What Sustainability Buyers Really Want

Verdantix predicts the sustainability consulting market will be worth almost $30 billion by 2030. Strong growth is expected in 2026 as firms seek consulting support while investing in data management and reporting for ESG and sustainability, and pursuing their transitions to renewable energy (see Global Corporate Survey 2025: ESG & Sustainability Budgets, Priorities And Tech Preferences).  

As part of our Green Quadrant assessment of sustainability consulting providers, we interviewed 21 corporate decision-makers on the nature of the key sustainability challenges firms are facing – as well as how consultants can effectively support organizations in this area. So, what did we learn about the market?

• Internal alignment remains a key challenge.
  Firms continue to struggle with senior executive sponsorship and the growing scrutiny surrounding sustainability claims, prompting demand for consultants who can bridge perspectives across sustainability, finance, legal and operational teams. While sustainability functions largely retain project ownership, other departments continue to influence consulting priorities.
  
• Sustainability engagements are becoming more strategically integrated.
  Buyers increasingly expect consultants to help translate expanding sustainability datasets into actionable insight, particularly as firms look beyond compliance to resilience and long-term value. Notably, organizations affected by shifting regulatory timelines report that investments in sustainability data have strengthened their strategic decision-making.
  
• Expectations for expertise and delivery are rising.
  Industry-specific technical knowledge is now seen as a non-negotiable requirement, with many buyers switching between large and smaller providers based on project needs. Flexibility has become equally critical: consultants who adjust project scope and resources to better support the needs of a client, and align with a client’s individual sustainability journey, are far more likely to receive high marks from buyers.
  
• Buyers want to take advantage of the resources offered by multiple consultants.
  While some buyers still express a preference for a single provider, most intentionally work with multiple firms to access broader regional and technical insights. This dynamic has intensified competition, pushing providers to differentiate through depth of insight and tailored support.
  
• Digital expectations are rising rapidly.
  Buyers want consultants to use digital tools to streamline workflows and strengthen data credibility. Despite a handful of high-profile examples of AI-related consulting errors, most buyers remain unfazed, assuming AI already underpins modern consulting processes. However, buyers emphasize the importance of human validation of outputs.
  
• Buyers seek innovation and thought leadership.
  For many buyers, especially those without existing consultant relationships, published insights and events such as webinars often determine which providers they choose to engage – selecting those who can demonstrate novel ways of approaching sustainability challenges and opportunities.
  
  

For more information on how the sustainability consulting services market is evolving, see our full study on buyer insights, the Verdantix Green Quadrant benchmark and our market size and forecast report.