Despite shifts in the US political landscape following Donald Trump’s return to the White House and changing rhetoric around sustainability policies, demand for corporate sustainability initiatives remains strong. The trend suggests that ESG is increasingly driven not only by regulation, but by clear economic and strategic value for businesses and investors alike.
Most large companies are continuing to invest in sustainability initiatives even as regulatory frameworks evolve and external pressure grows, according to a new survey conducted by US-based reporting and compliance software provider Workiva.
The study, which gathered responses from 1,500 corporate professionals and more than 300 investors across the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, shows that sustainability programs remain firmly embedded in corporate strategy. However, companies are becoming more cautious about how openly they communicate these efforts.
Nearly half of respondents (47%) reported increasing transparency around sustainability communications, while 43% said they have become more reserved in public messaging without scaling back actual projects. Only 3% said they had reduced or paused both internal ESG initiatives and external communications, and 6% said their approach had remained unchanged.
Reputation is increasingly emerging as the main driver behind ESG activity. Only 12% of companies identified operational risk reduction as their primary motivation. At the same time, investors continue to signal strong demand for sustainable business strategies. According to the survey, 94% of investors consider ESG factors when making investment decisions, and 97% believe long-term risk assessments must combine financial and non-financial metrics.
The findings suggest that companies are seeking a careful balance between profitability and risk management amid regulatory uncertainty. While sustainability efforts continue, many organizations are shifting toward a more measured public narrative, focusing on implementation rather than visibility.
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