NORTHAMPTON, Mass., February 4, 2025 /CSRwire/ - A new national study from 3BL, in partnership with TriplePundit and Glow, reveals a striking trend shaping the sustainability and social impact landscape in 2025: the growing role of individual action. According to the research, 36% of Americans believe individuals—not government or business—will drive the most positive impact on social and environmental issues this year. This sentiment is even stronger among highly engaged sustainability consumers, rising to 41%.

As organizations navigate evolving regulations and stakeholder expectations, public demand for corporate responsibility remains steady across political lines. The study found that while institutional frameworks may shift, Americans continue to expect meaningful action from the businesses they support.

Key Consumer Trends

• Political and Generational Shifts: Republicans (22%) favor business-led impact, while Democrats (25%) lean on government. Gen Z trusts institutions, while Baby Boomers (38%) believe in individual action but show skepticism (26%).
• Business Priorities: Consumers expect action on employee well-being (56%), sustainable packaging (54%), and ecosystem restoration (49%).
• Sustainability Behaviors: More consumers are shopping secondhand, reducing air travel, and cutting meat consumption.

The 3Bs of Impact Communications: A Framework for Businesses

To help organizations align with shifting expectations, 3BL introduces the 3Bs of Impact Communications:

• Blueprint: Develop a plan based on the landscape.
• Benchmark: Analyze and optimize strategies for impact.
• Breakthrough: Deliver the right message to the right audience.

For more details and to access the full report, visit here. 

About 3BL 
3BL is the leading sustainability and social impact communications partner, connecting organizations’ stories of purpose and progress with the audiences who matter most.

3BL partners with over 1,500 companies – from global corporations and mid-sized enterprises to NGOs and nonprofits – to elevate their reputations as players in the world of responsible business. We do this through unrivaled news and content distribution, bespoke storytelling support, and our digital media division, TriplePundit.

3BL

3BL

3BL has revolutionized how brands share their corporate sustainability and social impact progress.

By leveraging our proprietary technology and expansive distribution network, you can easily access disparate and hard-to-reach stakeholders. And, with our best in class analytics suite, you can measure the impact of your ESG initiatives and build a positive reputation that lasts.

Our Brand Studio combines the editorial expertise of TriplePundit's sustainability communicators and the reach of 3BL’s unrivaled distribution network, so you can find new ways to tell your stories better and share them more widely across your target audiences.

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