What: Brand and consumer product companies are planning to invest more in technology to align operations with sustainability goals while also driving business growth.

Why it is important: The report found that more than 60% of consumer goods executives are now aligning sustainability and operational goals, with 70% of respondents agreeing that sustainability investments will accelerate growth.

The report is based on the responses of 1,800 consumer goods executives across 23 countries.

The top technologies that will play a role in aligning sustainable practices with operations were automation at 71%, followed by analytics at 69%, IoT at 62%, AI at 55%, and intelligent workflows at 44%. To improve inventory management and eliminate excess stock, 67% cited using predictive and prescriptive analytics as well as AI-powered demand sensing (69%).

Sustainability integration is an important differentiator for consumer goods businesses and the retailers they service as consumers are increasingly seeking out brands that reflect their values. Being successful in this investment requires full integration, commitment, and collaboration. The report cites brands like Levi’s, Pandora, Unilever, and Walmart as companies who have successfully executed leveraging technology to align sustainability goals with operations.

Brand executives plan to invest in tech to reach sustainability goals