Leveraging Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage

Sustainability is becoming a key strategy for future-proofing businesses. Even though the EU Omnibus Initiative promises regulatory simplification and additional time to implement many requirements, now is the time to invest in ESG data and AI technology. This not only enables more efficient resource use and a more resilient supply chain but also helps unlock new business potential. Those who act today can secure a decisive competitive advantage and be well prepared for future developments.

Immediate Sustainability Action is the Best Strategy

Despite possible delays in EU sustainability compliance regulations, forward-looking companies should use the additional time to invest in ESG technology and data. This will not only prepare them for future regulatory landscapes but also increase their competitive advantage and resilience in an increasingly sustainability-driven marketplace.

The urgency of such investments is supported by the findings of PwC’s 2025 State of Decarbonization report, which highlights a growing commitment among companies to take action on climate change. The need for immediate action is further underscored by the increasing impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events in Germany are estimated to have caused €145 billion in damages between 2000 and 2021 (Trenczek, J., et al., 2022) and will continue to do so in the coming decades (Flaute, M. et al., 2022).

In light of these realities, the use of ESG data and AI technology is becoming an indispensable strategy. It provides a compass for identifying effective sustainability initiatives and turning a wide range of environmental, social and governance risks into growth opportunities by: