In 2025, sustainability communication reached a major inflection point. Shifting public confidence, increasing expectations for transparency, and the growing influence of individual action reshaped how organizations approach storytelling and accountability. Throughout the year, 3BL released four in-depth research reports that explored the evolving relationship between public sentiment, corporate behavior, and the narratives that shape both reputation and real-world impact.

Together, these studies reveal a clear message: staying quiet about sustainability now poses greater risks, personal beliefs are fueling a new era of activism, and companies must work harder than ever to earn authentic trust.

The One Issue Americans Agree On
Research conducted in January 2025 highlights how consumer expectations are evolving and how sustainability is becoming a stronger driver of brand loyalty and purchasing behavior.

2025: The Year of Individual Influence
A major theme emerging this year is the rising power of personal action in shaping social and environmental outcomes.

Say Less, Lose More: Staying Silent Is Damaging Trust
This report—powered by media tracking and new polling—uncovers a growing credibility gap in corporate sustainability communication. The message is clear: pulling back or “greenhushing” may seem like a safe choice, but it is eroding consumer trust and threatening competitive advantage.

Sustainable Companies Perform Better—But Do People Believe It?
Findings from this report show that companies recognized on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens list aren’t just leading on responsibility—they’re outpacing the market.

Eastman has been named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2025 by 3BL, a leading sustainability communications organization. This esteemed recognition highlights Eastman’s strong dedication to sustainability, transparency, and performance among the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. The company earned the 36th spot overall and ranked eighth within the materials sector.

“Being a responsible corporate citizen has been central to Eastman’s mission for more than a century,” said Mark Costa, Eastman’s board chair and CEO. “This honor reflects our steadfast commitment to tackling the world’s most urgent challenges through sustainable materials and solutions. Our strategy is rooted in guiding principles that shape our purpose, leadership, actions toward carbon neutrality, and commitment to circularity. We are proud to receive continued recognition from 3BL on this distinguished list.”

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking assesses Russell 1,000 companies using 219 factors across seven key areas: climate change, employee relations, environmental stewardship, governance, human rights, and stakeholder and societal engagement. In 2024, the methodology was updated with dozens of new factors to better measure corporate performance and disclosure, and in 2025, adjustments were made to increase the emphasis on certain performance-based metrics, as well as enhancements from ISS Sustainability Solutions to the E&S Disclosure QualityScore and Governance QualityScore.

“Responsible business has faced significant challenges this year, yet the companies on this list have demonstrated the resolve to maintain their commitments,” said Charlie Wilkie, CEO of 3BL.

“In today’s environment, where trust is a key performance indicator, these companies show that transparency and accountability form the foundation of stronger organizations. The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking highlights these strengths and continues to elevate standards for corporate leadership each year.”

Unlike other evaluations, the 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking is based entirely on publicly available information, without requiring questionnaires, company submissions, or fees. Companies can verify the data used for the ranking at no cost. The 2025 rankings were based on information published between June 2024 and June 2025.

Principal Financial Group has been recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies by JUST Capital, securing the 11th spot on the 2025 JUST 100 list. This achievement highlights Principal as a leading insurance provider, emphasizing its dedication to employees, customers, communities, the environment, and shareholders.

The 2025 JUST Capital Rankings celebrate top-performing companies within the Russell 1000, recognizing those that demonstrate strong leadership in addressing the priorities of the American public.

“We are honored to be included in the 2025 JUST 100, a testament to our commitment to integrity, transparency, and accountability in fostering financial security for individuals and businesses,” said Deanna Stable, President and CEO of Principal Financial Group.

“Over the past year, we have made meaningful strides in aligning our efforts with the priorities of our stakeholders—our employees, customers, and the communities we support. Our focus remains on delivering value to each of these groups.”

To compile the 2025 rankings, JUST Capital analyzed corporate data from the largest publicly traded U.S. companies, assessing them against 17 key issues identified through extensive public opinion research on responsible corporate practices.

“Today’s business leaders face high expectations, and the JUST 100 illustrates how companies can drive value for investors, stakeholders, and the broader American economy by concentrating on core business principles,” said Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital while adding, “At its core, business success is about doing the right things—it’s just business.”

The JUST 100 companies were selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of performance metrics, comparing organizations head-to-head. In total, 940 companies were assessed across five stakeholder categories, 17 key issues, and 88 data points to create the 2025 rankings, which include both the JUST 100 and Industry Leader lists.

Understanding Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and Their Role in Sustainability
Do you ever find yourself feeling unsure when people discuss environmental sustainability and don’t know where to start learning? The Sustainability 101 series is here to help by breaking down key environmental terms that you might encounter at work, in conversations with friends, or even at social gatherings.

The Story Behind Every Product
Every product has an environmental footprint, from the extraction of raw materials to its production, usage, and eventual disposal. Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) provide a method for evaluating the impact of a product at each stage of its life. This process helps identify opportunities to reduce environmental harm and improve sustainability practices.

For businesses, LCAs are a valuable tool for assessing the ecological impact of their products, services, or processes. By examining factors like energy consumption and water usage, companies can make informed decisions that contribute to a more sustainable future.

