Global Corporate Survey 2023: ESG And Sustainability Drivers And Spend Priorities By Industry

06 Dec, 2023

Access this research

Access all Corporate Sustainability Leaders content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report

Need help or have a question about this report? Contact us for assistance

Executive Summary

This report, based on findings from the Verdantix 2023 global corporate survey of 400 senior ESG and sustainability leaders, provides a benchmark of ESG and sustainability drivers and spend priorities by sector. Sustainability executives can use this report to compare their firms’ priorities and budget allocation against industry peers. Technology firms and service providers can use it to align product strategies with the evolving demands of buyers across industries. In our survey, we interviewed 400 senior ESG and sustainability decision-makers at organizations with revenues of at least $250 million, spread across five geographical regions with headquarters in 35 countries (see Verdantix Global Corporate Survey 2023: ESG & Sustainability Budgets, Priorities And Tech Preferences). 
Global corporate survey 2023: ESG and sustainability drivers and spend priorities by industry
CEO vision drives commitment to sustainability initiatives
Firms encounter barriers as they seek to improve sustainability performance
Spend on ESG and sustainability software will continue to grow in 2024, driven by regulatory pressure
Figure 1. Industry analysis of ESG and sustainability drivers in 2023
Figure 2. Industry analysis of ESG and sustainability challenges faced by organizations
Figure 3. Industry analysis of ESG and sustainability spend priorities
Figure 4. Top three priorities when selecting a software provider for ESG and sustainability initiatives
Figure 5. Industry analysis of AI integration

About the Authors

Luke Gowland

Luke Gowland

Senior Analyst

Luke is a Senior Analyst at Verdantix, specializing in ESG and sustainability reporting software and financial ESG. He advises both technology buyers and software vendor and s...

Kim Knickle

Kim Knickle

Research Director

Kim Knickle is a Research Director at Verdantix, bringing more than two decades of analyst experience to the evolving world of sustainability. Her current research spans ESG a...

View Profile

Other related content

Webinar
Corporate Energy Transition Solutions
Corporate Energy Leaders
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
Sustainable Supply Chains
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Manufacturing Operations Management
Industrial Transformation Leaders
How Industrial Firms Are Navigating Ene...

Upcoming / 27 May, 2026

Webinar
Industrial Transformation Leaders
Asset Maintenance Software
Field Services Management
Industrial Analytics & Data Management
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Sustainable Supply Chains
Corporate Risk Leaders
Enterprise Risk & GRC
Corporate Energy Leaders
Digital Transformation Leaders
Industrial Agility In Action: Digital S...

Industrial firms are being hit by operational shocks with growing frequency and complexity. Supply chain disruptions, energy price volatility, labour shortages and rapid shifts in ...

Upcoming / 16 April, 2026

Webinar
Sustainable Supply Chains
Sustainability Assurance & Due Diligence
Sustainability & Climate Risks
ESG & Sustainability Reporting Software
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Services
AI Innovations For Sustainability Leade...

Most sustainability leaders aren't using AI to its full potential. Concerns about data quality, regulatory risk, and potential inaccuracies mean AI is still widely seen as a compli...

31 March, 2026

Blog
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
The Price Isn’t Right: Europe’s Carbon ...

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) has entered a new phase of policy scrutiny. Recent signals from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirm that targeted adjus...

30 March, 2026

Blog
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Sustainability Without Borders: A World...

Climate change is not contained within borders – and nor are the concerns of sustainability leaders. In the 2025 Verdantix sustainability survey, over 68% of firms based outside ...

25 March, 2026

Webinar
Industrial Transformation Leaders
Asset Maintenance Software
Field Services Management
Industrial Analytics & Data Management
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Sustainable Supply Chains
Corporate Risk Leaders
Enterprise Risk & GRC
Corporate Energy Leaders
Digital Transformation Leaders
The Industrial Agility Imperative: Tech...

Industrial firms around the world are being hammered by operational dislocations and disruptions. Labour shortages, supply chain chokepoints, fast-changing import tariffs, rapid sh...

25 March, 2026