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The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the ERM Sustainability Institute have released a new report, "Catching the Wave: Seizing the Opportunities of Sustainability Transformation," providing experience-based guidance for executives tasked with steering their companies through an era of profound change and unparalleled opportunity.
Based on in-depth interviews with 50 senior global business leaders and sustainability practitioners and active engagements with 80 global business executives, the report explores the multiple truths that companies must navigate. For example, the threat of social and economic consequences merging into a polycrisis is real and increasing, yet many technological and commercial solutions to these threats are charging ahead exponentially. The report also draws on the lessons of past disruptions to outline how bold action will define winners in the sustainability transformation.
The framework introduced in the report reflects insights on what is working for companies in the more advanced stages of integrating sustainability. Designed as a practical guide for unlocking immediate action, it sets out the steps companies can take now to translate sustainability strategies into commercial success, operational efficiency, and resilience.
"At a time when the global landscape is rapidly evolving, businesses must adapt to new realities or risk being left behind," remarked Dominic Waughray, EVP Pathways at WBCSD. "The 'Catching the Wave' report equips leaders with the insights and strategies they need to not only survive but thrive in the face of the unprecedented sustainability transformation that is taking place throughout the business community and its value chains."
"For companies committed to combining commercial success with sustainability impact, this report is an indispensable resource," noted Sabine Hoefnagel, Global Leader of Sustainability and Risk at ERM. "It distils the wisdom and experiences of industry leaders into actionable strategies, empowering businesses to integrate sustainability into their organizational fabric, seize its commercial potential, and be resilient in the face of disruptions."
The "Catching the Wave" report is available for download on the WBCSD and ERM Sustainability Institute websites.
About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global community of over 220 of the world’s leading businesses, representing a combined revenue of more than USD $8.5 trillion and 19 million employees. Together, we transform the systems we work in to limit the impact of the climate crisis, restore nature, and tackle inequality. We accelerate value chain transformation across key sectors and reshape the financial system to reward sustainable leadership and action through a lower cost of capital. Through the exchange of best practices, improving performance, accessing education, forming partnerships, and shaping the policy agenda, we drive progress in businesses and sharpen the accountability of their performance.
About ERM
Sustainability is our business.
As the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, ERM partners with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.
ERM’s diverse team of 8,000+ world-class experts in over 150 offices in 40 countries and territories combine strategic transformation and technical delivery to help clients operationalize sustainability at pace and scale. ERM calls this capability its “boots to boardroom” approach - a comprehensive service model that helps organizations to accelerate the integration of sustainability into their strategy and operations. Learn more
About the ERM Sustainability Institute
The ERM Sustainability Institute is ERM’s primary platform for thought leadership on sustainability. The purpose of the Institute is to define, accelerate, and scale sustainability performance by developing actionable insight for business. We provide an independent and authoritative voice to decode complexities. The Institute identifies innovative solutions to global sustainability challenges built on ERM’s experience, expertise, and commitment to transformational change.
