Corporate strategies have long prioritised emissions reduction as a save-all solution, but sustainability is far broader than carbon emissions. Many ESG experts believe that for businesses to create long-term value, they must focus on tangible, measurable goals that strengthen people, systems, and governance.
Here are five sustainability goals that matter just as much, if not more, than low emissions.
Sustainable leadership
Sustainability is ultimately shaped by leadership. Long-term value creation depends on executives and boards embedding sustainability into strategy, capital allocation, and risk management.
Voices such as Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, and John Elkingon, creator of the Triple Bottom Line framework, have long argued that short-term profit maximisation undermines ESG priorities, strategy, and longevity.
More recently, leaders have championed board-level ESG accountability and systems thinking. Tangible goals, such as tying leadership incentives to sustainability outcomes or adopting long-term impact metrics, ensure sustainability is driven from the top, rather than delegated to isolated teams.
Responsible water stewardship
Scott Lane, founder of Speeki authored an article for the FT’s Sustainable Views, emphasising that water security is a critical but often overlooked pillar of corporate sustainability. As climate change, industrial demand, and population growth intensify, pressure on water resources is an increasingly crucial threat.
Businesses must set tangible goals around water use, quality, and access. Certain measures include reducing water intensity, protecting local watersheds, and collaborating with suppliers in high-risk regions.
Organisations such as the World Resources Institute consistently identify water scarcity as a major global risk. By adopting recognised frameworks and investing in stewardship initiatives, companies can mitigate operational risk while supporting long-term environmental and social resilience.
Local impact
Sustainability is just as much a local issue as it is a global one. Businesses must assess how their operations affect the local community, from job creation to housing and education.
Corporations must set clear goals around community investment, local procurement or social mobility initiatives create measurable value beyond emissions data. It is shown time and time again that strong community engagement improves trust, brand equity, and licence to operate. Companies that invest in local economies build long-term stakeholder relationships, reduce operational risk while delivering meaningful social impact.
Sustainable supply chain
A business is only as sustainable and ethical as its supply chain. From raw materials to manufacturing partners, companies must ensure that transparency and responsible sourcing is upheld across every tier.
This includes measures such as auditing suppliers, publishing supplier codes, and monitoring risk. High-profile organisations and consultants such as PwC, the UN Global Compact, and the World Economic Forum consistently highlight supply chain governance as a critical ESG risk area.
By prioritising ethical sourcing, companies protect human rights, reduce reputational damage, and build long-term resilience against regulatory and geopolitical disruption.
Strong governance
Governance is a pillar of ESG, crucial to restoring credibility. Robust strategies require clear accountability at the board level, transparent reporting, and independent oversight. Frameworks such as TCFS, SASB, or GRI should help link executive remuneration to ESG performance.
Investors and regulators increasingly scrutinise governance quality, viewing it as a predictor of long-term stability. Organisations and leading institutional investors consistently emphasise that good governance underpins every successful ESG initiative.
Conclusion
Low emissions remain important, but true corporate sustainability demands a wider lens. By focusing on ethical supply chains, people, governance, communities, and water security, businesses can build ESG strategies that are credible, resilient and impactful.
