A survey conducted by Cone Communications and Echo Global finds that nearly a third of the 10,287 adults surveyed believe businesses should change the way they operate to be more aligned with evolving social and environmental issues. It also found that nearly the same number of respondents believe that businesses should not only support but also become advocates for social and environmental changes.
 
The survey found that overall, “People want companies to better communicate the effect they and their products have on society and the environment,” says Jennifer Meek, Marketing Director for Enviro-Solutions, a manufacturer of green cleaning products.
 
In fact, only six percent of those surveyed now believe that businesses exist solely to make money and are not responsible for supporting social or environmental issues. This would not be the case “if this survey had been conducted thirty years ago,” suggests Meek.
 
Additionally, the survey listed those issues about which consumers most want companies to communicate with the public:
• plans for economic development in their countries/communities (40 percent)
• environmental concerns (20 percent)
• poverty and hunger (11 percent)
• human rights (11 percent)
• education, health/disease, and water concerns (22 percent)

“Without question, the role of businesses in our society, both here in North America and around the world, is changing,” adds Meek. “It is clear that along with greater transparency, what Stephen Ashkin calls a ‘culture of sustainability’ is progressing as well.”