The Sustainability Conversation Is Not Dead, But the Disconnect Is Real
June 2025, By Ettie Etela
Earlier in the year, in my article, I asked if we were entering the “villain era” of corporate responsibility. It felt like the tide was turning, DEI commitments were being quietly shelved, environmental targets watered down, and companies that once led the charge on sustainability were suddenly going quiet.
Fast-forward to mid-2025, and things haven’t exactly moved in the right direction. Governments have missed global climate goals. Countries including the UK and Germany have backtracked on key net-zero targets. Major brands continue to scale back or delay sustainability initiatives, some quietly, others more openly.
And yet, amid all this regression, something hasn’t changed: consumers still care.
That’s not just anecdotal. It is something we have tracked wave-on-wave through our Say Do Sustainability Study (SDSS), now in its third year. Despite the political pushback, the climate fatigue, and the cost-of-living pressures, the public still shows strong concern for environmental and social issues. What has changed is how complex their choices have become.
Consumers Still Say They Care. So Why the Disconnect?
Sustainability as a conversation is still very much alive, especially among younger generations. Gen Z, in particular, continues to view climate responsibility, inclusivity, and ethical business as essential, not optional. However, as we have seen in the latest SDSS wave, there remains a sharp disconnect between intention and behaviour.
People say they want to make sustainable choices, but when it comes to everyday decisions, price and convenience win out. This is not hypocrisy. It’s frustration. In a world where sustainable options often come with a premium or added effort, many consumers feel stuck between what they want to do and what they can do.
Even as brands step back, consumers are still looking forward.
We are at a point where the burden of sustainability has been quietly shifted onto individuals, while systems and institutions ease off the gas. And the gap this creates, the Say–Do gap, is widening, not closing.
Why This Still Matters for Brands
Brands that assume consumer values are weakening because actions don’t immediately match will misread the room entirely.
What we see through SDSS is that people are watching more closely than ever. They want brands to lead, not lecture, and to help make sustainable choices easier, more affordable, and more visible.
And when brands backtrack? People remember.
Those who continue to embed sustainability into their offering, even when it’s not trending, are more likely to retain long-term trust. Purpose doesn’t need to be loud. It just needs to be consistent.
Listening Harder, Responding Smarter
That’s why we’re launching our new insight series, Cracking the Consumer Code, starting with a webinar on Why Consumers Do One Thing and Say Another. It’s not about blaming consumers for the Say–Do gap, it’s about understanding the real-world pressures behind it and helping brands build smarter, more empathetic strategies.
Because in this moment when the conversation feels quieter in boardrooms, but louder in living rooms we need insight that goes deeper. Beyond stated intention. Beyond sentiment tracking. Towards a more human, grounded view of what drives decisions.
The Future Still Hinges on Action
If we mistake consumer constraint for disinterest, we risk missing the real story. People haven’t stopped caring about sustainability, they have just been asked to carry the weight of it alone for too long. And now more than ever, they’re looking for brands to walk the walk.
So no! The sustainability conversation isn’t dead. But if we want to stay part of it, we need to shift how we listen, how we measure, and how we lead.
Join us as we unpack this more in our first webinar, and in future waves of SDSS. Because one thing is clear: this is still one of the most important conversations we can have.
Click here to join our webinar: https://live.zoho.com/xkcf-kbw-dzd
If you’re interested in learning more about the Say Do Sustainability Study and how it can benefit your business, contact us today at info@mm-eye.com or use the form below to book a consultation.