Editor’s Note
This article highlights the regulatory push for corporate transparency in 2025, focusing on new EU rules like the Green Claims Directive that will require firms to substantiate their environmental claims with verifiable data.
The fight against greenwashing will intensify in 2025, driven by regulations such as the Green Claims Directive and the draft Sustainability Information Law (LIES). These measures require companies to back up their sustainability claims with demonstrable data, fostering unprecedented corporate transparency.
In particular, the European Union’s Green Claims Directive will oblige companies to justify their environmental claims, ensuring they are backed by comprehensive and verifiable studies. Meanwhile, the draft Sustainability Information Law (LIES) will require companies with more than 250 employees or a turnover exceeding 8 million euros to report sustainability data verified by an independent auditor.
But this trend is not solely driven by legislation; it also responds to consumer demand. According to a study, over 70% of people would buy sustainable products if they were backed by official certifications.
Sustainability in the supply chain has become a priority for companies and will continue to be so next year. This is partly due to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which requires organizations to assess and mitigate environmental and human rights risks not only in their direct actions but also in their supply chain, promoting fairer and more sustainable practices at all business levels.
Furthermore, global disruptions have underscored the need for resilient supply chains.
In 2025, artificial intelligence will once again be a hot topic, also in terms of sustainability. Indeed, if used ethically, it is a transformative tool in corporate sustainability: it is estimated that good use of AI and broadband could achieve 24% of the SDGs on their own.
For example, in sectors like logistics, AI is already helping to optimize transport routes, reducing carbon emissions and improving operational efficiency. Additionally, the World Economic Forum highlights that AI can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable economy by providing innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges.
The transition to a sustainable economy is revolutionizing the labor market with a growing demand for green skills and experts in different areas of sustainability. In fact, according to the LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report 2024, jobs related to sustainability have grown by 8% annually since 2020.
This is especially relevant in Spain. According to the largest study on national corporate sustainability, 76% of Spanish companies already have a specific sustainability department or manager, reflecting the professionalization of the area.
In 2025, this trend will continue to rise. Roles such as ESG controllers (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and green skills experts will be increasingly in demand.
Sustainable finance has gained relevance in recent years. During 2023, sustainable investment reached 236.894 billion euros in Spain, representing 49% of managed assets, according to Spainsif. And in 2025, it is expected to continue gaining ground.
Specifically, events such as the UN Conference on Financing for Development, which will take place in Seville, will define strategies to mobilize resources towards the SDGs. Furthermore, the Green Book, published in 2024, is expected to further boost the growth of sustainable investment in the coming years.
This will lead to investors demanding more transparency about the social and environmental impacts of their portfolios.
