Connecting the dots.
WHAT WE’RE SEEING
Sustainability insights in a complex market
We created Connecting the Dots to break down complex sustainability, ESG and impact topics into actionable insights.
Here, you’ll find educational resources and forward-thinking perspectives from our team of experts, often developed in collaboration with our partners. These pieces aren’t just about keeping up, they’re about staying ahead.
Explore the articles below, share your feedback, and subscribe to receive the latest insights straight to your inbox.
Prioritize efforts and drive value: Examples from the first wave reporters for the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
By March 2025, nearly 100 large EU companies published their first CSRD reports, and these early disclosures offer valuable insights on applying double materiality, aligning with the regulations, and integrating sustainability into core reporting. At the same time, the European Commission proposed the Omnibus package, introducing simplified requirements, updated scoping thresholds, and a two-year delay for second- and third-wave reporters. The European Parliament agreed to pause implementation in April 2025. This delay offers time, but not a reason to slow down. This report shares insights from first-wave reporters to help guide your next steps.
Effective stakeholder engagement
Stakeholder expectations continue to rise, with customers, suppliers, regulators, and employees demanding more each year. A well-executed stakeholder engagement strategy that goes beyond meeting basic requirements can drive revenue growth, reduce risks, uncover cost-saving opportunities, and enhance financial resilience.
This piece explores market trends fueling the focus on stakeholder engagement, introduces a three-step framework for building a strategy, and addresses common challenges with actionable best practices. It’s a valuable resource for companies aiming to align stakeholder expectations with long-term success.
Driving sustainable outcomes through Operational Excellence
Integrating sustainability into operational excellence is no longer optional—it’s essential for long-term success. As sustainability moves from a corporate-level priority to site-led action, companies can unlock opportunities to drive revenue, reduce risks, and improve resilience. Drafted with our partners at CCi, this article explores how operational excellence fuels sustainability through efficiency, innovation, and workforce empowerment while showing how sustainability, in turn, strengthens operational performance.
The next frontier for plastics regulations: Tackling infrastructure gaps and material challenges
In the United States and the European Union, pressures to reduce plastic waste and foster a more sustainable materials economy are reshaping the investment and innovation landscape. Traditional plastic production models—which have long relied on cheap, abundant feedstocks and minimal end-of-life accountability—are under increasing scrutiny as consumer awareness rises.