The year 2025 marked a turning point for the private sector in the world. Commitments are no longer only supported by annual reports but by operational infrastructures and programs with measurable impact.
According to the latest report from the UN Global Compact in Peru, 82% of local companies already perceive a concrete improvement in their reputation thanks to sustainable actions, while 30% report a direct increase in their sales linked to their environmental and social performance. Called “Sustainability: from commitment to action”, this report presents the results of a study that brings together the voices of more than 230 companies – large, medium and small – that operate in more than 70% of the national territory.
Decarbonization and energy
Among the specific actions that have helped companies take on the challenge of sustainability, reducing the carbon footprint is essential. During 2025, the main focus was on Scope 3 emissions, that is, those generated in the supply chain, which typically represent the majority of an organization’s environmental impact.
Large corporations such as Ferreycorp and Alicorp consolidated their transition towards cleaner energy matrices and even managed to position themselves in the S&P Global 2025 Sustainability Yearbook, standing out for the efficiency of their industrial plants.
On the other hand, the use of digital traceability tools skyrocketed. Projects such as Pachamama, awarded in Companies that Transform by IPAE, implemented regenerative forest economy models with zero deforestation, exporting palo santo to benefit Amazonian communities and generating carbon credits.
Logistics optimization and the use of sustainable suppliers have also allowed Peruvian companies to reduce operating costs by up to 16%, aligning with the standards of the World Economic Forum.
Within this business transformation, the main productive sectors such as the mining-energy sector have demonstrated great efficiency with respect to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) indicators, focusing on the management of critical resources. For example, the water footprint. In some mines in southern Peru, more than 80% of water is recirculated in processes.
Inclusion, recycling and community
The year that just ended was the year of the consolidation of shared value projects. The private sector’s focus migrated from traditional philanthropy toward business models that help solve social problems.
Projects from prominent companies benefited community pots, not only providing food but also training them and even encouraging them to formally undertake business until consolidating their businesses.
The retail and mass consumption sector is focusing on the final consumer and the management of waste generated by mass sales. Companies have been reported to have managed to reduce up to 84% of their waste through recycling. The eco-design of 100% reusable packaging is, currently, much more than a trend.
Other efforts were aimed at achieving the financial inclusion of hundreds of thousands of micromerchants. The inclusion of women in sectors perceived only as male, such as mining, is also growing in technical training and employability.
Following this line, the Aequales 2025 Ranking revealed that Peru has taken giant steps in equity. 88% of formal companies already have strict protocols against sexual harassment and discrimination.
In addition, programs such as “Therapy that Transforms Lives” from a well-known university study house have shown that higher education can be integrated with community health, providing low-cost rehabilitation services for vulnerable populations while training future professionals.
Leadership and ethics
Decision-making in senior management has also undergone a change in perspective. Today, 88% of Peruvian managers identify sustainability as a direct way to generate future value and competitiveness.
International investment funds are demanding verifiable data. Although in Peru only 10% of ESG reports currently have an external audit, the goal is to triple this figure to avoid greenwashing and thus ensure access to green bonds.
This being the case, empathetic and purposeful leadership is no longer optional. It is estimated that, in the coming years, eight out of 10 companies will evaluate their candidates not only for technical skills, but also for their ability to generate positive impact. In fact, 53% of companies that actively report their sustainability progress have seen a dramatic improvement in the retention of their key talent.
For its part, business ethics has been consolidated as the “life insurance” of corporations in the face of social volatility. The prioritization of transparency is becoming evident with the implementation of reporting platforms and public accountability. The objective is to rebuild citizen trust.
Goals and challenges
According to data from the UN Global Compact in Peru, the business community’s focus for this year is centered on three disruptive pillars:
– Circular economy as a financial asset: more than 750 Peruvian companies have committed to implementing circular economy roadmaps towards 2030, with intermediate goals for 2026 that seek to reduce operational waste by an average of 15%.
-“New Generation” Certifications: ISO 14001 is no longer enough. The goal for the current year is to obtain governance and ethics certifications, such as ISO 37001 (Anti-Bribery) and the IFRS S1 and S2 reporting standards, which require disclosing climate risks with the same rigor as financial statements.
– Investment in Sustainable R&D: companies in the S&P/BVL Perú General index are projected to increase their investment in environmental innovation by 12%, focusing on traceability solutions through blockchain and resource optimization through artificial intelligence.
