Some 75% of C-suite leaders rate sustainability as a ‘top priority’, an increase of six percentage points in just six months, a new report by Reuters Impact has found.
According to the Reuters Impact: Global Sustainability Report 2025, which gathered insights from more than over 500 practitioners and decision-makers across Europe and around the world, close to two thirds (64%) of organisations say that they remain committed to net zero, and have not altered their targets regarding same.
Elsewhere, the report indicates a growing focus on Scope 3, with a quarter (25%) of organisations now prioritising supplier incentivisation as part of their Scope 3 efforts.
More than half (51%) of respondents say that they are ‘prioritising’ employee education on organisational sustainability strategies, making internal education the ‘top workforce preparation method for embedding sustainability,’ Reuters noted.
Regulatory uncertainty
In terms of challenges, meanwhile, close to half (48%) of C-suite executives cite regulatory uncertainty as their top concern when it comes to sustainability, however ‘leading organisations are turning compliance pressure into a competitive edge’, it added.
Despite operational and budgetary pressures, more than two fifths (42%) of businesses have maintained their sustainability budgets, with increases in spending outweighing any reductions. The strongest growth in investment is in innovation and R&D for sustainable products and services, partnerships and collaborations, employee training and internal education, and supply-chain data and traceability systems.
There has also been greater diversification of circular economy systems, the report noted, with 45% of respondents prioritising recycling waste, and water stewardship, biodiversity, and responsible sourcing strategies gaining traction.
Finally, more than half (54%) of organisations state that their DEI programmes remain unchanged, despite geopolitical pressures, with 45% saying that workforce DEI remains a ‘top priority’ for their business. Read more here.
