Sustainability commitments have serious consequences‎

Amid increasingly stiff competition for capital, one way for a business to stand out is to make strong social impact pledges. For example, companies can voluntarily commit to environmental impact goals in hopes of attracting sustainability-minded investors and lowering the cost of capital. However, it isn't easy to tell whether these commitments, in and of themselves, make a difference in the marketplace—or, for that matter, to the planet.