Reading Between The Green Quadrants On Sustainability Consulting

A lot has changed since we published the last Green Quadrant on sustainability consulting in 2024. At the time, the market narrative appeared relatively straightforward: regulatory acceleration, expanding sustainability budgets and confident growth expectations. The period that followed has been more nuanced – and far more revealing.

Growth has not followed a straight line. The market has experienced both expansion and hesitation, shaped by macroeconomic pressures and shifting corporate priorities (see Verdantix Market Size And Forecast: Sustainability Consulting 2024-2030 (Global)). More importantly, sustainability consulting is changing in response to how firms prioritize sustainability projects, secure internal approvals, and align investments with operational and financial goals – decisions shaped by a growing range of stakeholders, from CFOs to risk officers.  

Demand drivers have shifted (see Verdantix Strategic Focus: The Impact Of US Headwinds And The Omnibus Proposal On Sustainability Services). Regulatory compliance remains relevant – albeit to varying degrees in different regions – but it no longer dominates the conversation. Organizations are asking less, “What must we report?” and more, “How does this protect or strengthen the business?”. Sustainability discussions now sit closer to operational stability, resource security and financial exposure. Firms are also evaluating how sustainability initiatives can unlock new sources of growth and differentiation and reinforce competitive positioning.

Meanwhile, the supposed retreat of ESG appears largely rhetorical rather than structural. The language may have shifted – from ESG to sustainability – but underlying corporate activity remains stable. Workiva survey data illustrate this clearly: only 3% of businesses report cutting back on sustainability communications or initiatives in 2025.

Equally significant is where sustainability work now appears. Programmes once positioned as standalone efforts are increasingly embedded within broader mandates such as risk management, operational transformation, cost efficiency, technology modernization and product innovation. Sustainability has become less a distinct category and more a cross-cutting capability.

A parallel shift is firms’ growing recognition of data as the foundation for effective sustainability strategies and action. Measurement, baselines and visibility challenges persist across industries. Organizations are prioritizing decision-useful insights, particularly in complex domains such as supply chains, where transparency and verification directly influence operational choices.

What does this mean for our upcoming Green Quadrant?
Expect some surprises. Expect movement. Expect a few familiar leaders – but also shifts that reflect how the market itself has changed.

More importantly, expect a different story. Sustainability consulting is no longer defined purely by reporting, compliance or broad strategy design. The centre of gravity has moved towards resilience, quantification, industry-specific execution and measurable business outcomes. Buyers are increasingly prioritizing providers with deep domain expertise and actionable capabilities, while commercial models are beginning – slowly, but unmistakably – to align with value and impact rather than effort alone (see Verdantix Market Insight: 10 Predictions For ESG & Sustainability In 2026 And Beyond).

The sustainability consulting market has recalibrated. The upcoming Green Quadrant on sustainability consulting, publishing on March 2, is designed to capture exactly how. Keep an eye out.