Prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues can impact companies in many ways. According to TechTarget, ESG-based strategy is defined as an “organization-wide approach that adjusts a company’s environmental, social, and governance practices to increase business sustainability.”¹

While many initially believed that ESG strategy would offer companies unconditional benefits, recent research shows this may not be the case. For example, while PwC’s “2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey” finds that 80% of respondents say they would pay more for sustainably produced or sourced goods,² a recent University of Chicago study finds that respondents overstate their intentions: Actual purchases by respondents stating they prefer ESG products are no different than the general public’s purchases.³

Similarly, a Morgan Stanley survey finds that 77% of global investors are interested in sustainable investing.⁴ Yet, rigorous academic studies show that “funds investing in companies that publicly embrace ESG sacrifice financial returns without gaining much, if anything, in terms of actually furthering ESG interests.”⁵

The Stratonomics-B2BTM Study pursues the ESG question further, specifically measuring the opinions of energy industry insiders, including customers, employees, managers, executives, and vendors in the sector.

The research and its results provide oil and gas company leaders rare insight into the perspective of the industry stakeholders they rely on most to succeed.