Best 5 sustainability compliance software tools (2025)

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Sustainability compliance can be a real headache, especially for mid-market companies. With limited resources and smaller teams, keeping up with the ever-changing maze of regulations can feel overwhelming. 

Between understanding new laws like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), collecting accurate data for emissions reporting, and trying to make sense of voluntary frameworks like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, it’s a lot to manage. 

Add to that the pressure of ensuring your reports are audit-ready and the risk of fines or reputational damage from mistakes—it’s easy to see why so many businesses feel stretched thin. And without the right tools, much of this work ends up being manual, time consuming, and prone to errors.

That’s why many forward-thinking companies are turning to specialized sustainability compliance software to take some of this burden off their shoulders. These tools enhance the accuracy and credibility of sustainability reporting while saving time and fast-tracking compliance.

This article will compare the top five sustainability compliance solutions currently on the market to help you find the right fit for your business, including:

1. Coolset
2. Workiva
3. EcoVadis
4. Sphera
5. Diligent ESG

Quick recap: which sustainability regulations do mid-market companies need to comply with?

Before we dive into the comparison, let’s take a quick look at the current sustainability regulation landscape. 

Climate regulations are growing fast across the globe. In fact, according to ESG Book, the number of ESG-related regulations has increased by 155% over the past decade, with 1,255 new ESG regulations introduced worldwide between 2011 and 2023. This shows just how important it is for businesses to adapt. 

For mid-market companies, the regulations you must comply with depends on where your business operates. Let’s take a look at some notable regulations in key regions around the world:

EU regulations and standards

• Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): Requires around 71,000 EU-based companies to disclose extensive ESG data, including a double materiality assessment, phased in gradually starting in 2024.some text
  • European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS): The official framework guiding CSRD compliance, providing detailed requirements for reporting ESG metrics.
  • EU Taxonomy Regulation: Provides criteria for determining whether economic activities are environmentally sustainable, complementing the CSRD by helping businesses and investors align with EU environmental objectives.
• Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR): Requires financial market participants to disclose how they integrate sustainability risks and impacts into their investment decisions.

Regulations outside the EU

• The UK’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR): Requires qualifying UK companies to disclose carbon emissions and energy use, aiming to increase transparency and encourage reductions.
• The US’s SEC Climate Disclosure rules: Requires public companies in the US to disclose climate-related risks, financial impacts, and Scope 1-3 emissions.
• Australia’s Climate Disclosure Framework: New laws passed by Parliament on 9 September 2024 require Australian companies to produce detailed climate-related disclosures in alignment with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

Voluntary global frameworks

• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): The most widely used framework for ESG reporting that ensures transparency and comparability across industries and markets.
• Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP): The “gold standard” for carbon accounting,  providing methodologies for calculating and reporting Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
• Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): Focuses on disclosing climate-related risks and opportunities, helping businesses align with investor expectations and financial markets.
• Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Guides businesses in setting measurable and science-based emissions reduction targets in line with global climate goals.

Staying on top of both mandatory and voluntary guidelines is key to accurate reporting and maintaining trust with stakeholders while positioning your company as a leader in sustainability compliance.

Top 5 sustainability compliance tools in 2025

Now that we’ve familiarized ourselves with the sustainability regulations and standards out there, let’s compare five interesting softwares to help you tackle sustainability compliance head on.

1. Coolset

As the authors of this comparison, we want to be transparent about including Coolset on this list. For mid-market enterprises in the EU, we believe Coolset stands out as the go-to software for businesses navigating ESG management and CSRD compliance. 

From conducting double materiality assessments to generating accurate, audit-ready reports, Coolset streamlines the entire CSRD compliance process in a single platform. Its carbon management methodology is TÜV Rheinland certified, providing an exceptionally precise view of Scope 1-3 emissions in line with the GHG Protocol.

Website: www.coolset.com 

Ideal for: Mid-market companies

Key features: 

• Double materiality assessment support
• Adaptive ESRS disclosures
• Curated suggested answers and smart autofilling
• Audit-ready reporting
• XBRL, PDF, and Word report exports
• TÜV-certified Scope 1-3 carbon measurements
• Target setting and forecasting
• Task and activity management
• Supporting documentation

2. Workiva

Workiva brings together financial reporting, audit, risk, and ESG, all in one platform. For ESG management, companies can select relevant ESG frameworks and standards from Workiva’s database, automatically sync ESG data via APIs, and generate well-designed reports ready for audit—whether for regulators or ratings agencies.

