The latest edition of the Environmental Sustainability Index shows that more companies around the world are increasing their annual sustainability investments by at least 50% and are optimistic about achieving their short – and long-term goals

Charlotte, NC, USA, November 22, 2023 / PRNEWswIRE / — Honeywell (NASDAQ: According to the fifth edition of the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) recently released by HON, more than six in 10 (62%) companies worldwide say that meteorological disasters such as forest fires, floods and storms in 2023 have had a significant impact on their environmental initiatives. A further 45 per cent admitted that extreme heat would have or has had a significant impact on their short-term plans. The Environmental Sustainability Index is a quarterly index published by Honeywell and The Futurum Group to assess corporate attitudes and investments in sustainability.

“This year’s spate of extreme weather has heightened the urgency for companies to act now.” “As a result, we can expect more and more companies to seek to accelerate their investments in sustainability, particularly with technology-driven approaches to energy transition initiatives,” said Gavin Towler, Honeywell’s chief scientist and chief sustainability officer.

These findings also reveal plans and progress in sustainability investments across geographies and industries:

Nearly nine in ten (88 per cent) are planning additional budgets for energy change and efficiency initiatives.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) are optimistic about achieving their short-term goals, up from 62% last year. Of all the industries surveyed, the energy sector showed stronger confidence than any other.
Nearly one in five businesses are adopting a technology-driven approach to sustainability initiatives, a record proportion.
Ninety-two percent of respondents said they had established an environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting process, while 30 percent said they had appointed a company executive to oversee it.
Honeywell’s quarterly Sustainability Index comprehensively assesses the sustainability commitments of companies around the world. In addition, the index collects data to assess activities in four specific sustainability categories: energy transformation and efficiency, emission reduction, pollution prevention and recycling. The index further breaks down the findings by four geographies: Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America and North America, and eight industries: Banking, consumer goods, energy, Government/Public sector, healthcare, technology, manufacturing/Construction, and transportation/logistics.

“The data show that both the public and private sectors are actively developing frameworks to engage in policy-driven or investment – and technology-oriented actions to achieve the global environmental Sustainability Goals,” said Daniel Newman, institutional CEO of The Futurum Group.

To download the full Index and survey report, please visit: Honeywell Sustainability Index

Investigation method

The Environmental Sustainability Index is based on a double-blind survey of 751 business, technology and sustainability professionals worldwide who are directly involved in the planning, strategic development, implementation or monitoring of environmental sustainability goals and initiatives. The survey was conducted by The Futurum Group. Respondents need to be in a leadership role in their organization, and the organization must have more than 1,000 employees. This is the fifth survey conducted in the third quarter of 2023.