Green Quadrant: ESG Reporting And Data Management Software

Access this research

Access all ESG & Sustainability content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report

Buy Subscription

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

Executive Summary

This report provides a detailed, fact-based comparison of the 20 most prominent ESG reporting and data management software vendors. Based on the proprietary Verdantix Green Quadrant methodology, the analysis encompasses two-hour live briefings, desktop research and vendor responses to a 115-point questionnaire covering 15 capability and 11 market momentum categories. Although ESG reporting and data management software has existed for over 15 years, Verdantix analysis finds that the level of customer demand and the number of vendor solutions have both grown substantially over the last three years. This is largely due to increased pressure from internal and external stakeholders, resulting in new use cases and functionality requirements. Among the software vendors featured in this Green Quadrant, 11 firms – Benchmark Gensuite, Cority, Diligent, IBM, Intelex, Nasdaq, Sphera, UL Solutions, VelocityEHS, Wolters Kluwer and Workiva – demonstrated the most advanced all-round ESG reporting and data management software capabilities.

Table of contents

The state of the ESG reporting and data management market
ESG reporting and data management is its own distinct software category
An evolving regulatory landscape is driving a competitive market
Green Quadrant for ESG reporting and data management software 2023
Green Quadrant methodology
Evaluated firms and selection criteria
Evaluation criteria
APLANET delivers holistic reporting solutions for mid-market buyers
Benchmark Gensuite offers a comprehensive and collaborative sustainability platform
Clarity AI delivers an innovative solution well-suited for financial services firms
Cority expands capabilities and market reach with acquisitions of sustainability-based vendors
Diligent offers sustainability data management and reporting capabilities, building on its GRC heritage
FigBytes offers a revitalized and revamped sustainability platform
IBM’s deep analytical expertise provides a sustainability platform to drive business decisions
Intelex offers unique functionality to manage ESG risk and performance
Nasdaq acquires Metrio to expand upon existing sustainability management and ESG reporting capabilities
NAVEX provides ESG reporting solutions for a variety of sectors, building off its GRC platform
Novisto delivers an intuitive and user-friendly data management and reporting platform
OneTrust incorporates ESG and sustainability into its Trust Intelligence platform
Position Green offers a comprehensive sustainability platform well suited for the European market
Quentic delivers a configurable sustainability solution, drawing on its EHSQ background
Sphera’s acquisitions come together in a flexible, cross-functional reporting platform
UL Solutions delivers a well-rounded and reliable sustainability software platform
VelocityEHS delivers strong tools for ESG-related data management, building off EHS capabilities
WayCarbon incorporates decarbonization activities into its sustainability platform
Wolters Kluwer’s new corporate performance and ESG division drives strong momentum
Workiva offers strong integrated reporting functionality, drawing on its financial reporting and GRC background

Table of figures

Figure 1. Business functions responsible for implementing ESG strategies
Figure 2. ESG reporting and data management software transactions June 2022 – May 2023
Figure 3. Capabilities criteria for ESG reporting and data management software
Figure 4. Momentum criteria for ESG reporting and data management software
Figure 5. Vendor category scores - capabilites
Figure 6. Vendor category scores - momentum
Figure 7. Green Quadrant for ESG reporting and data management software 2023

