.

For more information, visit: www.ethicalcorp.com© Ethical Corporation 2019

3

Editor and Researcher: Liam Dowd

We would like to thank the 1,051 business professionals within the Ethical Corp community that took the time to share their experiences and outlooks in our survey.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT ETHICAL CORPORATION

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4

Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Trends 2019 report provides unique insights into current trends,

investments and foci of sustainable business professionals from across the globe. Throughout the report there

will be comparisons made against our past four annual reports dating back to 2015. On average, across the 5-year

period, the report has featured feedback from over 1,700 business executives. Exclusively driven by primary data

from the Ethical Corporation global community, the report can serve as a benchmark for organisations to

understand how sustainable and responsible business is evolving and being operationalised around the globe.

Introduction 4 Chapter 1Our respondents 7 Chapter 2SDGs driving future business strategy 10 Chapter 3Climate Action 18Chapter 4The responsible business horizon 21

ABOUT THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT

CONTENTS

THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

INTRODUCTION

5

Welcome to Ethical Corporation’s fifth iteration of the Responsible Business Trends report. The report features insight and feedback from 1,051 senior practitioners from across the globe. The trends report builds on previous editions to showcase how sustainability strategy is being adopted across the globe, how companies are looking to take support action on the SDGs and climate change plus potential key opportunities in the coming 12-18 months.

The past 12 months has presented a somewhat mix-bag for the sustainability agenda. Towards the end of 2018 the IPCC and WWF published independent reports that both painted a stark picture – our planet is on the brink of irreversible collapse. And at COP24 Sir David Attenborough echoed these sentiments stating that climate change is our greatest threat in thousands of years and current action is nowhere where it needs to be.

However, there’s still reason to be positive… In March 2019 the UK Government announced that businesses who want to secure future Government contracts will be urged to show how they’re tackling modern slavery and climate change. Later that month The Government Pension Fund Global, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund with £770bn under management, announced it will divest Norway’s sovereign fund from oil and gas exploration. As well as these recent announcements, the global action on plastics and increasing focus on new circular models are signs that greater action is being taken both in the private and public sectors.

The need for greater climate action and impact against the SDGs are a core component of this year’s report. It is critical for companies to set business targets that are in line with the SDGs and Paris Agreement. This will allow businesses to showcase their actual impact against the Goals. In 2018, 56% of respondents stated their company wasn’t measuring their contribution to the SDGs. This has

risen to 62% in this year’s report which is a disappointing finding. Whilst companies are increasingly using the SDGs as a framework to communicate impact, this needs to evolve so that companies start demonstrating a tangible contribution to the SDGs. The report’s finding echo that of Oxfam’s Walk the Talk 2018 report which found a number of concerns regarding the level of SDG ambition shown by business.

The UN estimates that achieving the goals will require approximately USD $5-7 trillion of investment per year, currently there’s a shortfall of USD $2-3 trillion. With the private sector accounting for approximately 70% of the world’s GDP, billions of investments will have to be realised through private sector ambitions and initiatives.

At our recent Responsible Business Summit New York, attended by over 400 CEOs, investors and heads of business, many in attendance shared this viewpoint that business must lead the way to a new sustainable future. And we expect this sentiment to be echoed at our flagship Responsible Business Summit Europe, taking place 10-12 June 2019 – Europe’s leading business conference focused on shaping the future of responsible and sustainable business.

INTRODUCTION

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

This year’s report presents more data and insights on three key areas:

◗ SDGs driving future business strategy. Are the SDGs being integrated into business strategy, which SDGs are the main focus for business, what are the challenges of incorporating the SDGs into business strategy, the level of communication and measurement on SDG impacts?

◗ Climate Action. The need for business showcase leadership and act against climate change, the adoption of Science-Based Targets and do these Targets need to be more ambitious?

◗ Future prospects. How will sustainability evolve in the year ahead, what’s important and not important for businesses and which companies are pioneering the way for transformational change?

