Recent GlobeScan and BSR research suggests that corporate sustainability may be facing an internal alignment challenge, with sector professionals perceiving a gap between the ways their teams and senior leaders view the role of sustainability within their organizations. This finding builds on a previous insight showing that regulatory requirements have become the dominant driver of corporate sustainability efforts, while business drivers — such as innovation, growth and operational benefits — have become less prominent than they were a decade ago.
The research reveals a significant disconnect in how sustainability professionals say their work is understood inside large organizations. More than three-quarters of them (77 percent) view the function as a core driver of long-term business strategy, while only 39 percent believe senior leaders see it the same way. Sustainability professionals are also three times more likely to associate sustainability with innovation and growth than they believe senior leaders to be (48 percent versus 16 percent).
By contrast, respondents say that senior leaders are much more likely than their teams to characterize sustainability as a risk management and compliance function (74 percent versus 52 percent).
Despite the perceived differences, both groups continue to recognize the importance of sustainability for protecting corporate reputation, creating a shared foundation that organizations can build upon.
What this means
The findings point to a growing need to make sustainability strategically indispensable. While both sustainability teams and senior leaders are perceived as recognizing sustainability’s value in protecting corporate reputation, the greater challenge appears to be strengthening alignment around sustainability’s contribution.
Closing this gap will be critical to maintaining executive support, organizational alignment and investment over the long term. As expectations around sustainability continue to evolve, organizations that can clearly demonstrate how sustainability contributes to growth, resilience, competitiveness, innovation and performance will be better positioned to secure leadership buy-in and sustain momentum. The imperative is not to choose between managing risk and creating value but to demonstrate how sustainability can do both.
Based on an online survey conducted by GlobeScan and BSR in April and May 2026 among 124 corporate sustainability professionals at companies with annual revenue at or above $1 billion.
