Almost 80 percent of Dutch companies took action this year to make their business more sustainable. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on a survey conducted in September in the industrial, auto and retail and service sectors.

Almost 39 percent of companies say they have taken a combination of actions to become more sustainable. 20 percent state that they are particularly sustainable in the energy sector. 21 percent of the companies did not make their business operations more sustainable this year.

Companies that trade and rent real estate, as well as companies in the cultural, sports and leisure sectors, are primarily concerned with measures in the energy sector. Among other things, transport companies are doing more to reduce their emissions.

Lack of money to become more sustainable

A quarter of entrepreneurs state that they perceive “dependence on third parties” as an obstacle to sustainability. For example, companies from the gastronomy and cultural sectors often name the scarcity of financial resources as the main obstacle to sustainability.

One in three companies state that their business activities are largely or fully sustainable. According to Statistics Netherlands, this does not mean that the companies are actually fully sustainable. In their responses, companies may not compare themselves to fully sustainable industries, but rather to standards and sustainability opportunities within their own industry.