Chief Sustainability Officer Outlook 2026: Katharina Stenholm

Sustainability is becoming a business issue. Rising energy costs, fragile supply chains and geopolitical disruption are forcing companies to connect sustainability with competitiveness, resilience and growth. In the World Economic Forum’s inaugural Chief Sustainability Officers’ Outlook 2026, 103 sustainability leaders share their outlook for the year ahead. Nearly two-thirds expect global sustainability progress to hold steady or accelerate over the next 12 months. And 64% say a stronger business case will be a leading driver of progress over the next three years. But how can companies turn #sustainability ambitions into tangible business value? Katharina Stenholm of dsm-firmenich, a member of the Forum’s Chief Sustainability Officers Community, explains what this shift means for the people tasked with delivering it.