April 10, 2025
I write to you, BSR members and community, in a period of staggering global uncertainty.
Many of the tenets undergirding the global economic and geopolitical order are facing historic upheaval, with the impacts being felt by all of you, the companies and organizations in which you work, as well as the communities in which you operate and live. Those of us working in sustainable business have long known that the future would bring big changes. Yet, we are now living through a time when the present is also uncertain, and in turn, our ability to see and shape the future remains equally unclear.
The foundational changes reshaping our world affect the entire sustainable business ecosystem, and the business context in general. Simply put, what has been a relatively stable international environment now faces geopolitical conflict, trade uncertainties, regulatory changes, and sudden changes in national policy priorities.
In addition, we are seeing concerted and sometimes spurious attacks on the very legitimacy of climate action, inclusive businesses as a source of economic dynamism, and the protection of fundamental rights. All this is happening when climate change continues to accelerate, new technologies are reshaping every aspect of society, and the economy is not working for many. This presents profound challenges to our shared efforts to create resilient businesses that generate opportunities for all people to thrive and make wise use of natural resources.
We are determined to continue to pursue our mission and our work, even as we adapt to this moment. Since BSR was founded in 1992, we have seen terminology come and go, regulations and standards evolve, markets move up and down, many new technologies, and also changing political winds. We have seen exciting advances, and periods of pushback.
BSR has persevered, grown, and adapted through it all, and I am confident that our core principles—which you share—remain as relevant to business success and economic and social progress as ever.
We are here for you. In BSR, you have a steadfast and trusted partner when you need us, offering a wide variety of tools, resources, and opportunities to connect with your peers, all while staying prepared for what lies ahead.
Meeting the Moment
Through our team of nearly 200 people, our more than 300 member companies, and dozens of partners around the world, BSR is meeting this moment in several ways.
- Our partnership with you: Our member companies are at the heart of BSR. We know you are navigating a complex array of challenges in advancing sustainable business. You may be facing increased pushback from colleagues and other internal stakeholders who are questioning the value of your work, and an external environment changing at a dizzying pace. We are here for you. In BSR, you have a steadfast and trusted partner when you need us, with a wide variety of tools and resources to help you address these issues, while being prepared for what’s around the corner. Don’t hesitate to call us.
- Understanding the changing policy and regulatory environment: Our team is here to help you make sense of the rapid, volatile, and evolving regulatory context for sustainable business. We are tracking developments on key frameworks in Europe, the U.S., and Asia. We also are tapping into legal and other expertise outside BSR, and we are creating multiple spaces—virtual and in person—for you to discuss this changing context with other BSR members. While BSR does not provide legal or compliance advice, our team brings considerable expertise based not only in their time at BSR, but in their prior roles in the worlds of law, policy, standard setting, and international agencies.
- Developing strategic foresight: The intense changes in the present, in our view, reinforce the need to see past current developments and understand and design resilient futures. Our Sustainable Futures Lab considers long-term trends and scenarios and indeed anticipated many of the global challenges we now face. Given the degree of short-term volatility, our team is adding a focus on short-term, rapid simulations, helping companies prepare for how to handle contingencies and conflicts between their short-term circumstances and long-term business value and principles.
- Building powerful partnerships: BSR has recently enhanced our capabilities to serve members in partnership with other experts. For example, we increasingly work in collaboration with law firms to combine legal guidance (and protections) with sustainability strategy. We also partner with technical experts in areas such as nature and carbon.
- Reframing the sustainability narrative: We know that many of you are taking this opportunity to reframe the way sustainable business is understood and communicated. While some of this comes from a response to challenges, we also see an opportunity to underscore the business value of sustainability, and to communicate in ways that reach customers, employees, and the public in a more compelling way. We are in dialogue with many of you, as well as other partners and experts, to develop compelling narratives that break through in a challenging time, and to work with you to craft language that works in your company, in this time.
Staying True to Our Purpose
Even as we adapt how we support you and all our member companies; we are doubling down on the characteristics that make BSR unique and help us deliver impact.
- We are a mission-driven business organization: We remain dedicated to the same mission we have had since 1992: to work with business to create a just and sustainable world. We pursue this mission consistent with our principles and with attention to a wide range of stakeholders and a focus on real world impacts.
- We exist solely to support sustainable business leaders: We are here to support sustainable business leaders as they advance progress inside their companies. We work extensively with sustainability teams, and also with business functions and leaders in other areas. We recognize that different companies may take different pathways, and we support companies in ways that are true to their purpose, priorities, and culture.
- Our diversified organizational model creates multiple pathways for our members to achieve their goals. We operate a highly diversified organizational model crossing geographies, industries, and topics. We support you through member service, insights, one-on-one advice, collaborative initiatives, as well as projects we can support through foundation grants. This model has long been a source of resilience and diverse opportunities for companies to take full advantage of their relationship with BSR.
- We bring diverse expertise to our work with you: BSR serves you by leveraging our team, which brings a rich mix of experience—they are former in-house sustainability leads, management consultants, business unit and functional leaders, and lawyers. Our team also brings experience from civil society and the public sector, with expertise in human rights, climate and nature, inclusion, strategy, reporting, and many other areas. As our colleague Christine Diamente, former CSO at Alcatel-Lucent and Nokia, notes, “I spent 20 years in the same seat as our members. I try to bring that experience to every conversation—helping sustainability leaders to navigate internal challenges and seize opportunities.”
The stakes for people and the environment grow larger and more urgent every day, and the companies that embrace the opportunity to maximize their positive impacts will generate success, resilience and trust. Some organizations may be pulling back, and while we are sympathetic to the pressures that many face, BSR isn’t going anywhere. We have always sought to be a leader in sustainable business and a trusted, honest partner to our members, and our work continues full force.
When COVID-19 erupted five years ago this month, I called out the need to “meet the moment and build the future.” This remains crucial. Our particular moment is delivering novel, significant challenges. We cannot underestimate them, and we must rise to the occasion. It is also up to us to build the future we all envision: one in which everyone can thrive, and we preserve the glorious and essential natural world. At a time when that future can seem distant; we cannot and will not retreat from the need to make it a reality.
Topics
Let’s talk about how BSR can help you to transform your business and achieve your sustainability goals.
