Sustainability and social impact leaders came together at our Corporate Partners Workshop in 2025, where we asked what challenges people working in these functions across the corporate sector were experiencing.
In small groups we workshopped what practical solutions could look like across the four key themes that emerged: Internal buy-in and collaboration, the cost of sustainability, communicating with credibility, and working with supply chain.
The session was candid, insightful and valuable. It came as no surprise that the path to delivering impact can be complex, and collaboration can be key to driving change.
We’ve broken down the four key themes below, and the practical solutions that emerged.
1. Internal Buy-In and Collaboration – Making Sustainability Everyone’s Business.
Given how sustainability in the corporate sector has evolved in recent years, this theme was unsurprising. Challenges noted included navigating delivery across cross-functional teams, building knowledge among leadership, and the need to reframe mindsets about what’s important and urgent with a long-term view.
What will make a difference?
Education and accountability were seen as key elements in embedding sustainability priorities across organisations and teams, with some tangible suggestions including:
- Internal education programs with focus on business and competitive advantage of sustainability initiatives, including case studies that demonstrate return on investment.
- Establish sustainability KPIs across leadership and implement cross-functional sustainability committees.
- Develop clear frameworks for measuring sustainability outcomes and integrate reporting into standard business reviews alongside financial metrics.
- Celebrate wins and use storytelling to drive emotional connection and engage people on the journey.
2. The Cost of Sustainability – Who Pays?
Is sustainability something businesses absorb, or a strategic opportunity that makes commercial sense? This is a question some business leaders still grapple with. A gap was also identified between what consumers want when it comes to sustainability and what they are willing to pay when cost of living is high on everyone’s agenda.
Promising pathways forward include:
- Prove that sustainability investments are part of risk mitigation and future-proofing the business.
- Identify and promote cost savings from efficiency improvements, such as energy, water and waste reduction.
- Develop sustainability initiatives that have clear social co-benefits, linking to brand perception and demonstrating a clear value proposition to customers and other stakeholders.
- Align sustainability and social impact initiatives with business objectives as well as ESG and sustainability strategies.
3. Communicating with Credibility – Cutting Through in a Complex Landscape
Credibility and authenticity were top of mind in this group that discussed the challenges around greenwashing, greenhushing, and the difficulties communicating often complex topics in an attention economy. It was broadly agreed that credible sustainability and social impact initiatives are worth speaking out, but care and consideration are needed in determining the best approach.
Many solutions were workshopped, with great ideas shared about how to share stories with audiences in an authentic and substantive way:
- Use visual storytelling and data visualisation to make complex issues accessible, and authentic storytelling techniques about real people and real impact.
- Develop robust substantiation protocols for sustainability claims, with third-party certification or verification when possible.
- Partner with not-for-profit organisations or independent experts to build credibility.
- Develop sustainability messaging guidelines to support a consistent approach and establish legal review processes that balance compliance with effective communication.
4. Working with Supply Chain – Collaboration at Scale
A complex, yet critical, theme to dive into was workshopping solutions for businesses to help overcome challenges collaborating with suppliers to achieve impact and demonstrate value, particularly in relation to Scope 3 emissions.
Some of the ideas that came out of this group were:
- Develop educational resources and establish working groups or forums to share best practices for suppliers on different stages of their journeys.
- Develop long-term supplier relationships to support multi-year sustainability transitions and shared sustainability goals with mutual benefits.
- Partner with industry associations to develop sector-wide approaches and connect with global sustainability initiatives.
- Create tiered approaches to supplier engagement based on impact and readiness and implement incentive programs for sustainability improvements.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their knowledge, experience and ideas during this workshop session. The insights gathered reflect a shared commitment to deliver meaningful and measurable impact and reaffirm that collaboration and partnerships are essential to achieving this.
As Henry Ford said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”