The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
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In this article we’ll explore what the CBAM is, why it’s been created, and what importers need to know ahead of its introduction.
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Best Sustainability Software in 2025
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In 2025, sustainability is expected to continue being all the rage – as the global push for greater sustainability will propel the fight for the title of the best sustainability software will commence to new extremes.
Sustainability software can help companies to improve their management of sustainability data, and as environmental and sustainability progress reports become increasingly compulsory – making use of an effective sustainability software can make complying with environmental regulations and drafting these reports easier.
In this article, we’ll explain what sustainability software is, the benefits of using sustainability software, and the best sustainability software to use in 2025.
What is sustainability software?
Sustainability software refers to the use of various tools and applications which can allow companies to monitor, manage, and collect new data on sustainability via an automated process.
In a nutshell, sustainability software can help companies to organize and analyze their ESG and other sustainability easier.
💡 Think of sustainability software as the step tracker on your Apple Watch for fitness – your phone or smartwatch are automatically collecting data to provide insight on your activity throughout the day, which allows you to adjust your movement accordingly.
“ This wouldn’t be possible without automated data collection, and the same goes for companies who seek to use sustainability software – as it make data collection related to carbon emissions, water and energy usage, and CSR more readily available. ”
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Sustainability software works by automating data collection to make tracking, managing, and reporting ESG performance easier – as these reports often require extensive data and analysis, sustainability software can help to simplify the process.
How does sustainability software work?
Here are the steps how sustainability software works:
- Data Collection – Just as apps on your smartphone update automatically without needing to manually refresh, sustainability software will consistently collect environmental data such as energy usage, water consumption, and various scope emissions.
- Monitoring – All of this environmental data will be tracked in real-time to ensure ample and accurate information can be used for analysis.
- Analysis – Once sufficient data has been collected, sustainability software will analyze trends to help reveal environmental concerns and inconsistencies. This information can help companies to adjust their current sustainability plan accordingly.
- Compliance – Sustainability software will help companies adhere to regulations such as from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) as it operates under the notion of transparency.
- Set Goals – Companies can rest easy knowing that the best sustainability software will help them to establish achievable goals to reduce emissions and their current environmental impact.
- Assistance in Drafting Reports – Whether it be for stakeholders or customers, the best sustainability software will help companies demonstrate their genuine efforts towards achieving ESG and environmental-related goals via data collection and analysis.
- Streamlining Data – The best sustainability software can be integrated into other systems to allow for streamlined data collection and management. This can prove useful when seeking to engage sustainability with your suppliers.
It’s important to remember that sustainability software can manifest and be utilized in multiple different forms, such as applications used to track carbon emissions across the value chain, efforts to set reduction targets, and help in developing sustainability reports.
👉 Ultimately, sustainability software could prove as an indispensable tool for companies with large business operations looking to reduce their ESG impact.
Why is sustainability software important?
Sustainability software is important as it can help companies to recognize areas of improvement, adhere to environmental regulations, increase transparency and accountability, and help to engage stakeholders.
💡 Since the best sustainability software will often follow frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), sustainability software can not only prove beneficial to your business internally – but help to comply with external regulations and expectations.
“ There are numerous types of sustainability software: including ESG software, carbon management software, and LCA software. ”
Different types of sustainability software
Here is a breakdown of the different types of sustainability software:
- Carbon Management Software – One of the most popular kinds of sustainability software, carbon management software helps companies to monitor, measure, and manage their carbon emissions. Using this type of sustainability software can help businesses to effectively reduce scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions across their value chain.
- ESG Software – This sustainability software will help companies collect ESG data to help disclose ESG criteria and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- LCA Software – This type of sustainable software can help companies to better understand the environmental impact of their product or service over the course of its entire lifecycle – from when the product was manufactured to when it’s disposed.
Who can benefit from the best sustainability software?
Remember, regardless of the type of sustainability software chosen – numerous industries can benefit from the use of sustainability software, including:
- Non-profit organizations
- Government-based organizations
- Energy-sector based businesses
- Retail stores
- Hospitality industry
- Health industry
- Automotive industry
- IT-based industries
- Construction companies
- Financial organizations
👉 The best sustainability software can help businesses be increasingly aware of their current environmental impact whilst also ensuring compliance – helping to boost the importance of adhering to sustainable initiatives worldwide.
What are the benefits of using sustainability software?
There are multiple benefits to using sustainability software, such as improved operational efficiency, boosted brand reputation, and gaining a competitive edge.
“ Sustainability software can help companies to improve their risk management, ensure environmental compliance, and develop long-term sustainable growth strategies to make their business a global success. ”
Here are some of the benefits to using sustainability software:
Improved employee productivity & overall efficiency
Once companies make use of sustainability software, they can allow for cost deductions and automated data collection can help save time as manual spreadsheets won’t need to be used anymore.
💡 In addition to this, McKinsey, a global consulting firm, estimates that companies may benefit from a 60% increase in operating profits as a result of using various sustainability software.
Boost business performance
The use of sustainability software can allow businesses to develop a more robust sustainability strategy as a result of newfound data analysis to help them create more ambitious, complex environmental goals.
In fact, sustainability software can help employees within the business to be more productive as well – as less time and effort is required on their behalf to track and manage carbon emissions within the company.
