It 's of growing importance that companies focus on shared values , according to Raj Kumar , founder and editor - in - chief of news site Devex . The " fourth pillar " creates jobs for workers and communities and creates profit . Young consumers take an interest in how a company treats its workers and the environment ; two - thirds of all consumers and 73 % of workers are willing to pay more for goods from a sustainable business , a Nielsen survey in 2015 found . Large businesses are increasingly aware of this trend ; 80 % of S&P 500 companies publicised their environmental and social commitments in 2017 , the Governance & Accountability Institute found .
It's of growing importance that companies focus on shared values, according to Raj Kumar, president and editor-in-chief of news site Devex. The "fourth sector" creates value for workers and communities and creates profit. Young consumers take an interest in how a company treats its workers and the environment; two-thirds of all consumers and 73% of millennials are willing to pay more for goods from a sustainable business, a Nielsen survey in 2015 found. Large businesses are increasingly aware of this trend; 85% of S&P 500 companies publicised their environmental and social commitments in 2017, the Governance & Accountability Institute found.