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Some companies have eased up on sustainability this year. With shifting federal priorities and changing incentives, a few firms are rethinking how much time and money they put toward environmental goals. Others have slowed their progress on emissions or delayed new initiatives altogether. The pullback might be temporary, but it comes at a time when supply chain emissions and accountability are more important than ever.
Take transportation, for example. The EPA reports that transportation accounted for 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2022, more than any other sector. Cars, trucks, aircraft and rail systems all contribute to that total, showing how deeply freight movement shapes the country’s environmental footprint.
Light-duty vehicles made up 57% of transportation emissions, followed by medium- and heavy-duty trucks at 23%, aircraft at 9%, and the rest divided among ships, rail and other sources. Those numbers show how much logistics and delivery decisions affect sustainability performance. “The transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to anthropogenic U.S. GHG emissions,” the EPA notes.
While some progress has slowed, sustainability remains a key part of many companies’ long-term strategies. According to a new report from MIT researchers, sustainability still ranks high on corporate agendas. In State of Supply Chain Sustainability 2025: Sustainability Still Matters, the authors found that even as some companies ease off public commitments, many continue to invest behind the scenes to strengthen environmental performance and transparency.
Yes, Sustainability Still Matters
According to MIT, sustainability hasn’t disappeared from corporate strategy, but it has evolved. Despite shifting policies and economic pressures, most companies are holding firm on their commitments and finding practical ways to balance cost, compliance and carbon reduction. Based on feedback from 1,200 professionals from nearly 100 different countries, the report shows how firms are moving from intention to measurable impact.
Some of the key findings include:
- Commitment remains strong. About 80% of companies say sustainability is important or extremely important to their long-term success. Even after major policy changes, 73% kept their commitments steady and 12% increased their efforts.
- Public accountability drives action. Firms with public sustainability goals are 74% more likely to invest in high-impact initiatives and include sustainability in daily decisions, MIT says.
- Scope 3 emissions are a persistent problem. Indirect emissions make up more than 75% of most corporate carbon footprints but remain the hardest to measure and reduce because of supplier data gaps and inconsistent reporting.
- Data quality is complicating the issue. About 70% of companies cite a lack of supplier-specific information as their biggest barrier to accurate Scope 3 accounting, followed by unclear methods and high tool costs.
- Economic uncertainty slows progress. More than half of companies that MIT surveyed say unclear ROI is the top reason they delay Scope 3 reductions, especially small and midsize businesses with limited budgets.
- Collaboration pays off. About 80% of organizations that join cross-industry collaborations report better supplier alignment, improved data quality and greater cost efficiency. MIT calls collaboration “not just an option but a necessity for credible emissions reduction.”
- Transportation sits at the center of it all. MIT reports that companies are focusing on operational efficiency through smarter routing, fuller loads and better fuel use as their top near-term strategy for cutting transportation-related emissions.
Embedding Sustainability Organization Wide
With most companies either continuing supply chain sustainability practices at the same level as in recent years or accelerating those efforts, MIT says the trend remains clear: Sustainability is now embedded in business strategy, supply chain management and investment decisions.
“What we found is strong evidence that sustainability still matters,” MIT Sustainable Supply Chain Lab’s Josué Velázquez Martínez told MIT News. “There are many things that remain to be done to accomplish those goals, but there’s a strong willingness from companies in all parts of the world to do something about sustainability.”
