UN Global Compact Launches CMO Blueprint for Sustainability

The United Nations Global Compact has introduced the CMO Blueprint for Sustainable Growth, a strategic framework designed to help chief marketing officers (CMOs) align business growth with long-term environmental and societal value.

Announced at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the Blueprint offers practical guidance for marketing leaders to integrate sustainability into brand and business strategies. It was developed through the UN Global Compact’s CMO Think Lab, a working group of global marketing executives.

According to the UN Global Compact, the initiative advances three key goals: establishing a unified framework for sustainable marketing, providing an industry benchmark to accelerate progress, and building a collaborative ecosystem of brands and partners committed to transforming the role of marketing in sustainable development.

“The need for action has never been greater and neither has the opportunity. The CMO Blueprint is both a call to action and a roadmap. It reflects the insight and ambition of marketing leaders who are ready to lead businesses toward a more just, inclusive and resilient future.”

The Blueprint is built around five strategic pillars: growth strategy, brand strategy, innovation, communications, and collaboration. These pillars are supported by a digital hub that facilitates knowledge sharing, access to case studies, and tools to embed sustainability into marketing operations.

Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, emphasized the relevance of the Blueprint to the creative industry, saying it offers an opportunity for marketing teams to use their platforms to drive sustainability. “This blueprint provides a key opportunity for our industry to harness its boundless creativity and pioneer solutions that will echo far beyond Cannes Lions,” he said.