Many companies are actively integrating sustainability principles into their businesses, according to a recent McKinsey. The 2011 survey identified that More companies are managing sustainability to improve processes, pursue growth, and add value to their companies rather than focusing on reputation alone.
The online survey was in the field from July 12 to July 22, 2011, and received responses from 3,203 executives representing the full range of regions, industries, tenures, company sizes, and functional specialties.
The survey explored why and how companies are addressing sustainability and to what extent executives believe it affects their companies’ bottom line, now and over the next five years. On the whole, respondents report a more well-rounded understanding of sustainability and its expected benefits than in prior surveys. As in the past, they see the potential for supporting corporate reputation. But they also expect operational and growth-oriented benefits in the areas of cutting costs and pursuing opportunities in new markets and products. Furthermore, respondents in certain industries—energy, the extractive industries, and transportation—report that their companies are taking a more active approach than those in other sectors, probably as a result of those industries’ potential regulatory and natural-resource constraints. The survey is available here
