Almost 75% of businesses have put carbon reduction ahead of profit in the last year, according to a new survey
Mace has revealed the results of a poll that surveyed over 3,000 senior business leaders across the UK, USA, Australia, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia on addressing the carbon challenge.
The survey is part of Mace’s Carbon Survey report, which revealed. The report suggests that businesses worldwide are taking the climate challenge seriously, with 82% of respondents reporting that they had put a carbon reduction plan in place for their portfolios, an increase from 61% in 2022.
74% of business leaders said they prioritised carbon reduction over profit last year, marking a nearly 50% increase from the previous year.
People want to work for sustainability-conscious companies
According to the survey, sustainability also played a crucial role in talent attraction, with a 34% year-on-year increase in respondents stating that a business’s sustainability efforts impact their interest in working for that company.
36% of respondents said governments should take the lead in reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and infrastructure. 90% believe that progress in decarbonising property and construction is comparable to previous years, but 58% think there’s a need for more significant efforts to cut emissions.
Climate issues are impacting business
“The findings of this year’s Carbon Survey are significant. Not only does it show that many business leaders are now recognising that sustainability and profit are not mutually exclusive – but it highlights that carbon reduction and its related issues are having a greater material impact on business, globally, than ever before,” said James Low, global head of responsible business at Mace.
Mace has also released its ‘Closing the Circle‘ report, focusing on the circular economy’s role in reducing embodied carbon in the built environment sector. The report builds on their previous ‘Transform and Renew’ report, which provided recommendations for decarbonising public sector estates, advocating for using energy-efficient and flexible components instead of demolition.
