In an economic climate where businesses are tightening the purse strings, adding another cost to the bottom line can feel unnecessary, and relegate action on sustainability to a ‘nice to have’.
While we all know businesses need to be profitable and you can’t be green and operate in the red, sustainability can’t be the elephant in the room. The message at Fleet Street – a co-founder of Planet Peach, the sustainability summit for the hospitality sector – is that adopting sustainable practices can no longer be seen this way. Now, it’s imperative for businesses because it’s not negotiable for government, consumers or your employees.
Future-proofing against regulation
For the companies already taking steps in this space, the opportunities are clear. Most notably, improving your green credentials is key to futureproofing your business. With climate-related disclosures becoming mandatory and more green-washing regulation to come in 2026, the importance of compliance around ESG is becoming increasingly apparent as governments look at how they can hold businesses to account. For hospitality operators, getting ahead means sustainable management of waste, emissions and energy use to ensure compliance and avoid costly retrofits and compliance fines – as well as remaining attractive to investors.
Investment and partnerships
Earlier in 2025, Forbes confirmed that in spite of recent economic turbulence, transparency around sustainability is non-negotiable for investors as transparency and action by purpose-driven companies attract investment. We believe strong performance correlates with sustainability being a powerful driver of choice and according to the 2025 Brand Finance Global 500 Report, the world’s top 500 brands increased 10% in value1 in 2025, outstripping global economic growth, as consumers support brands that align with personal values – and take meaningful action.
Workforce
And it’s not just investors. When it comes to today’s workforce, Gen Zs and millennials want to work with purpose and for a company that aligns with their values. Deloitte (2024) found more than 40% of Gen Zs and millennials reported having left jobs – or planned to in the future – over climate concerns. Fast forward to 2025, and nearly two thirds of all employees say employers are not doing enough to address climate change and sustainability2.
Opportunity to differentiate
For businesses in 2025 and beyond, there is no hiding away from it, creating and rolling out sustainability does require people and capital investment. However, it’s also providing opportunities to speak to customers and consumers, an enabler for talking about products and services and why what they do makes them a bit different
Being transparent about where the business is at on its journey is also key – it builds trust with key stakeholders, an invaluable differentiator in a crowded market.
And so, at Fleet Street, we’ve invited the elephant to the table.
We’re looking at how we can be a more sustainable business, as well as help our clients embed sustainability – and then talk about it to create differentiation.
It does take time and resource, but sustainability is fast becoming about how you do business and to not embrace the opportunity presents a far greater risk for reputation and long-term resilience.
