As global businesses face increasing pressure to act on sustainability, corporate leaders are grappling with how to balance environmental responsibility with commercial success. The race to Net Zero is no longer just a climate goal—it is an essential factor in securing tenders, satisfying customers, and navigating volatile energy markets.

Yet, according to the recent “Mind the Gap” whitepaper by True, powered by Open Energy Market, many organisations are overly confident in their current energy procurement and sustainability strategies. This overconfidence may be obscuring critical gaps that could prevent companies from achieving both their sustainability and commercial objectives.

The whitepaper reveals that, while businesses are eager to embrace sustainability, they must take a more objective and data-driven approach to address these gaps and transform their ambitions into commercially viable actions.

The Strategic Alignment Gap

One of the most significant findings from the whitepaper is the misalignment between finance and sustainability departments. Most business leaders admit to prioritising cost savings over environmental impact when developing sustainability strategies, with only 12% placing equal importance on both. This imbalance often leads to conflicting objectives, where cost-conscious finance teams struggle to align with sustainability leaders pushing for long-term carbon reduction.

The misalignment is compounded by confusion over decision-making roles. The report finds that while CFOs generally claim responsibility for final decisions on energy strategies, sustainability officers often attribute this authority to themselves. This lack of clarity can lead to delays, uncoordinated strategies, and a lack of accountability.

To overcome these challenges, the whitepaper advocates for unified decision-making. Platforms that provide real-time, data-driven insights can help both finance and sustainability teams align their goals and make decisions that are not only environmentally sound but also commercially effective.

The Knowledge Gap

Despite high confidence in sustainability knowledge, many businesses fall short when it comes to understanding the full complexity of energy markets and decarbonisation strategies. The whitepaper reveals that over three-quarters of finance and sustainability leaders report strong Scope 3 emissions knowledge, yet 20% rate their organisation-wide understanding as only moderate.

This knowledge gap presents a significant risk. As energy markets remain volatile, businesses that lack the expertise to navigate fluctuating costs, renewable technologies, and regulatory risks may find themselves at a disadvantage. The report highlights the importance of engaging external specialists and leveraging real-time data to stay ahead of these challenges.

True’s platform offers a solution, combining financial and environmental insights to help businesses track their progress and adjust strategies in real time. This approach ensures that companies can close the knowledge gap and make more informed decisions that enhance both sustainability and profitability.

The Industry Gap

The whitepaper also underscores the divergence of sustainability challenges across different industries. Energy-intensive sectors such as manufacturing, food and drink, and hospitality face unique pressures that require tailored strategies.

For example, manufacturing leaders report concerns about the effectiveness of onsite energy monitoring hardware, while the hospitality industry struggles with a lack of access to specialist energy consultants. These industry-specific pressures mean that a one-size-fits-all approach to Net Zero is unlikely to succeed. Instead, businesses need customised solutions that address their specific challenges while maintaining a focus on sustainability.

True’s platform provides industry-specific insights and solutions, enabling companies to streamline energy procurement and align sustainability initiatives with their unique operational needs. By adopting a tailored approach, businesses in energy-intensive sectors can secure their commercial success while meeting sustainability goals.

The Confidence Gap

Although many companies express confidence in their energy procurement strategies, the whitepaper warns that this overconfidence may be unfounded. While 85% of leaders feel confident in the cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and reliability of their strategies, many admit that a lack of time and resources limits their focus on sustainability initiatives.

This misplaced confidence can hinder progress. The report highlights the importance of basing confidence on measurable outcomes—such as reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency, and demonstrating a clear return on investment (ROI) for sustainability projects. Without clear data, companies risk falling behind in the race to Net Zero.

To address this confidence gap, businesses must have cohesive visibility into their energy procurement and sustainability efforts. Platforms like True enable leaders to track both carbon and commercial impacts, ensuring that sustainability strategies are delivering tangible results.

Closing the Gaps

The whitepaper makes it clear: businesses cannot afford to ignore the gaps in their sustainability strategies. The risks of overconfidence, misalignment, and insufficient knowledge are too great, and the stakes are too high.

However, the report also points to solutions. True, powered by Open Energy Market, provides the tools businesses need to close these gaps. By offering real-time data, expert insights, and an integrated platform, True enables companies to act with confidence and decisiveness. Whether it’s aligning finance and sustainability teams, providing industry-specific solutions, or empowering businesses to track their progress, True helps companies stay competitive while advancing their sustainability goals.

As the energy sector evolves, the opportunities to drive commercial success through sustainability are growing. But business leaders must take a more objective, data-driven approach to ensure they are not left behind.

The path to Net Zero is full of challenges, but with the right tools and strategies, businesses can transform ambition into action—and in doing so, secure both their future and the future of the planet.

About True

True is at the forefront of transforming energy and sustainability for businesses across the UK and Europe. With a vision to save £2 billion in energy costs and reduce 2 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030, Truezero.tech combines cutting-edge technology with expert knowledge to help organisations achieve a commercially competitive path to net zero.