29+ Business Sustainability Statistics Must Know in 2024

The green movement has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent years. Business sustainability is becoming more popular among businesses all over the globe.

From the creation of renewable energy sources and eliminating business waste to building LEED certified structures and using smart technology, there are countless ways companies can improve their business practices.

Here are some interesting business sustainability statistics about how many businesses are going green and how much it improves company profits as well as environmental preservation.

Business Sustainability Statistics: Key Numbers

Products marketed as sustainable grow 2.7X faster than non-sustainable products.
Corporate responsibility practices boost sales by 20%.
92% of buyers trust socially or environmentally responsible brands.
55% of consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly brands.
Sustainable brands have 34% customer loyalty, compared to 27% for less sustainable brands.
Sustainability-focused S&P 500 companies have 18% higher ROIs.
$26 trillion in economic benefits when businesses go green.
According to the IEA, going green costs $45 trillion.
33% of businesses use sustainability strategies to cut costs and increase efficiency.
76% of Americans expect businesses to fight climate change.
73% of Americans would stop buying from a company that does not care about climate change.

Business Sustainability Statistics Worldwide

Business sustainability is booming globally, with more and more companies and consumers jumping on board. Here’s a snapshot of how sustainability is taking off around the world:

82% of businesses globally are reporting on business sustainability.
98% of the top 50 companies in the USA and UK report on sustainability.
North America has the highest geographical sustainability reporting rate at 92%.
64% of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region were willing to pay more for goods and services from socially responsible companies in 2014, up from 55% in 2011.
63% of consumers in Latin America were willing to pay more for sustainable products in 2014, compared to 50% in 2011.
42% of North American consumers were willing to pay more for sustainable goods in 2014, up from 35% in 2011.

Sources: (Statista, SlideTeam)

Why is sustainability important in business statistics?

Sustainability in business brings a lot of benefits, like boosting brand value, employee motivation, and customer satisfaction. Business that go green see some major perks, including:

69% of organizations experience an increase in brand value due to sustainability initiatives.
69% of organizations see an increase in brand recommendations as a benefit of sustainability.
68% of organizations report an improvement in their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) rating.
67% of organizations note an increase in employee motivation levels.
65% of organizations experience higher customer satisfaction scores.
63% of organizations see an increase in total revenue.
61% of organizations report an increase in supplier loyalty due to sustainability initiatives.
38% of employees are more likely to be loyal to a company that prioritizes sustainability.

Sources: (SHRM, Capgemini Research Institute)

Consumer Perceptions on Sustainability

Consumer views on sustainability are shaping how people shop and stay loyal to brands. Check out these key insights showing the rising importance of being eco-friendly and socially responsible:

61% of US customers consider sustainability before buying.
92% of buyers trust brands that are environmentally or socially responsible.
73% of Americans would quit buying from a corporation that ignores climate change.
73% of millennials will pay more for eco-friendly goods.
65% of Americans want corporations to drive social and environmental change in the absence of government action.
85% of global consumers are making more sustainable purchasing decisions than they were five years ago.
88% of consumers are more likely to be loyal to a company that supports social and environmental causes

Sources: (Deloitte Insights)

Sustainability Marketing Statistics

81% of shoppers want eco-friendly advertising and messaging.
Sustainability claims in advertising messaging significantly expanded brand reach by between 24 and 33 percentage points.1
the global green marketing market is expected to increase from around $49.25 billion in 2021 to approximately $60.81 billion by 2027.
75% of sustainable goods sell better online than in-store.

Sources: (GreenBiz)

Consumer Trust in Brands’ Sustainability Claims

Consumer trust in brands’ sustainability claims varies significantly, showing different levels of confidence in their manufacturing, supply chain, and recycling practices. Here’s a breakdown of how people feel about these claims:

11% of consumers strongly agree that they trust brands’ sustainability claims related to manufacturing, supply chain, and recycling/waste practices.
33% of consumers agree with the trustworthiness of brands’ sustainability claims.
38% of consumers are indifferent towards brands’ sustainability claims.
13% of consumers disagree with the trustworthiness of brands’ sustainability claims.
5% of consumers strongly disagree with the sustainability claims made by brands.

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