Co-Authors: Krystallis, A., Apostolaki, S. & Alexopoulos, A.
The results of our recent survey on how Greek society perceives the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts of businesses operating in the country—the 2025 Hellenic ESG Barometer—have been released.
The survey, conducted through a representative sample of 1,000 adults (with a minor underrepresentation of individuals over 65 due to the mobile platform used), offers a clear reflection of public sentiment toward ESG. Despite growing awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Greek society exhibits deep skepticism about the commitment and integrity of businesses regarding ESG performance.
One of the most important findings is the low level of trust in companies' environmental and social performance. While some firms may position ESG as a strategic priority, the public remains unconvinced. When asked whether businesses “deliver on what they promise,” the responses revealed significant doubt. This indicates a gap between corporate ESG communication and public perception.
The Greek public largely believes that companies are driven more by profitability and competitive advantage than by genuine or moral motives when engaging in ESG. Notably, the motive of “moral obligation underlying ESG efforts” received the lowest score in the entire survey, suggesting that businesses are seen more as self-serving entities than as stewards of sustainable development (see Figure 1, below)
Figure 1. Please rate the performance of businesses in our country in the following areas of ESG / Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.