companies are moving beyond regulatory compliance and external reporting to embed sustainability into core operations. This means focusing on resilience, engaging employees across all functions, and integrating sustainability into procurement and finance.
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As businesses edge closer to their 2030 commitments, sustainability is no longer a tick-box exercise - it’s a strategic imperative.
The recent LSE Marketplace Webinar brought together experts from Ever Sustainable, S&P Global, Whitbread and Kier Group to explore what best practice will look like in 2026 and how companies can create real value from their sustainability efforts.
The conversation highlighted a clear shift: companies are moving beyond regulatory compliance and external reporting to embed sustainability into core operations. This means focusing on resilience, engaging employees across all functions, and integrating sustainability into procurement and finance. As Martha McPherson from Ever Sustainable noted,
“Reporting shouldn’t be the final chapter - it should be the starting bell for innovation.”
Prioritisation emerged as another key theme. Will Silverwood, Sustainability Director at Whitbread emphasised that businesses can’t chase every policy signal. Instead, they need to identify what’s material - such as emissions reduction, resource efficiency, and supply chain transparency - and build strategies around those pillars.
Helen Woodgush from S&P Global shared insights on ESG scoring trends, revealing that supply chain due diligence and AI governance are becoming critical. With only 27% of companies having comprehensive supply chain codes of conduct, expect deeper scrutiny and more granular data requirements in the coming years.
Ben Stone from Kier Group offered a practical perspective from the infrastructure sector, where climate adaptation and nature-based solutions are gaining traction. Projects like retrofitting reservoirs for extreme weather and restoring salt marshes not only protect communities but also deliver significant carbon sequestration benefits.
Looking ahead, expect heightened focus on supply chain transparency, AI governance, climate governance, and biodiversity. Companies that treat sustainability as a driver of resilience and innovation- not just compliance - will lead the way.
Is your organisation ready for 2026?
Start by embedding sustainability into your strategy and operations today.