The responses from those who participated in our survey backed up and built on those that we had received last year: that organisations and businesses are increasingly seeing the value of being both responsible and sustainable in the way that they conduct their business.

As much as this report highlights the ways in which sustainability is becoming increasingly ingrained in mainstream business, there’s also evidence that there’s a long way to go.

And finally, we hope you find this report of value. We hope it helps you get a sense of how responsible business is evolving across the globe, and also that it serves as a way to benchmark what you’re doing against your peers. If you are interested in being involved in or supporting the 2020 Trends report then please do get in touch.

Happy reading!

Liam

LIAM DOWDManaging DirectorEthical [email protected]@liamdowd10

6

INTRODUCTION

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

CHAPTER 1 OUR RESPONDENTS

CHAPTER 1OUR RESPONDENTS

Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Trends 2019 report features feedback from 1,051 business professionals from across the globe. The survey was conducted between 10 December 2018 – 14 January 2019. The entire dataset can be accessed here

As with our previous reports, the Responsible Business Trends 2019 report offers a truly global perspective, with representation from all regions:

NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS

GLOBAL SCOPE

43%29%

4%3%

6%

13%2%

7

2015

1,500 2,045

2016

1,542

2018

1,051

2019

2,428

2017

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

CHAPTER 1 OUR RESPONDENTS

CORPORATEBRAND

NGO

MEDIA

38%

10%

3%

21%

8%

2%

4%

3%

11%

CORPORATEAGENCY, SERVICE OR

SOFTWARE PROVIDER, CONSULTANT

ACADEMIC

ASSOCIATION / TRADE BODY

INVESTOR

GOVERNMENT

OTHER

Feedback was sourced from the following sectors:

SECTOR INSIGHTS

NGO

8

Identifying the role that respondents hold in their respective organisations:

SENIORITY

Board level / business owner 10%

C-Suite / Director / VP 13%

Manager 24%

Executive 11%

Consultant 22%

Researcher 6%

Professor 4%

Other (Please specify) 10%

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SAVE THE DATE

16-17 October

2019

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

CHAPTER 2 SDGs DRIVING FUTURE BUSINESS STRATEGY

10

Over the past two iterations of our Trends report we’ve seen an increasing number of respondents state they are integrating the SDGs into their business strategies. This trend has continued for this year’s report with 71% stating that the SDGs are being incorporated within the core business. This is an increase of 2% on last year’s study and a 11% increase since our 2017 report.

The region where there’s the highest level of integration within business strategies is Asia/Pacific 80% (76% in 2018 and 66% in 2017) followed by Europe 74% (74% in 2018 and 59% in 2017), and finally North America 64% (61% in 2018 and 56% in 2017).

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are increasingly being adopted by companies to inform future strategies and shape current impacts. Are companies using the SDGs as a framework for reporting their impacts, are they measuring their impacts against the SDGs and which SDGs are corporates most engaging are all questions explored in this section.

INTEGRATING THE SDGS INTO BUSINESS STRATEGY

Is your organisation integrating the SDGs into the business strategy?Corporate-Brands only

71%

23%

6%

Yes

No

Not applicable

CHAPTER 2SDGs DRIVING

FUTURE BUSINESS STRATEGY

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

11

In terms of where companies are in integrating the SDGs into corporate strategy, 77% of respondents stated their business is either mapping or currently integrating the SDGs into business strategy.

CHAPTER 2 SDGs DRIVING FUTURE BUSINESS STRATEGY

Is your organisation integrating the SDGs into the business strategy? - By region (Corporate-Brands only)

How far have you got with the integrating the SDGs into your business’ strategy? (Corporate-Brands only)

Yes No Not applicable

29%

64%

7%

NORTH AMERICA

74%

21%

5%

EUROPEASIA PACIFIC

80%

4%

16%

Just started to map out the SDGs into future strategy

Currently integrating the SDGs into broad business strategy

The SDGs are now integrated across departments with clear goals set

Don’t know

34%

46%

13%

7%

INTEGRATING THE SDGS INTO BUSINESS STRATEGY CONTINUED

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

12

THE CHALLENGES

CHAPTER 2 SDGs DRIVING FUTURE BUSINESS STRATEGY

Funding to support the

program implementation

Lack of prioritisation

from key and vocal

stakeholders

Mapping the SDGs to financial and investment

indicators.

