A Comparison of Sustainability and Sustainable Value in Three Industries: Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Food.

Abstract

The future and value of firms, their industries and the economy may well hinge in the long run on the outcome of sustainability efforts across a multitude of industries on a global basis. The authors have previously reported on the sustainability programs and sustainable value in the Food and Beverage industry using twenty of the Top 100 Food and Beverage Firms as a surrogate for the industry’s status in this regard. The objective of the current research is to compare the results from the study of the Food Industry to that of the Chemical and Pharmaceutical industries.

The comparison will be made using sustainability program category as defined by the authors, ratings based on the rubric developed by the authors and the overall sustainability score for each firm. These results will be contrasted with each firm’s revenue and income over a five-year period from 2013 through 2017. An in depth analysis and critique will be presented with the objective of identifying the effect of financials on sustainability and sustainability on financial performance.