BCG worked with Decathlon to embed accessibility, sustainability, profit and growth into a circularity model that forms the heart of Decathlon’s strategy to be the world’s largest lowest impact sports retail company.
BCG’s Value-Based Approach to Sustainable Operations
Many companies are setting emissions goals or net zero targets and increasing operational sustainability to achieve them. Getting on the path to achieve emissions targets enables organizations to stay ahead of new regulations, maintain access to investors’ capital, and retain and attract top talent. Following that path can also bring financial benefits—savings from operational efficiency, revenue growth from market expansion, and new revenue streams—all of which help to offset the costs of working with suppliers to address Scope 3 emissions.
Together with Quantis and Inverto, BCG works with companies to achieve emissions and net zero targets so they can stay ahead of a changing regulatory landscape, sure up access to key talent and materials, and drive lasting competitive advantage.
Here are just some of the ways we help clients unlock new value from sustainable operations:
Sustainable Manufacturing
Although most companies have set ambitious Scope 1 and 2 reduction targets and are committed to achieving them, concerns about incurring higher costs pose a major obstacle. We help companies decarbonize operations while improving efficiency so they not only lower emissions but also realize financial value and reduce risks. For example, by switching to renewable energy, clients can reduce their carbon footprint and insulate themselves from oil price fluctuations.
Sustainable Supply Chains and Procurement
For most large companies, greenhouse gas emissions from the supply chain—Scope 3 emissions—make up the largest share of their total carbon footprint. Addressing these emissions isn't just about environmental impact; it's a powerful lever for value creation. We help clients optimize for carbon reductions in their supply chain networks to cut costs alongside emissions. We help them segment suppliers and engage with them to achieve the most impact—from assisting them in setting new sustainable procurement standards to incentivizing decarbonization. Our experts in sustainable procurement and sustainable supply chain consulting ensure that companies have a solid sustainable supply chain strategy in place to create lasting value and impact.
Circular Economy
By transitioning to the circular economy, companies can help unlock $4.5 trillion of GDP growth worldwide by 2030. This paradigm of production and consumption will generate jobs, improve the quality of life, reduce waste, and create growth opportunities for the private sector. BCG helps clients shift away from the traditional take-make-dispose model and envision a new one that is regenerative by design.
Design to Sustainable Value
Design to Sustainable Value can enable companies to address key challenges in today's turbulent environment: eroding market share for incumbent brands, diminished profit margins, rising regulatory pressure, and evolving consumer and customer expectations. By reimagining products to optimize for cost, consumer needs, and sustainability, clients can grow market share, protect margins of core products, create agile teams, and meet regulatory and corporate sustainability targets.
Our Clients’ Success in Sustainable Operations
Client Impact
What happened when Sysco chose to ramp up its sustainability efforts? It created powerful opportunities for cost cutting and growth—for both the company and its clients.
Client Impact
BCG partnered with the Casillo Group to build a brand and business model for a breakthrough food product that’s good for us, good for the planet, and good for business.
Alberto Milvio, former CFO of Autostrade per l’Italia Group, and Concetta Testa, head of sustainability, share how the company is working to realize sustainable infrastructure.
North America's largest tire distributor aimed to stop the wasteful disposal of used tires—and became a transformative model of circularity. Hear from ATD leaders about their partnership with BCG.
Our Sustainable Operations Partnerships and Products
We work with a diverse set of high-impact partners across global policymaking bodies, conveners, standard setters, innovators, and sector-specific organizations to drive climate and sustainability outcomes. Our collaborations span strategic advisory, coalition building, clean tech financing, emissions reduction programs, risk mitigation, adaptation planning, and more—partnering with groups such as the COP Presidencies, World Economic Forum, Breakthrough Energy, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and Science Based Targets Network, among many others, to drive tangible societal and planetary impact.
Circelligence by BCG
Circelligence calculates a company's circularity, helping clients advance sustainability and maximize value with fewer raw materials.
Supply Chain Net Zero Academy
BCG’s best-in-class sustainability learning platform upskills suppliers and procurement teams so they can accelerate Scope 3 decarbonization and their journey to net zero.
Our Insights on Sustainable Operations
Video
October 29, 2025
Reinventing Products for Profit, Performance, and Planet Through Design to Sustainable
Value
Alejandro Navarro shows how BCG’s Design to Sustainable Value can help companies cut costs, boost margins, and reduce emissions, turning disruption into opportunity.
Video
October 13, 2025
Turning Supply Chains into Climate Opportunity
Pierre-François Thaler and Dexter Galvin of EcoVadis join BCG’s Diana Dimitrova to reveal how tackling Scope 3 emissions can help companies cut costs and unlock major returns.
Video
September 25, 2025
The Missing Logistics Link in Sustainability
Joerg Wiese of the Kuehne Climate Center highlights why leaders must frame climate action as a business opportunity and build coalitions to scale their efforts.
Article
September 23, 2025
At most companies, Scope 3 emissions from suppliers are a much bigger issue than emissions from internal operations. They’re also often overlooked in decarbonization programs.
Article
September 8, 2025
Headlines may suggest climate investing is dead, but a confluence of tailwinds is creating opportunities in low-carbon technologies as well as in circularity, adaptation, and resilience solutions.
Slideshow
September 16, 2025
Despite public signals of retreat, companies are quietly accelerating climate action where it creates business value—generating financial returns and long-term resilience through targeted investments and digital tools.
Meet Some of Our Sustainable Operations Consulting Team
BCG’s sustainable operations consulting team has deep expertise in sustainable manufacturing, sustainable procurement strategy, ESG in procurement, ESG in supply chains, and more. Here are some of our experts in sustainable operations.