Seeking investment

Executive buy in / Integrating into operations

Clear standards and benchmarks

Identifying ROI for initiatives

Political and regulatory

issues

Raising awareness and importance at

C-level

Aligning metrics, measuring

progress and reporting impact

Aligning SDGs with business

KPIs

Educating suppliers and

integrating across the

supply chain

Creating tangible goals that are

linked to business success

Balancing short term Cashflow

needs with SDGs

The SDGs were designed for national and regional Governments so the task of adapting the 17 Goals and 169 Targets into measurable and actionable business goals represents several challenges. Understanding the challenges and areas of difficulties that business face when adopting the Goals across their business can highlight where more work and collaboration is required.

The respondents were asked what has been the most challenging aspect of integrating the SDGs into business strategy. The below word graph highlights some of the most common sighted issues.

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What has been the most challenging aspect of integrating the SDGs into the business strategy? (Corporate-Brands only)

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

13

The past couple of years has seen increasing focus and discussions at our Ethical Corporation events on how companies can use the SDGs as a tool to help communicate and engage stakeholders on their business impacts. 53% of Corporate-Brand respondents stated their company is using the SDGs as a reporting and communications framework, a rise of 2% on last year’s report findings.

SDG MEASUREMENT, REPORTING AND COMMUNICATION

CHAPTER 2 SDGs DRIVING FUTURE BUSINESS STRATEGY

Are you using SDGs as a framework to report and communicate your sustainability impacts? (Corporate-Brands only)

Yes No

53%47%

ASIA PACIFIC

67%

33% EUROPE44%

56%

55%

45%

NORTH AMERICA

Whilst it’s encouraging to see more companies using the SDGs as a way of framing their impacts, it appears we’re going backwards in terms of companies understanding and reporting their contribution to the SDGs. In 2018, 56% of respondents stated their company wasn’t measuring their contribution to the SDGs. This has risen to 62% in this year’s report. It’s concerning to see that a large of number of companies are using the SDGs a tool to communicate impacts, without knowing their actual contribution to the respective SDGs.

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

All 1,051 respondents (including NGOs, Investors, Consultants…) were asked whether Business will be the driving force in ensuring the SDGs are met, a resounding 85% of the responded Yes. It would be prudent to forecast that in the coming years there will be an expectation on businesses to prove their impacts and contributions to the SDGs.

CHAPTER 2 SDGs DRIVING FUTURE BUSINESS STRATEGY

14

North American respondents stated the lowest level of measured targets against the SDGs (26%), followed by Europe (42%) and finally Asia/Pacific (55%). Investors, Governments and other key stakeholders will increasingly expect companies to report their contribution to SDGs, especially when other peers in that region start reporting their contribution.

In Ethical Corporation’s upcoming events and analysis, more focus will be on helping companies understand how they can measure and report their contribution to the SDGs.

Is your organisation measuring its contributions to the SDGs? (Corporate-Brands only)

Yes No

ASIA PACIFIC

55%

45%EUROPE

58%

42%

74%

26%NORTH AMERICA

38%

62%

SDG MEASUREMENT, REPORTING AND COMMUNICATION CONTINUED

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

To ascertain any differences in SDG focus and adoption around the globe respondents were asked to highlight the SDGs that their business is engaging in. Goal 13: Climate action came out on top, with 62% (65% in 2018) already working to help meet this SDG. Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth with 61% (60% in 2017) and Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production with 61% (57% in 2018) were the second and third most cited goals.

