Sustainability Meets Growth 2025

Sustainability can also serve as a catalyst for innovation, enabling SMEs and mid-sized companies to unlock new business models and revenue streams. For instance, some companies are re-evaluating their production and operating models to identify overlooked opportunities in materials previously considered as waste. Ananas Anam, a UK-based start-up that produces Piñatex – an alternative to leather used in the fashion and apparel industry – has gone down this route.11 The company was inspired by traditional garments made with plant-based fibres in the Philippines and sought low-cost, natural materials to develop a more sustainable substitute for leather. This led to the creation of Piñatex,12 a textile made from pineapple leaves – a waste by-product of pineapple harvesting. Today, Piñatex is used by major fashion brands such as Hugo Boss and Paul Smith, transforming a waste stream into a profitable product. The above examples highlight how sustainability can affect operational efficiency, attract talent and create business models and revenue. While they demonstrate the business case for sustainability, the greater challenge lies in effectively integrating it into a company’s operational and corporate strategy, which is explored in the sections that follow.1.3 Unlocking new business models and revenue Sustainability Meets Growth: A Roadmap for SMEs and Mid-Sized Manufacturers 8