Over the past several years we have witnessed a fundamental shift in sustainability’s position within business and investing – it is no longer a nice-to-have but a non-negotiable. Consumers, shareholders, and governments are exercising powers that act as economic incentive to implement sustainable business models. This comes in the form of increased customer acquisition, greater investor attention, and avoiding government penalties… and signals are clear this will not change. The European Green Deal has set the EU on a transformative journey to carbon-neutrality in the next few decades, and global corporate leaders such as Amazon have pledged to deliver on sustainable operations, packaging, and net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Meanwhile, surveys show 64% of Americans believe protecting the environment should be a top public policy priority, rivaling prioritizing the economy at 67%.[1]
From niche just a decade ago, making businesses environmentally friendly is a core focus for management teams today. This shift has triggered rapid growth among foundational sustainability companies and presents a rare market dynamic where in many cases demand is outpacing supply as businesses across all industries race to lead their peers among the categories below, and more…