The Business Case for Sustainability
Beyond Doing the Right Thing
Sustainability is often presented as a moral obligation. In practice, value creation and value protection are far stronger drivers of business behaviour. This lesson looks at how sustainability becomes relevant when it is linked to commercial outcomes.
Learning Module Overview
In an ideal world, companies would act sustainably because it is the right thing to do. In reality, most business decisions are driven by commercial incentives.
This short learning module looks at how sustainability shows up in decision making when viewed through a business lens, focusing on revenue, costs, risk, and reputation.
In this module, we explore:
- Why moral arguments alone rarely change business behaviour
- The commercial forces that shape sustainability decisions, both positive and negative
- How sustainability becomes relevant when it is linked to value creation
- The role informed consumers play in influencing company behaviour
A clear, practical look at what actually drives action.
Membership Access
This module is available to Sustainability & ESG Hub members. Choose a monthly or annual membership to access all current and future modules, with new content added regularly.
Annual Membership
€99 per year
Unlimited access to all modules
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Short lessons. Clear thinking. Real impact.
A small shift in thinking can make a big difference.
— Vincent McCarthy, CFA
Founder, Responsible Investment Institute®