Study: Do good and talk about it? Not necessarily
Green hushing instead of greenwashing: More than a third of companies in the DACH region that have set emissions reduction targets do not want to publish them.
Do good and talk about it: That doesn't necessarily seem to be the strategy of many companies when it comes to climate protection. A new study by South Pole, developer of climate protection projects and solutions, shows that more than a third of DACH companies that have set science-based reduction targets do not communicate them publicly. Part of the study also included 14 large Swiss companies.
The main reason is the demand from customers
In addition to net-zero targets, almost all companies have either set science-based emissions reduction targets or are planning to do so next year. The company survey provides information on what progress climate-conscious companies have already made - or not - on their way to net zero. Most companies cited increased customer demand for sustainable products and their brand strategy as the main reasons for their commitment to climate protection. However, this year's report shows that while some companies are setting science-based net zero targets for these reasons, a significant number of them are not communicating them publicly.
"We see sustainability-conscious companies increasingly backing up their long-term goals with mid-term, science-based emissions reduction milestones. This is the right approach, but we are concerned by the declining willingness to communicate their commitment. The rate at which we are exceeding our planetary boundaries is staggering. More than ever, we need companies to make progress on sustainability and inspire their industries to take action themselves. That's impossible if progress happens in silence," says Renat Heuberger, CEO of South Pole.
Companies drive implementation in the background
Nevertheless, South Pole's report also shows positive trends. Although some companies are refraining from publicly communicating their targets, they are driving implementation in the background. While one-third of the DACH companies surveyed said that achieving their goals is proving more difficult than expected, two-thirds have nevertheless increased their net-zero budgets since December 2021. One-third of DACH companies that said they are behind in implementation plan to increase their efforts next year.
Here you can download the study.
