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Thank you for helping us with our research on how companies approach and manage business
issues related to sustainability.

We define sustainability as any combination of environmental, social, and governance practices.

Organizations also use terms such as corporate social responsibility, corporate
responsibility, and community engagement to refer to these practices. For the purposes of this
survey, we are using "sustainability" to refer to all the activities related to any of these practices.

Once you complete the survey, you will have immediate access to the latest issue of McKinsey on
Sustainability & Resource Productivity and to Better Business, Better World, a report from the
Business and Sustainable Development Commission. We will also send you the results of this
survey as soon as they are available, before their release to the public.

To start, click on the >> button below.

Which of the following sustainability topics are most important to your organization?
(Select up to five)
Greenhouse-gas emissions
Economic development
Managing end-of-life of assets or products
Waste management (e.g., reduction, recycling, or reuse)
Human rights and labor issues
Access to natural resources and/or energy
Information security (including data privacy)
Diversity and inclusion
Design of products and/or services (including quality and/or safety)
Agriculture and land use
Public health
Water management (e.g., scarcity, quality, or sanitation)
Ethical advertising and marketing
Energy efficiency
Bribery and corruption
Renewable energy

Other, please specify: Other, please specify:

Don't know/not applicable
Which of the following organizational structures, if any, does your organization have in place
to provide governance and/or leadership of its sustainability program?
(Select all that apply)
A dedicated team or department
A cross-functional management team
A senior-level executive council
A board-level committee

Other, please specify: Other, please specify:

None of the above; my organization has no formal governance or leadership structure.
Not applicable; my organization is not pursuing a sustainability program.
Dont know

What are your organizations top reasons for addressing sustainability topics?
(Select up to three)
Build, maintain, and/or improve our corporate reputation
Meet expectations of supply-chain partners
Meet investors' expectations
Respond to competitive pressure
Meet consumers' expectations
Meet expectations of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
Make a tangible, positive impact on an issue that our organization can address
Meet industry norms or standards on sustainability
Respond to regulatory requirements
Align with our goals, mission, and/or values
Develop new growth opportunities (e.g., new markets and/or products)
Ensure our ability to grow (e.g., secure essential inputs to production, maintain good standing with
stakeholders and our license to operate)
Improve operational efficiency (i.e., to lower costs)
Attract, motivate, and/or retain employees

Other, please specify: Other, please specify:

Don't know

In which of the following functions, if any, is sustainability formally integrated at your

organization? Examples of formal integration include establishing sustainability-related key
performance indicators (KPIs), using sustainability-related criteria to guide decisions, and
putting dedicated sustainability leaders in place within departments or business units.
(Select all that apply)
 Operations and/or manufacturing
Strategic planning
Supply-chain management
Procurement
Communications (including corporate affairs and/or government relations)
Human resources (including employee engagement)
Finance
Risk management (including audits)
Research and development
Sales and marketing
Information technology (including data and analytics)

Other, please specify: Other, please specify:

Not applicable; sustainability is not formally integrated into any of my organization's functions.
Don't know

Which, if any, of the following activities is your organization pursuing?

(Select all that apply)
Committing R&D resources to developing sustainable products and/or services
Managing business portfolio (e.g., entering into new businesses or exiting businesses) to capitalize on trends in
sustainability
Marketing sustainability-related attributes of products and/or services
Managing the impacts of products and/or services across the supply chain
Bringing existing sustainable products and services to new markets and/or customers
Mitigating operational risks related to sustainability topics
Managing the impacts of products and/or services through the end of their useful lives
Responding to regulatory constraints and/or opportunities
Engaging employees in sustainability activities
Improving use of resources (e.g., water, energy, waste) in own operations
Managing reputation for sustainability
None of the above
Don't know

Of the total budget that your organization devotes to each of the following activities, what
share of that spending is focused on sustainability-related initiatives?
(Select one in each row)
 Small (i.e., Medium Large (i.e.,
Don't
less than 10 (i.e., 10 to more than
know
percent) 30 percent) 30 percent)
R&D
Business-portfolio management
Regulatory-risk management
Operations

