As businesses face increasing sustainable regulations and requirements, professional services offer solutions to meet these demands. In this article, we highlight the top sustainability consultancy firms of 2023 that can support businesses in ramping up their sustainability efforts and stay compliant.
Professional services organisations stay updated with industry trends and regulations in order to provide advice, support, and services to other businesses across various domains such as consulting, accounting, legal, marketing, and technology.
In this article, we take a closer look at the top sustainability consultancy firms offering support today.
Accenture
Founded in 1989, Accenture is a global professional services company offering a wide range of services in strategy, consulting, digital technology, and operations. It serves more than 9,000 clients, including major corporations worldwide. Accenture has consistently ranked on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies list for 21 years and has held the top position in IT Services for a decade.
Accenture released its Accelerating Global Companies toward Net Zero by 2050 report in late 2022, analysing emissions reduction commitments from the 2000 largest public and private companies around the world.
FTI Consulting
Established in 1982, FTI Consulting is a global business advisory firm specialising in investigations, litigation, mergers & acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, transaction services, and restructuring. With a significant presence in the UK, particularly in London and Scotland, FTI Consulting serves clients across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). It was recognised as one of the top professional services firms by Forbes in 2021-2022.
Deloitte
Tracing its origins back to 1845, Deloitte is one of the world’s leading professional services firms. With over 156,000 employees, Deloitte offers services in audit, tax, consulting, risk advisory, and financial advisory to clients across various industries.
In January 2023, Deloitte launched GreenSpace Tech, an initiative that helps businesses select the right technology to reduce risk in investments. Additionally, the company conducts research on topics such as ESG commitments and finance.
Bain & Company
Founded in 1973, Bain & Company is a management consulting firm assisting businesses in strategy, operations, technology, mergers and acquisitions, and organisational transformation. It consistently ranks as one of the best places to work according to Glassdoor, both in the UK and the US. Bain has maintained a top-four spot on Glassdoor’s US list for the past 15 years.
ERM (Environmental Resources Management)
Established in 1971, ERM is a leading global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk, and sustainability consulting services. With operations in over 40 countries and a team of more than 5,500 employees, ERM is on our list of top sustainable consultancy firms as it focuses primarily on sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) while helping clients achieve long-term sustainability goals.
ERM received commendations for its ESG Innovation and Net Zero Accelerator efforts in the 2022 and research by ERM’s SustainAbility Institute found that companies are spending a considerable amount of money to receive ESG ratings.
KPMG
Founded in 1987, KPMG is one of the world’s largest professional services firms. It operates through a global network of member firms across 147 countries and territories. In addition to core services like audit, tax, and consulting, KPMG actively engages in thought leadership and research, publishing reports on various business topics, including sustainability and regulatory changes.
KPMG’s biannual regulatory barometer helps firms identify key areas of pressure in the evolving UK and EU regulatory landscape.
McKinsey & Company
Established in 1926, McKinsey & Company has a global presence and serves clients in over 130 cities across 65 countries. Known for its expertise in strategy consulting, McKinsey employs consultants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. In 2022, McKinsey launched the Sustainability Academy to assist organisations in navigating the net zero transition. It also finances The Frontier Fund, along with Alphabet and Meta, which supports the development of carbon removal technology.
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Founded in 1963, BCG is renowned for its expertise in strategy consulting. Notably, BCG developed the “growth-share matrix” or “BCG matrix,” which is a portfolio management framework that helps companies decide how to prioritise their different businesses.
BCG collaborates with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF as part of The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, aiming to address plastic pollution through a UN treaty.
EY (Ernst & Young)
With roots dating back to 1849, EY is one of the largest professional services firms globally. It offers services in assurance, tax, consulting, and strategy. EY prioritises innovation and digital transformation, investing in technologies such as AI, data analytics, and blockchain. Sustainability, corporate responsibility, diversity, and inclusiveness are integral aspects of EY’s operations. Together with IBM, EY focuses on ESG solutions to integrate sustainability into business strategy, helping to place them as one of the top sustainable consultancy firms.
PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
Established in 1998 through a merger, PwC is a multinational professional services network providing audit, tax, consulting, and deals services. PwC collaborates with organisations across industries, helping them address regulatory compliance, improve financial performance, enhance operational efficiency, and create value for stakeholders.
PwC partnered with software company SAP to develop solutions for key ESG business challenges, including carbon accounting, reporting, supply chain decarbonization, and climate risk.
