What’s Shaping Product Sustainability? Key Takeaways From The 2026 Global Corporate Survey

Product sustainability is entering a new phase, becoming a strategic lever for growth, resilience and market access. Verdantix survey data from 151 senior product and supply chain sustainability executives show that firms are no longer treating product sustainability as a peripheral ESG activity. Instead, they are investing in the data, supplier engagement and digital capabilities required to substantiate claims, meet customer expectations and compete in regulated markets.

Regulation is becoming the dominant force shaping investment

Almost 80% of survey respondents expect to increase spending in response to product sustainability rules and frameworks. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes and forced labour due diligence requirements are changing the conditions for market access. Firms must now demonstrate and verify product origin, material composition, environmental performance and responsible sourcing practices with audit-ready evidence.

Product sustainability has a clear commercial logic

Our survey findings indicate that organizations are using stakeholder trust, compliance cost reduction and sustainable product revenue to justify investment. This matters because credible product sustainability information now influences brand value, tender success, customer retention and pricing power. Firms that can verify claims and communicate product-level impacts are better positioned to capture demand for sustainable products, while those that cannot risk greenwashing scrutiny, lost sales and reputational damage.

Data quality is becoming the critical execution bottleneck

Respondents identify as major barriers poor-quality supplier social and environmental data, difficulty verifying product sustainability information and challenges in meeting customer data demands. These findings highlight a structural problem: product sustainability depends on granular data that often sit outside the enterprise, across suppliers, materials databases, audits, certificates and product lifecycle systems. Without stronger governance and standardized data exchange, firms will struggle to scale.

Supplier relationships are being redefined by sustainability performance

The survey shows that firms are increasingly willing to reward suppliers with strong sustainability credentials and discontinue relationships with those that perform poorly. This shift elevates sustainability from a reporting requirement to a procurement and sourcing decision criterion. Suppliers that cannot provide reliable emissions, materials, certification and due diligence data may face exclusion from preferred supplier lists, while stronger performers can gain access to longer-term commercial opportunities.

Firms are adopting integrated product intelligence

Firms are adopting software for lifecycle assessment, product carbon footprinting, traceability verification, supplier data collection and digital product passport generation. However, the transition is not purely digital. Many organizations still rely on hybrid models that combine software, consultants, assurance providers and verification specialists. This reflects the complexity of product sustainability: firms need automation and scale, but they also need defensible methodologies, audit trails and expert judgement.

As product sustainability becomes embedded in market access, procurement and growth strategies, firms that act early will be best-placed to turn regulatory pressure into commercial advantage.

For deeper insights into corporate product sustainability priorities, as well as an examination of the key challenges and trends in software and services, read the full report: Global Corporate Survey 2026: Product Sustainability Analysis.