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The Sustainability Value Creation Wheel: Your Blueprint for Business Transformation
➡️Turning Purpose Into Performance
Dylan Brown
August 12, 2025
In partnership with
This week’s reading time: 5 minutes
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When implemented strategically, sustainability can:
Strengthen trust, loyalty, and stakeholder confidence
Drive operational alignment and risk resilience
Foster innovation and market differentiation
Enable lasting value and scalable transformation
More Readings
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Terralyn is opening a private beta program for sustainability professionals where our team of experts will integrate Terralyn’s agentic capabilities into your daily workflows. If you are interested in participating, we would love to hear from you!
Feel free to find some time on my calendar link: https://calendly.com/terralyn/meeting-with-mason-at-terralyn
Mason Corliss
Founder, Terralyn
Want to get featured in the spotlight? Reply to this email: [email protected]
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Want to get featured in the spotlight? Reply to this email: [email protected]
Intro
In today's business landscape, sustainability isn't just a nice-to-have—it's the engine driving long-term value creation. The Sustainability Value Creation Wheel, developed by Antonio Vizcaya Abdo, offers a powerful framework that transforms abstract sustainability goals into concrete business actions and measurable outcomes.
Think of it as your organization's compass for navigating the complex intersection of profit, purpose, and planetary impact.
Main
The Heart of the Matter: Core Business Actions
At the center of the wheel lies the fundamental question every organization must answer: What does the business do? This isn't about mission statements or aspirations—it's about the tangible actions your organization takes every day.
The genius of this framework is how it connects these core actions to both strategic initiatives (the inner ring) and value outcomes (the outer ring), creating a holistic approach to sustainable business transformation.
The inner ring presents eight interconnected strategic pillars that translate core business activities into sustainable practices:
Purpose & Direction
Define Purpose: Anchor sustainability in your company's reason to exist
Align Governance: Ensure leadership ownership and clear accountability
Strategic Integration
Embed in Strategy: Integrate sustainability into plans, operations, and risk frameworks
Innovate Solutions: Develop products and processes that create positive impact
Measurement & Engagement
Measure What Matters: Track the right data and metrics to guide decisions
Engage the Value Chain: Collaborate with partners to extend sustainability beyond your company
Communication & Growth
Communicate Transparently: Report progress clearly and credibly to all stakeholders
Reinvest to Scale: Expand successful initiatives and deepen impact
Main
The outer ring illuminates the tangible benefits that flow from executing these strategies effectively:
1. Clarity of Direction and Long-term Focus
Organizations with embedded sustainability gain strategic clarity, helping leaders make decisions that balance short-term pressures with long-term value creation.
2. Stronger Leadership and Informed Decisions
Sustainability frameworks enhance decision-making quality by providing comprehensive data about environmental, social, and governance impacts.
3. Operational Alignment and Risk Resilience
By integrating sustainability into operations, companies build resilience against regulatory changes, resource scarcity, and reputational risks.
4. Differentiation and Future-Ready Offerings
Sustainable innovation creates competitive advantages through products and services designed for tomorrow's market demands.
5. Broader Influence Across Systems and Markets
Leading companies expand their impact beyond organizational boundaries, influencing entire industries and supply chains.
Main
Start with Assessment
Map your current activities against the eight strategic pillars
Identify gaps and opportunities for improvement
Prioritize based on your industry context and stakeholder expectations
Build Incrementally
Don't try to tackle everything at once
Select 2-3 strategic pillars to focus on initially
Create clear metrics for each initiative
Engage Your Ecosystem
Share this framework with your leadership team
Involve stakeholders in defining what success looks like
Use the wheel as a communication tool to align efforts across departments
WRAPPING UP
🔮 CLOSING THOUGHT: The Bottom Line
The Sustainability Value Creation Wheel isn't just another framework—it's a practical tool for organizations serious about creating lasting value while addressing our world's most pressing challenges. By connecting daily business actions to strategic initiatives and measurable outcomes, it provides a clear path forward for companies ready to lead in the sustainable economy.
Whether you're just beginning your sustainability journey or looking to enhance existing initiatives, this framework offers a structured approach to ensure your efforts create real, lasting value—for your business, your stakeholders, and the planet.
Ready to put the Sustainability Value Creation Wheel to work in your organization? Start by downloading the framework and scheduling a team workshop to assess your current position and chart your path forward. What strategic pillar will you tackle first?
P.S. When you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:
Download our Dashboard GHG Accounting Scope 1, 2 & 3. Customize it with your organization's numbers to build a compelling business case.
Refer 2 other sustainability leader (see “Click to Share” button below)
Book a Consultation: Click HERE
GHG Accounting Strategies (Scope 1, 2 & 3)
ISO 14001 Compliance (Environmental Management)
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