The State of Sustainability in 2026: What SBC Members Need to Know

By: Jessy Servi Ortiz

Julia Vann/Trellis Group

The sustainability profession is undergoing a significant shift. I don’t think I need to tell you that, I think we all feel it. 

The latest  Trellis State of the Sustainability Profession 2026 paints a picture of a field facing political headwinds, increased scrutiny, and growing pressure to demonstrate business value. Yet despite these challenges, most organizations are not abandoning sustainability, they are evolving how they approach it.

For SBC members, I believe the message is this: sustainability is becoming more business-driven, integrated, and operational.

1. Sustainability Isn't Going Away, It's Growing Up

One of the report's biggest findings is that sustainability remains a priority for most large companies. Nearly half (46%) increased sustainability staffing and budgets over the past two years, while 57% maintained their public sustainability commitments and another 24% strengthened them.

The era of sustainability as a stand-alone is fading. Organizations are increasingly expected to connect sustainability efforts directly to:

• Cost savings

• Revenue generation

• Risk management

• Supply chain resilience

• Regulatory compliance 

  
  

The strongest sustainability programs are no longer winning because they have the most ambitious goals, they are winning because they can demonstrate business value (and in my opinion, are offering a competitive advantage!) 

2. Leaders Are Talking Less About Sustainability, But Still Doing the Work

A trend I know we all feel is the rise of what many call "greenhushing." 63% percent of companies reported scaling back sustainability communications or changing how they talk about their work. Many organizations are:

• Speaking about "energy efficiency" rather than "carbon reduction"

• Focusing on "resilience" rather than "climate action"

• Emphasizing operational and financial benefits rather than environmental messaging

  
  

This does not necessarily mean companies are doing less. Rather, many are reframing sustainability in business terms and choosing to let results speak for themselves.

Key takeaway for SBC members: We have long preached business value and the importance of speaking business language. Continue communicating your sustainability achievements, but clearly connect them to business outcomes such as efficiency, competitiveness, talent attraction, customer expectations, and risk reduction.

3. Compliance Is Becoming a Major Driver

Compared to two years ago, business leaders are placing significantly higher priority on:

• Sustainability compliance (58%)

• Building the business case for sustainability (44%)

• Climate risk management (41%) 

  
  

With regulations such as California's climate disclosure requirements and evolving international reporting standards, many companies are directing more resources toward measurement, reporting, and data management. Over half of companies reported increasing investments in sustainability reporting.

For SBC members, this reinforces the importance of:

• Reliable sustainability data

• GHG inventories

• Supplier engagement

• ESG reporting capabilities

• Internal governance processes 

  
  

4. CEO Engagement Matters More Than Ever

The report found a direct connection between executive support and sustainability success. Companies with engaged CEOs were significantly more likely to increase budgets, expand staffing, and strengthen sustainability commitments. Conversely, organizations with disengaged leadership were more likely to reduce resources and weaken commitments. This underscores a key lesson for sustainability professionals:

Success depends on bringing leadership along.

The most effective sustainability leaders are not only influencers, they are becoming translators, connecting environmental and social goals to strategic business priorities, financial outcomes, and organizational resilience.

5. Sustainability Teams Are Becoming More Embedded

Another major trend (we are pleased to see) is the movement of sustainability responsibilities out of centralized departments and into operational functions (a move toward integration)! Sustainability expertise is increasingly embedded within:

• Supply chain and procurement

• Environmental, health & safety (EHS)

• Operations

• Finance

• Product development

This reflects a broader shift from strategy-setting to implementation. Again, signally businesses are integrating sustainability! 

For SBC members, the implication is significant: sustainability is no longer one team's responsibility. It is becoming a company-wide competency.

6. Financial Fluency Is a Critical Skill

Another thing we continually preach: sustainability professionals must learn to speak the language of finance. The most successful teams are focusing on:

• ROI

• Operational efficiencies

• Cost avoidance

• Revenue opportunities

• Risk reduction

  
  

As one survey respondent noted, sustainability professionals increasingly need to communicate like a CFO to secure support and investment.

This reinforces a trend many SBC members are already seeing: sustainability initiatives gain traction when they are presented as business strategies rather than standalone environmental programs.

7. Despite Challenges, Optimism Remains

The profession is facing stress. Forty-four percent of sustainability professionals say their roles are less fulfilling than they were two years ago, and only 47% see corporate sustainability as their preferred long-term career path.

Yet there is reason for optimism.

Respondents were twice as likely to identify as optimistic as pessimistic. Many described themselves as determined, resilient, and resolved. (can you relate?) The prevailing sentiment was that sustainability is moving from an aspirational phase into an operational one.

What This Means for SBC Members

The sustainability landscape is changing, but the fundamentals remain strong.

Organizations that will thrive are those that:

• Connect sustainability to business performance

• Build executive ownership and engagement

• Strengthen data and reporting capabilities

• Embed sustainability throughout operations

• Focus on measurable impact rather than messaging alone

• Continue investing in long-term resilience and competitiveness

  
  

The takeaway from the 2026 report is simple: sustainability has become less about making promises and more about delivering results. Companies may be talking less about sustainability, but many are still doing the work and increasingly, they are finding ways to make that work core to business success.

We are Here to Help 

Whether you are just beginning to build the business case or working to embed sustainability across your organization, SBC is here to support you. Our member community, peer learning opportunities, and consulting services can help you translate sustainability goals into practical, measurable business action.

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