Global Product Stewardship Survey 2019: Budgets, Priorities & Tech Preferences

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Executive Summary

This report helps corporate executives benchmark their budgets, investment priorities and technology preferences relative to their global peer group. The data collected through the Verdantix survey also supports strategic decision-making and business planning by executives at product stewardship consulting and software providers. This is the first iteration of the Verdantix global survey gauging product stewardship objectives and priorities across 37 countries. The survey took place in June and July 2019 via telephone interviews with 132 senior product stewardship decision-makers with direct responsibility for firm-wide product stewardship strategies and initiatives. Of the 132 respondents, all belong to firms with revenues of $100 million and up to over $25 billion, covering 24 industries. In aggregate, 70% of firms interviewed were in the very high (37%) and high (33%) product stewardship priority industry segments. Additionally, the 132 respondents of this year’s global survey comprised firms located in 37 different countries. These countries were identified based on product stewardship focus either by regulatory pressures or prominence of product stewardship-related industries.

Table of contents

Global Product Stewardship Survey 2019: Budgets, Priorities & Tech 
Preferences 
Broad Survey Of Product Stewardship Decision-Makers Delivers Granular Insights
Product Stewardship Decision-Makers Lead Their Firms’ Strategies For Product Compliance And Competitiveness
Product Safety And Compliance Are Key Criteria For Firms’ Product Development
Product Stewardship Is Important In Early Stages Of The Product Life Cycle

Firms Look To Identify Software Best Suited To Enhance Their Current Product Stewardship Function
Firms Want Product Stewardship Software To Aid Across Compulsory And Sustainability Requirements
Respondents Are Marginally Satisfied With Current Product Stewardship Software Functionality, While Identifying Several Components As Ineffective
Firms Utilize Various Software Platforms And Tools For Product Stewardship

Spending Will Increase Most Significantly For Product Quality, Product Safety and
Chemical Compliance In The Next Twelve Months
Budgets For Product Quality And Product Safety Will Grow Faster Than Budgets For Other Purposes
Firms Are Upgrading Or Replacing Existing Commercial Software For Product Stewardship

Table of figures

Figure 1. Industries Categorized By Significant Product Stewardship Requirements
Figure 2. Geographic Location Of Respondents
Figure 3. Product Stewardship’s Function In Relation To Other Business Functions
Figure 4. Driving Force  Behind Focus On Product Stewardship
Figure 5. Important Product Criteria For A Firm’s Product Stewardship Objectives
Figure 6. Product Stewardship Focus Per Product Life Cycle Stage
Figure 7. Commercial Software Preference For Product Stewardship Function
Figure 8. Current Utilization Of Commercial Product Stewardship Software
Figure 9. Perception Of Commercial Product Stewardship Software Effectiveness
Figure 10. Current Infrastructure Of Product Stewardship Platforms And Tools
Figure 11. Optimal Product Stewardship Platforms And Tools
Figure 12. Change In Spend On Product Stewardship Activities Between 2019 And 2020
Figure 13. Product Stewardship Consulting Investment Growth Between 2019 And 2020
Figure 14. Product Stewardship Software: Investment Priorities Over The Next 12 Months

About the authors

Bill Pennington

VP Research, EHS & Risk Management
Bill is the VP Research for the Verdantix EHS & Risk Management practices. His current agenda focuses on understanding the evolution of EHS and enterprise risk management, evaluating emerging strategic risks and benchmarking technology buyers’ budgets, priorities and preferences globally.

Steve Bolton

Research Director

Steve leads the Verdantix EHS research practice, based out of our New York office. He has 25 years of experience advising on sustainability, EHS, circular economy, corporate social responsibility and other business value topics. Steve received a dual environmental science and public policy Bachelor's degree from The College of William and Mary, a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University, and an MBA degree from James Madison University.

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