Breaking the ESG Data Bottleneck: How ULTRUS™ UL 360 Streamlines Workflow and Auditability for Sustainability Teams

The ESG data crunch: Rising expectations

Sustainability professionals are under increasing pressure to deliver accurate, transparent, and timely environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data. Yet despite growing expectations from regulators, investors and internal stakeholders, many organizations are still struggling with the basics of ESG data management. According to Deloitte’s 2024 Sustainability Action Report, 57% of executives cite data quality as the top ESG data challenge, and 88% report it as one of their top three challenges. Additionally, 81% of executives say they face difficulties with documentation and internal controls, such as review, sign-off, and validation of ESG data — processes that are well established in financial reporting but still maturing in sustainability reporting. (Source)

This disconnect between ambition and execution is creating a bottleneck. Disconnected systems, manual workflows and unclear ownership structures are slowing down ESG progress and increasing the risk of errors, missed deadlines and audit failures. For many sustainability leaders, the reporting cycle feels like a constant scramble without meaningful improvement.

Disconnected teams, disjointed tools

Consider the experience of a sustainability director at a global enterprise organization. This professional is responsible for coordinating ESG disclosures across multiple regions and departments. Each team uses different tools and processes — some rely on spreadsheets, others on legacy systems. There’s no standardized workflow, no clear ownership and no way to track progress in real time. Every reporting cycle feels like starting from scratch.

This is where ULTRUS™ UL 360 software from UL Solutions transforms the ESG data collection and reporting experience.

Designing ESG workflows that work: Flexibility meets function

UL 360 software offers powerful workflow capabilities that help sustainability teams streamline ESG data management — especially when working with content management system (CMS) forms, audit records and ESG disclosure data. The platform features a dynamic workflow editor that allows organizations to design custom processes tailored to their structure and needs. Admins can define workflow states (like draft, review or approved) and transitions (such as submit or reject), assigning user roles to each stage. These workflows are intelligent and adaptable: logic hooks can be embedded to skip or reroute steps based on specific data values. For instance, if a record is marked “urgent,” it can bypass intermediate reviews and go straight to final approval.

This flexibility is particularly valuable for managing complex hierarchies. UL 360 software supports role-based access at any level of the organizational structure, enabling someone to act as an environmental data approver in one region and a social data provider in another. Escalation pathways can also be automated — if a task remains in a given state too long, the system can escalate it by notifying line managers or triggering alerts through HR system integrations. This proactive approach helps prevent bottlenecks and keeps ESG initiatives on track.

While this flexible workflow engine is available for CMS forms, audit records and ESG disclosure data, the core sustainability data collection process uses a more structured approach. UL 360 supports multi-level data entry and approval (e.g., contributor > approver), with clearly assigned user roles at each level. This structure enables consistency and accountability in collecting quantitative sustainability data.

By combining flexible workflows for complex disclosures with structured processes for core data collection, UL 360 software serves as a comprehensive tool that meets the diverse needs of sustainability teams.

Precision at scale: Modular workflows for ESG disclosures

The ULTRUS™ UL 360 software’s ESG Disclosure module takes workflow management even further by enabling organizations to assign individual disclosure questions to specific subject matter experts, each with their own tailored mini workflow. This modular approach allows different parts of a disclosure to be reviewed and approved in parallel, significantly accelerating the reporting process. Once individual responses are finalized, they are reintegrated into the main disclosure workflow for final approval. The module supports customizable workflows, granular user permissions and built-in data checks to help provide high-quality, auditable ESG data management aligned with frameworks like the CDP, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

Permissions are also highly configurable. UL 360 software allows organizations to define individual access controls, including who can edit data, update evidence links or manage workflow transitions. These permissions are tied to an alert engine that notifies users when action is required, helping teams stay on task and on time.

Audit-ready by design: Transparency and traceability

A critical attribute of sustainability data is auditability. In an era of increasing regulatory scrutiny and stakeholder expectations, being able to prove the integrity of ESG data is non-negotiable. UL 360 software offers a comprehensive audit trail for every action in the system. Every change is timestamped, every user action logged and every data source traceable. Whether it’s editing a report, importing a document or updating a workflow, the system captures it all.

For external audits, UL 360 software offers a seamless workflow: auditors can be onboarded with read-only access, giving them full visibility into the system without compromising data security. This not only simplifies the audit process but also builds trust with investors, regulators and other stakeholders.

Beyond compliance: Empowering ESG leaders

Our UL 360 software doesn’t just help sustainability professionals manage ESG data — it empowers them to lead with confidence. By transforming fragmented workflows into streamlined processes and turning audit chaos into clarity, UL 360 software enables organizations to move from reactive compliance to proactive sustainability leadership.

For those tasked with driving ESG performance in a complex, fast-moving world, that’s not just software — it’s a strategic advantage.