This study is an essential planning and benchmarking tool for sustainability executives. The report analyzes the staffing and spending plans and high-priority initiatives of top sustainability executives at some of the worlds’ leading companies. The study is based on an exclusive, in-depth survey of nearly 50 senior sustainability executives (three quarters of which are the senior-most sustainability executive/chief sustainability officer) at global companies. These are leading companies in a dozen industries across North America and Europe, 80 percent of which have revenues of $1B or more.

We think this is the highest-quality panel of respondents ever assembled for a survey focused on corporate sustainability tactics and strategies.

Buyers of the report will learn: 

• What are the trends in corporate sustainability budgets?
• What are sustainability staffing trends?
• In issues ranging from emissions reduction to water management to supply chain sustainability, how do leading companies rate their own performance and leadership?
• What are the highest-priority sustainability initiatives planned for the coming year, to which companies will be dedicating significant staff and financial resources?
• How influential are sustainability executives, and what are the most effective tactics for increasing influence?
• What corporate sustainability ranking schemes are the most relevant, and which can be ignored?
• Which sustainability-related consulting services are in highest demand, and how has that changed from the prior year?
• Which global sustainability business consultants have the greatest mindshare?  

Topics covered in this study include:

• Budgets
• Carbon accounting and scope 3 emissions inventory/assurance
• Ecolabels
• Ecosystem services
• Employee engagement
• ISO 50001
• Life cycle assessment
• Reputation
• Staffing
• Supply chain sustainability
• Sustainability consulting
• Sustainability goals
• Sustainability reporting and integrated reporting
• Use of credits and offsets
• And more

Who should buy this report:

• Sustainability executives
• Senior corporate executives
• Sustainability consultants
• Clean tech vendors
• Vendors of sustainability products and services 

Pages: 25 | Figures: 20

Publication date: December 2011

Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Influence
Budgets and Staffing
Sustainability Maturity
Significant Initiatives
Offsets and Credits
Sustainability Rankings
Consulting
Report Methodology
About Green Research

Table of Figures
Figure 1 Degrees of Separation of C.S.O. from C.E.O.
Figure 2 Degree of Influence CSOs Have over Sustainability Strategy
Figure 3 Degree of Influence Executives Have over Various Corporate Functions' Sustainability Policies and Procedures
Figure 4 Most Effective Tactics for Enhancing Influence over Sustainability Strategy and Tactics
Figure 5 Number of Employees with Sustainability Responsibilities
Figure 6 Changes in Sustainability Staffing in the Coming Year
Figure 7 Sustainability Budgets at Large Companies
Figure 8 How Sustainability Budgets Will Change in the Coming Year
Figure 9 Executives' Ratings of their Companies' Sustainability Maturity
Figure 10 Major Initiatives Planned for Coming Year
Figure 11 Patagonia Ad Promoting Sustainable Consumption
Figure 12 Plans for Calculating, Auditing or Reporting Scope 3 Emissions
Figure 13 Intent to Purchase Offsets or Credits Over the Next 12 Months
Figure 14 Attitudes about Offsets and Credits
Figure 15 The Most Relevant Corporate Sustainability Rankings
Figure 16 Past and Planned Use of Sustainability Consultants
Figure 17 Sustainability Consulting Firms Deemed to Offer Appropriate Services
Figure 18 Breakdown of Respondents by Role in Organization
Figure 19 Breakdown of Respondents by Company Revenues
Figure 20 Percentage of Respondents by Industry 

The enterprise license is appropriate for companies that want to distribute multiple copies of the research within their organization. For reprint and external distribution rights, please contact us.