A new report from Bain & Company shows that CEOs are moving away from viewing sustainability simply as a moral imperative and are instead integrating it into their core business operations, including efficiency, costs, consumer value proposition, business resilience, capital allocation, and regulatory benefits.

"This is a real shift towards sustainability as part of the business fabric," said John Blasberg, partner and leader of the sustainability practice in the Americas at the global management consulting firm and author of "The Visionary CEO's Guide to Sustainability 2025."

The examples he shared with Food Business News include sustainability and health, which he said are increasingly becoming part of the value proposition and marketing of food products.

“And while this can drive preferences and premiums with today's consumers, the true value lies in future-proofing portfolios and aligning with shifting consumer expectations,” Blasberg stated.

Sustainability also plays a role in business resilience and robustness, he added.

“For example, sourcing from sustainable and regenerative agriculture not only reduces environmental impact but also creates climate-resilient supply chains,” he affirmed.