Global Corporate Survey 2026: Sustainability Budgets, Priorities And Tech Preferences

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Executive Summary

This report enables sustainability leaders to compare their firms’ budgets, investment priorities and technology appetites with those of their global peers. Executives at sustainability consulting and technology firms can use these findings to inform strategic planning and decision-making. The 2026 ESG and sustainability global corporate survey spans 36 countries and 15 industries. Respondents were senior leaders working in dedicated ESG and sustainability roles, with 68% from organizations generating more than $1 billion in annual revenues. Respondent data reveal that firms are refocusing their sustainability initiatives on practical, achievable outcomes, while continuing to improve resilience and maximize insights and opportunities.

Summary for decision-makers
Global survey reveals priorities and tech preferences of sustainability executives
Global sustainability survey features 400 executives across 15 industries and 36 countries
Sustainability priorities shift, with reporting remaining essential but evolving
Sustainability priorities extend beyond compliance to build resilience
Investor pressure and reporting demands sustain spending, despite regulatory uncertainty
Sustainability concerns continue to receive executive attention and board oversight
Sustainability challenges influence budgets, AI adoption, and engagement with software and service providers
Businesses face evolving barriers to executing their sustainability strategies
Desire for tailored support and continued focus on data quality drive demand for software and services
AI adoption for sustainability remains modest, but is poised to experience significant growth

Figure 1. Survey respondent: firm size (revenue) breakdown
Figure 2.
Survey respondents: geographical breakdown
Figure 3.
Survey respondents: industry breakdown
Figure 4.
Importance of business outcomes for sustainability investments
Figure 5.
Perceptions of sustainability practices and AI
Figure 6.
Significance of ESG and sustainability rules and frameworks over the next two years
Figure 7.
CSRD status
Figure 8.
Organizational structure of the CSO
Figure 9.
Executives responsible for funding ESG and sustainability strategy
Figure 10.
Key barriers to meeting sustainability goals
Figure 11.
Importance of sustainability investment outcomes
Figure 12.
Top current sustainability priorities
Figure 13.
Top sustainability priorities in two years
Figure 14.
Factors influencing consulting provider adoption
Figure 15.
Factors influencing software provider adoption
Figure 16a.
Software usage for ESG and sustainability use cases
Figure 16b.
Software and services comparison for ESG and sustainability use cases
Figure 17.
Corporate ESG and sustainability funding priorities
Figure 18.
Planned change in spend on consulting services
Figure 19.
Expected change in spend on commercial software
Figure 20.
AI adoption appetite
Figure 21.
Barriers to AI adoption

About the Authors

Callum Millard

Callum Millard

Analyst

Callum is an Analyst at Verdantix, helping firms navigate the evolving ESG, sustainability, product innovation and product stewardship landscapes, to drive value creation and ...

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Catalina Fazio

Catalina Fazio

Analyst

Catalina is an Analyst at Verdantix, specializing in ESG and sustainability policy and regulation. Her research focuses on regulatory frameworks and complex disclosure require...

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Jessica Pransky

Jessica Pransky

Senior Manager

Jessica is a Senior Manager at Verdantix, specializing in providing insights to sustainability leaders and analysing ESG and sustainability reporting software. She advises tec...

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