The updated joint study by the FUTURE Institute for Sustainable Transformation and Bain & Company “NACHHALTIGKEIT: Auf dem Weg zur Wirtschaftlichkeit” shows how German and Austrian companies are progressing for a more sustainable transformation. The shift towards the stakeholder economy was already evident in the first sustainability study "From Attitude to Action" by Bain and FUTURE in 2021. In this new study, the change continues.  

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In our most recent CEO study, we had almost 20 detailed discussions with top executives in the summer of 2024 for this second study and here are some of our main findings:

• Over 90% of companies surveyed continue to prioritize sustainability, with more than 80% keeping it as a top-three strategic goal.
• Sustainability is now held to the same financial standards as other investments, reflecting a shift towards economically sustainable practices driven by recent economic pressures.
• About 75% of companies see sustainable transformation as a way to unlock new business opportunities, using sustainability as a growth strategy.
• Concerns over a lack of sustainability expertise are fading, as companies now feel more internally equipped for sustainable transformation.

This study reinforces that sustainability must be both impactful and economically viable, setting German and Austrian companies apart in their commitment to a sustainable and profitable future.  

You can check our first study here!