Organisations mentioned

Accuvio, Adobe, AECOM, Air Liquide, Akamai, Allianz X, Amazon, Amazon Web Services, AMCS, Amundi, APlanet, Aquicore, Archer Integrated Risk Management, Armstrong World Industries, Asana, Atlas Metrics, b2venture, Babcock, Baker Hughes, Bank of Montreal, Barnes Group, Baxter, BC Partners, Benchmark Gensuite, BlackRock, Blackstone, Bloomberg, BNP Paribas Fortis, BTG Pactual, Campbell Soup Company, Castik Capital, Castolin Eutectic, CCH Tagetik, CDP, Celestica, Celsia, Cherry Ventures, Cinven, Clarity AI, Coatue, Cognizant, Commerz Real, Continue AI, Cority, Corning, Crédito Agrícola, CSRHub, CSRware, CVC Growth Partners, Danske Bank, Datamaran, Delta, Dexco, DFIN, DHL, Diligent, Dominion, Downer Group, DS Smith, Duracell, Dussmann Stiftung, DWF, EDP, Elera (formerly Brookfield), Emerson Electric, Enablon, Enbridge Gas, Energy Impact Partners, EnerSys, Engro Corporation, ESG Book, ESG Data Convergence Initiative (EDCI), F19 Digital Reporting, FactSet, FigBytes, firesys, Flowserve, Ford Motor Company, Fortive Corporation, Franklin Templeton Insight Partners, General Motors, Genstar Capital, Getinge, GIST Impact, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Global Reserve Group, GPA Global, GPT Group, Greenstone, GRESB, Grove Ventures, Grupo Globo, GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline), Guardian Capital, H.B. Fuller, Hamilton Lane, HG Capital, Hilton, Hitachi Ventures, Horizon, IBM, IHS Markit, Industrial Scientific, Infogrid, Inovia Capital, Intelex, Intertek, IPL Plastics, Klinkby Enge, LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), Makersite, Manaos, Manitou Group, Maple Capital, MasterCard, Measurabl, Melbourne Water, Meridiam, Meta, Metrio, Microsoft, Moderna, Mondelēz, Moody's, MRV, MSCI, MTG, NASDAQ, NAVEX, Nestlé, Nike, Nordex Energy SE & Co. KG, Norfolk Southern, NorthWestern Energy, Norvestor, Novata, Novisto, OneReport, OneSumX, OneTRust, Oxy, Parker Hannifin, ParsePort, Partners Group, Pfizer, Porsche Immobilien, Portman Travel Group, Position Green, PPG, Proof of Impact, Puro.earth, Qlik, Quantum Energy Partners, Quantum Innovation Funds, Quentic, Rahn+Bodmer Co., Rakuten Capital, Reporting 21, S&P Global, Sanofi, Santander, Scatec, SEB Private Equity, SGL Carbon SE, Shell, Slack, SoftBank, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Sonae SGPS S.A., Sphera, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Sway Ventures, Tableau, Target, Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), TCV, TeamMate, Telefónica, Tenneco, The Container Store, The Hershey Company, The Singularity Group, Thoma Bravo, Toyota, Toyota Tsusho, UBS Group, UL Solutions, UN, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), VelocityEHS, Vista Equity Partners, VitalMetrics, Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA, Walmart, Watershed, WayCarbon, WeSustain, White Star Capital, Wolters Kluwer, Workiva, Worldfavor

About the authors

Jessica Pransky

Principal Analyst
Jessica is a Principal Analyst in the Verdantix ESG & Sustainability practice, which she joined in 2022. Her current research agenda covers ESG reporting and data management software, ESG solutions for investors, and risk in ESG and sustainability. Prior to joining Verdantix, Jessica worked at Ramboll, focusing on ESG risk and opportunity identification for mergers and acquisitions, as well as EHS due diligence. Jessica has previously held roles evaluating water resource allocation for a state municipality and ensuring EHS compliance for GE Aviation. She holds a BS from Tufts University and an MEng from Johns Hopkins University focused on environmental engineering, as well as an MBA from Boston University.

Jessie Wilson

Industry Analyst
Jessie is an Industry Analyst in the Verdantix ESG & Sustainability practice. Her current research agenda spans areas such as ESG reporting, the circular economy and supply chain sustainability. Prior to joining Verdantix, Jessie graduated from the University of Bristol with First Class Honours in BSc Geography and French. Her dissertation was on achieving a circular economy for plastics with reusable packaging.

Kim Knickle

Research Director, ESG & Sustainability
Kimberly Knickle is Research Director of the ESG & Sustainability practice at Verdantix. Her research areas encompass ESG regulations and reporting, ESG risk, supply chain sustainability, circular economy, social impact, and sustainable finance. Kim has worked for more than 20 years in the IT industry, providing research and analysis to help companies invest wisely in new technologies. Before joining the analyst industry, she held various roles in IT services, engineering and product safety testing, beginning her career at Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Kim holds an MBA from Boston University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell.

Related Reports

Not a Verdantix client yet?

Register with Verdantix for authoritative data, analysis and advice to allow your business to succeed.