U.S. Firms Scale Up Sustainability Systems for Business Value

U.S. enterprises are expanding their adoption of digital sustainability solutions to improve efficiency, manage risk and strengthen resilience even as federal policies rapidly shift and disclosure requirements recede, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

The 2025 ISG Provider Lens U.S. and Global Digital Sustainability report finds that U.S. companies are maintaining or increasing investments in sustainability technologies that deliver measurable financial and operational outcomes, particularly in energy-intensive and asset-heavy industries. Rather than focusing on broad compliance programs, enterprises are prioritizing initiatives that lower operating costs, improve data quality and provide sustainability assurance across fragmented regulatory environments at the state, federal and international levels.

“U.S. enterprises are clearly moving from sustainability as a reporting exercise to sustainability as a source of business value,” said Kathy Rudy, partner, ISG Data, Analytics and Technology Office. “They understand the ongoing need to embrace evolving business models and energy transformation.”

In the U.S. and across global markets, enterprises are engaging with data advisory and integration providers for assistance in building effective strategies and architectures to connect internal and external partner systems, the report says. Global demand is also rising for platforms that provide interoperable, automated data analytics and decision support modelling for sustainability.

One major adoption trend in the U.S. is the creation of enterprise-wide environmental, social and governance (ESG) data systems that align sustainability information with financial records, the report says. Large organizations are consolidating fragmented data sources into single systems of record to reduce reporting costs and improve audit readiness. This approach provides for shorter reporting cycles and consistent disclosures for operations subject to California requirements and international frameworks. Enterprises view integrated ESG data as essential for credible reporting and informed capital allocation.