Today’s CSOs help deliver on growth objectives through involvement from product development to promotion.

As Unilever shows, embracing sustainability can deliver profit. It can also include saving costs through resource efficiency, innovation in clean technologies, and access to new markets that value sustainable products.

Critically, by demonstrating measurable impact beyond traditional metrics such as carbon footprint reduction or waste diversion, CSOs can attract a wider pool of investors.

“CSOs will need to establish frameworks that quantify the social and environmental impact of the company’s products, services and operations,” said Tenuta.