Opinion
Making a Better Business Case for ESG
— August 17, 2020

By Tensie Whelan
By Tensie Whelan
When questioned about their role in responding to deep-rooted problems facing all of society, companies often indicate that they can't afford to invest in environmental protection, strong employee compensation, or other elements of a social issue because they must return sufficient profits to shareholders.
Based on research that I and my colleagues undertook at the Center for Sustainable Business (CSB) at New York University Stern School of Business, I contend that embedding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns into business strategies is not only good for making money, but also essential to customer allegiance and protecting against the rising number of major threats to social stability, vibrancy, and inclusiveness that makes a healthy business possible in the first place.
Read the full Stanford Social Innovation Review article.
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Tensie Whelan is a Clinical Professor of Business and Society and Director of the Center for Sustainable Business.