Goals and Targets in Corporate Sustainability Programs
For our interactive session at the Summit, nearly 100 sustainability leads across every sector joined with their sector peers to share their thoughts on how their sustainability goals and targets are evolving. As you might guess, we heard numerous stories of companies moving towards pragmatism as they rethink targets. Below are the key points covered by each sector in table discussions.
Discussion questions:
- What are your company’s most current sustainability goals and targets?
- How have those goals and targets changed over the last 12 months?
- What key factors are you considering for future updates?
Healthcare
Healthcare companies are naturally upstream from government regulation, prompting a closer look at how targets are defined, what gets included, what does not, and how to balance qualitative and quantitative measures.
Most common current goals & targets:
- Emission reduction targets for Scope 1 and 2; some companies also addressing Scope 3.
- Renewable energy targets and waste reduction/elimination.
- Product responsibility.
Changes & future direction:
- Removal of DEI targets due to government constraints.
- Becoming more quantitative with targets – should quantitative KPIs be added where qualitative goals previously existed?
- Updating KPIs in executive compensation.
- Reviewing goals for “impact vs. distraction.
Tech + Telecom
Technology companies see some of the widest adoption in SBTi-validated climate targets as well as engagement with suppliers - this group discussed the evolution and treatment of SBTi and other science-aligned pathways.
Most common current goals & targets:
- Climate targets vary widely by organization in ambition and scope.
- Distinction between science-aligned vs. SBTi-validated targets.
- Many have renewable energy usage, product responsibility goals.
Changes & future direction:
- Fewer recent changes to targets than other sectors - some are developing the appropriate baselines for measurement, some consolidating / simplifying.
- Some companies are moving to activity-based calculations for Scope 3 goals / measurement.
Financial Services
Financials are the most likely to have community investment and social-related targets; measurement of climate goals is naturally more difficult with much of the impact sitting up or downstream.
Current goals & targets:
- Climate goals cover Scope 1 and 2; Scope 3 is more challenging.
- Philanthropy and community investment goals are common.
Changes & future direction:
- Investment and lending portfolios are becoming easier to measure - many continue to evaluate Sc3 Cat 15 investment targets.
- Some companies are shifting away from net zero language.
- Regulation (especially CA Climate) will affect how companies think about goals.
- Some DEI / gender-focused goals have been removed.
Materials / Industrials
Common goals here are focused on emissions reduction tied to production processes, product innovation, safety and people and water stewardship. Goal setting is being shaped by external standards and requirements, including CSRD, as well as internal efforts to consolidate and align targets with broader corporate priorities.
Current goals & targets:
- Emissions reductions across all Scopes – currently a mix of intensity-based and absolute measures.
- Safety goals overlap with sustainability: zero fatalities and continuous improvement.
- Waste management.
- Larger materials companies are the most likely to have biodiversity / natural capital goals.
Changes and future direction:
- Expanding goals after initial (often 2025) targets have been met.
- Consolidating to more meaningful metrics (e.g., emissions focus).
- Alignment with customer expectations - not all products have green premiums.
- Circularity goals are subject to a market with changing prices and dynamics, require more flexibility.
Energy and Utilities
The emphasis from this group was on continued improvements in intensity-based measurement and setting goals that are grounded in what is actually achievable.
Current goals & targets:
- Most large companies have climate / emissions-related goals, some use net zero language.
- Water usage goals (freshwater withdrawal and circularity)
- Waste goals (diversion to landfill vs. circularity capability).
Changes and future direction:
- End dates disappearing from zero carbon goals; companies stepping back from timelines that are no longer realistic.
- Movement towards intensity-based measurement and narrowing scope to controllable operations.
Consumer
Many of our consumer participants are rolling from their 2025 goals over to 2030 or later interim periods. Here, the patchwork of EPR and due diligence rules set up in different jurisdictions globally are an important input into updated goal-setting.
Current goals & targets:
- Collectively transitioning from existing emissions / energy usage goals.
- Packaging regulations directly impacting business operations (waste / product responsibility).
- Renewable energy usage goals common in operations.
Changes and future direction:
- Scope 3 challenges (measurement and spend / activity-based differences).
- Regulation can be seen as a positive force – provides enforcement power both inside / outside firm.
- Staying compliant while managing business impact across a global footprint.