The vast majority of companies have continued to advance their sustainability initiatives over the past year despite a shifting regulatory environment, although more than 40% said they continue to do so while also being more cautious about communicating externally on sustainability, according to a new survey released by business data and reporting solutions provider Workiva.
For the study, Workiva’s 2026 Executive Benchmark Report, Workiva commissioned a survey of nearly 1,500 professionals in global organizations across functions including finance and accounting, sustainability, internal audit, operations, and legal departments at global organizations, as well as more than 300 institutional investors across the U.S., UK and Canada.
Among the key sustainability-related findings from the survey was a significant shift in communication strategies by companies that face often conflicting pressures from regulatory uncertainty, political rhetoric, and investors demands, with the study indicating that 43% of companies report becoming more cautious on sustainability communication externally over the past year, but continuing to advance initiatives internally, while 47% report that they have actually become more open in communicating externally about their sustainability efforts.
Notably, only 3% of companies surveyed said that they have paused or reduced sustainability communication or initiatives, and only 6% said that their communication on sustainability has remained unchanged over the past year.
The survey also found that companies’ continued pursuit of sustainability initiatives and communication is backed by business considerations and demand for information from investors.
The study found, for example, that financial performance and profitability now represents the most commonly-cited driver of companies’ sustainability efforts, with only 12% reporting risk mitigation as the primary driver.
Additionally, 94% of institutional investors surveyed said that they consider ESG factors in their investment decisions, and 97% agreed that both financial and non-financial data are essential for assessing long-term risk.
Andromeda Wood, Vice President of Regulatory Strategy at Workiva, said:
“Achieving a good balance between business benefit and risk mitigation is a challenge now facing global sustainability teams as they deal with conflicting pressures and an uncertain regulatory environment.”
Click here to access the report.
