By Riley Kaminer
In just four years, SustainaBase went from being a promising South Florida startup to a key player in corporate sustainability reporting. Now, the company is taking an even bigger leap, joining forces with ISS-Corporate, a global leader in governance, risk management, and sustainability solutions. The acquisition of SustainaBase signals the increasing importance of carbon accounting as businesses face growing pressures to meet stringent environmental regulations.
Founded in 2020 in West Palm Beach, SustainaBase made its mark by providing companies with the tools to accurately track and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As climate change regulations have tightened, businesses of all sizes have been pushed to deliver more transparent carbon data.
SustainaBase’s co-founder and CEO, Gaida Zirkelbach, recognized this need early on. The company’s software allows businesses to automate the complex process of GHG emissions reporting, particularly around Scope 3 emissions — the indirect emissions generated by a company’s supply chain.
While many companies have scrambled to meet the requirements of new environmental laws like California’s SB 253 or the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, SustainaBase was already ahead of the curve. Zirkelbach and her team designed their platform to adapt to the ever-evolving regulatory landscape, making it easier for companies to manage their environmental footprint. The result? A tool that tracks emissions while also helping businesses build a robust data infrastructure for long-term sustainability reporting.
For ISS-Corporate, the acquisition of SustainaBase fits well into their broader mission of helping companies navigate the complexities of governance and sustainability.
“SustainaBase’s SaaS platform will deliver a holistic carbon accounting solution to our clients, providing an additional pillar of support over the course of their sustainability journey,” commented ISS-Corporate’s Head, Marija Kramer, highlighting the synergy between the two companies.
In her view, the acquisition strengthens ISS-Corporate’s position as a comprehensive resource for companies looking to align their business practices with shareholder expectations and regulatory requirements.
The deal also comes at a time when the spotlight on corporate responsibility has never been brighter. Investors, consumers, and governments alike are demanding greater accountability from businesses, especially when it comes to their environmental impact. By joining ISS-Corporate, SustainaBase gains access to a global network of resources, allowing them to scale their operations and reach thousands more companies across North America, Europe, and beyond.
Zirkelbach expressed her excitement about this next chapter for her company. “We are thrilled to partner with Marija and the entire ISS-Corporate organization to help thousands of companies develop, manage, report, and act on their carbon footprint with credible, auditable data,” she said in a statement.
“With this exciting combination, companies will have precise GHG data they can count on to make informed business decisions, along with a full suite of solutions to meet growing regulatory and voluntary needs,” Zirkelbach continued.
But beyond the technology and regulatory compliance, the heart of the story is about the rise of a South Florida startup that identified a crucial problem in the corporate world and built a solution that attracted global attention. The acquisition shows the strength of the Miami metro area’s growing climatetech ecosystem, which recently received a $19.5 million government grant.
What began as a local startup’s mission to improve carbon reporting has now become a global initiative to help companies around the world reduce their carbon footprint.
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