A new study by Professor David Grayson, Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility and Dr Mark Lemon, Centre for Resource Management and Efficiency (Cranfield University), Professor Sarah Slaughter, Sloan Management School ( Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Dr Miguel Angel Rodriguez, IESE Business School, Professor Zhouying Jin, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Professor Simon Tay Singapore Institute of International Affairs has identified three key measurements of business success for corporations in light of climate change. The study, “A New Mindset for Corporate Sustainability,” concludes that shareholder value should no longer be the only the measure of success for businesses.

The report indicates that organisations need to become sustainability-drive innovators by following a new approach, which the researchers have dubbed, S2AVE, or Shareholder and Social Added Value with Environmental Restoration.

S2AVE emphasises the role of sustainability in increasing innovation across the business and maintains that sustainability should be a strategy rather than an objective. The study concludes that the achievement of sustainability goals does not require extensive re-engineering of the corporate structure. Instead, it requires conviction and vision at the very highest levels of the organization so that a set of values coherent with corporate responsibility and sustainability are instilled throughout.­

The study is aimed at offering business leaders, concise advice based on a systematic appraisal of case studies, including Cemex, Marks & Spencers and Shenzhen Water.

To download a copy of the study please click here.