What Is a Life Cycle Assessment?
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impact of a product by analyzing various stages of its existence, including:

By assessing these stages, LCAs offer a comprehensive picture of a product’s environmental footprint and help businesses pinpoint areas for improvement.

What Do LCAs Measure?
LCAs go beyond just carbon emissions; they evaluate multiple environmental factors, such as:

By analyzing these factors, LCAs help businesses implement sustainable practices, optimize product design, and reduce their overall environmental impact.

Why Are LCAs Important for Businesses?
LCAs provide actionable insights that help companies:

Since a significant portion of a product’s environmental impact is determined during the design phase, LCAs can help businesses make more sustainable choices early in the process. Additionally, publishing LCA results promotes transparency and aligns with global environmental reporting standards.

How Are LCAs Conducted?
LCAs follow structured methodologies and internationally recognized standards, such as the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 frameworks. The process involves:

Cisco’s Commitment to Life Cycle Assessments
At Cisco, LCAs play a crucial role in evaluating and minimizing the environmental footprint of our products. Recently, we have made these assessments publicly available, sharing insights on the Sustainability Resources section of our website. Over the past two years, we have completed 23 LCAs across 8 business units, with plans to expand this initiative in 2025.

While many tech companies conduct LCAs, Cisco is among the first to apply them to networking equipment, such as Catalyst switches. Our Chief Sustainability Office and Supply Chain Sustainability teams collaborate across the organization to ensure transparency and progress in our sustainability efforts.

LCAs are integral to our circular design strategy, which focuses on keeping materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repurposing, and responsible disposal. By understanding the environmental impact of our products at every stage, we continue to innovate and drive meaningful change toward a more sustainable future.

In light of growing concerns raised by employees, customers, and shareholders, more organizations are expanding their strategic focus to include social responsibility, says Punit Renjen, CEO of Deloitte Global. As one of nearly 200 signatories of the Business Roundtable’s statement on corporate purpose, Renjen identifies a new model of success that integrates societal impact. In this interview, he discusses the vital role business leaders play in addressing societal challenges while fostering growth and profitability.

What changes have you observed since the Business Roundtable released its Purpose of a Corporation statement?
Renjen: There’s been a noticeable shift in how businesses view their role in society. Leaders are increasingly adopting a broader form of capitalism, moving beyond prioritizing shareholder value to creating benefits for society as a whole. Changing societal expectations have made it essential for businesses to embed social responsibility into their strategies. It’s becoming clear that business success is tied to societal well-being.

Recent years have also brought more visible signs of climate change, such as devastating wildfires, record temperatures, and melting glaciers. These events likely influenced the findings of Deloitte’s Industry 4.0 Global Readiness Report, where 90% of business leaders expressed concern about climate change’s potential negative impact on their organizations. Businesses are beginning to realize that financial success and societal impact can go hand in hand. In fact, 62% of executives surveyed highlighted that achieving profitability while contributing positively to society is a top investment priority.

How are businesses addressing societal challenges?
An increasing number of leaders are taking significant steps to tackle complex global issues. This includes launching specific initiatives, enhancing transparency in non-financial performance reporting, committing to engagement, and fostering collaboration across sectors. According to our report, 60% of leaders have initiatives focused on resource scarcity, with 54% also addressing climate change and environmental sustainability.

When it comes to sustainability, over 90% of executives reported implementing or planning initiatives such as reducing travel and eliminating plastic waste. This is a dramatic shift from just two years ago, when only 10% of executives believed their organizations could make a substantial impact on environmental sustainability. Businesses are leveraging their strengths in innovation and scalability to address some of society’s toughest challenges.

What examples demonstrate how organizations are turning these ideas into action, particularly in investing in workers and communities?
Our research highlights numerous examples of companies making meaningful societal contributions. Adobe, for instance, supports lifelong learning through its Learning Fund, offering employees an annual stipend of $1,000 for personal or professional development and up to $10,000 annually for tuition reimbursement.

Similarly, SAP provides internal training in advanced technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, addressing the challenges of recruiting talent with Industry 4.0 skills.

From an environmental perspective, Toshiba has installed 35,000 sensors in its offices to optimize lighting, air conditioning, and elevator use, cutting CO2 emissions by 50%. These examples illustrate how organizations can implement actions that benefit both their business operations and society.

How does corporate purpose support value creation, and how can organizations balance the interests of diverse stakeholders?
Evidence continues to show that purpose-driven businesses perform better across various metrics, including financial outcomes, employee satisfaction, and customer experience. According to our survey, 42% of executives believe focusing on societal issues presents revenue opportunities, demonstrating that companies can succeed by doing good. Furthermore, 80% of executives said they had developed products or services in the past year that positively impacted society or the environment, with 88% reporting revenue generation from these efforts.

Young people, in particular, are drawn to organizations with a strong sense of purpose. They prefer to work for and support companies that prioritize societal good over profits, seeking to be part of something larger than themselves.

The key message for stakeholders is clear: businesses thrive when society thrives, and society benefits most when businesses take the lead in solving critical challenges. Organizations must harness their strengths in areas like innovation, responsiveness, and scalability to drive meaningful change.