Strategies to improve the ROI of your sustainability efforts – Webinar Reply

In a time of mounting regulatory uncertainty and economic pressure, companies face tough choices about where to focus their resources. Amid this volatility, sustainability teams are often asked to do more with less—and to prove the business value of their work in hard numbers. In our recent webinar, “Risk, Resilience, and ROI: Strategies to improve the ROI of your sustainability efforts,” we explored how sustainability leaders are turning climate initiatives into strategic, measurable business drivers.

Hosted by Sweep’s Senior Solutions Engineer Felicity Box, the session featured insights from Rachel Delacour, CEO and Co-founder of Sweep, and Elodie Broad, Head of ESG and Impact at Balderton. Together, they shared actionable strategies, real-world examples, and critical reflections on how organizations can demonstrate the financial returns of their climate efforts—and why doing so is more urgent than ever.

1. Sustainability ROI starts earlier than you think

Early-stage companies often operate under intense pressure, balancing limited resources with ambitious growth plans. As Elodie Broad explained, sustainability isn’t something to delay—there’s measurable value even in the earliest phases of a company’s journey.

In sectors that aren’t traditionally associated with sustainability—like fintech or cybersecurity—Elodie sees founders increasingly recognizing the business case, particularly when it comes to operational risk, deal readiness, and customer expectations.

Beyond reducing risks, she highlighted practical benefits: digital emissions reduction often cuts cloud computing costs; AI model efficiency improvements save energy and boost user experience. One company even improved their sustainability and reduced costs at the same time—debunking the myth that sustainability always costs more.

2. Good data turns climate action into smart business

Sustainability may begin with good intentions, but proving its business value depends on something else entirely: data. As Rachel Delacour shared, the ability to quantify impact is what transforms sustainability from a “nice-to-have” to a strategic advantage.

Companies need the same rigor in their sustainability programs as they apply to digital transformation—real-time metrics, cross-departmental visibility, and decision-making powered by insights. Rachel emphasized that data isn’t just for reporting—it fuels strategy, operational excellence, and investor confidence.

She also shared powerful product innovation stories. One personal care brand reformulated shampoo to rinse out faster, saving hot water—and reducing customers’ carbon footprints. The result? A product that sold better, with climate impact as a value-add. Another company created ultra-customized, low-footprint packaging that helped boost revenue and loyalty.

3. Embedding sustainability into strategy drives performance

Whether a company is just getting started or scaling fast, embedding sustainability into business strategy is where real returns happen. Elodie shared how companies are elevating ESG by tying it directly to executive-level goals, such as making ESG an official OKR tracked by boards and CEOs.

Rachel echoed the importance of cross-functional engagement. She noted that new regulations like the CSRD are helping companies break down silos—sometimes for the first time in a decade. When climate data flows across departments, companies are not only more compliant—they’re more agile, innovative, and aligned around long-term value creation.

They also discussed how leading companies are now integrating carbon metrics into financial performance tracking. Some Sweep customers have even started using carbon-adjusted P&Ls at the store level, helping teams make smarter, faster decisions grounded in both sustainability and profitability.

Final thoughts

The ROI of sustainability is real—but it requires a strategic mindset and investment. By leveraging high-quality data, embedding ESG into company-wide goals, and tying impact to financial outcomes, sustainability leaders can prove that climate action isn’t just good ethics—it’s smart business.