Late last year, BDO USA conducted a comprehensive survey of 500 Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) from the life sciences, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and technology industries, with revenues ranging from approx. $250 million to over $3 billion. This survey conducted in November 2024 following the U.S. presidential election, explores the perspectives of CFOs on sustainability and their outlook for 2025.
This article highlights the key findings and outcomes of the survey on how financial leaders are navigating ESG criteria and sustainability initiatives.
CFOs are leading a pivotal shift in corporate sustainability. While many still approach sustainability as a separate initiative aimed at meeting stakeholder demands, a growing number of CFOs are recognising the strategic value of integrating sustainability into their core business operations.
In 2025, organisations are moving beyond short-term successes to achieve long-term competitive advantages through their sustainability initiatives. With benefits such as new growth opportunities and increased market resilience, it’s no wonder that 47 per cent of CFOs plan to increase their involvement in sustainability strategy over the next year.
The most successful organisations will embed sustainability into their core business strategies, reaping the greatest rewards from their continued focus and investment.
of organisations that are integrating
sustainability into their business strategies expect increased revenue in 2025.
expect their involvement in ESG strategy
to either stay the same or increase in
the net 12 months.
plan to maintain or increase their
sustainability investments this year.
Source: 2025 CFO Sustainability Outlook Survey (page 3)
Organisations are increasingly recognising numerous advantages of integrating sustainability into their core strategies. CFOs have reported a range of benefits that enhance their financial performance and strengthen their market position and operational resilience.
Some of the key benefits identified include:
| Increased innovation and new business opportunities | 37% |
| Increase in revenue | 36% |
| Access to favourable financing or investment opportunities | 34% |
| Improved risk management | 32% |
| Broader risk considerations inform decision-making | 31% |
| Enhanced customer loyalty | 30% |
| Cost savings | 30% |
| Attraction and retention of talent | 28% |
| Access to new markets | 27% |
| Reduced environmental impact/carbon footprint | 23% |
Source: 2025 CFO Sustainability Outlook Survey (page 4)
To maximise the return on investment from sustainability initiatives, CFOs should consider the following actions:
Most organisations are actively implementing sustainability strategies motivated by compliance (30 per cent) and stakeholder demands (40 per cent). As they do so, businesses must maintain an agile approach to adapt to potential shifts in sustainability-related external pressures and regulatory policies. Meanwhile, 9 per cent are still in the evaluation phase, and none have fully embedded mature sustainability operations into the business operations..png)
Source: 2025 CFO Sustainability Outlook Survey (page 8)
Organisations are under increasing pressure to comply with ESG regulations and meet stakeholder expectations. However, there remains a significant gap between reactive measures and fully integrated sustainability strategies. To address these challenges and enhance sustainability maturity, CFOs should consider the following steps:
Engaging your people in your sustainability efforts is crucial for driving impactful change within your organisation. Our Sustainability activation checklist is perfect for those starting their journey or for reviewing whether you’re on the right track.
The graph below illustrates where businesses plan to concentrate their sustainability and ESG efforts in 2025, reflecting the top strategic concerns within each industry. For instance, CFOs in the tech sector are prioritising sustainable supply chain management, a critical challenge heightened by rising CO2 emissions at data centres, in part driven by the increasing use of AI technologies.
| Employee health and wellbeing | 40% |
| Sustainable product development | 39% |
| Cost reduction | 35% |
| Sustainable supply chain management | 34% |
| Materials use efficiency | 31% |
| Workplace safety | 28% |
| Climate change mitigation | 26% |
| Diversity, equity, and inclusion | 26% |
| Corporate governance | 23% |
| Carbon footprint reduction | 22% |
Source: 2025 CFO Sustainability Outlook Survey (page 13)
Companies embracing sustainability are seeing more growth potential—91 per cent expect revenue growth, compared to 74 per cent of others and 69 per cent expect increased profitability compared to 56 per cent of others. This highlights how sustainability maturity could be a major competitive edge.
Looking ahead, businesses need to shift their mindset. Top companies are treating sustainability metrics as seriously as financial metrics. CFOs are making sure sustainability is part of risk management, revenue generation, and strategic planning. This approach helps create strategies that align sustainability with business goals. Starting this shift now is key to long-term success and resilience.
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Aletta Boshoff