Shared value business models: Accenture estimates that businesses could generate cost savings of between £3bn and £29bn  through ‘shared value’ models, whereby they support the communities in which they do business to help create a more active and engaged workforce and reduce recruitment and retention costs. Shared value models can also directly contribute to building customer trust and loyalty.

Transparency and customer engagement:  technologies that improve traceability and customer engagement regarding product origins can boost trust and loyalty, according to Accenture, which estimates that the UK manufacturing sector could also generate cost savings of £3 billion per year.

Business in the Community is calling on more businesses to embrace the opportunity of sustainability. To accompany the report, it will publish a new Sustainable Business Toolkit that provides practical guidance on how companies can create and test new innovative ideas that deliver commercial, environmental and social benefit.

Click here to view the full report 

Marks & Spencer