Sustainability as the key to success: Crif study in Alpbach revealed!

Sustainability as the key to success: Crif study in Alpbach revealed!

As part of the Crif Business Breakfast, which took place at the Alpbacher Böglerhof, a comprehensive study was presented that analyzed 420,000 companies in Austria. The presentation was led by Crif CEO Anca Eisner-Schwarz, authorized signatory Gerald Eder and sustainability officer Ruth Moss. According to the study results, companies with strong sustainability performance have significantly better economic results, including increased sales and stability. Ruth Moss emphasized that sustainability is crucial for the long-term success of a company. Eisner-Schwarz explained that Crif's goal is to increase economic stability and provide solutions to minimize defaults. Gerald Eder also presented how technology and data can reduce the risks of payment defaults.

Among the numerous guests at the event were numerous high-ranking personalities from business and politics, including state secretaries, ministers and CEOs of well-known companies. This broad participation underlines the growing interest and commitment of companies in the area of ​​sustainable transformation. LEADERSNET captured impressions of the event in a gallery that shows the diversity of those present.

Sustainability as a strategic priority

A recent study by Bain and the FUTURE Institute for Sustainable Transformation shows that over 90% of surveyed managers from Germany and Austria see sustainable transformation as just as important or even more important than three years ago. This reflects a growing recognition that sustainability is not only an ethical obligation but also a strategic priority. More than 80% of CEOs consider sustainability to be one of the top three strategic priorities in their company.

Although 60% of managers are satisfied with the progress in sustainable transformation, there are also challenges. Many companies report increasing efforts related to governance issues, particularly the EU’s CSRD reporting. However, they see their organizations well positioned for the challenges of sustainable transformation. In order to master these successfully, sustainability strategies must be regularly reviewed and adapted to changing regulations and customer behavior.

Opportunities and challenges of sustainable transformation

Deloitte highlights the opportunities that environmental and social injustices represent for companies. By taking active action, companies can not only bring about positive changes, but also gain competitive advantages. One example is the approach to preventing food waste, where digital solutions reduce waste and at the same time generate savings. According to Deloitte, global retailers can realize savings of 25-50% with new performance data.

A second example is the reduction of plastic waste, where companies can benefit both ecologically and economically by changing their value chains. The focus here is on the implementation of circular systems and research on bio-based materials. Deloitte also describes how blockchain technology can support sustainable projects and increase the transparency of climate protection activities.

In summary, companies can not only achieve economic benefits through sustainable practices, but also actively contribute to solving global challenges. The findings from various studies confirm the trend that sustainability is increasingly being integrated into corporate strategies and that this is not only a responsibility, but also an economic necessity.