82% of business leaders agree: sustainability drives sales
Hello 👋
At Sweep, we’ve always believed that sustainability is smart business, and now there’s further data to prove it. A new report from Capgemini shows that 82% of executives say sustainability directly drives revenue, making it the single biggest reason companies are investing in it.
Meanwhile, 100 leading companies have signed an open letter urging Brussels to target a 90% emissions reduction for the EU by 2040—an ambition they say will boost EU competitiveness.
The message is clear: sustainability is reshaping the future of business. In this newsletter, learn how to harness this momentum and transform it into real, lasting growth.
What a week! Sweep, VivaTech, and a presidential commitment
We’re kicking things off with some big news from Sweep — and for good reason. Last week at VivaTech in Paris, our CEO Rachel took the stage to ask President Emmanuel Macron how public procurement can be used to speed up decarbonization. His response? A clear commitment to take action — with Sweep by his side:
"I’m ready to do this with you, step by step. You have my word."
But that was just one highlight of VivaTech 2025. Here’s what else made it special:
See you next year, VivaTech!
82% of executives say sustainability drives sales
A recent global survey by our partner Capgemini, involving 1,000 companies across 12 countries and sectors, reveals a strong link between sustainability and business performance.
The core finding: sustainability is a key driver of competitiveness. A significant 82% of executives report that sustainability has a positive impact on sales, making it the leading reason for investment — ahead of cost savings and regulatory compliance.
Other key insights include:
According to Capgemini, integrating sustainability across the value chain can lead to 4–6% revenue growth and a 2–4 point improvement in EBITDA.
To help businesses unlock this potential, we’ve created a practical guide on financing sustainability strategies.
How to protect your sustainability budget in an uncertain climate
As economic pressures rise, many sustainability leaders face growing challenges to secure their budgets. To stay on track, it's essential to demonstrate that sustainability initiatives strengthen operational resilience, drive growth, and reduce costs.
With the right methods and concrete data, it’s possible to clearly link sustainability to financial performance.
Explore our whitepaper, created in partnership with AWS, to find out 5 practical tactics to defend and grow your sustainability budget.
China cuts CO₂ emissions for the first time
Despite rising electricity demand, China has reduced its CO₂ emissions for the first time—down 1.6% in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year, and 1% over the past 12 months.
The drop is largely due to a record 230 gigawatts of solar capacity installed in 2024, helping the country reach its solar and wind targets six years early. If this momentum holds, a lasting decline in energy-sector emissions could follow.
China also recently introduced its first ESG reporting standards—another sign of its growing focus on sustainability.
Meet our Sweep teams here:
See you next month!
The Sweep Team
Fresh insights and momentum in the climatetech space ✅ Big moves for a cleaner, smarter future. 🌍⚡