Strategic Focus: The ESG & Sustainability Assurance Software And Services Partnership Ecosystem

Kim Knickle

Kim Knickle

Lily Turnbull

Lily Turnbull

29 Apr, 2024

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Executive Summary

The global ESG assurance services market is projected to reach $5.89 billion by 2028, fuelled by stakeholder pressure, regulatory requirements and concerns over ESG data transparency and integrity. ESG assurance will have a significant impact on how firms manage corporate ESG disclosures and will present new challenges in terms of governance, accountability and data accuracy. Against this backdrop, this report shines a spotlight on partnerships between ESG assurance and ESG software providers and identifies new avenues for partnership opportunities. Sustainability executives should use the report to understand how software and services partnerships can deliver value to their corporate ESG reporting processes. 
ESG software and service providers collaborate to help firms meet assurance requirements
ESG assurance will present new challenges for firms
An integrated software and services approach can provide end-to-end support for ESG reporting and assurance
Assurance providers must explore new partnerships for market share growth
Figure 1. ESG and sustainability disclosure rules and standards featuring independent assurance
Figure 2. Supply chain emission time horizons for audit quality
Figure 3. Examples of software support across the ESG reporting and assurance life cycle

About the Authors

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...

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...

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