Create a Competitive Edge with Purpose, Not Just Profit
Expectations are shifting. Customers, investors and employees now demand authentic social impact, not just financial performance.
Edelman’s 2025 Brand Trust report found that 64 per cent of consumers buy, choose, or avoid brands based on their beliefs about what’s happening in society.
When expectations outpace compliance, the gap isn’t just a challenge—it’s a risk.
The leading organisations are already embedding social value into their business strategy to create long-term value.
You can too, with our support.
For a limited time, we’re providing some exclusive offers to become a Social Traders Supporter member.
Take up this digital membership and join the industry body in social performance, helping more than 300 business and government leaders deliver social value for a competitive advantage.
Social performance is in focus
Social performance is about creating social value through business. It covers all the impacts of business on employees, suppliers, customers and the wider community.
A recent KPMG study of more than 1300 global CEOs revealed a pragmatic shift—recognising that environmental and social factors are inextricably linked to financial performance.
ESG is no longer a side consideration; it’s a growth strategy.
Across our network, business leaders are focusing on social performance as central to sustainable value creation.
It’s how leading organisations build trust, resilience and competitive advantage.
The leaders know that social performance isn’t a tick-box exercise—it adds to business value.
It’s led by leadership, embedded across teams and driven by action, not compliance.
In fact, companies with a clear corporate purpose generated 58 per cent higher revenue than those without, according to the 2023 S&P Global 1200.
Getting ahead of the curve
We see change on the horizon and expect social performance to become a mandatory requirement for businesses to deliver and report.
In January 2025, we saw the introduction of Mandatory Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards for large businesses and this will expand over time to cover businesses of all sizes.
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) introduced assured integrated reporting on responsible corporate behaviour.
Australian business subsidiaries with ‘in scope’ parent companies or contracting with ‘in scope entities’ may be subject to new checks on human rights and environmental standards.
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has an open research project covering ‘human capital’ as a next consideration for mandatory disclosures.
It’s not a matter of if but when social performance will be part of mandatory reporting.
That’s why we’ve expanded our membership offerings to include support for delivering and reporting on social performance.
The “S” social taxonomy is being defined now and varies by company and industry.
We continue to provide our expertise in shaping this together with our members, adding to their competitive edge.
Since 2017, Social Traders has been certifying social enterprises in Australia.
As part of this, we collect more than 200 data points to help organisations understand, measure and report tangible social impact outcomes including jobs created and training delivered.
Our unique impact reports provide confidence to our members and mitigates social washing.
By becoming a member of Social Traders, we'll help you get ahead of the curve.
Expanding services in social performance
We’ve expanded our services to help organisations deliver social value across their business:
Increase supplier diversity, mitigate modern slavery and protect human rights
Identify initiatives that deliver positive community outcomes
Embed inclusive employment practices that foster fairness and belonging.
We help organisations move beyond regulation—integrating social performance into operations, strategies and reporting frameworks.
Smarter tools and reporting
We know for busy professionals, having access to tools that save time and deliver results helps. That’s why we’ve designed our member portal as a one-stop shop for resources, connections to certified social enterprises, and reporting to make the work easier—enhancing social performance with confidence.
With intuitive, self-serve functionality, businesses can:
Identify opportunities to improve social performance with diagnostic tools
Track, report and communicate your social outcomes with confidence
Find the right certified social enterprise faster
Access information to upskill and increase capability
Show your commitment to social value.
Teams dedicated to your success
The right support unlocks the greatest results. Our specialists team works in partnership with our members to achieve positive results.
Connections team: Creates tailored certified social enterprise lists, facilitates introductions and acts as an extension of your team and saves you time.
Advisory team: Partners with organisations ready to lead in social performance, offering strategic guidance to design and deliver innovative social initiatives at scale.
Shaping the future of good business
Customers and employees are watching closely and more organisations are investing in social impact strategies to future-proof their business when it comes to talent, customers and regulatory requirements.
76 per cent of leaders expect their company’s investment in social impact to rise in the next year (2025 Executive CSR Report).
94 per cent of CFOs say social impact will be a key business priority by 2030 (The ESG Revolution—KPMG Australia).
Consumer preference rises from 42 per cent to 70 per cent when brands pair clear social commitments with functional excellence. (Harvard Business Review).
Delivering social value alongside profit is the future of good business.
Join the industry body in social performance: Exclusive offers
Until December 19, 2025, we’re providing some exclusive offers to become a Social Traders Supporter member.
Take up this digital membership and join the many business and government leaders already delivering social value for a competitive advantage.
The Urban Developer readership can get an extra 5 per cent off the promotional offers by using the special codes:
1-year membership extra discount code: TUD20
2-year membership extra discount code: TUD25
For 17 years, Social Traders has proudly stood at the heart of Australia’s social enterprise sector—connecting businesses that want to create more social value, with certified social enterprises delivering real-world impact.
We’ve partnered with more than 300 business and government organisations and supported more than 900 certified social enterprises to help shape a thriving, purpose-led economy.
Our vision is simple: a future where all businesses place purpose alongside profit—creating positive outcomes for people and the planet so that “doing good” becomes the way the economy works.
Together, let’s find the good in business.
PICTURED TOP: TradeMutt is an Australian social impact workwear brand known for its bold, conversation-starting designs that raise awareness of mental health in the trades community. The company donates 50 per cent of its profits to TIACS, providing free professional mental health counselling for blue collar workers.
The Urban Developer is proud to partner with Social Traders to deliver this article to you. In doing so, we can continue to publish our daily news, information, insights and opinion to you, our valued readers.
Repairing the Flow: Victoria’s Big Fix for Construction Payments
Sydney’s Next Big Cemetery Could Redraw Aerotropolis Boundary
Rockhampton Rises as Developers Bet Big on Regional Residential Growth
Queuing Out the Door: Co-Living Comes of Age
