Buyer’s Guide: ESG & Sustainability Due Diligence Services (2025)

Report
Sustainability Assurance & Due Diligence
Lily Turnbull

Lily Turnbull

Kim Knickle

Kim Knickle

29 Aug, 2025

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Executive Summary

Sustainability risks are now material business concerns, and this is only likely to increase in the long term. Amid a shifting regulatory landscape, there is growing emphasis on proving the return on investment (ROI) from sustainability initiatives. Consequently, sustainability due diligence services have emerged as a critical tool to help firms identify risks, strengthen resilience and unlock new opportunities. This report presents comprehensive profiles of 15 prominent due diligence providers in the market. The analysis leverages questionnaires, briefings, existing Verdantix research and publicly available information. C-Suite executives and senior leadership should use this report to inform their purchasing decisions for 2025.
Summary for decision-makers
Buyer’s Guide to ESG and sustainability due diligence services
Defining ESG and sustainability due diligence services
Firms are investing in sustainability due diligence to ensure compliance, mitigate risk and enhance value
Key criteria to consider when selecting a service provider for ESG and sustainability due diligence
Selection criteria for the 2025 ESG and sustainability due diligence services Buyer’s Guide
ADEC Innovations offers technology-enabled sustainability due diligence services
Anthesis blends technical sustainability knowledge with brand strategy and communications expertise
Bureau Veritas brings technical expertise and global reach
DEKRA leverages its TIC heritage to provide integrated due diligence assessments
DNV combines technical sustainability expertise with deep sector knowledge
ERM balances technical expertise with strategic insight for comprehensive due diligence support
EY brings a commercial lens to sustainability due diligence engagements
J.S. Held draws on its risk management heritage to provide integrated due diligence insights
KPMG focuses on value and leverages digital tools to strengthen due diligence support
LRQA provides deep sustainability due diligence expertise across the supplier value chain
Position Green's sustainability due diligence offering combines software and services
PwC provides tailored due diligence support across industries
QIMA blends on-the-ground verification with technology solutions
Ramboll combines technical expertise, integrated support and technology enablement
SGS fuses broad sustainability due diligence capabilities with local expertise
Figure 1. Types of due diligence
Figure 2. Most important corporate sustainability goals
Figure 3. Examples of regulations with sustainability due diligence components
Figure 4. Overview of the ESG and sustainability due diligence provider landscape
Figure 5. Featured ESG and sustainability due diligence service providers
Figure 6. ADEC Innovations services offering overview
Figure 7. Anthesis services offering overview
Figure 8. Bureau Veritas services offering overview
Figure 9. DEKRA services offering overview
Figure 10. DNV services offering overview
Figure 11. ERM services offering overview
Figure 12. EY services offering overview
Figure 13. J.S. Held services offering overview
Figure 14. KPMG services offering overview
Figure 15. LRQA services offering overview
Figure 16. Position Green services offering overview
Figure 17. PwC services offering overview
Figure 18. QIMA services offering overview
Figure 19. Ramboll services offering overview
Figure 20. SGS services offering overview

About the Authors

Lily Turnbull

Lily Turnbull

Senior Analyst

Lily is a Senior Analyst at Verdantix, where she delivers in-depth research to help executives navigate ESG, sustainability and product innovation, and make confident decision...

Kim Knickle

Kim Knickle

Research Director

Kim Knickle is a Research Director at Verdantix, bringing more than two decades of analyst experience to the evolving world of sustainability. Her current research spans ESG a...

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