As businesses become increasingly aware of the urgency needed to address sustainability challenges, 12 ESG consulting firms are showing the way in 2025. These consultants are helping organizations to implement transformational strategies for environmental conservation, social responsibility, and corporate governance.
Their unique approaches and extensive understanding of various industries, allows these ESG experts to create and deploy strategies that are both sustainable and impactful in the real world.
What is ESG Consulting?
ESG Consulting is a specialized advisory service that helps organizations develop and implement strategies related to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors.
Here’s a breakdown:
Environmental aspects involve:
- Assessing and reducing carbon emissions
- Developing sustainability strategies
- Analyzing environmental impact and risks
- Creating climate change mitigation plans
Social components include:
- Evaluating workplace diversity and inclusion
- Analyzing labor practices
- Assessing community impact
- Developing human rights and social responsibility policies
Governance focuses on:
- Corporate ethics and transparency
- Board diversity and structure
- Risk management
- Compliance and regulatory adherence
ESG consultants typically work with:
- Large corporations
- Investment firms
- Financial institutions
- Publicly traded companies
Their primary goals are to:
- Help organizations improve their ESG performance
- Develop sustainable business practices
- Enhance corporate reputation
- Meet investor and stakeholder expectations
- Identify potential ESG-related risks and opportunities
Companies seek ESG consulting to:
- Attract socially responsible investors
- Improve long-term financial performance
- Demonstrate commitment to sustainable practices
- Comply with emerging ESG reporting regulations
The demand for ESG consulting has grown significantly in recent years as investors, consumers, and regulative bodies increasingly prioritize sustainable and ethical business practices.
What Value Do ESG Consultants Offer?
ESG consultants bring specialized expertise that transforms complex sustainability challenges into strategic opportunities for organizations. By combining deep analytical capabilities with industry-specific insights, these professionals help companies navigate the intricate workings of environmental, social, and governance considerations.
They do more than just provide recommendations; they serve as strategic partners who translate abstract sustainability concepts into concrete, actionable business strategies.
From developing comprehensive ESG frameworks and identifying potential risks to crafting compelling sustainability narratives and improving corporate performance, ESG consultants offer a holistic approach that enhances an organization’s reputation, attracts socially responsible investors, and drives long-term value creation.
Their objective, data-driven perspective enables businesses to not only meet current regulatory requirements but also anticipate and proactively address emerging sustainability trends, ultimately positioning companies as responsible, forward-thinking leaders in their respective industries.
Risk Management and Opportunities
ESG consultants perform materiality assessments to determine on what aspects they can have an impact. They track industry developments, legal standards and stakeholders’ demands in order to help organisations prevent or mitigate risks and seize the opportunities in the field of sustainable development.
Performance Optimization
Using data analysis and comparison with other firms in the same industry, consultants assist firms to minimize on costs and increase efficiency of their operations. They set up KPIs and monitoring systems to assess the advancement towards the defined sustainability objectives.
Stakeholder Communication
They also prepare ESG reports as well as communication plans that outline the sustainability reporting process for investors, customers and other stakeholders. They provide transparency and the reports are prepared in accordance the with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines while promoting the sustainability reporting of the company.
Business Impact
ESG consulting offers real measurable advantages to companies, such as the improvement of the efficiency of the operations, the relationships with the stakeholders and the positioning in the market. Companies that engage ESG consultants tend to cut down on costs, gain the trust of investors, and enhance their risk management.
Today, ESG consultants integrate analytical skills, digital tools and industry knowledge to offer holistic solutions that focus on both sustainability reporting and business results.
ESG Software: Enhancing Consultant Capabilities
It’s also worth noting that ESG consultants may use software to support their work and increase the efficiency of their practice. ESG software platforms are tools that assist in gathering, organizing and presenting ESG information relating to different key indicators and parameters.
Some of the benefits include the ability to manage data aggregation, monitoring performance against set KPIs and producing reports that meet various reporting requirements.
Through the application of such software the consultants can deliver efficient services and this makes it easier for organizations to monitor their ESG performance in real-time and make better strategic sustainability decisions.
The use of ESG software in conjunction with consulting services is a great example of how combining human expertise with technology can be used to tackle various sustainability issues.
