Sustainability For Business Value & Market Leadership

Context

Competitiveness has become a defining priority for the EU amid intensified global competition and geopolitical tensions. However, restoring competitiveness must not come at the expense of sustainability. Instead, sustainability should be positioned as a catalyst for innovation, efficiency, and long-term market leadership.

As the regulatory framework continues to evolve, companies face growing complexity but also new opportunities. Unlocking the full business value of sustainability requires a clear roadmap that aligns corporate strategies with policy frameworks, fosters multi-stakeholder collaboration, and creates new market incentives for sustainable business models—instead of treating sustainability as a compliance obligation.

The 2025 European Sustainable Industry Summit will bring together companies, policymakers, and civil society to explore how sustainability can create tangible business benefits and competitive advantages, reinforcing Europe’s industrial leadership on the global scene.

Who should attend

• CEOs/C-Suite Level Representatives

• Sustainability Officers

• EU Policymakers

• Civil Society Organizations

About the High-Level Plenary

Following the insights of the Draghi Report, the European Commission has unveiled several initiatives (e.g., Competitiveness Compass, Omnibus Simplification Package and Clean Industrial Deal) aimed at streamlining business operations, amplifying investments for the green transition and boosting manufacturing capacities in green technologies.

This high-level plenary seeks to enrich the debate on fostering an environment where companies can thrive while being rewarded for their sustainability efforts. Speakers will explore pathways and tools to establish a long-term investment agenda, trusted partnerships, and concrete market opportunities that promote circular and net-zero solutions.

To leverage the full potential of the EU competitiveness agenda, the session will emphasise the following key priorities:

• boost the demand for sustainable products

• align on consumers’ needs, including in a B2B context

• include more sustainability criteria in public procurement

• foster international trade and partnerships

The focus will be on addressing the tension between short-term profitability and sustainability through well- designed policies that provide tangible economic incentives to reshape market dynamics, ultimately shifting from compliance to a business-driven approach that will unlock value and enhance competitiveness.

This Summit is for forward-thinking companies leading the charge in shaping the next era of corporate sustainability practices, advancing a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible Europe.

The industry of Europe is now at a pivotal moment, facing greater challenges than ever in the race to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, while advancing the transition toward a fully sustainable, resilient, and globally competitive economy. Achieving this change of direction requires concerted efforts and collaboration among all players.

Over two days, c-level representatives of business, European institutions, and civil society organisations will share invaluable knowledge and strategies to boost the engagement and impact of the European industry with stakeholders inside and outside Europe.