Produced by:

Tomorrow's earth, today's journey: Exploring pathways to sustainability

MARKET VIEW REPORT

Throughout this report, we've explored how sustainability is moving from a secondary concern to a core strategic necessity for organisations across sectors. Flexibility, data-informed decision-making, and technological integration have emerged as important capabilities for success in this changing environment.

The key insights from our research and interviews can be summarised as follows:

Sustainability drives reputation

81.8% of leaders see sustainability initiatives as very or extremely significant to brand reputation. Ignoring sustainability is no longer an option.

Technology integration is gaining ground

54.5% of organisations rate their technology integration in sustainability initiatives at 4 or above out of 6. There's progress, but also room for improvement.

Supply chain transparency is crucial

90.9% of leaders view supply chain transparency as very or extremely important. It's time for solutions that can provide end-to-end visibility.

Digital solutions are becoming standard

81.8% of organisations use digital solutions for environmental impact assessment. Those not digitalising risk falling behind.

Data analysis and visualisation are essential

90.9% of organisations rely on these tools for sustainability strategy. Static, non-data-driven approaches are becoming obsolete.

Geospatial technologies are on the rise

54.5% of organisations use geospatial technologies in sustainability initiatives. This represents a significant growth opportunity.

Audit your

tech stack

Is your current sustainability management system able to handle complex data analysis and visualisation? If not, it might be time for an update. As Andrew Mitchell from Mace Group notes, "We are increasingly becoming a data-informed company. All of our KPIs are visualised down to the project level using Power BI, which helps us overlay some internal competition." This approach not only tracks progress but also encourages engagement.

Enhance supply

chain visibility

Use technologies and processes that increase transparency throughout your supply chain. Philip Tamuno from Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust emphasises, "Our supply chain accounts for about 80% of our carbon footprint." Developing a sustainable procurement guide, as Tamuno's team is doing, can be an important step in this direction.

Integrate

geospatial analysis

Explore how geospatial technologies can improve your sustainability initiatives, particularly for location-based impacts on a local, regional, and global scale. Edward Barlow from Local Partnerships LLP highlights that "geospatial technology and historical records can play an important role in supporting fair and accurate baselines for biodiversity improvements." These tools prove valuable across many areas, from supply chain transparency and emissions tracking to asset management and adapting to climate change.

Embrace data-driven

decision making

Use your sustainability data to make smarter, more strategic choices and to communicate impacts effectively. Chris Mattock from Mace Consult shares, "We measure how much carbon we've saved for our clients. Initially, we set a target to save 1 million tons of carbon by 2026, which we achieved much faster than anticipated." Setting clear, measurable targets can promote significant progress.

Focus on

employee engagement

Develop strategies to involve all levels of your organisation in sustainability initiatives. Janet Smith from The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust provides an example with their Sustainability Lunch Hour and Greening Services Club, stating, "These monthly sessions are well-attended and provide a casual setting for staff to learn about the latest developments in sustainability and climate change."

Integrate sustainability

into core business strategy

As Chris Brown from Synthomer emphasises, "We need to rethink how we assess financial hurdles. There's a common perception of what the financial threshold should be, typically viewed over a three-year period. Environmental goals might not fit this mould because they often require a longer-term strategy." This approach connects sustainability with long-term business success.

Implementing these changes may seem challenging, but solutions are available. Companies like Esri UK specialise in creating flexible geospatial solutions that can improve sustainability management. Their GIS technology is designed to help organisations manage the complex landscape of environmental and social impacts, providing effective tools for analysis, visualisation and decision-making.

For organisations looking to stay ahead, exploring such advanced sustainability solutions could be a valuable next step. As this research has shown, in a world where sustainability challenges are becoming more complex and connected, partnering with a technology solution that's built to handle this complexity is important for creating a sustainability function that's ready for the future, whatever it may bring.

By using the power of data, adopting technological advancements, and developing a culture of sustainability, organisations can not only meet their environmental and social responsibilities but also create business value and improve their reputation in an increasingly sustainability-conscious world.

In conclusion, the move towards sustainability is not just about compliance or image—it's about preparing organisations for the future and creating long-term value. By taking these steps and using the insights shared by our interviewees, sustainability leaders can position their organisations to address this important shift, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow's sustainable world.

We are the global market leader in GIS and have helped customers improve results since 1969.

For organisations looking to transform their sustainability practices through the power of location intelligence, Esri UK offers unparalleled mapping and analytical capabilities.