Tomorrow’s value
“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”
- Jonathan Swift
Who walks the talk in sustainability? There are many companies discussing responsible, sustainable and green approaches to business, but which of them will be able to deliver on their promises? And which have shiny sustainability reports, but are likely to disappoint in the medium to long term?
The Tomorrow’s Value Rating, our unique, value-driven assessment of corporate sustainability practices, uncovers the extent to which the companies widely recognised as sustainability leaders deserve their place within the leading sustainability rankings. And it shows which companies are likely to deliver long-term investment value thanks to their sustainable practices.
The results of the Tomorrow’s Value Rating 2011 were announced on 19 October, 2011. As well as ranking 92 companies that are widely regarded as among the best performers in sustainability, the rating revealed several emerging trends in corporate sustainability:
Innovation is the cutting edge of sustainability
Game-changing innovation to integrate environmental and socio-economic benefits into the heart of business strategy is a must for any company wishing to become truly sustainable.
Leaders consider the whole value chain
Sustainability leaders are widening their focus from their own operations to the entire value chain. They are placing pressure on suppliers to follow suit.
The very best companies are embedding sustainability in core decision-making
While it is difficult to prove that a company is ethical, there are means to demonstrate to external observers that, when push comes to shove, sustainability issues will be considered alongside the financial implications of any business decision. What stakeholders want to know is that ethics will not be conveniently ignored when the opportunity for profit is present.
Some companies are just repackaging business as usual, but the leaders address the sticky issues
There is a danger that companies are taking existing practices and passing them under the sustainability lens to give us a compelling green picture of the company. These practices may have positive environmental impacts, but are fundamentally profit driven. This can turn to green-wash when the sticky issues are ignored or given little consideration.
Full results and findings on the Tomorrow’s Value Rating website
