Mace 2020 Carbon Survey Reveals Carbon Reduction Remains a Priority

• Content
• Environment & Sustainability
• Mace 2020 Carbon Survey Reveals Carbon Reduction Remains a Priority

10 November 2020

In September, Mace sent a survey to over 600 business leaders to uncover how the carbon challenge is being met within organisations.

The results showed that nearly all organisations that responded (95 per cent) reported that carbon is a strategic priority.

More than one in four (29 per cent) organisations said that they have made a commitment to become not only net-zero but carbon positive. Over three quarters (76 per cent) of organisations have embedded the carbon agenda into their business decisions. 

It also found that less than 60 per cent of companies govern carbon through their board/executive committee.   

Mace itself pledged in February 2020 that it would aim to become net-zero carbon emissions in 2020.

Over 70 per cent of respondents cited “client/ customer expectation” as a driver of their efforts.

–Mace 2020 Carbon Survey

More Work Needed to Embed Carbon into Business Decisions

The demand from clients, shareholders and investors, coupled with the pressure from employees to act responsibly, is getting the attention of the C-suite but Mace argues that their results show that there is clearly still some way to go before every business can confidently articulate their carbon ambitions and build it into triple bottom line strategies. 

Truly addressing the climate emergency challenge requires a culture that puts carbon at the forefront of every business decision, Mace argues. For the majority of businesses not founded explicitly upon social or environmental purpose, achieving the level of change needed may require considerable business transformation.

For 76 per cent of respondents, the carbon agenda is embedded in their decision making – informing decisions on day-to-day business practices, existing assets and the design and planning of new developments. An impressive 18 per cent stated that carbon is integrated into every decision, while for the other 58 per cent it is partially embedded. 

Clients are Driving Carbon Action

The pressure on companies to take action to address climate change is at an all-time high with demands being made from both external stakeholders and those within organisations, but it is customers and clients that are really driving corporate action.

Over 70 per cent of respondents cited “client/ customer expectation” as a driver of their efforts. Shareholders and investors are also demanding carbon efficiency, climate change resilience and environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors to mitigate financial and other risks in their portfolios. Meanwhile, clients are requesting it to support their own corporate commitments and/ or investor requirements, and customers are steadily shifting their expectations regarding the sustainable attributes of the products they buy or lease. 

Retention of Talent

Over 30 per cent of respondents also recognise that their carbon commitments influence the recruitment and retention of the best talent. 

By 2025, millennials, who are typically the most engaged generation on sustainability and social value, will make up three-quarters of the workforce. 

The reality is that the majority of employees want to work for responsible businesses and companies must wise up to the need to embed responsible practices into every aspect of their corporate strategy to attract and keep great people. 

Read the report in full here.

Picture: a photograph of some blue sky

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 10 November 2020

Share

Related Articles