12 of the Best ESG Consultants
ERM (Environment Resources Management)
ERM (Environmental Resources Management) stands out as a leader in the ESG and sustainability consulting landscape. As the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, ERM has established itself as a trusted partner for organizations seeking to integrate sustainability into their core business strategies and enhance their overall sustainability performance.
ERM offers a wide range of ESG and sustainability services, including:
- ESG financial advisory services
- Portfolio management
- ESG due diligence
- Development of ESG debt frameworks
- Impact investing guidance
The company’s “boots to boardroom” approach combines strategic transformation capabilities with technical delivery expertise, enabling clients to accelerate the integration of sustainability into their strategies and operations.
Anthesis Group
Anthesis Group is a leading global sustainability advisory and solutions firm that offers a comprehensive range of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) services to organizations worldwide. As the world’s largest pure-play sustainability advisory firm, Anthesis has experienced rapid growth and expansion through strategic acquisitions, positioning itself as a key player in the ESG consulting space.
Anthesis specializes in guiding organizations towards the development and implementation of robust ESG strategies. Their approach includes:
- Prioritizing ESG issues
- Identifying risks and opportunities
- Aligning ESG initiatives with business objectives
- Developing tailored roadmaps for embedding sustainability into business operations
- The firm works across various sectors, supporting businesses, investors, and financial institutions in
- formulating and executing ESG strategies that comply with standards and contribute to long-term resilience
Sustainability Consult
Sustainability Consult is a specialized communications and PR agency that focuses on providing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) services to organizations in the bioeconomy and circular economy sectors. Based in Brussels, Belgium, the company offers a range of services to help clients effectively communicate their sustainability efforts and navigate the complex landscape of ESG reporting and stakeholder engagement.
ESG Communications
Sustainability Consult assists clients in developing and implementing effective ESG communication strategies. This includes:
- Creating compelling narratives around sustainability initiatives
- Developing ESG messaging that resonates with stakeholders
- Crafting sustainability reports and other ESG-related content
Stakeholder Engagement
The company helps clients build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including:
- Investors and shareholders
- Regulatory bodies
- NGOs and advocacy groups
- Customers and suppliers
South Pole
Climate Risk Assessment
The company’s experts conduct climate-related risk assessments in line with best practices and TCFD recommendations. This helps businesses build long-term resilience by understanding and preparing for potential climate-related impacts on their operations.
Carbon Strategy and Offsetting
South Pole supports organizations in several key areas of carbon management:
- Measuring environmental footprint
- Setting science-based targets
- Developing strategies to achieve net-zero emissions
- Facilitating carbon offsetting through the development and management of carbon credit projects
Renewable Energy Solutions
The company provides guidance on sourcing renewable energy, including:
- Establishing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
- Advising on investments in renewable energy technologies
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
South Pole helps clients manage their Scope 3 emissions by offering tools and strategies to enhance sustainability throughout the supply chain. This includes conducting lifecycle assessments, engaging suppliers, and developing sustainable procurement policies. By offering these comprehensive services, South Pole enables organizations to not only comply with ESG regulations but also drive sustainable transformation and create long-term value for stakeholders and the environment.
South Pole’s consulting services are diverse, covering a wide spectrum of sustainability needs:
Carbon Footprint Measurement and Reduction: South Pole employs state-of-the-art methodologies to accurately measure an organization’s carbon emissions. This crucial first step allows clients to identify hotspots and develop targeted strategies for reduction. By leveraging advanced data analytics and industry benchmarks, South Pole helps clients set ambitious yet achievable emission reduction targets.
Climate Strategy Development: The company’s experts work closely with clients to craft bespoke climate strategies that align with both business objectives and global climate goals. These strategies often involve a mix of emission reduction initiatives, renewable energy adoption, and innovative offset programs.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Recognizing that a significant portion of many companies’ emissions lie within their supply chains, South Pole offers comprehensive services to assess and improve supply chain sustainability. This includes supplier engagement programs, risk assessments, and the implementation of sustainable procurement practices.
Renewable Energy Advisory: As the world transitions to cleaner energy sources, South Pole provides invaluable guidance on renewable energy procurement, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and on-site renewable energy installations. Their expertise helps clients navigate the complex landscape of renewable energy markets and technologies.
