Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Sustainability at a Crossroads
MIT SMR and BCG’s 2017 sustainability research report offers eight lessons for sustainable business.
Sustainability remains a frequently discussed opportunity for business differentiation. Heralded as “the primary moral and economic imperative of the 21st century,” by Mervyn King, former governor of the Bank of England, it is considered to be “one of the most important sources of both opportunities and risks for businesses.”
MIT SMR and Boston Consulting Group recently completed an eight-year collaboration on the topic of sustainability. Over the course of the program, the partnership produced cutting-edge research on business adoption of sustainable practices and the integration of sustainability into business strategy. We developed detailed analyses of the business cases for sustainability, sustainability-related profitability, and issues around collaboration and investment.
The intersection of sustainability and another powerful market influence, digitalization, however, represents largely unexplored territory. Each has spawned a massive set of research about how it will change management practice, and more broadly, business and society. MIT SMR intends to build on its research on corporate sustainability and digitalization, and is currently looking for a partner to join our research effort.
MIT SMR and BCG’s 2017 sustainability research report offers eight lessons for sustainable business.
Companies serious about sustainability need to make a business case for investing in lobbying to advance climate policy.
A three-part framing outlines the reasons for businesses to act on the world’s climate change challenges.
Using values to guide decisions can benefit customers and improve operations and the bottom line.
Sharing values with customers builds loyalty and can be a valuable differentiator in competitive markets.
Many U.S. companies will soon have to follow EU sustainability reporting mandates — and contend with double materiality.
Anti-ESG sentiment led to “greenhushing” in 2023, even as the planet experienced its hottest year ever. What’s next?
Artificial intelligence developers can make choices that will reduce the emissions generated by AI training models.
This issue of MIT SMR focuses on sustainability, customer and employee engagement, and strategic planning.
Large AI models are big energy consumers and carbon emitters. Sustainable AI practices can reduce their environmental impact.
Mandatory sustainability reporting will help companies show investors how they intend to manage risk and create value.