A new Deloitte survey of 23,000 Gen Z and Millennial workers across 44 countries delivers a stark message to supply chain executives: environmental performance is no longer optional—it's become a competitive advantage in talent retention and recruitment.
Key Takeaways
- 70% of Gen Z and Millennials consider environmental credentials important when evaluating job opportunities, making sustainability a talent retention issue
- 40% reject offers or leave roles where company values don't align with their environmental expectations, creating direct business impact
- Half of younger workers actively push employers to improve environmental performance, including supply chain operations
- Over 70% have experienced extreme weather events personally, creating urgency around corporate environmental action
- Companies must demonstrate environmental responsibility throughout supply chains, not just direct operations, to meet workforce expectations
The Numbers Don't Lie: Environmental Credentials Drive Career Decisions
Deloitte's 2025 survey reveals that 70% of Gen Z and Millennial respondents consider a company's environmental credentials important when evaluating job opportunities. More significantly, 25% actively research environmental policies before accepting offers, while 15% have left jobs due to sustainability concerns.
The most striking finding: approximately 40% report rejecting offers or leaving roles where company values don't align with their own environmental expectations. With Gen Z and Millennials expected to comprise 74% of the global workforce by 2030, these statistics represent a fundamental shift in talent management strategy that supply chain leaders cannot ignore.
Supply Chain Accountability: Beyond Direct Operations
The survey indicates that roughly half of respondents have actively pushed employers to improve environmental performance—and this pressure extends directly to supply chain operations. Elizabeth Faber, Global Chief People & Purpose Officer at Deloitte, notes that these generations are "re-evaluating the capabilities they need to succeed and the support they want from their employers."
This scrutiny encompasses the entire value chain, from supplier selection to transportation methods. Companies can no longer compartmentalize sustainability efforts within direct operations while ignoring supply chain environmental impact. The data shows that 25% of respondents research a company's environmental impact before purchasing products, indicating that supply chain transparency affects both talent acquisition and customer loyalty.
The Urgency Factor: Climate Anxiety Drives Workplace Expectations
Two-thirds of survey respondents report feeling anxious about environmental issues, while over 70% have experienced extreme weather events within the past year. This personal exposure to climate impact translates directly into workplace expectations for environmental action.
Financial Commitment: Paying More for Sustainable Operations
More than half of Deloitte survey respondents indicate willingness to pay more for sustainable goods and services. This consumer behavior directly impacts supply chain decision-making, as companies must balance cost optimization with environmental performance to meet both employee and customer expectations.
Mattias Medert, Global Head of Sustainability at SAP, emphasized the generational shift in his LinkedIn response to the survey: "Our world stands at a critical turning point. The risks from environmental, economic and social crises are growing—and we are running out of time to act." His acknowledgment that older generations are "struggling to make the big, globally aligned and effective changes that are needed" underscores the urgency younger workers bring to supply chain sustainability.
Practical Implementation: From Values to Action
The survey reveals that environmental values translate into practical workplace actions. Gen Z and Millennial employees are choosing electric or hybrid vehicles, upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, and researching brands before purchases. These personal sustainability practices create expectations for similar corporate environmental performance.
The Competitive Advantage: Environmental Performance as Talent Strategy
The Deloitte survey data suggests that environmental performance has become a competitive differentiator in talent markets. Companies that proactively address supply chain sustainability will gain advantages in recruiting and retaining the 74% of the workforce that Gen Z and Millennials will represent by 2030.
This demographic shift requires supply chain leaders to integrate environmental performance metrics into operational decision-making. The survey shows that younger workers expect transparency and action across the entire value chain, not just corporate sustainability statements.
The New Reality of Supply Chain Talent Management
The Deloitte survey establishes environmental performance as a critical factor in talent acquisition and retention strategies. With 70% of Gen Z and Millennial workers prioritizing environmental credentials in job decisions, supply chain sustainability has evolved from a nice-to-have to a business imperative.
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