Teneo
Teneo is a global consulting and advisory firm that offers comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) services to its clients. As a leading CEO advisory firm, Teneo provides integrated ESG advisory services to help organizations navigate the complex ESG landscape and develop sustainable business practices
Teneo’s ESG consulting team brings together experts from various disciplines to offer a wide range of services:
- Strategy Development: Teneo helps clients build and implement comprehensive ESG programs tailored to their specific needs and industry requirements
- Risk Management: The firm assists in identifying and mitigating ESG-related risks, including climate change, diversity, and corporate governance issues
- Sustainability Reporting: Teneo supports clients in developing sustainability reports and meeting evolving regulatory requirements, particularly in light of increasing scrutiny on greenwashing
- Stakeholder Engagement: The firm helps organizations communicate their ESG initiatives effectively to various stakeholders, including investors, employees, and customers
Ecovadis
EcoVadis has gained significant importance in the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) landscape. As companies increasingly recognize the value of robust ESG reporting and face growing demands from investors and stakeholders, many turn to ESG consultants to help navigate the EcoVadis assessment process.
EcoVadis ESG consultants play a crucial role in helping businesses achieve better sustainability ratings. Their services typically include:
1. Gap Analysis and Guidance
- Reviewing current practices and identifying areas for improvement
- Defining ambition levels and sustainability goals
- Conducting joint questionnaire reviews
2. Assessment Preparation
- Explaining EcoVadis methodology and assessment criteria
- Assisting with questionnaire completion and evidence selection
- Preparing documentation for submission
3. Continuous Improvement
- Analyzing existing scorecards
- Selecting improvement areas and identifying suitable measures
- Developing customer roadmaps for enhancing sustainability performance
4. Implementation Support
- Helping integrate sustainable actions into daily operations
- Assisting with stakeholder engagement
- Managing ESG data for accurate reporting
Mabbett
Mabbett Ltd offers a range of services, including Environmental Social Governance (ESG) consulting. Established in 1996, the company provides Planning, Design, Environmental, Engineering, and Safety services with a focus on helping clients “See a Difference”.
Mabbett’s ESG consulting services are designed to help companies develop comprehensive ESG plans and policies to satisfy investors. Their approach includes:
- Conducting materiality-based assessments to identify the greatest ESG risks
- Informing companies on the most appropriate ESG reporting frameworks
- Developing bespoke, investor-ready ESG plans
Recent Developments
In September 2024, Mabbett introduced two new technical groups to enhance their service portfolio:
- Climate & Carbon
- Energy
These additions came as a result of the full integration of GEP Environmental Ltd, which Mabbett acquired two years prior. This integration has expanded Mabbett’s geographic reach, adding offices in Edinburgh, Winchester, and Anglesey
Expertise and Focus Areas
Mabbett’s ESG consulting team specializes in:
- Decarbonisation training programmes
- Net Zero Advisory services
- Energy efficiency
- Alternative energy feasibility and design
The company’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its mission to reduce humanity’s negative impact on earth, restore the natural environment, and support innovation and sustainability in the workforce.
Catalyst
The Catalyst Group is a leading global provider of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) consulting services, specializing in the real estate and property sector. With over 20 years of experience and a network of more than 400 professionals, Catalyst offers comprehensive ESG solutions to funds, developers, and corporations worldwide.
Catalyst’s ESG consulting services encompass a wide range of offerings tailored to the real estate industry:
ESG Strategy Development: Catalyst helps organizations align their ESG initiatives with stakeholder expectations, regulatory requirements, and market opportunities.
Sustainability Reporting: The firm assists clients with Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) reporting, ensuring accurate and comprehensive disclosure of sustainability performance.
Social Impact Strategy: Catalyst enables organizations to create meaningful social impact by aligning business objectives with local stakeholder needs.
Climate Risk Assessment: The company provides Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment services to evaluate the resilience of assets and portfolios to climate-related risks.
Baringa
The Baringa company has a strong focus on sustainability and climate change, offering a wide range of services to help businesses navigate the complex landscape of ESG and sustainability regulations. Baringa has been developing climate change strategies for over 20 years, positioning itself as an experienced advisor in this field. The firm’s expertise spans various sectors, allowing them to connect the dots between policymakers, investors, lenders, energy companies, and corporates
Baringa offers a range of ESG-related services to its clients:
Sustainability Strategy: Helping organizations assess their impact on the planet, people, and prosperity, and integrating sustainability into core business strategies.
