Corporate Sustainability Must Stand on Its Own Two Feet

Phantm’s recent Autumn Bloom event in Sydney was a rare cross-industry moment to pause, connect, and collaborate on the urgent climate realities we all face as citizens and professionals.

Held at Green Moustache in North Sydney, this invite-only gathering brought together leaders from Unilever, Coca-Cola South Pacific, Modibodi, Amazon, Danone, and many more. These were not just attendees, they were contributors coming together for a rare moment to step away from short-term firefighting and face the long-term realities.

Collaboration across industries is rare, but it’s exactly what’s needed to challenge the status quo and unlock new models for action.

“What would your children think of the decisions you made last quarter?”

One of the most powerful moments of the day came from a sneak peek of Damon Gameau’s new film, Future Council. Shared with the room by Damon himself, the trailer prompted reflection not just as professionals, but as parents, citizens, and stewards of future generations.

Damon referenced a moment where a young member of the Future Council asks a CEO, “What would your children think of the decisions you made last quarter?”

Behind the economic pressures and competing business priorities, this question cuts to the core of sustainability leadership. It reminded everyone in the room that sustainability is not just a KPI.

It’s a responsibility. And we’re falling behind.

It’s time to redefine ROI

A recurring theme throughout Autumn Bloom was financial viability. We need to shift the framing of sustainability as a cost-centre, compliance tick-box or reputational buffer. It must stand on its own two feet and prove its value to the bottom line.

That means moving beyond compliance, certifications, and risk mitigation and towards embedding sustainability into core business strategy. And that requires proving return on investment—not just in reduced emissions, but also in cost efficiency, brand differentiation, and long-term resilience.

This shift in thinking is already underway. But it needs leadership buy-in to scale. As one attendee noted, “We’re still treating sustainability like it’s optional. That mindset is holding us back.”

From compliance to competitive edge

For the leaders in the room, sustainability isn’t just another tick-box exercise. It’s a potential competitive advantage if it’s done with integrity, data, and a clear link to business performance.

But the barriers are real. Fragmented value chains, limited budgets and resources, inconsistent standards, and complex APCO reporting obligations make it difficult to act decisively.

That’s where Phantm comes in. We don’t offer generic advice. We offer deep materials expertise, strategic consulting, and packaging intelligence technologies that help businesses transition more sustainably and clearly prove, measure, and communicate this transition. Importantly, this proven methodology doesn’t just reduce impact, it can drastically reduce costs too, with us having identified millions in cost savings for our clients.

If you’re going to lead in this space, you need to show the receipts. Phantm helps you do that.

Look before you leap

Autumn Bloom wasn’t just another event. Leaders from across sectors shared openly, connected over shared frustrations, and aligned around a core belief: We need to go faster and move together.

The businesses present included: Unilever, WWF, Amazon, Coca-Cola South Pacific, Danone, Westpac, Pfizer, Australia Post, Mutti, Thankyou, KPMG Australia, Goodman Fielder, Australian Fashion Council (AFC), Modibodi, The Growth Activists, Coty, Guzman y Gomez, ARYZTA, Go-To Skincare, Scentre Group (Owner of Westfield destinations in Aus and NZ), PVH Brands, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, JCDecaux Australia and Sircel Limited.

They touch millions of lives and products, and their decisions about materials, supply chains, reporting, and accountability shape the sustainability landscape for everyone. And the real test of Autumn Bloom is not what happened in the room. It’s what happens next.

Corporate Sustainability needs to move on from vague greenwashy claims and PR-driven bolt-ons and instead focus on business strategies where sustainability is embedded in the decision-making. And accurate data is essential as the foundation of a packaging data asset fit for making better decisions.

Reducing the impact of your packaging has a triple-bottom-line effect, improving outcomes for the company’s profits, people, and the planet. So, if you're a leader ready to rethink your packaging, materials strategy, or reporting obligations, Phantm is here to help.

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