On-Demand Decarbonize by Design: How Product Sustainability Fuels Business Growth

Masterclass Key Takeaways

Despite headlines hinting at a “sustainability slowdown,” the data tells a very different, but encouraging story. In our recent masterclass with PwC’s David Linich and Makersite CEO Neil D’Souza, we dug into the real business levers behind climate action and decarbonization. Spoiler alert: they’re not just about ESG scores. They’re about growth, resilience, and bottom-line performance.

Sustainability isn’t dead. It’s maturing

PwC’s latest State of Decarbonization study found that more companies are increasing their climate ambitions than pulling back—37% of companies are stepping up their goals, compared to just 16% dialing them down. Many of those lowering targets are simply recalibrating early, overly ambitious goals to reflect more realistic roadmaps. In just five years, there’s been a 9x increase in companies setting emissions reduction targets.

Scope 3 is the new frontier—and the biggest opportunity

Progress on Scope 1 and 2 is real, but Scope 3 remains the largest untapped lever. Why? It’s tough to tackle, but it’s also where most value chain emissions, and business value, live. Most enterprises still rank low in supplier engagement maturity. That’s where tools like product carbon footprinting and collaborative design come in.

Product sustainability drives growth. Literally. 

Sustainable products deliver measurable ROI. PwC found that companies marketing products with sustainability attributes are seeing a 6–25% revenue uplift, through price premiums, increased purchase intent, and entirely new revenue streams like circular business models. Double claims, “durable + PFAS-free”, are particularly powerful, boosting purchase intent by up to 30%.

The business case isn’t one-and-done. It’s a drumbeat

One of the biggest blockers? Failing to make (and maintain) the business case. Leaders need to advocate for decarbonization like they would any core investment, with a repeatable story, clear ROI, and alignment to strategic priorities. Capital allocation is key. Leading companies are ring fencing budgets for decarbonization or applying internal carbon prices to support longer-term investments.  

Digital product twins are redefining what’s possible

Legacy LCA methods don’t scale, but scalable, AI-driven platforms can. With digital twins, manufacturers can simulate cost, carbon, risk, and compliance trade-offs in real-time across entire product portfolios, not just pilot SKUs. The shift: From once-a-year compliance reports to daily design decisions.

Circularity is suddenly more economical

Thanks to tariffs, raw material volatility, and shifting customer preferences, circular business models that didn’t pencil out before are now financially viable. But unlocking that value requires scenario planning and data orchestration at scale. From reuse to take-back programs, sustainability and margin of growth are finally aligning.  

Why it Matters

Product sustainability is becoming a top priority for both sales teams and engineers, and for good reason. According to PwC, by 2030, over one-third of global company revenues will come from climate-focused solutions—think lightweight products, alternative fuels, and circular business models for B2B and consumers. It’s clear: meaningful climate action and business growth now go hand in hand.

What You Can Do on Monday

If you’re not ready to overhaul your entire product sustainability strategy (yet), start here:

• Assess your product sustainability maturity: Take stock of your cross-functional coordination, LCA capabilities, and supplier engagement efforts. Understand your current baseline and identify where to improve. 

• Build (and sustain) the business case: Clarify how product sustainability directly supports revenue, margin, and compliance goals. Revisit it often to maintain leadership support and investment. 

• Explore design levers for Scope 3: Pinpoint where your product and sourcing choices influence emissions and cost. Focus efforts where they’ll yield both carbon reduction and commercial value. 

• Equip Sales & Marketing with the right tools: Provide clear, credible messaging and ROI calculators to help teams communicate sustainability claims effectively, especially in B2B contexts. 
• Pilot scalable digital tools: Trial digital twins or rapid LCA platforms on a small product set to evaluate speed, cost, and business insight potential before scaling up. 

Take Action

Watch the full masterclass and download PwC’s State of Decarbonization report for sector insights, value chain strategies, and practical playbooks.

Need help scaling your product sustainability efforts? Makersite’s experts are ready to help.