10. Society as a Stakeholder

Business leaders in sustainability 3.0 go beyond the shareholder-centric approach to view society as a primary stakeholder. In a societal ecosystem approach, the focus is on solving societal challenges, and companies view their impact on society through a societal and planetary lens to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative ones on people. Unconventional partnerships also help deliver a more exponential impact, where every member is an essential part of solving a systemic challenge. Use of data and digitalization can accelerate transformation. In an in-depth case, Scania shows this approach in action in driving the shift toward sustainable transport and finding their X-Factor. Trine, an investment platform for off-grid solar energy in sub-Saharan Africa, and digital health and e-commerce companies Zalando, Bima, and Babylon Health, part of Swedish investor Kinnevik’s portfolio, further showcase how a societal and planetary lens and digitalization can accelerate the positive impact on society.