Global Corporate Survey 2023: EHS Services Budgets, Priorities And Preferences
26 Oct, 2023
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Executive Summary
This Verdantix global survey unveils the priorities, preferences and budget plans of 104 corporate EHS leaders with regard to their use of third-party EHS services. The report helps corporate EHS executives benchmark their firms’ budgets, investment priorities and preferences for EHS consulting services, relative to their global cohort. The information collated within the Verdantix survey may also be leveraged by executives in consulting firms to support strategic and business decisions pertaining to their EHS offerings. The 2023 edition of the Verdantix annual global EHS services survey spanned 31 countries and the 17 industries with the highest levels of spend. Verdantix analysis of corporate trends shows a growing appetite for environmental and sustainability services to fulfil ESG requirements, as well as an increasing reliance on digital services to support technology initiatives, and the use of consultant expertise to proactively identify safety risks.
Global survey showcases the vital contribution of consulting services to corporate EHS programmes
Annual global survey questions 104 EHS executives at large entities across top spending verticals
EHS consulting services provide firms with key support on strategic development and compliance goals
Firms rely on third-party services to complete specialized EHS compliance tasks across their operations
EHS leaders highlight the importance of consultant support to identify and execute improvements to vital processes
Service firms provide vital support throughout ambitious digital EHS transformation projects
Service budgets continue to grow as the business case for EHS excellence becomes increasingly attractive
Large corporates indicate budget growth across the gamut of EHS
Internal stakeholders increasingly endorse consultant-led EHS development projects
EHS service firms must prioritize talent retention to maintain a strong reputation amongst clients
Subject-matter expertise is the top differentiator when procuring EHS consultancy support
Myriad challenges jeopardize the success of EHS service projects
Third-party support is a necessity for firms to stand up to environmental and sustainability scrutiny
Top firms increase services spend to keep track of their environmental footprint
EHS service firms seize the opportunity to cross-sell into ESG and sustainability
Annual global survey questions 104 EHS executives at large entities across top spending verticals
EHS consulting services provide firms with key support on strategic development and compliance goals
Firms rely on third-party services to complete specialized EHS compliance tasks across their operations
EHS leaders highlight the importance of consultant support to identify and execute improvements to vital processes
Service firms provide vital support throughout ambitious digital EHS transformation projects
Service budgets continue to grow as the business case for EHS excellence becomes increasingly attractive
Large corporates indicate budget growth across the gamut of EHS
Internal stakeholders increasingly endorse consultant-led EHS development projects
EHS service firms must prioritize talent retention to maintain a strong reputation amongst clients
Subject-matter expertise is the top differentiator when procuring EHS consultancy support
Myriad challenges jeopardize the success of EHS service projects
Third-party support is a necessity for firms to stand up to environmental and sustainability scrutiny
Top firms increase services spend to keep track of their environmental footprint
EHS service firms seize the opportunity to cross-sell into ESG and sustainability
Figure 1. Industry categorization of firms
Figure 2. Geographic location of respondents
Figure 3. The value of third-party services in supporting EHS activities
Figure 4. The importance of consultant support in driving EHS programme improvements
Figure 5. The role of service partners during EHS digitization projects
Figure 6. Change in corporate EHS service budgets over the next 12 months
Figure 7. Current annual spend on EHS service projects
Figure 8. The impact of internal stakeholders on EHS services funding
Figure 9. Corporate opinions on the most prominent differentiators between EHS service providers
Figure 10. The impact of common difficulties on the success of EHS consultant-led projects
Figure 11. Corporate budget changes for environmental service lines over the next 12 months
Figure 12. The importance of consultant support in achieving prominent corporate ESG and sustainability initiatives
Figure 2. Geographic location of respondents
Figure 3. The value of third-party services in supporting EHS activities
Figure 4. The importance of consultant support in driving EHS programme improvements
Figure 5. The role of service partners during EHS digitization projects
Figure 6. Change in corporate EHS service budgets over the next 12 months
Figure 7. Current annual spend on EHS service projects
Figure 8. The impact of internal stakeholders on EHS services funding
Figure 9. Corporate opinions on the most prominent differentiators between EHS service providers
Figure 10. The impact of common difficulties on the success of EHS consultant-led projects
Figure 11. Corporate budget changes for environmental service lines over the next 12 months
Figure 12. The importance of consultant support in achieving prominent corporate ESG and sustainability initiatives
ESG Fusion, Accenture, Star of the South, EY, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Ramboll, dss+, Enterprise Health, Chevron, Trinity Consultants, Huco Consulting, Attalea, Jacobs, AFARA, Frostbyte Consulting, ALL4, Wolters Kluwer, WSP, emissions.AI, SAP, Cority, ServiceNow, Arcadis, Ineos, ERM, Salesforce, EBS, Montrose Environmental Group, Sphera, IBM, Enablon, Bruntwood, J.S. Held, Shell, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), United Utilities, AECOM, DEKRA, Merck, BP, Persefoni, Benchmark Gensuite, Deloitte, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PwC, Glencore
About the Authors

Tom Brown
Senior Consultant, Advisory Services
Tom is a Senior Consultant in the Verdantix Advisory Services practice, where his focus is on delivering client solutions for EHS and sustainability digitization. Tom joined V…
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Bill Pennington
VP Research
Bill is VP Research at Verdantix, where he leads analysis on the evolving and interconnected landscapes of EHS, quality, AI and enterprise risk management. His research helps …
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