Of the following portfolio-management activities, which, if any, is your organization

pursuing?
(Select all that apply)
Conduct ongoing quantitative analysis of portfolio's sustainability performance
Set portfolio-level sustainability targets
Adjust portfolio to address sustainability-related risks
Adjust portfolio to capitalize on sustainability-related opportunities
Pursue new business models that will enable better sustainability-related outcomes

Other, please specify: Other, please specify:

Don't know

Of the following sustainability-related R&D activities, which, if any, is your organization

pursuing?
(Select all that apply)
Incorporate sustainability insights into the design of next-generation products and/or services
Redesign existing products and/or services to reduce resource consumption and waste over a product's life
cycle
Collaborate with external partners such as academics to develop less material-intensive products and/or
services
Develop products that encourage more sustainable customer behaviors (e.g., detergent for washing clothes in
cold water, smart meters)
Identify alternative uses for unavoidable solid or liquid waste

Other, please specify: Other, please specify:

Don't know

Of the following activities to improve resource use (e.g., water, energy, waste) in its own
operations, which, if any, is your organization pursuing?
(Select all that apply)
Track resource use across the organization
Establish resource-related KPIs and/or targets
 Develop organization-wide guidance on how to improve resource efficiency (i.e., to change behaviors or
operational settings)
Invest capital in resource-efficiency improvements (e.g., modernizing equipment, heat integration, LEED-
certified buildings, solar-panel installations)
Consider resource use when selecting sites, facilities, and/or inputs (e.g., LEED certifications for buildings,
access to renewable energy and reliable water supply, sustainability of feedstock)

Other, please specify: Other, please specify:

Don't know

Of the following activities to respond to regulatory constraints and/or opportunities, which, if

any, is your organization pursuing?
(Select all that apply)
Estimate financial impact of existing and/or potential sustainability regulations
Understand regulators' sustainability priorities and/or objectives
Understand the organization's reputation for sustainability among regulators
Develop a regulatory strategy for sustainability topics
Participate in industry groups on sustainability topics (i.e., to develop voluntary standards or to shape
regulatory decisions)
Participate in national and/or international debates on sustainability policy

Other, please specify: Other, please specify:

Don't know

How much value, if any, do you expect each of the following activities to create for
organizations in your sector or industry over the next five years?
(Select one in each row)
Significant
Modest
value (e.g.,
value (e.g.,
more than
4 to 5
11 percent
No percent of Don't
of
value shareholder know
shareholder
value or
value or
annual
annual
revenue)
revenue)
Committing R&D resources to
developing sustainable
products and/or services
Managing business portfolio
(e.g., entering into new
businesses or exiting
businesses) to capitalize on
trends in sustainability
 Significant
Modest
value (e.g.,
value (e.g.,
more than
4 to 5
11 percent
No percent of Don't
of
value shareholder know
shareholder
value or
value or
annual
annual
revenue)
revenue)
Marketing sustainability-related
attributes of products and/or
services
Managing the impacts of
products and/or services across
the supply chain
Bringing existing sustainable
products and services to new
markets and/or customers
Mitigating operational risks
related to sustainability topics
Managing the impacts of
products and/or services
through the end of their useful
lives
Responding to regulatory
constraints and/or opportunities
Engaging employees in
sustainability activities
Improving use of resources
(e.g., water, energy, waste) in
own operations
Managing reputation for
sustainability

Which of the following characteristics, if any, describe your organizations sustainability

program and how it is managed?
(Select all that apply)
We set targets or goals for sustainability initiatives.
Employees across the organization understand how sustainability efforts align with overall strategy.
The financial benefits of sustainability are clearly understood across the organization.
We have established sustainability-related KPIs for employees at each level of the organization (i.e., from the
front line to top leadership).
Sustainability is part of the corporate culture (i.e., it permeates day-to-day processes throughout the
organization).
 Leadership prioritizes sustainability on the strategic agenda.
We have a sustainability strategy with clear, focused priorities (e.g., no more than five key focus areas).
A broad leadership coalition is involved in developing the organization's approach to sustainability.
We have KPIs for sustainability.
None of the above
Don't know

