Embed, Lead and Empower

The Winning Formula for your Sustainability Journey

BDO Belgium and Mercuri Urval recently surveyed 150 companies from diverse sectors about the most relevant
success factors when transitioning to a sustainable business model. These are:
  • Embed sustainability into the business strategy (most relevant factor for 26% of respondents)
  • Leadership commitment (most relevant factor for 18% of respondents)
  • Employee engagement and empowerment (most relevant factor for 18% of respondents)

Embed sustainability into the business strategy

Embedding sustainability into the business strategy is the most critical factor for a successful transition. This result is not surprising, as sustainability must be an integral part of a company's overall strategy and decision-making process. Companies that successfully integrate ESG initiatives into their business strategy are better equipped to identify and manage risks, seize growth opportunities and create long-term value for all stakeholders. By incorporating sustainability into their strategic planning, companies can align their business objectives with the broader social and environmental goals of society. This  approach allows companies to anticipate and address emerging trends and challenges in a proactive and strategic manner, rather than reacting to external pressures.

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Leadership commitment

The survey results also reveal the critical role that leaders play in driving sustainability initiatives and fostering a culture that integrates sustainability within the company. 

Recent legislative developments,  such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), have expanded the Board's role to address issues related to climate change, human rights due diligence, appropriate political engagement, and workplace diversity, equity and inclusion. 

To effectively address these challenges, directors and executive leaders must take the lead in driving the sustainability journey. They play a crucial role in shaping how companies anticipate and respond to evolving sustainability challenges, and their decisions and influence are vital in integrating sustainability into all aspects of the business.

Ultimately, leaders who demonstrate a commitment to sustainability can provide the necessary vision, direction and resources to ensure that sustainability is integrated into all aspects of the business. Equally, they can inspire and motivate employees to embrace sustainability and make it a core part of their daily work


How can you approach this? What should you consider?

  • Upskill your Board members on sustainability to allow them to fully understand and set ambitious ESG targets.
  • Appoint a Sustainability Sponsor within the Board to advance the sustainability agenda, taking ESG into account in the overall decision-making process.
  • Work towards a diverse and representative Board composition, as diverse leadership with different perspectives is proven to be more innovative, manages risks better and leads to financial outperformance.
“The success of a company's sustainability transition greatly relies on the engagement and empowerment of its leadership. Leaders must not only drive the sustainability journey from the top, but also ensure that middle management is equipped to integrate ESG dimensions into their daily work. Middle management serves as a critical link between the leadership level and the employees, and their engagement is key in translating the ESG strategy into concrete actions and results. By empowering both Board members and middle management with the necessary knowledge, skills and resources, companies can create a culture that values sustainability and embeds it in the company's DNA.”
Valeria FazioPartner Sustainable Innovation, BDO Italy

Employee engagement and empowerment

The survey found that employee engagement and empowerment is the third most relevant factor when making the transition to a more sustainable business. This result underscores the importance of involving employees in sustainability initiatives and empowering them to contribute to the company's sustainability efforts. Engaging employees in sustainability initiatives allows companies to tap into their creativity, knowledge and expertise to develop innovative solutions and drive continuous improvement. Companies that demonstrate commitment to sustainability are more likely to attract and retain  employees who are passionate about sustainability and who want to make a positive impact on the world. 


How can you approach this? What should you consider?

  • Offer training programmes to educate employees about your company’s approach to ESG and how they can join in.
  • Empower employees to make a difference by giving them a voice and a platform to drive change (e.g., organise workshops to allow staff members to give input on desired ESG policies).
  • Reward ESG performance by linking ESG criteria to incentives, such as financial compensation, additional benefits and job promotions.
"Awareness is at the heart of any successful sustainability transition. Employees are the catalysts of this change, and their engagement is critical in integrating sustainability into the company's culture. Employees who feel they are part of a company that values sustainability are more likely to be engaged, committed and passionate about their work."
Karen BaumManaging Principal Sustainability & ESG Services, BDO USA

Spotlight on BDO Belgium

At BDO Belgium, we understand the importance of applying both a top-down and a bottom-up approach to integrate sustainable practices within our business:

Leadership level

  • Our leadership body defined the sustainability strategy of BDO Belgium by participating in several workshops, upskilling themselves and determining the material topics and Action Plans.
  • One Board member takes on the role of Sustainability Sponsor, integrating the ESG voice in the decision-making process.
  • The Internal Sustainability Team consists of colleagues with different professional backgrounds and seniority levels. They accelerate and monitor the internal sustainability strategy.

Employees level

  • Since December 2023, an ESG White Belt Learning Programme is underway. This is a training course designed to upskill our BDO colleagues from all business practices on sustainability, empowering them to integrate ESG topics into client conversations and services in their role of trusted advisors.
  • BDO Belgium formed the Sustainability Ambassadors, a network of colleagues aiming to support and accelerate the sustainability movement within BDO. They act as a sounding board and contribute to our ESG programme, and exchange knowledge on wider ESG topics.
  • BDO Belgium published its second Sustainability Report in 2023 and is planning to publish its third report in the coming weeks, with the aim of creating transparency regarding our actions and ambitions covering various ESG topics. In addition, a Sustainability Roadshow across all offices was organised to present the report and raise awareness about our sustainability policies.



“At BDO Belgium our ambition is to be a sustainable company. We’re proud of the steps we’ve already taken and realise that it’s a journey of continuous improvement. Therefore, we have many exciting plans for the coming period to accelerate our sustainability transition.”
Aubry De PauwSustainability Officer, BDO Belgium

Contact our ESG Advisors today to learn how BDO Belgium can help your company transition to sustainable business practices and meet the growing demands of stakeholders. The key to success lies in a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches, where Board commitment and employee engagement come together to drive meaningful change. 

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Note: 

The research was conducted jointly by BDO Belgium and Mercuri Urval in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The study surveyed companies to assess their attitudes towards sustainability, the obstacles they face and their main drivers. The research used a questionnaire methodology and the online survey conducted in November-December 2023 reached around 150 companies. The full report will be published by the end of April 2024.