Sustainability is an increasingly present concern in the Brazilian industry. According to a survey released by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), six out of ten companies have an area or department dedicated to the topic. The number almost doubled compared to last year, when 34% of industries in the country said they were careful.
Made with executives from industries across the country, the survey will be released by the CNI during the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 27), which is being held in Egypt until the 18th. The data, according to the entity, show advances in environmental awareness in Brazilian industry.
The proportion of entrepreneurs who said they required environmental certificates from suppliers and partners when closing a contract rose from 26% in October last year to 45% this year. More than half (52%) of industries had to prove environmentally sustainable actions when signing contracts, against 40% in 2021.
According to the survey, the relationship with consumers partly explains the increase in environmental awareness. From 2021 to 2022, the number of entrepreneurs who believe that consumers give high or very high weight to environmental criteria at the time of purchase rose from 20% to 35%. However, only one in ten companies failed to sell a product because they were not certified or failed to follow environmental requirements.
According to the CNI, the Brazilian private sector is interested in keeping itself in line with international agreements and in meeting the requirements of the foreign market. For the entity, Brazil can become a reference in the sustainable use of natural resources and in taking advantage of the opportunities associated with the low carbon economy.
Investment
The survey also measured the intentions of industrial entrepreneurs. According to the survey, 69% of companies intend to increase investments in sustainability actions in the next two years, against 63% in 2021. In the last 12 months, 50% of industries have increased the resources used in the area.
In the opinion of entrepreneurs, the prospect of saving in the future and improving their position vis-à-vis competitors are the main factors that lead to investment in sustainability. A total of 41% of respondents cited cost savings as their first and second main reasons.
Increased competitiveness and compliance with regulatory requirements were cited by 30% of industries as the first and second reasons. Next come the sustainable use of natural resources (28%) and reputation among society and consumers (26%).
Regarding obstacles to adopting sustainability actions, 50% of respondents cited the lack of government incentives as the main barrier. The lack of a culture of sustainability in the consumer market was cited by 37%. For 34%, additional costs are the main challenge for the change in the production process. Also in this question, each interviewee chose two options and the percentages represent the sum of the first and second.
Most companies (55%) considered it difficult or very difficult to access credit for investments in sustainability. Of the total number of industries surveyed, 23% sought private credit in the last two years, and only 15% obtained financing. Among those who have resorted to public resources in the last two years, 16% have tried credit and 6% have received the benefit.
purposes
Regarding industries that adopt sustainable initiatives, 91% said they have actions to reduce solid waste and about 80% said they have initiatives to improve production processes and optimize energy and water consumption. In last place, with 48%, appears the use of renewable energy sources.
Precisely the concern with energy is the main focus of investments in sustainability in the next two years. According to the survey, 37% of respondents said this is the first or second priority in resource allocation. Next are the modernization of machines (35%) and reduction of solid waste (32%). As each interviewee cited two priorities, the percentages are the sum of the first and second answers.
Conducted by the FSB, CNI’s Sustainability and Industrial Leadership Survey interviewed executives from 1,004 small, medium and large industrial companies in all Brazilian states by telephone between October 6th and 21st. Within each region, the sample was controlled by the size of the companies and by the field of activity, respecting the proportions in relation to the importance of each sector in the states.
