Global Corporate Survey 2019: EHS Budgets, Priorities & Tech Preferences
Yaowen Ma
Molly Blackwell
Steve Bolton
Access this research
Access all EHSQ Corporate 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 helps environment, health and safety (EHS) executives to benchmark their firms’ EHS budgets, investment priorities and technology use relative to their global peer group. Executives at EHS consulting and technology providers also can use the survey findings to support their strategic decision-making and business planning. Verdantix gathered this data by interviewing 403 EHS decision-makers across 35 countries and 25 industries. Of these respondents, 79% represented firms with revenues greater than $1 billion and 66% held role titles of director or above. More than half the respondents anticipated that their firms’ budgets for various EHS activities will grow during 2020, with notable new investments for incident management, environmental compliance, product compliance, and EHS training, learning and knowledge development. The data also show that buyers increasingly are searching for consultants that have experience with EHS digital technologies and can deliver enhanced EHS services using digital solutions.Annual Global Survey Of Over 400 EHS Decision-Makers
EHS Decision-Makers Prioritize Digital Transformation And IoT Integrations
EHS Digital Technology Is Responding To Emerging Demands
EHS Executives Are Embracing Diverse Digital Technologies
Adopting And Implementing New EHS Technologies Is Challenging
EHS Budgets Will Grow By 5% During 2020, On A Global Basis
Training, Learning And Resource Development Budgets Will Increase The Most
Incident And Environmental Management Will Grow Most, Among EHS Areas
Figure 2. Geographic Locations Of Respondents
Figure 3. Priority For Innovation By EHS Function
Figure 4. Involvement In Digital Transformation By EHS Function
Figure 5. Perception Of Internet Of Things (IoT) And/Or Wearable Devices
Figure 6. Adoption Of Digital Technologies In 2020
Figure 7. Adoption Of Software By EHS Processes In 2020
Figure 8. Barriers To Improving EHS Performance
Figure 9. Factors That Limit Adoption Of Commercial EHS Software
Figure 10. Change In Total EHS Spend In 2020 Compared To 2019
Figure 11. Change In Spend Across EHS Categories In 2020
Figure 12. Change In Spend On EHS Activities Between 2019 To 2020
Figure 13. EHS Software: 2020 Investment Plans
Figure 14. Evaluation Criteria For EHS Software Selection
Figure 15. Acceptability Of Different EHS Software Deployment Options
Figure 16. EHS Consulting Projects: 2020 Investment Plans
Figure 17. Evaluation Criteria For EHS Consulting Providers
About the Authors
Yaowen Ma
Principal Analyst
Yaowen is a Principal Analyst at Verdantix conducting research on EHS and ESG information management. His current agenda focuses on digital technologies, best practices and gr...
Molly Blackwell
Analyst
Molly is an analyst in the Verdantix EHS practice. Her current research agenda focuses on the priorities and trends within the EHS software market, industrial wearables and op...
Steve Bolton
Research Director
Steve leads the Verdantix EHS research practice, based out of our New York office. He has 25 years of experience advising on sustainability, EHS, circular economy, corporate s...
Other related content
For time-pressured EHS leaders, the challenge is not whether AI matters, but how to assess readiness, prioritise use cases, and avoid costly missteps. In this webinar, we’ll examin...
Upcoming / 08 April, 2026
As organizations try to navigate where AI fits into their operations, EHS teams find themselves caught between optimism, scepticism and the daily realities of keeping people safe. ...
13 February, 2026
Over the last year, the UK has experienced an increase in extreme weather. According to the Met Office, the UK’s current climate is vastly different from just a few decades ago. ...
04 February, 2026
The 10 EHSQ predictions for 2026 from Verdantix reveal a decisive shift – organizations are leaving behind fragmented tools and early‑stage AI in favour of systems that build trus...
03 February, 2026
As noted in the 2025 Green Quadrant on EHS software, a key area of differentiation for EHS software vendors is the strength of their compliance management capabilities – and thos...
30 January, 2026
EHS practitioners attend industry events to stay informed on best practices for maintaining safe, sustainable and compliant operations. These forums not only provide education on e...
30 January, 2026