2Sustain

The MIT Sloan Management Review has released findings from its First Annual Business of Sustainability Survey and the Global Thought Leaders’ Research Project.

The report pulls together

• data from a global survey of more than 1,500 corporate executives and managers and
• 50 in-depth interviews with a broad mix of executives from today’s corporate sustainability leaders (including GE, Unilever, and Nike).

Here are a few key findings:

• The vast majority (92%) of companies says their company is addressing sustainability in some way.

• Less than 25% say their company has decreased its commitment to sustainability during the recession. In fact, some –such as the automotive industry and the media and entertainment industry –report an enhanced sustainability commitment, on average.

• But –and here’s the disconnect that seems all too common in surveys like this –more than 70% of those polled say their companies have not developed a clear business case for sustainability.

• Among companies recognized as thought leaders in sustainability, 62% consider it necessary to hold suppliers to specific sustainability criteria. (Only 25% of companies considered sustainability novices thought the same way.)

• Survey respondent identified the three biggest drivers of sustainability as: government legislation, consumer concerns, and employee interest.

You can read the full report here.

I also suggest  the Q&A with Michael Hopkins, editor in chief of the MIT Sloan Management Review, that was published earlier today at TriplePundit.