In 2025 sustainability is no longer optional for any organisation

Scrutiny of impact and mitigation measures, efforts to reduce carbon footprints and restore public trust should be prioritised this year.

George Curtis, Director at UK sustainability consultancy Carbon Neutral Group, has outlined three key areas in which organisations can boost their credibility in the eyes of consumers and voters. 

These include the creation of sustainability plans and delivery of actionable evidence about positive ‘green impact’ and transparent communication, with the risk posed by greenwashing scandals now greater than ever. 

Carbon offsetting will also continue to play an important role, however this is ‘no loner considered a comprehensive solution for all businesses to become carbon neutral,’ said Curtis, pointing to Goldman Sachs paying $4million in fines to the US Securities and Exchange Commission for misleading customers over environmental, social and governance claims. 

‘The demand for robust carbon reduction strategies is rising. Businesses are increasingly seeking guidance from consultancies and internal stakeholders to implement meaningful changes that go beyond quick fixes,’ added Curtis. ‘In 2025 we expect to see customers continue expecting deeper, wider and all encompassing cultural shifts that drive behaviour changes and long-term commitments. This includes carbon baseline assessments, annual reporting, reduction targets, and marketing of progress.’

According to a literature review on environmental claims conducted by the Competitions & Markets Authority, around 50% of UK consumers are now factoring environmental issues into their purchasing decisions. Meanwhile, legal ‘greenwashing disputes’ are on the rise according to the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Of the 230 climate-aligned lawsuits against corporations and trade bodies since 2015, two-thirds began after 2020. 

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Image: Spencer DeMera via Unsplash