Lastly, sustainability software can help to draft environmental reports – which will then be shared publicly to boost transparency and accountability. This could help to attract new customers to your business, which is increasingly important considering 80% of people are willing to pay more for a product from a sustainable company.
Gain a competitive advantage
Companies that use the best sustainability software and eco-friendly practices will inherent greater stakeholder trust and the ability to attract new investors – which can ultimately help to expand the business long-term.
This is also because using sustainability software can encourage new innovative designs to reduce a company’s environmental impact in accordance with the results from the sustainability software’s data analysis.
Therefore, the best sustainability software can also allow businesses to expand their operations and be more successful worldwide.
👉 It is important to note that businesses that choose to continue operations without the use of sustainability software in the midst of the fight against climate change could face several challenges and risks, such as damaged brand reputation, difficulty engaging stakeholders, and loss of consumer interest.
The table below will further depict how the best sustainability can support a company in their business growth:
| Software | How It Helps Expand Operations | How It Contributes to Business Success Worldwide |
|---|---|---|
| Greenly | Greenly provides automated carbon tracking and reporting, helping businesses to easily adapt their operations to different international carbon regulations, which supports global expansion. | Greenly assists businesses in managing their carbon footprint, improving sustainability practices. This transparency enhances a company's reputation globally, attracting environmentally conscious customers and investors. |
| Normative | Normative enables accurate carbon emissions tracking across supply chains. As businesses expand into new territories, they can manage and report sustainability performance in line with global standards. | Normative’s comprehensive carbon data helps companies meet international regulatory standards, improving their marketability and allowing them to operate sustainably across borders. |
| IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite | IBM’s platform uses AI to predict environmental risks, allowing businesses to manage operational challenges in different regions, such as adapting to climate change impacts. | With real-time environmental monitoring and analytics, businesses can mitigate risks, optimize supply chains, and reduce operational costs, ensuring success in international markets. |
| Sphera | Sphera’s integrated sustainability management tools help companies comply with global regulations as they expand into new markets, making sustainability reporting easier across multiple regions. | By integrating ESG data across operations, Sphera enables companies to reduce risk and demonstrate compliance, which strengthens their global reputation and competitiveness. |
| Microsoft Sustainability Cloud | Microsoft’s cloud solution provides powerful data-driven insights into carbon emissions and energy use, helping businesses optimize operations as they expand globally. | Through robust data analytics and sustainability reporting, Microsoft helps companies streamline operations, meet global compliance, and enhance brand value in the international market. |
The best sustainability software in 2025
We’ve narrowed down our best sustainability software to use in 2025 so you don’t have to scour the internet for hours on end – just jump right in, and get started on your sustainability journey in time for the new year.
Here’s our list of the best sustainability software in our book:
Greenly
Greenly is a carbon accounting software that allows you to easily measure your carbon emissions precisely with ease.
Known for our climate experts, user-friendly dashboard, and infinite resources such as white papers, data stories, and communication toolkits – we can help your business to comply with almost any regulation or sustainability initiative such as the SBTi, CSRD, and more.
💡 Get in touch with us today to learn more about how Greenly can support your climate journey with the best sustainability software.
Normative
This sustainability software, which focuses carbon accounting, can provide companies with an in-depth understanding and analysis of their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions – which can prove useful for businesses trying to reduce their carbon footprint or work towards net-zero emissions.
Normative’s sustainability software can also support clients in:
- Sustainable growth
- Gaining access to their carbon network
- Source carbon emissions data from suppliers
- Share vital information with stakeholders
Sphera
Sphera is an ESG performance and risk management software which utilizes integration tools to promote the importance of organizational safety and EHS values.
As a whole, this sustainability software allows companies to curate a more eco-friendly image to boost consumer and stakeholder trust – while also adhering to proficient CSR management and practices.
👉 Also, Sphera’s platform allows for collaboration – which can provide a one-stop-shop to help your company excel in its sustainability journey.
Microsoft Sustainability Cloud
A renowned software company created by Bill Gates, Microsoft offers their own sustainability software – called Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability.
Microsoft’s cloud for sustainability software allows users to document, disclose, and reduce their emissions with the use of Microsoft's Sustainability Manager – a tool used to help businesses measure and better understand their environmental data for improved decision making.
IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite
Lastly, IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite is well-known sustainability software, which focuses on data management.
Ultimately used for managing a company’s emissions, IBM can be considered amongst the best sustainability software on the market as it offers detailed climate risk analytics.
💡 In the midst of natural disasters such as Hurricane Milton, companies must prepare accordingly and remain aware of how global warming could impact their business long-term – and sustainability software such as IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite can help.
Ultimately, sustainability software is proving itself to be an essential tool for any business to succeed in not only reducing emissions and their environmental impact – but to develop long-term success in their respective markets.
The best sustainability software will be contingent on your individual company’s needs, but luckily – there is plenty of sustainability software to choose from and start your climate journey today.
What About Greenly?
If reading this article on top sustainability software in 2025 has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!
Aligning your business to comply with sustainability initiatives such as LCA can be challenging, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help. Click here to schedule a demo to see how Greenly can help you find ways to improve energy efficiency and decrease the dependency on fossil fuels in your own company.
Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.
Click here to learn more about Greenly and how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.
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