PepsiCo, Microsoft & Google: Why CSOs are Important

Companies need to reach net zero by 2050 in order to align with the Paris Agreement.

The aim of the agreement is to keep global warming to 1.5°C, to stop irreversible damage to the planet's ecosystem. 

In Forbes Research 2025 State of Sustainability Survey, the company found that 79% of companies now have a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO).

The research was based on more than 1,100 global executives with a minimum of US$500m in annual revenue.

What did the research find?

Forbes found that as the role is growing in importance more executives are engaging with them, finding that more than double the amount of leaders from 2024 said they collaborate with their CSO, sitting at 43%.

The role is in need of more financial support, Forbes says that 93% of CSOs expect a budget increase in the next 12 months.

Forbes says that the organisational prominence of the role is increasing, with 31% of CSOs now taking the lead role for sustainability strategy.

More than three quarters of CSOs reported that sustainability governance is a core pillar of the organisation’s long term business strategy, alongside balancing regulatory compliance with broader sustainability goals.

Forbes found that CSOs were very confident in their roles, with 83% saying they believe they are more committed to advancing sustainability within their organisation than other peers are.

Around 55% of CSOs said that they are confident their organisation can achieve financial outcomes whilst sticking to sustainable goals.

Why are Chief Sustainability Officers important?

EY reports that an organisation's ability to address sustainability can have a significant impact on its performance, growth and ability to attract financial capital.

The company's Global Risk Survey found that 66% of boards say that their enterprise can only be resilient if it is environmentally sustainable.

It says that due to challenges such as disparities between sustainability reports and financial projections, CSOs have become essential in driving the sustainability strategy and solutions within an organisation.

CSOs now play an integral part in supporting organisations to achieve sustainability targets, operational changes and defining processes, according to EY.

EY is a global professional services firm that offers support to customers to meet sustainability goals.

“More and more firms are systematically setting aside time in board meetings to discuss ESG matters and are also seeking external insights by collaborating with sustainability partners,” says Renaud Breyer, Partner and Sustainability Leader, EY Luxembourg.

Examples of successful Chief Sustainability Officers

A lot of companies that are headed by CSOs are making important moves towards net zero goals within organisations.

Jim Andrew - Pepsico

Jim took on the role of CSO at PepsiCo in 2020 and has taken on several projects to move PepsiCo towards sustainability goals.

He leads a holistic transformation, pep+, taking important steps to reduce PepsiCo’s environmental impact and promote sustainability practices across its value chain. 

He has reached various goals within his time as CSO, reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 33% since 2015, alongside heading initiatives like the ‘Sustainable Operations from the Start’ programme.

“There’s a perception that sustainability always costs more, but we’ve found that it doesn’t have to,” said Jim Andrew at Sustainability LIVE Climate Week NYC 2024.

Kate Brandt - Google

Kate has led Google through many sustainability milestones throughout her time at the company. 

She has headed the use of 100% renewable energy for seven years, alongside maintaining carbon neutrality and introducing circular packaging for products. 

Outside of improving Google's sustainable operations, by 2030 she will head Google’s aim to help individuals, cities and other partners to collectively reduce a gigaton of carbon equivalent emissions every year.

Kate says “As the climate crisis continues to demand urgent action, women are stepping into leadership roles to drive sustainability across industries.”

“From tech giants to luxury brands, their influence spans sectors, proving that bold leadership is key to creating lasting environmental and social change.”

Melanie Nakagawa - Microsoft 

Under Melanie’s leadership Microsoft aims to become carbon negative by 2030 and remove all historical carbon emissions since it was founded by 2050.

She oversees US$1bn, Microsoft's Climate Fund which aims to accelerate the development of carbon reduction technologies.

She takes a data driven approach improving environmental performance across operations by leveraging Microsoft's technological capabilities.

“Our ambitious 2030 targets to become carbon negative, water positive, zero waste and to protect biodiversity require continued innovation across every aspect of our operations, and we’re committed to sharing what we learn along the way,” Melanie says.