Sustainability is not just a marketing buzzword. When you think of the pillars of sustainability: human, economic, social and environmental, it’s easy to see how sustainability efforts are part of the strategic framework and long-term goals for many of the world’s biggest companies. The corporate embrace of sustainability has shifted from incremental achievements to targeted strategies directly related to financial health and a company’s overall positioning. Why is sustainability rising to the top of the C-suite agenda?

Our collective cultural awareness and increased education on topics related to sustainability from social justice to climate change, along with new policies, is driving this change.

For example, the European Commission’s 2020 Climate & Energy Package called for a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency. In the U.S., politicians are proposing similarly ambitious legislation, with several states taking the lead on various clean energy initiatives. Even at the city level, industrial centers like Pittsburgh are playing a leading role in moving climate initiatives forward. 85% of people say they’re interested in investing in companies that pursue positive social or environmental impact.

Getting the necessary perspective is difficult for a lot of companies. It can be challenging to know where to start. In 2015 the United Nations established the Sustainability Development Goals with 17 areas of action. While many of the goals revolve around social issues, there are several targets related to the environmental impact that corporations can relate to, engage plans of action and greatly impact.

Even if your company is just starting its sustainability journey, every effort can help make a difference. Honeywell has a suite of integrated solutions that can help accelerate your progress, including:

Energy Demand Management – analysing your building’s energy usage and streamlining uses by factoring in weather, utility rates, occupancy and more.

Energy Supply Management – finding sustainable energy generation and storage options.

Waste Reduction, Circularity and Climate Action - using recyclable materials, refrigerants, propellants and solvents that are more sustainable and safer for the environment.

To learn more about how these and other solutions can be applied to your business efficiency, resiliency and accountability, and to find out more about Honeywell’s own commitment to sustainability, download our whitepaper.

Youssef Mestari is the Sustainability Leader for Honeywell Building Technologies.