Sustainability consulting in Australia: services, costs and how to choose the right partner

Sustainability is now a business issue, not just a values statement. Australian organisations are being asked to prove progress on emissions, energy efficiency and climate risk, while also protecting margins in a high-cost operating environment. That is where sustainability consulting comes in.

Sustainability consultants help organisations set strategy, measure impacts, meet compliance and reporting needs, and implement practical projects that reduce emissions and cost. For many businesses, energy is the fastest lever because electricity and gas are often a material operating expense and a major source of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.

This guide explains what sustainability consulting includes in Australia, when it is worth engaging a consultant, what to look for when choosing a partner, and how energy procurement and efficiency can support your sustainability goals.

What sustainability consulting means in Australia

Sustainability consulting is professional advice and delivery support that helps a business improve environmental outcomes and manage sustainability-related risks and opportunities. In Australia, this commonly includes:

emissions measurement and reduction planning (carbon accounting, abatement roadmaps)
energy strategy (procurement, tariff optimisation, demand management, renewables)
ESG strategy and reporting support
climate risk and scenario analysis
systems and certification support such as ISO 14001 environmental management
supply chain programs, often focused on Scope 3 emissions and supplier engagement

Some consultants focus on strategy and reporting. Others specialise in implementation such as energy efficiency upgrades, on-site generation, building optimisation, or operational change programs. The best fit depends on what you need to achieve in the next 6 to 24 months.

Why businesses engage sustainability consultants

Australian businesses typically engage sustainability consultants for one or more of these reasons:

Meeting stakeholder expectations and winning work

Many tenders now require sustainability responses. Property owners and major customers often expect evidence of emissions reductions, renewable energy procurement or credible transition plans. A consultant can help produce defensible claims, improve tender responses and avoid greenwashing risk.

Preparing for climate-related disclosure requirements

Climate-related reporting is increasing in Australia, especially for larger organisations and those connected to capital markets. Even when your organisation is not directly in scope, suppliers may be asked to provide emissions data and climate risk information. Consultants help set up governance, data and reporting processes so requests can be met with confidence.

Reducing energy spend and operational risk

Energy costs can move quickly due to wholesale volatility, network tariffs and regulatory changes. Sustainability programs that include energy procurement and efficiency can deliver measurable cost reduction and improve budgeting certainty, while supporting emissions targets.

Building a credible net zero pathway

Many organisations have made net zero or emissions reduction commitments. The challenge is turning them into a practical plan, with projects prioritised by cost, feasibility and impact. Consulting support can help you define baselines, select targets, stage projects and track outcomes.

Core services offered by sustainability consultants

Service offerings vary, but most sustainability consulting programs include a combination of the areas below.

1) Baseline assessment and materiality

This step clarifies your starting point and what issues matter most for your industry and stakeholders. It may include a review of:

energy use, bills and tariffs
direct emissions sources, for example gas, refrigerants or fleet fuel
key ESG risks and opportunities
regulatory and customer requirements

2) Carbon accounting and emissions inventories

Carbon accounting is the process of calculating greenhouse gas emissions, usually across:

Scope 1, direct emissions from sources you own or control, such as gas combustion, fuel use and refrigerants
Scope 2, indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating or cooling
Scope 3, other indirect emissions across the value chain, such as purchased goods, business travel, waste and freight

Many organisations start with Scopes 1 and 2 because electricity and gas data is typically available and reduction options are clearer, then expand to Scope 3 as data improves.

3) Sustainability and ESG strategy

A sustainability strategy ties your targets and initiatives to business priorities and resourcing. It typically covers:

governance, roles and accountability
target setting and transition planning
KPIs, data systems and reporting cadence
priority initiatives, owners and budgets

4) Net zero roadmap and abatement planning

A net zero roadmap takes you from baseline to target with staged actions. Strong roadmaps are practical, they prioritise measures by payback, implementation complexity, and operational impact. A typical sequencing is:

no-regrets efficiency improvements
tariff and demand optimisation
electrification where practical, for example heat pumps, electric process heat where feasible
renewable electricity procurement, on-site solar or off-site renewable products
residual emissions management, which may include offsets where appropriate

5) Energy and decarbonisation projects

Energy-related work is often where sustainability consulting delivers the fastest commercial impact. It can include:

electricity and gas contract review and market testing
network tariff analysis and demand charge optimisation
energy audits and building tuning
solar, battery storage and onsite generation feasibility
power factor correction and power quality improvements for suitable sites
ongoing monitoring using interval data

6) Management systems and certification support

Some organisations pursue ISO 14001 to formalise environmental management. Consultants can support:

gap assessments
documentation and process design
training and internal audit preparation
external certification readiness

How sustainability consulting connects to energy procurement

For many organisations, purchased electricity is a major part of their emissions footprint. It is also a major cost line. That is why sustainability consulting often overlaps with energy procurement and energy management.

