Survey: From strategy to spend - the state of sustainability in business


Original content provided by BDO

In a year marked by regulatory rollbacks and political pressures, businesses face an increasingly uncertain sustainability landscape. At the same time, climate-related losses have surpassed $100 billion, underscoring the urgency for action.

Our inaugural Global Sustainability Services Survey reveals that sustainability remains a strategic priority for companies worldwide:

  • 87% of respondents say sustainability is important to their business strategy
  • 83% report a competitive advantage from an embedded sustainability programme
  • Yet only 25% of respondents report having a mature sustainability programme, indicating there is still work to be done for sustainability to become ‘business as usual’

The report explores:

  • Regional dynamics - from CSRD uncertainty in Europe to capital constraints in AsiaPac
  • Strategic insights - why companies continue to invest despite challenges

As a global professional services organisation, we are committed to helping clients lead confidently in a complex and shifting environment.


Download the full report to uncover actionable insights and see how you can turn sustainability into a driver of value and resilience for your company.




Gvantsa Devrisashvili

Gvantsa Devrisashvili

Director, Deal Advisory | Sustainability Practice Lead
View Bio


From roadblocks to results

Our inaugural global sustainability survey highlights how you can turn roadblocks into results:

  • Quick wins with long-term impact: Identify initiatives that show immediate ROI (e.g., energy efficiency upgrades) while contributing to long-term decarbonisation.
  • Regulatory roadmaps: Create simplified, visual guides to help teams understand upcoming regulations and their implications. Break down sustainability initiatives into manageable phases to reduce overwhelm.
  • Training & capacity building: Offer targeted workshops on environmental, social, governance and other sustainability fundamentals.
  • Centralised data platforms: Invest in digital tools that consolidate data across business units and geographies.
  • Cross-functional collaboration: Involve IT, finance, and operations teams to ensure data accuracy and relevance.




Key regional insights



EUROPE:

  • 42% of European companies are still evaluating their company’s approach to sustainability
  • Only 25% of European companies have a mature sustainability programme embedded into their business
  • However, 53% of European companies have published a sustainability report.



ASIAPAC:

The current primary focus for companies in AsiaPac is complying with legislation (primarily driven by Australia)

  • 47% of respondents have published a sustainability report (lower than Europe at 53%)
  • 36% of respondents are primarily focused on compliance with sustainability regulations
  • 31% are integrating sustainability into their business operations.




LATAM AND CARIBBEAN:

Despite regulatory and political setbacks, Latam companies are progressing their sustainability programmes

  • 68% of the companies surveyed have published a sustainability report
  • 42% of respondents report having a mature sustainability programme
  • 37% of respondents are working to integrate sustainability into their business strategy.