05/28/2026
🌍 New research just released — and it should be on every marketing team's radar.
The UN Global Compact and Kantar have launched the first-ever global CMO benchmark study on sustainable marketing transformation, aligned with UN guidance, drawing on insights from over 1,700 senior leaders worldwide.
The findings reveal that while momentum is building, significant capability and ex*****on gaps remain.
âś… 69 per cent of marketers believe their organizations are progressing well on sustainability
⚠️ Yet average performance across 28 benchmark areas stands at just 52 per cent
Even more striking: while 27 per cent of marketers say they're "well advanced" in sustainable transformation, only 9 per cent of sustainability professionals agree. That's a major alignment gap — and a major opportunity.
The study also reveals that circular business models are still undervalued in marketing. Nearly half of sustainability leaders (49 per cent) believe profitable growth can be achieved through circular models — yet only 25 per cent of marketers agree.
For CMOs, the priorities are clear:
→ Build stronger insight capabilities around sustainable consumption and behavioural change
→ Embed sustainability into growth strategy and investment decisions
→ Integrate sustainability into KPIs, governance and performance
→ Strengthen cross-functional collaboration
Sustainability perceptions already contribute up to 10 per cent of brand value among the Kantar BrandZ Global Top 100. The business case is there. Now it's time to close the gap.
đź“Ą Read the full report: https://unglobalcompact.org/cmo-blueprint-for-sustainable-growth
