Global Corporate Survey: EHS Services Budgets, Preferences And Priorities

Access this research

Access all EHSQ Corporate Leaders content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report

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

Executive Summary

This report helps EHS executives benchmark their firms’ EHS services budgets, investment priorities and preferences relative to their global peer group. It also offers EHS service and consulting firms support with decision-making and business planning to better align their offerings with corporate requirements. The 2021 Verdantix Global Corporate survey for EHS services spanned 31 countries and 25 industries. Verdantix conducted telephone interviews between June and July 2021 with 302 EHS decision-makers with direct responsibility for corporate-wide EHS management strategies and initiatives. This report uncovers corporate appetite for different project types and structures, in addition to key differentiators that influence EHS consultancy selection. The survey results also give insight into the impact COVID-19 had on services spend and how ESG metrics will drive further investment in environmental consulting post-pandemic.  

Global EHS Services Survey Discloses Corporate Usage And Demand For Professional EHS Services 
Services Survey Features Insights Of 302 EHS Executives Across Various Geographies And Industry Verticals 

Firms Utilize Service Firm Expertise For A Range Of Technology And Strategy Projects 
Firms Recognize The Value Of Utilizing Services Across Critical EHS Functions 
Firms Rely On External Expertise To Provide Higher Quality Deliverables Without Expending Internal Resources    

Firms Are Emerging From The Pandemic With Enthusiasm To Improve EHS Processes 
COVID-19 Led To Increased Spend On EHS Services Projects In 2020 
EHS Professionals Plan To Increase Services Spend As Firms Triage Post-Covid Priorities 

ESG Pressure Has Driven Increased Spend On Environmental And Sustainability Projects  
Firms Have Matured In Their Environmental Services Requirements
Firms Will Rely On Sustainability Services To Meet Heightened Scrutiny For ESG Metrics 

Technology Services Are Highly Integrated Into EHS Operations 
EHS Service Firms To Play A Pivotal Role In Corporate Digital Initiatives
Data Management And Analytics Services Provide Firms With Valuable EHS Insights 

Firms Select Services Firms On Expertise, Prior Experience And The Ability To Deliver Large Projects 
Subject Matter Expertise Is The Major Differentiator When Selecting EHS Service Firms 
Corporate Firms Show A Preference For Large Scale Projects 

Figure 1. Survey Respondent Industry Breakdown 
Figure 2. Survey Respondent Geographical Breakdown 
Figure 3. Corporate Valuation Of EHS Service Use Cases 
Figure 4. Primary Corporate Decision-Makers For EHS Service Projects 
Figure 5. Benefits That Drive Investment Into EHS Services 
Figure 6. The Effect Of COVID-19 On EHS Service Spend 
Figure 7. The Utilization Of EHS Service Use Cases In The Last Year 
Figure 8. How EHS Service Budgets Will Change Over The Next 12 Months 
Figure 9. The Usage Of Third-Party Led Environmental Projects In The Last 12 Months 
Figure 10. The Usage Of Third Party Led  Environmental Projects In The Next 12 Months 
Figure 11. Corporate Appetite For Sustainability Services In The Next 12 Months 
Figure 12. EHS Technology Implementation Services Used In the Last 12 Months 
Figure 13. EHS Technology Implementation Services To Be Used In The Next 12 Months 
Figure 14. Primary Benefits Of A Technology Solution Packaged By An EHS Service Provider 
Figure 15. The Value Of Data Management And Analytical Services For EHS Use Cases 
Figure 16. Influential Factors Affecting EHS Service Provider Selection 
Figure 17. Preference For Size And Structure Of EHS Projects 

About the Authors

Bill Pennington

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 ...

View Profile
Tom Brown

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...

View Profile

Other related content

Webinar
EHS Specialist Software
EHS Software & Services
EHSQ Corporate Leaders
AI Platforms & Applications
3 Steps EHS Leaders Should Take To Prep...

For time-pressured EHS leaders, the challenge is not whether AI matters, but how to assess readiness, prioritise use cases, and avoid costly missteps. In this webinar, we’ll examin...

Upcoming / 08 April, 2026

Blog
EHSQ Corporate Leaders
What Safety Leaders Are Really Thinking...

As organizations try to navigate where AI fits into their operations, EHS teams find themselves caught between optimism, scepticism and the daily realities of keeping people safe. ...

13 February, 2026

Blog
EHSQ Corporate Leaders
Breaking Silos And Building Trust: The ...

The 10 EHSQ predictions for 2026 from Verdantix reveal a decisive shift – organizations are leaving behind fragmented tools and early‑stage AI in favour of systems that build trus...

03 February, 2026

Blog
EHSQ Corporate Leaders
Driving Commercial And Educational Mome...

EHS practitioners attend industry events to stay informed on best practices for maintaining safe, sustainable and compliant operations. These forums not only provide education on e...

30 January, 2026

Webinar
Real Estate, Facilities & Workplace Tech
Real Estate Leaders
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
EHSQ Corporate Leaders
Why Are We Still Talking About The Retu...

In 2025, average UK office occupancy was around 40%, the highest level since the pandemic but still well below pre-pandemic norms. As organisations continue to bring people back in...

Upcoming / 26 February, 2026

Webinar
Third-Party Risk Management
Projects & Construction Management Software
Process Safety Management Software
Manufacturing Operations Management
EHSQ Corporate Leaders
EHS Specialist Software
EHS Software & Services
Digital Transformation Leaders
AI Platforms & Applications
Modernizing Control Of Work In 2026: Ho...

Control of Work (CoW) is critical to preventing serious injuries and fatalities, the top priority of 80% of EHS leaders. Yet many organizations still rely on paper-based processes ...

Upcoming / 19 February, 2026