Reports That Can Help Businesses Lead in Sustainability

Better Business, Better World

"A call to action to business leaders to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report shows how the next decade will be critical for companies to open 60 key market “hot spots,” tackle social, environmental challenges, and re-build trust with society." 

By The Business and Sustainable Development Commission

Blueprint for Business Leadership on the SDGs

"take leading action in support of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)"

Global Climate Action Playbook 2018

" a practical toolkit for business outlining high-level policy updates, outlook on key climate actions and the arc of ambition, and snapshot of country-level analysis on Nationally Determined Contributions and Sustainable Development Goals"

Sustainability is Good for Business

Here are 3 studies and 3 books to get you excited about going green in the workplace. Ethical, environmental & sustainable choices are guaranteed to make workplaces more productive & successful. You can start to build up loyalty & goodwill among customers and employees while you help make the world a better place.

Study: Environmental standards and labor productivity: Understanding the mechanisms that sustain sustainability

"firms that have adopted environmental standards enjoy a one standard deviation higher labor productivity than firms that have not adopted such standards"

Nielsen Report: Doing Well By Doing Good

"average annual sales increase of 2 percent for products with sustainability claims on the packaging and a rise of 5 percent for products that promoted sustainability actions through marketing programs. A review of 14 other brands without sustainability claims or marketing shows a sales rise of only 1 percent" 

2015 Cone Communications/Ebiquity Global CSR Study

91% of global consumers expect companies to do more than make a profit, but also operate responsibly to address social and environmental issues
84% say they seek out responsible products whenever possible
90% would boycott a company if they learned of irresponsible or deceptive business practices

Whether you are a large or small business here are some inspiring examples of sustainable ideas and guides:

By Darcy Hitchcock, Marsha Willard
By Marc J. Epstein, Adriana Rejc Buhovac

Social Responsibility Handbooks

Corporate Social Responsibility An Implementation Guide for Business

"A study from the International Institute for Sustainable Development."

The Oxford Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility

"Bringing together leading experts in the area, it provides clear thinking and new perspectives on CSR and the debates around it"

Sustainability Disclosure Database

A database of reporting from thousands of organisations worldwide on their sustainability and CSR practices

Handbook on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for Employers’ Organizations

An EU funded "Review of the current situation in partner countries (Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Turkey)"

Climate Innovation

Climate Technology

"Through its Climate Business Innovation Network, the program convenes local and global institutions to promote the diffusion of innovative business models across borders"

Innovation to Drive Climate Change Solutions

"The Business Innovation and Climate Change Initiative aims to answer these questions through leadership education, multi-stakeholder events, applied research and bipartisan analysis related to clean energy innovation."

Business innovation and climate change: Policy makers must favour dynamism

"policies will be for nought in the absence of a dynamic business environment, particularly one which encourages the entry of new, adventurous firms and the exit of less innovative and less productive firms"

Why business innovation will help build a new climate economy

"Given the scale and pace of innovation required to construct a new climate economy, many incumbent companies will struggle to adapt their business models and practices in the short term. They risk missing opportunities for value creation, and jeopardising their existing markets and reputations if they fail to keep up with consumer expectations."

Ceres Policy Network: Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP)

"The Ceres BICEP Network was founded in 2009 on the understanding that climate and clean energy challenges present tremendous opportunities, but also urgent risks for global businesses"