SDG FOCUS ACROSS THE GLOBE

CHAPTER 2 SDGs DRIVING FUTURE BUSINESS STRATEGY

15

23%

46%

62%

23%

61%

16%

53%

49%

21%

34%

32%

16%

51%

42%

36%

38%

61%

Goal 13: Climate action came out on top, with

62% (65% in 2018) already working to help

meet this SDG

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

SDG FOCUS ACROSS THE GLOBE CONTINUED

CHAPTER 2 SDGs DRIVING FUTURE BUSINESS STRATEGY

16

When looking at responses from different geographical regions, those in Asia/Pacific chose Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production with 66% (49% in 2018) Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth with 59% (57% in 2018) and Goal 13: Climate action with 57% (64% in 2018) as the three main SDGs.

In Europe, respondents stated Goal 13: Climate action with 73% (69% in 2018) as the goal they would be engaging in most, followed by Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth with 67% (62% in 2018) and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production with 66% (60% in 2018).

In North America, respondents indicated Goal 5: Gender equality with 60% (53% in 2018), Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production with 57% (59% in 2018) and both Goal 13: Climate action with 56% (64% in 2018) and Goal 3: Good health and wellbeing with 56% (59% in 2018) as the top SDGs that they’reengaging in.

NORTH AMERICA

EUROPE

ASIA PACIFIC

57%

73%

56%

52%

60%

67%

59%

50%

54%

55%

51%

56%

66%

66%

57%

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Time to lead: Identify new innovations, materials, technologies and partnerships that will help your business deliver ambitious social and climate impacts

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

CHAPTER 3 CLIMATE ACTION

It’s been over three years since the landmark Paris Agreement and 88% of 1,051 global respondents stated companies aren’t taking ambitious enough action on climate change (falls to 85% when focusing on Corporate / Brand respondents). In light of last year’s IPCC report and WWF report, we need to see transformative action from companies to help ensure we address the environmental challenges and keep global warming beneath the 1.5 degree temperature rise.

European Corporate-Brand respondents is the most damming when it comes to a perceived lack of action, with 90% of respondents stating companies are not ambitious enough in their approach. North America follows with 84% and finally Asia/Pacific reflects the least pessimistic viewpoint with 73% stating a lack of ambitious action from corporations on climate change.

73% of Corporate-Brand respondents agreed with the statement “I expect my company to take a lead in helping meet the Paris Agreement” (an increase of 5% on last year’s report).

A LACK OF ACTION FROM BUSINESSCHAPTER 3CLIMATE ACTION

18

In your opinion, are companies taking ambitious enough action on climate change? (Corporate-Brands only)

Yes No

ASIA PACIFIC

27%

73%

EUROPE

90%

10%

84%

16%

NORTH AMERICA

15%

85%

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

19

To take meaningful action against climate change, companies are being tasked to set GHG emission reduction targets in line with climate science. Only 26% (25% in 2018) of this year’s Corporate / Brand respondents stated that their company has set and adopted or is finalising Science-Based Targets.

The below charts highlight that Europe is the most advanced in terms of adopting or looking to integrate Science-Based Targets within their operations, followed by Asia/Pacific and finally North America.

SETTING TARGETS IN LINE WITH SCIENCE

CHAPTER 3 CLIMATE ACTION

Is your company adopting science-based targets in line with the 2C target? (Corporate-Brands only)

ASIA PACIFIC

25%

14% 16% 18% 17%

8%

20%30%

17%

8%

14%

29%

25%

9%

36%

7%EUROPE NORTH

AMERICA

Yesmy company has set and

adopted targets in line with the

2C target

Yesmy company is currently

finalising targets in line with

the 2C target

Yes my company

is looking at this

Noit’s not an area of focus for my

company at present

Not sure Not applicable

16%

10%

27%28%

12%7%

2% 5%

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

In February this year the Science Based Targets Initiative announced that their updated criteria will request companies to be well-below the 2C Degree limit and more in line with a 1.5C Degree target. This survey was conducted in December 2018 / January 2019, before the announcement, and over half of the respondents agreed that the Science-Based Targets should be re-aligned to a 1.5C Degree Target. Based on the stark findings from the recent IPCC and WWF reports, limiting actions and targets to a 1.5C Degree should be the minimum expectation.

