Building the business case for sustainability

The impacts of climate change and nature loss are now unequivocally being felt across the globe, while social issues are coming to the fore. These sustainability challenges directly affect the financial viability of companies throughout the economy, presenting both risks and opportunities. As sustainability rises on the corporate agenda, businesses face ambiguity in how to implement effective sustainable practices within the confines of everyday business operations. The perceived high cost of action - versus the diffuse and long-term costs of inaction - often adds to this complexity.

This guide, developed by KPMG in collaboration with WBCSD, addresses this ambiguity by providing practical steps for corporate finance and sustainability practitioners to integrate sustainability into everyday business operations. Bridging the gap between ambition and actionable strategies, enabling companies to make a compelling business case for sustainability.

As sustainability rises on the corporate agenda, many businesses struggle with translating ambitions into actionable strategies. The perceived high costs of sustainable actions and the diffuse, long-term nature of inaction costs can add to this complexity. This guide from WBCSD aims to provide clarity, offering finance teams and sustainability practitioners practical steps to make a compelling business case for sustainability.

1. Clear steps to building a business case: This guide expands on five actionable steps—scoping the initiative, translating impact, identifying KPIs and data requirements, collecting data, and drafting a business case.
2. Typology of sustainability initiatives: This guide includes 16 themes and 32 opportunities categorized under climate change mitigation and adaptation, nature conservation and restoration, and social justice and equity.
3. Financial and intangible impacts: The guide links opportunities to ten financial drivers and six intangible drivers, providing 32 detailed ‘impact tables’ to support business’ decision-making.
4. Impact tables: These tables outline the specific impacts of each sustainability opportunity, guiding business in preparing a robust business case.