The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is no longer a symbolic title or the owner of glossy ESG reports. Today, the role is evolving fast, from strategic advisor to hands-on operator, responsible for embedding sustainability into the core of business functions and delivering measurable outcomes.
For sustainability professionals, this shift raises important questions: How can organisations better leverage the CSO role to drive impact? And what skills and structures are needed to make sustainability a business enabler, not just another narrative device?
Historically, the Chief Sustainability Officer’s remit was centred on high-level strategy: setting net zero targets, reporting against ESG frameworks, and ensuring regulatory compliance. While those responsibilities remain crucial, expectations have grown.
Organisations now want to see action. From supply chain decisions to energy use and internal culture, the CSO is increasingly accountable for delivering sustainability goals — not just setting them.
“We’re seeing the CSO role evolve from a strategy-focused position into one that’s fundamentally about execution,” says Johnny Goldsmith, Head of Sustainability at Hanson Search. “It’s not just about setting targets anymore — it’s about embedding sustainability into the business fabric, from finance to procurement, and driving real, measurable outcomes. The narrative is shifting from ‘doing good’ to building resilience and long-term value.”
This shift aligns with a broader trend: 69% of CEOs now see sustainability as a top growth opportunity, according to a recent Gartner survey. For CSOs, this means speaking the language of business outcomes, not just ethical imperatives.
One clear evolution of the CSO role is structural. Rather than building out large, centralised sustainability teams, leading companies are embedding sustainability experts within key departments — from finance and HR to comms, legal and procurement.
Why? Because change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in budget meetings, hiring decisions, supplier contracts, and brand positioning. A recent report from The Conference Board found that while many organisations say they prioritise sustainability, only 31% have fully integrated these programmes across the business.
Embedding sustainability into daily operations — and communications — requires a blend of influence, cross-functional leadership, and a nuanced understanding of internal culture. For comms professionals working alongside CSOs, this is where the partnership becomes strategic.
Gone are the days of sustainability being framed solely as “the right thing to do.” The modern Chief Sustainability Officer is expected to show how environmental and social strategies create value.
This could mean driving innovation through circular design, improving supplier resilience, lowering operational costs through energy savings, or enhancing employer brand and employee retention. According to IBM, companies that embed sustainability into their business model are 52% more likely to outperform peers on profitability, and ECB research found companies with higher emissions consistently pay higher interest rates.
For existing or aspiring CSOs, this commercial lens is non-negotiable. And for communications teams, the messaging must evolve too — from purpose-led storytelling to value-led reporting.
For those hiring into sustainability leadership roles, the brief must now go beyond “we want someone passionate about climate.”
Instead, it’s about identifying leaders who can operate across departments, influence the board, and translate ESG commitments into tangible results. Doing this successfully requires solid alignment between sustainability and comms departments.
For Chief Sustainability Officers working with comms professionals, the opportunity is significant: to partner on strategic messaging, crisis mitigation, investor comms, and internal behaviour change campaigns. As sustainability becomes a business-wide function, the comms-CSO relationship becomes increasingly vital.
The Chief Sustainability Officer has evolved from a policy architect to a business operator. This isn’t just a semantic shift — it’s a strategic one. For candidates, hiring managers, and comms professionals alike, understanding this evolution is key to unlocking sustainability’s full business potential.
As the world demands more from businesses, the CSO is becoming not only the voice of responsibility but the engine of resilience.
To find out how we could support your sustainability strategy, or for help finding your next CSO, get in touch.
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