Will Bloomberg Choose Between Sustainability and Business Results?

Jun 10, 2014 10:10 AM ET

Originally posted on Bloomberg Now.

Do companies have to choose between sustainability and business results? In our fourth annual sustainability report, which we’re releasing today, our answer is an emphatic no. We believe that sustainability is not only a moral imperative, but also a terrific business opportunity.

Our business was founded on a core belief that bringing transparency to capital markets fosters investor confidence, increases economic activity and serves an important social purpose. One of the ways we are building on that tradition today is by providing data on corporate sustainability to help leaders in business, finance and government make informed decisions. We recognize that our unique position at the intersection of technology, data and finance provides us an opportunity to leverage our strengths to drive meaningful change and create competitive advantage and value.

Our annual sustainability report outlines a new framework for the future of Bloomberg’s efforts, setting specific, actionable goals, targets and impact—both for us and our partners— that we aspire to reach by 2020. Our report is a call to action, challenging not just our employees, but also our customers, vendors and NGOs to work together to build companies, communities and economies that are more competitive, resilient and sustainable.

Contributed by Peter T. Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg L.P.