• 79% of US firms demand verified sustainability credentials from external tech vendors.
• Networks, cloud systems, and AI platforms identified as the top three areas for IT decarbonization.
• Nearly one in five US businesses will prioritize environmental sustainability tech investments in 2025.

Sustainability Moves from Compliance to Core Strategy

As the global policy spotlight turns toward COP30 in Brazil, new findings suggest that US technology leaders are no longer viewing sustainability as optional. An IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Expereo, “Enterprise Horizons 2025: Technology Leaders Priorities – Achieving Digital Agility,” shows that ESG considerations are now embedded in core business strategy across the sector.

The study reveals that environmental sustainability is shaping how companies design digital infrastructure, evaluate partners, and allocate technology budgets. Forty percent of US enterprises say improving sustainability metrics directly enhances customer satisfaction, while 44% link it to operational efficiency gains. More than half—52%—see it as a source of competitive differentiation.

Networks, Cloud, and AI Emerge as Decarbonization Priorities

The report identifies the IT backbone itself as a critical area for climate performance improvement. Forty-seven percent of US businesses rank network connectivity as their highest-impact area for cutting energy use and emissions. Cloud infrastructure follows at 43%, and AI and data platforms at 38%.

These findings highlight how sustainability has become intertwined with scalability and energy efficiency, driving enterprises to optimize digital supply chains, consolidate data centers, and adopt low-emission connectivity solutions. The shift reflects growing scrutiny of energy consumption across data-heavy operations—from hyperscale cloud providers to AI training clusters.

ESG Credentials Shape Vendor Selection

Sustainability is also reshaping procurement. Nearly four in five US organizations now apply formal ESG criteria when selecting external technology partners. One in five insists on major sustainability accreditations before signing contracts.

This trend reflects a broader tightening of accountability across the technology ecosystem, where enterprise clients increasingly demand lifecycle transparency—covering emissions data, supply-chain ethics, and circular-hardware practices. For vendors, sustainability credentials are fast becoming as essential as cybersecurity certifications in winning business.

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Investment Outlook: ESG-Linked Technology Spending Rising

Looking ahead to 2025, 18% of surveyed US firms plan to prioritize environmental-sustainability-related technology solutions—ranging from energy-optimization software and carbon-tracking systems to green data-center infrastructure. This represents a notable acceleration in corporate technology investment explicitly tied to decarbonization outcomes.

The IDC analysis positions this shift within a broader convergence of business resilience, compliance readiness, and investor expectations. With regulations tightening around climate disclosure and supply-chain transparency, companies are leveraging technology as both a compliance tool and a growth driver.

Leadership Perspective: ESG as a Competitive Advantage

Expereo’s General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Sujata Kukreja, emphasized that sustainability has moved from the margins to the center of enterprise growth models.

“Sustainability is no longer a side conversation—it’s central to how businesses operate, innovate, and grow,” she said. “Technology leaders recognise that ESG isn’t just about compliance; it’s about building resilient, future-ready organisations. Enterprises must align every aspect of their technology strategy, including connectivity and infrastructure, with their sustainability goals.”

Her remarks point to the growing strategic overlap between digital transformation and ESG performance. Firms that align both stand to unlock operational savings and long-term revenue advantages.

The Global Context

For C-suite leaders and investors, the data reflects a decisive realignment of enterprise technology priorities in one of the world’s largest digital markets. As sustainability metrics become procurement benchmarks, US-based vendors risk exclusion from major contracts without credible ESG credentials.

With global climate policy entering a new phase of enforcement ahead of COP30, the integration of sustainability into technology governance signals a broader market transformation. What began as compliance with voluntary frameworks is rapidly becoming a defining standard for competitiveness across the digital economy.

Read the full IDC’s Technology Leaders Survey here.

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