Scaling sustainability

Sustainability isn’t slowing down. It’s speeding up.

In a year marked by political pushback and regulatory rollbacks, many expected businesses to retreat from sustainability. But our International Business Report (IBR) data tells a different story.

Sustainability is embedded at the core of mid-market businesses — they see it as a path to growth, not a compliance burden.

Our latest report explores how the mid-market is driving a more sustainable planet through continued investment and a clear strategic drive to make a change.

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What’s become increasingly clear from Grant Thornton’s latest International Business Report (IBR) research is that these businesses view sustainability as a path to growth, not an obstacle – and certainly not a compliance box to be ticked. They value the commercial opportunities sustainability can bring and  are putting significant resource behind it.

We see that firms in all regions remain committed to sustainability, largely because of the long-term benefits they perceive it brings to profit, revenue and international expansion. As such, their drive to build sustainability within their businesses is unwavering. It is a drive from which I believe we will all benefit.

Speaking to clients and colleagues around the world, they tell me that for  mid-market firms, sustainability is ingrained and part of their fabric. Business leaders and owners consider themselves stewards, responsible for growth but also longevity. This mindset, and the commercial value business leaders attribute to sustainability, is a potent combination. In our 2024 report, The journey to a sustainable future, I said the world needs  a sustainable mid-market. A year on, I am encouraged about the prospects  of achieving this, as the mid-market has emerged as a driving force for building a sustainable economy.

Given that these business leaders consider sustainability to be a core component of commercial success, the attitudes of the mid-market to sustainability reporting are positive. They understand that measurement is vital, so that they can track sustainability improvements themselves and demonstrate performance to stakeholders.

At a time when many politicians and regulators are grappling with driving economic growth and reaching sustainability targets, the mid-market is reframing the narrative on sustainability at a pivotal moment. I hope you find this report helpful as you continue on, or even begin, your own sustainability journey.

 

Get the facts behind the findings [ 5195 kb ]