Environmental Data Is Going Through the Roof: What It Means For Business in 2025

For large businesses, environmental data plays a key role in compliance, procurement decisions, and new reduction initiatives. Historically, environmental data has been a wishy-washy mess of global emissions factors, secondary data and painful Excel crunching. However, by 2025, there is a growing expectation for environmental data to achieve the same level of accuracy and consistency as financial data. Here's what sustainability teams need to keep on their radar.

Trend #1: The 2025 Regulatory Wave Demands More Granular Data

New regulations like CSRD, CSDDD, and EUDR are pushing companies to collect and verify detailed environmental data across their operations and supply chains. Initial compliance costs are substantial - around €1.9 billion with another €4 billion yearly for external auditing. But it doesn't comes without benefits i.e. automated reporting, better decision-making, and deeper supplier relationships.

Trend #2: PCF Networks: The Future of Sharing Emissions Data

Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) are a secure, standardised way to share emissions data. This approach better protects sensitive information while providing the insights businesses need - we've seen nearly 400,000 PCFs generated on the Altruistiq platform in 2024 alone.

Here's how to approach emissions data sharing securely:

1. Ask for PCFs first: Instead of requesting activity data, start by asking for PCFs. You'll get the emissions data you need while respecting your suppliers' data security concerns.
2. Use secure sharing methods: Choose dedicated platforms over email for PCF sharing. Establish clear data protection agreements to safeguard your information.
3. Connect with sustainability teams: Many sustainability teams are just starting their PCF journey. Explain what PCFs are and how they offer a more secure alternative to raw data sharing.

Trend #3: Secondary Data is Making a Comeback

True primary data in sustainability contexts is often misunderstood. Authentic primary data involves direct scientific measurements, such as soil testing or satellite imagery.?What many consider "primary data", i.g. supplier-shared footprints, is actually a form of secondary data, as it typically incorporates estimates and industry averages.

While ‘primary data’ has long been considered the gold standard, refined secondary data is proving just as valuable for identifying emission hotspots. Through disaggregation, increased specificity, and continuous improvement, companies can achieve 80-95% accuracy without extensive primary data collection.

Check out the full article here.

Upcoming Events

Climate Goal Setting: The Role of Data Management

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In our first digital event of 2025, we will discuss the central role that data management plays in?setting your climate targets and monitoring progress over time.

Women in Sustainability Networking Breakfast

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A morning of networking, and an expert panel focused on live Supply Chain Engagement programs. This event is a space to connect, share ideas, and be inspired by women making a significant impact in sustainability.

State of Sustainability F&B Summit 2025

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The Food & Bev Summit brings together a select group of sustainability professionals from across the food and beverage supply chain. We'll cover?the role of Product Carbon Footprints, Supply Chain Engagement, Regenerative Agriculture, Material Innovation, and Successful Partnerships Across The Value Chain.

Four Levers Used by Companies That Are on Track With Their Emissions Targets

From the CDP Corporate Health Check 2025

The CDP Corporate Health Check is an annual assessment evaluating how large corporations incorporate environmentally positive strategies into their business operations.

Climate inaction will potentially slash global GDP by 18% (US$38 trillion) by 2050. Yet, only one in 10 companies full integrate climate-positive decision-making. Here are four key levers used by 'climate-leader companies' that are on track with their emissions targets:

1. Creating a 1.5°C-aligned climate transition plan

Climate-leaders are nearly twice as likely to have developed comprehensive climate transition plans. This proactive approach is particularly evident in the manufacturing and services sectors, where leaders are setting the pace for their industries.

2. Putting a price on carbon

Climate-leader companies are embracing internal carbon pricing at double the rate of their peers. European companies are leading this charge, setting prices 35% above the global average, influenced by the EU's mandatory Emissions Trading System.

3. Linking executive pay to environmental targets

Climate-leaders are more likely to incentivise their management teams for climate action, with almost 80% tying executive compensation to environmental goals. This approach extends beyond climate, with frontrunners also more inclined to link pay to nature-related objectives.

4. Engaging across the value chain

Leaders in climate action are taking a holistic approach, with nearly 90% actively collaborating with suppliers and customers to reduce emissions throughout their supply chains. Collaboration extends to water and forest conservation efforts.

What Makes A Carbon Reduction Project Effective?

Learn more about this with Maia Reed , Global Climate Data Lead at Mars Petcare. Maia covers how to:

1. Set up carbon reduction projects: Leverage existing supplier relationships and data-back prioritisation.
2. Bridge data gaps: Create data templates to ensure high-quality climate project data.
3. Balance global strategy with regional execution: Empower regional leads to choose projects that best serve their geographic needs while aligning with corporate goals.
4. Empower farmers: Ensure the majority of project investments benefit farmers directly, recognising their crucial role in climate-smart agriculture.
5. Innovate in carbon accounting: Track carbon intensity reductions in materials, linking carbon benefits directly to sourced materials rather than treating them as separate commodities.

???Tune in to the latest episode of State of Sustainability to learn more.

Other News

• ?????????US abandons climate requirements for federal contractors (REP): The outgoing US administration has withdrawn proposed amendments to federal procurement rules that would have required large government contractors to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and set science-based decarbonisation targets.
• ??????? Germany funds Interpol-WWF collaboration to combat environmental crime (euronews): Germany has allocated €5m to support a three-year Interpol-WWF project targeting environmental crimes like illegal logging and waste disposal, contributing to the global fight against organised environmental destruction.
• ??????Waterwheels are coming back to halt the climate crisis (The Guardian): Researchers from the Technical University of Munich developed a 2-metre-tall waterwheel for a village in Kashmiri, India to provide a?zero-carbon electricity solution that offers energy independence and continuous power generation.?The waterwheel, which can generate between 300W to 1kW, was installed as part of a microgrid and is a promising renewable energy option for remote communities.

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