Climate Risk Management: Assisting financial services firms in designing and implementing climate risk frameworks and conducting scenario analyses.
Emissions Measurement and Reporting: Developing tailored emissions calculation methodologies and data solutions for accurate and granular reporting.
Net Zero Transition Planning: Creating credible and realistic transition plans aligned with sectoral pathways and recognized frameworks like TCFD and SBTi.
Energy Procurement: Advising on decarbonizing energy use through renewable power procurement and fuel switching strategies.
Research on ESG and Business Success
Baringa’s recent research has shown a positive correlation between companies prioritizing ESG and kindness and their financial success. Their analysis found that businesses with a reputation for kindness, including sustainable and ethical practices, were 35% more likely to have doubled their earnings over a ten-year period compared to companies perceived as unkind.
Integrated Sustainability
As ESG consultants, Integrated Sustainability offer comprehensive services to help companies navigate the complex landscape of sustainability and ESG reporting. By combining deep industry knowledge, practical experience, and a commitment to real-world solutions, Integrated Sustainability positions itself as a valuable partner. Their diverse expertise allows the company to address ESG and sustainability challenges from multiple perspectives.
ESG Strategy Development
Integrated Sustainability works closely with leadership teams to create robust ESG strategies that go beyond compliance. Their approach aims to resonate with stakeholders, secure investments, promote sustainable business practices, and deliver long-term value.
Materiality Assessments
The firm helps companies identify their main material risks, opportunities, and priorities in the ESG space. This process ensures organizations focus on the most integral aspects of their ESG journey, considering stakeholder pressures, industry standards, and investor needs.
Climate-Related Risk Management
Integrated Sustainability assists companies in preparing for potential impacts of global warming on communities and business operations. Their multi-disciplinary approach involves developing strategies to both mitigate impact and adapt to a changing world.
Energy Transition Support
The company equips clients with tools and expertise to cover various aspects of the energy transition, including lowering emissions, generating secondary energy sources, managing water efficiently, and improving biodiversity.
Industry Expertise
Many of Integrated Sustainability’s ESG professionals are accredited engineers with decades of experience in delivering sustainable innovation. This background allows them to understand clients’ challenges intimately and work effectively with leadership teams to deliver sustainable results quickly.
Practical Implementation
As a sustainable infrastructure and professional services company, Integrated Sustainability doesn’t just provide advice but also offers real-world solutions and implementation strategies. This hands-on approach helps embed sustainability as a core feature of client organizations.
Holistic Approach
The firm’s services span various aspects of ESG, including environmental sustainability reporting, net zero strategies, social impact studies, and governance structure development. This comprehensive coverage allows for an integrated approach to identifying risks, developing roadmaps, and seizing opportunities for leadership.
Data Management and Reporting
Integrated Sustainability offers in-house data management tools and a carbon tracking platform to help clients efficiently collect and disclose data to meet diverse regulatory requirements related to climate and environmental impact.
Nexio Projects
Nexio Projects is an international sustainability consultancy that specializes in providing expert support for organizations to achieve their sustainability goals. As ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) consultants, Nexio Projects offers a comprehensive range of services to help companies navigate the complex landscape of sustainability and accelerate their transition from compliance to purpose.
Strategic Sustainability Planning
Nexio Projects conducts sustainability and climate gap analyses to identify an organization’s current position and future aspirations. They craft bespoke sustainability management systems and decarbonization strategies tailored to each client’s unique needs.
Implementation Excellence
The company assists in streamlining ESG data management and reporting processes, ensuring compliance with standards such as ESRS, GRI, and SBTi. They provide specialized support in climate reporting and offer outsourced sustainability managers to help scale sustainability management systems and realize goals.
Ratings and Certifications
Nexio Projects helps organizations elevate their sustainability and climate leadership through benchmarking with renowned platforms such as EcoVadis, B Corp, and CDP.
Expertise and Recognition
Nexio Projects has been recognized as a leading provider of sustainability consulting by Verdantix, a research and advisory firm. They received high scores in ESG and sustainability corporate reporting and disclosures, particularly excelling in:
- Regulation readiness
- Reporting & disclosures
- Data governance
The company has also been noted for its strengths in ESG and sustainability digital transformation, including software selection, deployment, and implementation.
Solas Energy
As ESG consultants, Solas Energy Consulting combines technical expertise, industry experience, and a commitment to sustainability to help organizations navigate the complex landscape of ESG requirements and opportunities.
