Pinnacle Worldwide 

Results of a global survey of corporations on sustainability show that one-half of businesses polled lack a sustainability strategy. Those with a strategy are more likely to be focused on improving perceptions and responding to increasing regulations, rather than meeting social needs or generating revenue opportunities.

CEOs made up the majority of survey respondents, and although less than half have a strategy today, 55 percent said sustainability will grow in importance and require increased resources and attention.

The survey was developed by The Vandiver Group, Inc. (TVG), and sponsored by Pinnacle Worldwide (PWW), a global organization of independent public relations firms. The results represent companies on six continents, 25 countries and 40 industries. Of those who provided annual revenues, 18 percent had revenues from $10 million to $100 million; 9 percent were at $100 million to $1 billion and 13 percent were at $1 billion or more. The results also show that companies are more focused on perception (7.1 on a 10-point scale) than revenue growth (rated 6 on the same scale). Meanwhile, companies rated reducing consumption and increasing pollution control as more important (7.1 and 6.6 out of 10, respectively) than meeting social needs (5.28 out of 10 points) as drivers of their sustainability strategies.

The study found that nearly one-third of businesses are developing a sustainability strategy, and just less than one-half already have an existing strategy. Six percent of respondents characterized their company as a “recognized leader” in sustainability. The survey found that larger companies were slightly more likely than smaller companies to have strategies and staff dedicated to the area of sustainability. An overwhelming 75 percent of respondents said sustainability is either “an important part of our organization’s corporate strategy,” or said they expect the topic “to become increasingly important in the future.”

Read the complete news release (including a link to a comprehensive report of the survey results) at www.pinnacleww.com/whatsnew/20080605-Sustainability_Press_Release.pdf.