Sustainability can often be viewed as just environmental, but it's vital that companies and new technologies focus on the ‘S’ in ESG to avoid causing harm in pursuit of a sustainable future.
While climate technologies exist to protect the environment, they can sometimes have social consequences such as AI’s replication of human biases.
For the planet to continue developing in a truly sustainable manner, companies must focus on their social responsibilities.
We’ve ranked 10 of the top social responsibilities.
10. Supporting wellbeing initiatives
Top benefit: More resilient communities
Companies leading: Meta, American Express, Steelcase
Supporting the wellbeing of communities and employees can have enormous positive impacts on both business and livelihoods.
A 2023 World Health Organisation (WHO) report shows that companies with effective health and wellbeing programmes can see productivity increases of up to 20%.
Kim Dabbs, Global VP of ESG and Social Innovation at Steelcase, says: “Planetary boundaries, personal wellbeing and a stronger sense of purpose are starting to shape strategic roadmaps, business ecosystems and company cultures.
“But it will only become a reality when we create new language, stories, frameworks, practices and tools together — and make them a personal experience.”
9. Advancing access to clean water
Top benefit: Improved public health
Companies leading: Suez, Ecolabs, Microsoft
The United Nations estimates that roughly two billion people do not have access to safe, clean drinking water.
Microsoft is working to become water positive by 2030 to contribute more water than it uses to the world.
Melanie Nakagawa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Microsoft, explains: “Water is a precious finite resource, essential for life.
“For Microsoft, water management is critical to operations such as those needed to cool our data centres and operate our buildings globally.”
8. Promoting digital inclusion
Top benefit: Access to essential services
Companies leading: Virgin Media O2, Verizon, Telefónica
In today’s digital world, many vital services require access to smart devices and the internet. The high costs of these products and services, a lack of digital skills and confidence and issues with infrastructure can lead to people being left behind.
Mark Burton, Health & Social Care Lead at Virgin Media O2 Business, explains: “Our research found that 48% of healthcare professionals recognise the need to provide more support to patients when it comes to adopting new digital tools.”
The company is providing affordable connectivity plans and has committed to partner with Supporting Children with Diabetes to donate smartphones to help children of low income families to monitor blood glucose levels.
7. Sustainable urban planning
Top benefit: Quality of life
Companies leading: Siemens, IBM, Google
The infrastructure of cities and towns can have a huge impact on the lives of communities. Public transport and walkable infrastructure can help marginalised communities to access necessary services like healthcare and affordable food.
Transport also has an impact on the climate through carbon emissions, so urban spaces planned more sustainably can help to reduce this.
“Cities contribute more than 70% of global carbon emissions,” says Adam Elman, Head of Sustainability for EMEA at Google.
“In Europe, transport contributes roughly a quarter of the region’s GHG emissions. We need to rethink urban mobility.”
6. Food security
Top benefit: Improved health
Companies leading: Nestlé, Google, PepsiCo
The United Nations reports that 2.4 billion people, around 30% of the world’s population, face food insecurity. Climate change is already having dramatic impacts on agriculture and the amount of food able to be produced.
Kate Brandt, Chief Sustainability Officer at Google, says: “Mineral.ai, an Alphabet company, is utilising AI to help reduce food waste and enable climate-resilient crops.”
“For example, Mineral is developing AI-enabled perception technology for leading berry brand Driscoll’s to help growers identify defects, diseases and pests, and inform pre-season adjustments.”
5. Climate resilience
Top benefit: Reduced vulnerability
Companies leading: Capgemini, Danone, Microsoft
The earth’s climate is changing and has already started to impact homes and businesses. Climate change brings increased adverse weather conditions, sea level rise and ecosystem disruption.
Capgemini is working to support its clients in creating solutions to provide resilience against climate change and its effects.
Aiman Ezzat, CEO at Capgemini, explains: “At Capgemini we partner with our clients in more ways than one.
“A good example is the Tech for Sustainable Futures Challenge. This competition mobilised and nurtured the innovative spirit of over 150 high school students in three US cities, by challenging them to use technology and innovation to build climate resilience in their communities.”
4. Improving public health
Top benefit: Reduced inequalities
Leading companies: Sanofi, Siemens Healthineers, Novo Nordisk
Climate change is a major public health crisis. Its effects can worsen a variety of health issues and undermine the critical infrastructure needed to treat people at risk.
Improving public health can help to reduce health inequalities, enhance community wellbeing and lead to increased productivity.
Novo Nordisk is working to prevent diabetes in cities across the world through its Cities Changing Diabetes programme.
Katrine DiBona, Global Head of Sustainabilty and Public Affairs at Novo Nordisk, says: “Diabetes and obesity prevention is a top priority.”
3. Workforce development
Top benefit: Enhanced skills
Leading companies: Walmart, Amazon, Cisco
Workforce development can help to enhance employability, reduce income inequality and promote social mobility. Equipping people with new skills creates a more adaptable workforce and reduces unemployment.
Walmart has invested more than US$140m in frontline skills-based advancement since 2015 to support workforce development. The company has pledged to increase this to US$1bn by 2026.
Walmart has also removed degree requirements and expanded Walmart Academy, an initiative that provides training for 2.1 million associates through digital and in person offerings. In FY23, more than 5.5 million training hours were logged through the programme.
Kathleen McLaughlin, Chief Sustainability Officer at Walmart, says: “All learning counts at Walmart.
“One way we help our people grow is by ensuring they get credit for learning foundational skills while on the job, giving them more options and flexibility to build the kind of career they want.”
2. Climate education
Top benefit: Address climate change effectively
Leading companies: NatWest Group, AXA Climate, Google
Climate education helps companies and individuals to identify risks that come from climate change. This therefore allows them to adapt and change behaviours to address sustainability concerns and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
NatWest Group is working with the University of Edinburgh to develop its climate education programme.
Clare Martin, Head of Learning Content and Capability at NatWest Group, explains: “We realised early on that climate education is a key part of fulfilling our ambition of becoming a leading bank in the UK helping to address the climate challenge.
“By enabling colleagues to be equipped with the tools and confidence to engage in climate conversations, we knew we could better help our customers and suppliers transition to a net-zero economy.
“We also recognised our own internal learning gaps and the value that comes from partnering externally on climate knowledge.”
1. Equitable access to clean energy
Top benefit: Sustainable economic growth
Leading companies: Microsoft, Schneider Electric, Tesla
More than two billion people have little or no access to energy, representing 25% of the world’s population.
Gaining access to energy can have a positive impact on all socio-economic dimensions of individuals and communities including health, education and security.
Schneider Electric’s Access to Energy programme aims to provide 50 million people with electricity access, train one million people in the electricity field and support 10,000 entrepreneurs in 2025.
“Access to Energy is not just a program; it's a commitment to light up lives and uplift communities,” explains Albert Fuchet, Access to Energy Global VP at Schneider Electric.
“In a world where millions still live without reliable energy, our mission at Schneider Electric is clear: to bridge the energy gap and drive sustainable progress for all.
“From India to South Asia and from Kenya to Nigeria, our initiatives have touched over 49 million lives, providing clean, reliable energy and fostering economic growth.
“Access to Energy isn't just about delivering technology; it's about nurturing self-sustaining communities through education, entrepreneurship, and social impact investing.”
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