In practice, energy-focused sustainability work usually involves two streams:

Reducing consumption, through efficiency projects and better operational control.
Improving the emissions intensity of supply, through renewable electricity products, onsite solar, or procurement strategies that align with your reporting needs.

Procurement decisions can also affect your reporting position. For example, the way a renewable electricity product is structured can change whether and how it can be counted toward your Scope 2 reporting approach. Your sustainability advisor should be able to explain this clearly, or work with a specialist who can.

What sustainability consulting costs in Australia

Pricing varies widely based on scope, complexity and whether delivery is included. As a guide, sustainability consulting can be priced as:

Fixed scope project fees, common for footprints, strategies, or roadmaps.
Day rates, common for advisory support, stakeholder workshops or interim sustainability roles.
Ongoing retainers, common for reporting cycles, monitoring and continuous improvement.

Key cost drivers include the number of sites, availability of energy and emissions data, whether Scope 3 is included, and whether you need assurance-ready documentation.

How to choose a sustainability consulting partner

Sustainability is full of jargon. The best way to choose a partner is to focus on evidence, methodology and practical delivery.

Look for clear outcomes and deliverables

Ask what you will receive at the end of the engagement. Examples include an emissions inventory with sources, assumptions and calculation steps, a prioritised abatement register, a board-ready roadmap, and a measurement plan.

Check data capability and energy literacy

In many sectors, energy is the biggest lever. A good partner should understand tariffs, demand, interval data, and how energy contracts work. If they do not, ensure they have a clear integration plan with an energy specialist so you do not end up with a strategy that is disconnected from your operational reality.

Ask how they manage greenwashing risk

Make sure the consultant is comfortable with evidence-based claims and can help you avoid statements that cannot be substantiated. This matters for marketing, tenders and stakeholder communications.

Confirm knowledge of Australian market settings

Your consultant should be able to work within Australian energy market conditions, including state-by-state differences, the National Electricity Market context, default offer reference pricing for small customers, and the way network charges can drive bills.

Prioritise implementation support

Strategy alone does not reduce emissions. If you need delivery, choose a partner who can support business cases, vendor selection, project management and measurement.

Common pitfalls in sustainability consulting programs

Starting with offsets before efficiency: it is usually cheaper and more credible to reduce consumption first.
Not aligning finance and operations: sustainability needs procurement, facilities and finance involvement to be implementable.
Using estimates where data is available: smart meter and billing data can materially improve accuracy.
Ignoring network tariffs and demand charges: these can drive costs even when usage falls.
One-off reporting with no system: reporting should be repeatable, not rebuilt from scratch every year.

Where Zembl fits in

Zembl is not a generalist sustainability consultancy. We specialise in the energy side, helping Australian businesses reduce energy spend and support emissions reduction goals through better procurement and practical energy insights.

If your sustainability program includes energy as a priority, Zembl can support you with:

reviewing electricity and gas bills to check tariffs, rates and contract settings
comparing market offers and running a procurement process suited to your size and risk profile
identifying cost and consumption drivers using meter and billing data
connecting you with energy efficiency partners for audits and upgrade pathways

Next steps

If you are assessing sustainability consulting options, start by clarifying what problem you are solving: compliance readiness, customer requirements, cost reduction, or a net zero roadmap. Then ensure your approach includes energy, because it is one of the few areas where sustainability outcomes and financial outcomes often align.

To review your energy position and identify opportunities to lower costs while supporting emissions reduction, explore Zembl’s resources on electricity comparison and business energy, or speak with a Zembl Energy Expert for a bill review.

Related Zembl guides

General information only, not legal or financial advice. Requirements may vary by organisation, state and sector.