Market Insight: 10 Predictions For ESG & Sustainability In 2026 And Beyond
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Executive Summary
Throughout 2025, regulatory rollbacks, the politicization of ESG and geopolitical instability left sustainability teams navigating constant ambiguity. Thus, 2026 marks a turning point where performance and accountability take centre stage for many sustainability leaders. As expectations rise, executives must juggle evolving compliance requirements while proving that their initiatives deliver real operational and financial returns. This report explores the most significant themes that will impact ESG and sustainability leaders in 2026, building on the research conducted by Verdantix over the past 12 months.
About the Authors
Jessica Pransky
Principal Analyst
Jessica is a Principal Analyst at Verdantix, specializing in providing insights to sustainability leaders and analysing ESG and sustainability reporting software. She advises ...
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Priyanka Bawa
Principal Analyst
Priyanka is a Principal Analyst at Verdantix, where she leads research to enable sustainability leaders and services firms to analyse shifting market dynamics and evaluate inn...
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Luke Gowland
Senior Analyst
Luke is a Senior Analyst at Verdantix, specializing in ESG and sustainability reporting software and financial ESG. He advises both technology buyers and software vendor and s...
Callum Millard
Analyst
Callum is an Analyst at Verdantix, helping firms navigate the evolving ESG, sustainability, product innovation and product stewardship landscapes, to drive value creation and ...
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Elisa Molero
Senior Analyst
Elisa is a Senior Analyst at Verdantix, specializing in supply chain sustainability. Her research covers 100 vendors in the supply chain sustainability market, supporting buye...
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Jessie Wilson
Industry Analyst
Jessie is an Industry Analyst at Verdantix, with a research agenda spanning ESG reporting, the circular economy and supply chain sustainability. Jessie has a BSc in Geography ...
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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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