ESG in 5 Sustainability News - 23-09-2025
- Eloise Bell
- Sep 23
- 2 min read
Global companies and governments are accelerating their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments, with bold new targets, innovative collaborations, and stronger regulations shaping the sustainability landscape. From corporate giants advancing renewable energy and carbon removal to national mandates tightening climate accountability, this week’s ESG in 5 highlights how business and policy are converging to drive a faster, more transparent transition toward net zero.
Hitachi Digital Services Speeds Toward Stronger ESG Ambitions.
Hitachi Digital Services has published its FY 2024 sustainability impact report, showcasing real momentum toward its ESG targets since becoming a stand-alone business. The company has launched 18 ESG goals for FY 2025—an 80% increase from the previous year. Milestones include 100% completion of sustainable procurement training, full compliance by new suppliers with its Business Partners Code of Conduct, and completing baseline calculations for all Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Mercedes-Benz Powers Up with Major German Wind Farm.
Mercedes-Benz and developer UKA have gained approval to install a 140 MW onshore wind farm at the company’s Papenburg test track, northern Germany. With 20 turbines supplied by Nordex and a long-term power purchase agreement in place, the project — expected to be operational by 2027 — will supply about 20% of Mercedes-Benz’s annual electricity needs in Germany.
IKEA Turns Food Waste into Renewable Fuel.
IKEA’s Ingka Investments has joined BlackRock’s Vanguard Renewables to transform food waste from its U.S. stores into clean fuel. The pilot operates in five locations (Wisconsin, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois), collecting leftover meals and unsellable food from its restaurants and markets. Through anaerobic digestion, waste is converted into renewable natural gas (RNG) and low-carbon fertiliser for local farms. IKEA has also slashed pre-consumer food waste by nearly 50% over seven years—equivalent to ~83,000 meals—and plans to expand the programme nationwide.
Google & Vaulted Deep Advance Carbon Removal + Methane Prevention.
Google has struck a new deal with Vaulted Deep to remove 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ by 2030, certified by the registry Isometric, while also aiming to develop robust methods to quantify methane emissions avoided from organic waste. Vaulted Deep’s process turns food scraps, manure, paper sludge and other organic waste into a carbon-rich slurry, which it then injects deep underground to stop anaerobic decay that produces methane. The collaboration will bring together scientists, engineers and carbon accounting experts to create transparent, verifiable methane reduction protocols.
Spain Mandates Carbon Reporting Under Emergency Climate Plan.
Spain has launched a sweeping Climate Emergency Plan that makes carbon emissions reporting legally required for companies, public bodies, and large event organizers. From 2026, firms must disclose their Scope 1 & 2 emissions covering 2025 data, while Scope 3 emissions reporting becomes mandatory for large entities starting 2028. The plan also requires businesses to publish five-year greenhouse gas reduction strategies. With tougher land-use rules, a new Civil Protection agency, and a €32 billion investment in clean energy and hydrogen, Spain is intensifying both its disclosure obligations and clean transition pace.