Solas Energy’s ESG consulting services encompass several key areas:
Strategy Development: The company assists corporations in developing ESG goals, assessing performance against these goals, and advising on strategies to achieve them.
Performance Assessment: Solas Energy benchmarks sustainability performance and policies against industry peers, identifying opportunities for improved sustainable development practices.
ESG Reporting: The company provides ESG reporting services, including ESG data management and disclosure, to help companies prepare for potential future mandatory reporting requirements.
Environmental Assessment: Solas Energy conducts comprehensive environmental assessments, including greenhouse gas (GHG), air, water, and land impacts for clean technology companies.
When Should You Hire ESG Consultants?
Navigating the complex landscape of ESG strategies can be challenging for many organizations. Here are critical moments when bringing in ESG consultants becomes not just beneficial, but essential:
Preparing for Investor Scrutiny
If your company is seeking investment or planning to attract socially responsible investors, ESG consultants can help you:
- Develop a robust ESG framework that meets investor expectations
- Prepare comprehensive ESG reporting that highlights your organization’s sustainability efforts
- Identify and address potential ESG-related risks that might deter investors
Regulatory Compliance Challenges
As ESG regulations become increasingly stringent, consultants become invaluable when:
- Your industry faces new environmental or social mandatory reporting requirements
- You’re struggling to understand complex ESG compliance standards
- Your current reporting fails to meet emerging regulatory benchmarks
Strategic Transformation Initiatives
Consider ESG consultants during significant organizational changes, such as:
Developing a comprehensive sustainability strategy
- Restructuring your business model to incorporate more sustainable practices
- Conducting a thorough ESG performance assessment
- Creating measurable sustainability goals and implementation roadmaps
Risk Mitigation and Reputation Management
ESG consultants are crucial when:
- Your organization faces potential environmental or social reputation risks
- You want to proactively address potential sustainability challenges
- You need to develop a more transparent and ethical corporate strategy
Competitive Differentiation
Hire ESG consultants when you want to:
- Stand out in your industry as a sustainability leader
- Develop innovative approaches to environmental and social challenges
- Create a compelling narrative around your company’s social responsibility
Signs You Need ESG Consulting Now
These are just a few of the red flags that indicate immediate ESG consulting may be needed:
- Inconsistent or incomplete sustainability reporting
- Lack of clear ESG strategy
- Minimal understanding of your company’s environmental and social impact
- Difficulty attracting socially conscious investors or talent
- Emerging regulatory pressures in your industry
The Cost of Inaction
Remember, delaying ESG strategy development can be more expensive than investing in consultants. The potential costs include:
- Missed investment opportunities
- Regulatory fines
- Reputational damage
- Decreased competitive advantage
ESG consulting is no longer a luxury—it’s a strategic necessity in today’s business landscape. The right consultants can transform your approach from reactive compliance to proactive leadership in sustainability and corporate responsibility.
Conclusion
The process of comprehensive ESG reporting and integration is not a one-time project but an on-going strategic process. As sustainability moves from being a trend to being a core business necessity, ESG consultants are now essential stakeholders in what has become a complex journey.
They do not only give recommendations; they offer a strategic approach that defines the organization’s objectives with the current standards of sustainability, the expectations of investors, and the potential requirements of the ever-changing laws.
It is possible to take environmental and social risks that companies face and convert them into strengths, opportunities, and ways of reducing risks with the help of professional ESG consultants. The future of business is sustainable and with this understanding and with the help of experts, future business leaders can find new and better paths to success.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do ESG consultants help with risk management?
ESG consultants perform materiality assessments to determine areas of impact, track industry developments, legal standards, and stakeholder demands to help organizations prevent or mitigate risks and seize opportunities in sustainable development
How do ESG consultants contribute to performance optimization?
Using data analysis and industry comparisons, consultants help firms minimize costs and increase operational efficiency. They set up Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and monitoring systems to assess progress towards defined sustainability objectives
What are the potential costs of delaying ESG strategy development?
Delaying ESG strategy development can lead to missed investment opportunities, regulatory fines, reputational damage, and decreased competitive advantage
References
KPMG: ESG: An Introductory Guide For Businesses (pdf)
World Economics Forum: The No. 1 ESG challenge organizations face: Data