The event drew record-breaking attendance, fueled by a sense of practical optimism we haven’t seen in a while. Despite the headwinds (politics, polarisation, financial pressure), Climate Week had an honesty and urgency that cut through. Revolt hosted two packed-out sessions:The Cost of Silence, digging into why green-hushing is hurting business, and Green Giants, a look at the next wave of billion dollar brands leveraging sustainable growth. 

Couldn’t make it to the Big Apple? Here’s what stood out — read on to learn more about the four big shifts shaping the future of sustainable business.

Right now, most companies are still more worried about the risk of saying the wrong thing than the cost of saying nothing at all. Greenhushing is on the rise, with 63% of FTSE 100 companies at risk. We get it. In a polarised world, it can feel safer to stay quiet. But our latest report, The Cost of Silence, shows the opposite: those who communication a strong environmental performance achieve a 6% higher EBITDA. Those who don’t may be missing out on growth, loyalty and leadership. Despite ongoing frustration from CSOs about having to prove the business value repeatedly, the evidence is finally out there. 
 
Remember to prioritise progress over perfection. Don’t wait for the perfect story. Just start telling the real one. Show measurable changes. Show intent. And be real about the challenges you are facing. 

Across multiple panels, one message was clear: too often sustainability is smothered in jargon and it’s killing traction.  
The most effective brands are using clear, human, and audience-first messaging to cut through complexity and polarization. The shift we’re seeing is from ESG acronyms to real-life impact. From reports to relevance. From policy briefs to plain English.
 
Whether it was L’Oréal’s call for one consistent story, or PetSmart proving that people will pay more when you speak to what they actually care about (everyone wants healthy pets or healthier lifestyles), the message was clear: illustrate the tangible health benefits of products upfront (improved coat and skin, digestive improvements, good taste etc), and use sustainability (minimally processed, cleaner ingredients) as the follow-up. 

The takeaway? Speak human. Cut the complexity. Show how sustainability makes real life better. Then back it up with facts.  
Our upcoming Hugging the Bear research launching at Sustainable Brands will shed new light on this, so watch this space.   

The business case is no longer a nice-to-have. Climate and nature action is increasingly tied to growth, resilience and risk mitigation – not just reputation or regulation. Whether it’s water, soil, carbon or supply chains, companies are waking up to the idea that cash flows depend on nature flows. At Anthesis House and beyond, we heard the same call: transform risk into resilience. That means knowing your exposure to climate and nature risk, and embedding it into strategy, capital planning, and leadership conversations. 
From insetting in supply chains to investing in regenerative practices, this is about future-proofing operations and protecting value.    

At Green Giants at Ten Years, we explored what the next generation of sustainability leaders looks like. A decade ago, billion-dollar sustainable businesses led with conviction, courage and contrarian thinking. Today? It’s about creativity, collaboration, compassion and commercial acumen to the mix. This is a more mature era of sustainability. It’s not about shouting the loudest. It’s about telling the right story, to the right people, on the right stage. To learn more about leadership in sustainability during uncertain times, read this piece by our Leadership and Change team.  
 
We hope these takeaways help fuel your own sustainability journey. And if there’s anything you want to dig into or learn how Revolt can support you, get in touch with roman@revoltlondon.com.

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