‍Website: www.workiva.com 

Ideal for: Large enterprises and multi-industry organizations

Key features: 

• Automated data collection
• Pre-built ESG frameworks and standards
• Materiality assessment template
• Report design capabilities
• Comment tracking and version control
• Audit-ready reporting

3. EcoVadis

EcoVadis is a globally trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. It also offers supply chain ESG compliance software that helps businesses identify supply chain risks, assess and understand supplier performance, drive improvements, and generate comprehensive reports to comply with international standards and regulations.

‍Website: www.ecovadis.com 

Ideal for: Companies with complex supply chains

Key features: 

• Comprehensive supplier assessments
• Compliance with various regulations
• Risk mapping for supply chain sustainability
• Industry-specific benchmarking
• Tools for supplier collaboration and improvement
• Ready-to-use sustainability scorecards

4. Sphera

Sphera is a corporate sustainability solution designed to handle complex data at a global scale. Tailored for enterprise-level needs, Sphera enables businesses to streamline data collection, accurately calculate greenhouse gas emissions, and create visually engaging reports in line with relevant regulations and standards.

Website: www.sphera.com 

Ideal for: Large-scale industries (manufacturing, energy, etc.)

Key features: 

• Automated data collection
• Multi-framework support (CSRD, GRI, TCFD, CDP and more)
• Science-based target setting
• Real-time analytics
• Audit-ready reporting

5. Diligent ESG

Diligent ESG provides powerful tools for governance-focused ESG reporting, empowering organizations to prioritize transparency and accountability. Businesses can map their ESG program against multiple reporting standards, streamline data collection, and generate 80 different pre-configured audit-ready reports based on their sustainability compliance needs.

Website: www.diligent.com 

Ideal for: Organizations prioritizing governance and transparency

Key features: 

• Automated data collection across Scopes 1-3
• Built-in emissions factors and calculations
• Audit-ready reporting
• Personalized reporting dashboards
• Compliance tracking for multiple frameworks
• User-friendly reporting templates

How to choose the best sustainability compliance software tool

Choosing the right sustainability compliance software tool can feel overwhelming, but asking the right questions can simplify the process. Here are some key factors to consider:

1. Regulatory alignment: Does the software support the specific regulations your business must comply with (e.g., CSRD, SEC Climate Disclosure, UK SECR)?
2. Integrations: Can it seamlessly integrate with your current tools, systems, and workflows?
3. Voluntary frameworks: Does it accommodate the voluntary frameworks you want to follow, such as GRI, TCFD, or SBTi?
4. Audit-readiness: Does it include features to ensure your reports are audit-ready for regulators or ratings agencies?
5. Task automation: Does it automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks like data collection, carbon accounting, or report generation?
6. Scalability and customization: Can it grow with your business and adapt to your unique needs?
7. Budget compatibility: Is it cost-effective and within your budget?
8. Additional resources: Does the provider offer helpful resources such as blogs, webinars, or guides to support your sustainability journey?

By answering these questions, you'll be better equipped to find a solution that not only meets your compliance needs but also saves time, integrates seamlessly, and supports your business goals.

Why Coolset is the best choice for sustainability compliance right now

We hope this article has provided some helpful insights into choosing the right sustainability compliance tool for your business.

While each of the platforms mentioned offers valuable features, if you’re a mid-market company in Europe, we strongly believe Coolset is the best solution for your sustainability management and CSRD compliance needs.

Coolset is specifically designed for mid-sized companies, striking the perfect balance between powerful functionality and user-friendliness. You won’t get bogged down with unnecessary features, nor will you feel limited by a basic tool. 

With Coolset, you can conduct your double materiality assessment, collect ESG data, complete ESRS disclosures, and generate audit-ready reports—all in one centralized platform.

Curious to see Coolset in action? Explore our self-guided product tours or request a free personalized walkthrough with one of our product experts today.