CEOs Plan to Boost Sustainability Commitments in 2025: Report

A new report from the UN Global Compact and Accenture shows that 98% of CEOs plan to maintain or increase their sustainability commitments in 2025, signaling that corporate decarbonization efforts are becoming embedded in core business strategy rather than being treated as discretionary initiatives. The study highlights digitalization as a key enabler of low-carbon transformation across manufacturing, transportation and industrial sectors.

According to Eryn Devola, vice president of sustainability, Siemens Digital Industries, companies are moving beyond high-level climate pledges and toward structural changes in how they operate. “Organizations are redesigning production, logistics and energy systems simultaneously,” she said. “Digital tools make it possible to evaluate trade-offs, optimize performance and align sustainability goals with economic returns before capital is deployed.”

One of the most immediate impacts is in renewable energy planning. Mercedes-Benz, which aims to power all global operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2039, is using a digital energy twin to simulate the integration of on-site solar generation, battery storage and grid electricity. The approach has cut planning timelines by up to 50%, while improving alignment between energy supply, production requirements and emissions targets.

The report underscores that efficiency improvements remain essential to meeting climate goals. The industrial sector must reduce energy demand by as much as 25% by 2030, according to the study. Devola cited Pikolin, a Spanish mattress manufacturer, as an example of how data-driven visibility can translate into measurable gains. By building a digital twin incorporating more than 30,000 data points, Pikolin reduced energy consumption by 14%, lowered natural gas use by 40% and increased productivity by 30%.

Electrifying industrial heat—one of the most emissions-intensive processes in manufacturing—is also gaining traction. Breitenburger Milchzentrale, a German dairy producer, replaced fossil-based heat systems with hybrid electric-gas units, cutting hundreds of tons of CO₂ annually and generating savings of approximately €300,000 per year. “These projects demonstrate that decarbonization and cost efficiency are increasingly aligned,” Devola said.

Digitalization is also reshaping sustainability outcomes at the product-design stage, where up to 80% of a product’s environmental footprint is determined. Devola pointed to Becker Marine Systems, which uses digital simulations to optimize ship propulsion components. Its Becker Mewis Duct technology delivers up to 10% annual energy savings and has already helped avoid an estimated 19 million tons of CO₂, with a payback period of less than 12 months.

In aviation, digital-first development models are setting new benchmarks for low-carbon manufacturing. US-based JetZero is designing blended-wing aircraft through a fully virtual engineering process, using digital environments to test and validate designs long before physical assembly. The company estimates the approach could reduce fuel consumption by up to 50%, while significantly shortening development cycles.

Devola said companies that integrate digital tools into their decarbonization strategies are better positioned to manage cost volatility, meet investor scrutiny and comply with tightening regulatory standards. “Digitalization has become the backbone of sustainability,” she said. “When businesses can simulate outcomes and predict emissions with precision, sustainability shifts from aspiration to execution.”