Wars, economic shocks, climate policy rollbacks and AI reshaping the nature of work. For many of us, it feels like we’re living through a permanent “polycrisis” with several global systems breaking down all at once.
We also seem to be going through a period of ESG fatigue,with climate goals and multilateralism sliding with increasing warnings of a race to the bottom. But, I don’t believe that we are facing the end of sustainable growth. I believe that we are going through a transition, an evolution as it were with fragmentation acting as a catalyst for innovation, resilience and long-term value.
Let me explain.
Rebuilding supply chains
Many organisations are choosing to localise or reshore their supply chains to mitigate risk, using this as an opportunity to rebuild more relevant, efficient and sustainable systems from the ground up.
Shorter, more local supply chains support local economies. They also drive investment in infrastructure fit for the future we are facing, incorporating renewable energy, circular economy models and reduced scope 3 emissions.
Resilience generates revenue
In an unpredictable world, resilience is a competitive advantage and consumers and governments alike are willing to pay a premium for it. They want delivery, quality and adaptability they can count on.
Too many businesses are still making decisions driven by short-term fear, but it makes more sense to build resilience into the business model itself, prepare for what’s next, and yes — monetise it!.
As I explored in my February article, resilience isn’t a response to crisis. It’s what you build before one hits. Building resilience is not a surviving exercise, it’s something that you nurture and strengthen alongside your ecosystem, with long-term collective wellbeing at their core.
ESG data as a competitive advantage
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the US SEC’s climate disclosure rules, and China’s ESG guidelines all differ, creating mistrust, confusion and reporting fatigue.
But this data can become a competitive advantage. Strong ESG data can mean lower interest rates on green loans, stronger positioning for government contracts, and access to long-term capital.
Good governance and genuine data transparency build trust across every stakeholder group, and that trust reduces cost. Combined with AI-driven ESG systems, this clarity supports better climate scenario planning, supply chain emissions tracking, and predictive maintenance that cuts waste.
Shifting market positioning
Sustainability is moving from premium niche markets to affordable, scalable ones. EVs and circular economy models are being adopted globally at pace.
Norway is a striking example, with electric vehicles now making up the vast majority of new car sales as government targets and tax incentives reshaped the market.
SMEs that can’t afford waste are embracing circular models too, cutting costs, emissions and environmental footprint at the same time.
Sustainability is becoming a competitive necessity, focusing on affordability and scale.
Upskilling opportunities
AI is reshuffling the job market, and that conversation is bigger than this article. But within it sits another opportunity: green jobs, and investing in the workforce of the future.
There are genuine opportunities in green skills: energy efficiency, circular economy thinking, circular design (IKEA is a good example of this in practice).
Green jobs are a sign of economic resilience and social equity: reducing turnover in key parts of the business, driving innovation, and building trust.
What this means in practice
- Rethink your supply chains. Localise, diversify, future-proof, and optimise costs in the process.
- Make resilience a value driver. Consumers and governments will pay for reliability, so build it into your products.
- Invest in ESG data. Transparency is an advantage, turning it into lower costs, better contracts and higher valuations.
- Upskill the workforce. Green jobs are an opportunity for future growth and essential to build resilience.