SETTING TARGETS IN LINE WITH SCIENCE CONTINUED

CHAPTER 3 CLIMATE ACTION

20

Do you feel the Science-Based Targets should be re-evaluated so they're in line with a 1.5C

Degree target? (Corporate-Brands only)

55%

8%

37% Yes

No

Not sure

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Transform 2019250+ attendees will share new ideas and strategies on how companies can innovate, collaborate and transform the value chainwww.ethicalcorp.com/transform

The Responsible Business Summit West300+ attendees to discuss the impacts of technology on delivering the Sustainable Develoment Goalswww.ethicalcorp.com/rbs-west

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55% of respondents feel the Science-Based Targets should be re-evaluated in

line with a 1.5C Degree target

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

21

CHAPTER 4 THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS HORIZON

Since this reports inception five years ago there’s been great strides made in terms of sustainability becoming a critical factor in future ambitions. However, we can no longer accept incremental changes – we need transformatonal change to meet the challenges ahead of us. Business must take action and build strategies and investments to address the encroaching issues. This chapter will highlight where respondents are focusing their efforts.

For companies to stay at the forefront of their industries, it’s imperative they understand the opportunities available to them and also the key opportunities as identified by their peers.

Corporate-Brand respondents see Driving sustainable innovation across the business (26%) as the most exciting opportunity for their business in the next 12 months. Identifying new circular innovations and opportunities was second most cited (12%). Creating long-term, transformational cross-industry collaborations and Activating the SDGs as a driver for future strategy and success were both the third most cited opportunities (11%).

When focussing on the geographic regions the “Top Three” held true for respondents based in Asia/Pacific. In Europe the top three highlighted opportunities were Driving sustainable innovation across the business (21%), Activating the SDGs as a driver for future strategies and success (15%) and Identifying new circular innovations and opportunities (14%). In North America the top three highlighted opportunities were Driving sustainable innovation across the business (28%), Engaging Investors on sustainable vision (13%) and Identifying new circular innovations and opportunities (13%).

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

CHAPTER 4THE RESPONSIBLE

BUSINESS HORIZON

Driving sustainable innovation across thebusiness (26%) is the most exciting opportunity for business in the next 12 months

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

Creating long-term, transformational cross-industry collaborations

Which one area holds the single most exciting opportunity for your organisation in 2019? (Corporate-Brands only)

Engaging investors on sustainable vision

Integrating Artificial Intelligence and IoT within the business

Implementing Blockchain and automation within the business

Portraying the total impacts of the business

Identifying new circular innovations and opportunities

Identifying opportunities to address water risk

Driving sustainable innovation across the business

Activating employees as brand advocates on sustainable vision

Activating the SDGs as a driver for future strategy and success

Other

11%

3%

26%

9%

9%

9%

6%

12%

11%

2%

2%

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUED

These slight variances in perceived opportunities echo the research and agendas for this year’s Responsible Business Summit New York and Responsible Business Summit Europe. Across all three regions one can see that sustainability is very-much a central business considering, both from a business strategy and innovation perspective to attracting future investment and growth. This represents a great opportunity for new models, technologies and ways of doing business to arise in the coming months and years. Aligning these innovations and investments to the Global Goals will be critical.