To what extent, if at all, does your organization collaborate with each of the following
stakeholders to address sustainability topics?
(Select one in each row)
Don't
Not at know/
Slightly Somewhat Moderately Greatly
all not
applicable
Industry peers
Nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs)
Government entities
(including regulatory bodies)
Industry groups or
associations
Customers
Academic institutions
Civil-society groups
Suppliers
Distributors and/or retailers
Other

Which of the following technologies, if any, was your organization employing five years
ago in pursuit of its sustainability goals? Which of the following technologies, if any, is your
organization employing now in its pursuit of sustainability?
(Select all that apply in each column)
Five years ago Now
Renewable sources of energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydro)
Technologies to move goods and/or people (e.g., electric
vehicles, drones)
Automated equipment (e.g., remote sensors, smart meters)
and/or processes
 Five years ago Now
Digital platforms for stakeholder engagement (including
social media)
Sustainability-specific performance measurement and
reporting software
Energy-efficient equipment
Big data and advanced analytics
Recycling technologies (e.g., advanced water or wastewater
treatment and recycling, material separation and recycling) to
improve resource efficiency
Other
None of the above
Don't know

To what extent does your organization consider sustainability performance when making
decisions related to each of the following activities?
(Select one in each row)
Don't
Not at know/
Slightly Somewhat Moderately Greatly
all not
applicable
Compensating employees
Selecting suppliers and/or
service providers
Opening new sites (e.g.,
offices, manufacturing
facilities, stores)
Investing in R&D
Making acquisitions
Purchasing and/or licensing
technologies

What is your organization's current level of engagement on sustainability topics, compared

with its engagement two years ago?
(Select one)
Significantly less engaged
Somewhat less engaged
Equally engaged
Somewhat more engaged
 Significantly more engaged
Don't know

Over the past two years, how has your organization's level of commitment to sustainability
topics changed due to the following trends or events?
(Select one in each row)
Commitment Commitment
Commitment Commitment Don't
has No has
has has know/not
significantly change significantly
decreased. increased. applicable
decreased. increased.
Advances in
sustainability-
related
technologies
Changes in
commodity prices
Global climate
negotiations
Release of the UN
Sustainable
Development
Goals (SDGs)
National elections
International trade
agreements
Major corruption
cases
Migration and/or
immigration
Safety and/or
security concerns

To what extent, if at all, do the UN Sustainability Development Goals guide decisions at your
organization?
(Select one)
Not at all
To a slight extent
To some extent
To a moderate extent
To a great extent
Not applicable; the organization is not familiar with the UN Sustainability Development Goals.
 Don't know

How effective, if at all, is your organization at each of the following activities?

(Select one in each row)
Very Very Don't
Ineffective Neutral Effective
ineffective effective know
Committing R&D
resources to developing
sustainable products and/or
services
Managing business
portfolio (e.g., entering into
new businesses or exiting
businesses) to capitalize on
trends in sustainability
Responding to regulatory
constraints and/or
opportunities
Improving use of resources
(e.g., water, energy, waste)
in own operations

What financial impact, if any, has your sustainability program had on your organization in the
past five years?
(Select one)
Significant cost (e.g., more than 11 percent of shareholder value or annual revenue)
Modest cost (e.g., 4 to 5 percent of shareholder value or annual revenue)
Minimal to no cost or value
Modest value (e.g., 4 to 5 percent of shareholder value or annual revenue)
Significant value (e.g., more than 11 percent of shareholder value or annual revenue)
Don't know

Thank you for helping us with our research. We will send you the results as soon as they are
available.

To submit your responses and gain immediate access to the latest issue of McKinsey on
Sustainability & Resource Productivity and Better Business, Better World, a report from the Business
and Sustainable Development Commission, click the >> button below.