Global Corporate Survey 2025: EHS Budgets, Priorities And Tech Preferences

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EHSQ Corporate Leaders
Zain Idris
Zain Idris
Bill Pennington

Bill Pennington

18 Aug, 2025

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Executive Summary

This report enables EHS executives to benchmark their firms’ budgets, investment priorities and technology preferences against their global peers. The data gathered through this survey can also be used by EHS consulting and technology providers to help with strategic decision-making and business planning. The 2025 version of the annual global Verdantix EHS survey encompassed 25 countries and 24 industries. Of the respondents, 74% represented firms with revenues greater than $1 billion, and 66% held job titles of director or above. Survey data reveal that EHS spending will continue to rise over the next 12 months, at a steady rate, largely driven by sustainability-based initiatives around ESG and regulatory compliance. Technology remains a valuable tool for EHS functions, with further AI adoption planned, despite continuing concerns about budget and value. 

Summary for decision-makers
Global survey shows steady EHS spending, to keep pace with mounting regulation
Annual global survey features 304 EHS executives across 24 industries
Software and edge technologies are helping firms transform their approach to EHS
EHS functions leverage new technologies while maintaining core principles
Regulatory change is driving a shift towards a more proactive approach to EHS
Firms recognize the influence of contractor safety on overall safety performance
EHS budgets will continue to increase at a steady rate
Environmental initiatives still dominate EHS spending
Ease of use is seen as a key component in digital strategies, to achieve widespread adoption
Firms are yet to unlock the full potential of emerging EHS technologies
ESG and sustainability heavily influence the rollout of EHS digital technologies
Despite the development of specific use cases, AI adoption remains relatively slow
Figure 1. Revenue categorization of respondents
Figure 2. Job function breakdown of respondents
Figure 3. Industry categorization of respondents by risk level
Figure 4. Geographic breakdown of respondents
Figure 5. EHSQ technology priority areas for the next two years
Figure 6. EHSQ operational priority areas for the next two years
Figure 7. Impact of external and internal factors on EHSQ technology investment
Figure 8. Impact of chemical and product compliance challenges
Figure 9. Impact of contractor management challenges
Figure 10. Change in EHSQ spend over the next 12 months
Figure 11. Change in spend across EHSQ categories in 2026
Figure 12. Digital strategy development priorities
Figure 13. EHSQ software buyer priorities
Figure 14. Digital technology adoption in 2026
Figure 15. Deployment of AI use cases
Figure 16. Barriers to AI adoption

About the Authors

Zain Idris

Zain Idris

Industry Analyst

Zain is an Industry Analyst specializing in EHS digital strategy and corporate spending trends. His research examines how firms are positioning their EHS budgets, considering ...

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Bill Pennington

Bill Pennington

VP Research

Bill is VP Research at Verdantix, where he leads analysis on the evolving and interconnected landscapes of EHS, quality, AI and enterprise risk management. His research helps ...

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