Aligning these innovations and investments to the Global Goals will be critical

22

CHAPTER 4 THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS HORIZON

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

23

CHAPTER 4 THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS HORIZON

WHAT’S IMPORTANT IN 2019

From a list of suggested sustainability issues, respondents were asked to rate on a scale their level of importance – ranging from “no importance” to “extremely important”. Driving sustainable innovation across the business is deemed of being most important and Engaging employees as brand advocates on sustainable vision as the second most important issues in 2019 with 78% and 71% (71% and 69% in 2018) of Corporate-Brand respondents respectively indicating it as being either “very important” or “extremely important” to their organisation. This was closely followed by Portraying the total impact of the business with 66% of respondents stating it as being of high importance to the business.

Understanding the impacts of AI, IOT and automation on the business

How important are the below issues for your organisation in 2019? (Corporate-Brands only)

Portraying the total impact of the business

Driving sustainable customer behaviour change

Driving sustainable innovation across the business

Engaging employees as brand advocates on sustainable vision

Adopting science-based targets in line with 2C target

Identifying opportunities to address water risk

Engaging investors on the sustainable vision of the business

Identifying new circular economy innovations and investments

Activating the SDGs as a drive for future strategy and success

53%

78%

64%

66%

71%

52%

55%

36%

36%

48%

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

24

CHAPTER 4 THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS HORIZON

WHAT’S NOT IMPORTANT IN 2019

Sometimes it can prove more insightful when focussing on what’s deemed not important. Identifying opportunities to address water risk is the least important issue for Corporate-Brand respondents with 15% highlighting it as ‘Not Important’ in the next 12 months. Adopting Science-Based Targets in line with the 2C Target (11%) and Understanding the impacts of the TCFD guidelines on our reporting activities (9%) were identified as being the 2nd and 3rd least important issues in 2019.

All three options will have a profound impact on business, the environment and society – either directly or indirectly – so it’s somewhat surprise there’s a significant number of respondents indicating they’re of no importance.

Identifying opportunitiesto address water risk is the

least important issue forCorporate-Brand respondents

with 15% highlightingit as ‘Not Important’

15%9% 11%

How important are the below issues for your organisation in 2019? (Corporate-Brands only)

Identifying opportunities to address water risk

Understanding the impacts of AI, IOT and automation on the

business

stated no importance stated no importance stated no importance

Adopting science-based targets in line with 2C target

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THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS TRENDS REPORT 2019

25

CHAPTER 4 THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS HORIZON

THOSE THAT ARE LEADING THE WAY

The global Ethical Corporation community were asked to highlight the company and person’s they feel are leading the way in delivering a new sustainable business climate. Echoing findings from the previous three iterations of this report, Unilever is most the most mentioned company and likewise its Former-CEO Paul Polman emerged as the individual that’s driving the required change.

Business can’t rely on the few companies that are highlighted year-on-year as the one’s that will deliver the required change. There’s an opportunity for individuals, and companies, to show leadership and realise the business opportunities of transforming the business behind a sustainable vision. When looking at this year’s report feedback, compared to the 2016 report there is hope. The likes of Emmanuel Faber, Danielle Azoulay and Ellen MacArthur (11th) didn’t make the Top 25 in 2016 – and the same can be said for Walmart and Siemens. So there are new individuals and companies entering the fray, however there needs to be more if the the challenges are to be met.

Business can’t rely on the few companies

that are highlighted year-on-year as the

one’s that will deliver the required change

1 Unilever -

2 Patagonia -

3 Tesla -

4 IKEA 1

5 Interface 2

6 Siemens 3

7 Walmart 9

8 Marks & Spencer 4

9 Nestlé 1

10 Google 4

1 Paul Polman -

2 Elon Musk -

3 Rose Marcario -

4 Bill Gates -

5 Emmanuel Faber 3

6 Michael Bloomberg 3

7 Larry Fink 4

8 Richard Branson 3

9 Yvon Chouinard 2

10 Danielle Azoulay Was not in 2018’s top 20

WHICH COMPANIES ARE LEADING THE WAY IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION?

WHICH INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVES ARE LEADING THE WAY IN SUSTAINABILITY?

Paul Polman

Unilever

Elon Musk Tesla

Rose Marcario

Patagonia

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