Rising economic pressures are undermining confidence in corporate sustainability plans, with 79 per cent of workers reporting that increased costs are forcing businesses to delay or scale back carbon reduction measures.

The findings, published in the inaugural Net Zero Reality Index by decarbonisation platform SaveMoneyCutCarbon, arrive alongside warnings from manufacturing bodies that high energy costs put Britain at risk of deindustrialisation. The data suggests that employees increasingly view environmental targets through the lens of commercial feasibility rather than corporate ambition.

According to the index, 66 per cent of workers believe net zero is treated primarily as a reporting exercise rather than a practical priority, while 65 per cent state that businesses would take sustainability more seriously if it delivered a clearer financial benefit. Furthermore, 25 per cent do not believe their employer will meet its net zero targets under current economic conditions, and 29 per cent observe a gap between public commitments and internal delivery.

The index indicates that the next phase of the industrial transition will be judged on efficiency gains, cost reduction, and measurable operational outcomes rather than commitments alone.