Freelancing with Purpose: Bhaarat Verma on Navigating the Green Gig Economy

A candid look into the freelance sustainability space, where Bhaarat Verma shares how versatility, trust, and value creation reshape how independent sustainability consultants drive impact.

Bhaarat Verma, Freelance Sustainability Consultant

We spoke to Bhaarat Verma, an independent sustainability consultant whose work moves fluidly across ESG strategy, responsible investment, regulatory reporting, and brand communication. In a landscape where job descriptions rarely capture the whole picture, Bhaarat has carved out a career that bridges gaps and builds trust, often from the outside. His reflections are part of our Green Job Chronicles series spotlighting independent voices shaping the future of climate work. The conversation sheds light on what happens when consultants bring depth, clarity, and a big-picture mindset.

1. What inspired you to pursue freelancing in sustainability consulting? Was there a defining moment that pushed you toward independent advisory work?

I would not say there was a single defining moment. Sustainability consulting is a broad field, and roles tend to be quite specialised in the job market. It's either in sustainability strategy, carbon accounting, health, safety, etc. However, my skill set covered more than one area, and the typical job descriptions did not reflect that. As a freelance consultant, I have the flexibility to do more. Work on sustainability strategy, get involved in communications, branding, and regulatory disclosures. It brings more variety and is enjoyable. It lets me bring a more integrated approach to my work, rather than being boxed into a single discipline.

2. Your work spans responsible investment, sustainability Strategy, ESG reporting, sustainability branding and communication. Can you walk us through your journey and the key transitions that shaped your freelance career?

I started out in responsible investment, a space where investors drive the sustainability agenda to prevent risk and unlock opportunities in their investments. A big part of how they do this is through their relationships with their portfolio companies. I wanted to understand how that plays out from the company’s perspective. How they receive investor requests, meet expectations, and navigate that dialogue. That led me to collaborate directly with companies on everything from sustainability reporting and investor relations to meeting formal ESG requirements to building sustainability programs. Seeing both sides of that dynamic has been invaluable. I also worked with communications and branding agencies, which was eye-opening. In sustainability, messaging is not just about being smart or creative. It needs rigour. People scrutinise sustainability claims, often with scepticism. Understanding how sustainability communications differ from traditional branding has been a key part of my work so that companies can avoid accusations of greenwashing or, in extreme cases, fines for misrepresentation.

3. Freelancers often juggle multiple projects. How do you maintain efficiency while ensuring meaningful impact in your work?

As a freelancer, managing your time is everything. Unlike a traditional job where extra hours here and there might be manageable, freelancers have multiple clients, and every hour spent on one project can potentially belong to another. That is why it is crucial to set clear expectations upfront. Define your availability, communicate your capacity honestly, and be direct when work is assigned. Instead of just saying yes to everything, you need to check: Do I have time? Can I realistically deliver this? Has the client understood the work they are asking for and allocated the correct amount of time? Ongoing conversations about deadlines and workload help maintain balance and prevent burnout. Without that clarity, it is easy to become overcommitted, underpaid, and stretched too thin.

Instead of just saying yes to everything, you need to check: Do I have time? Can I realistically deliver this? Has the client understood the work they are asking for and allocated the correct amount of time?

4. How can sustainability freelancers build credibility and stand out against established consultancies to secure contracts and prove their value?

Cost is a factor, of course, but it is not enough. What makes a difference is showing who you have worked with and the depth of your experience. Freelancers often gain exposure to major clients by working through consultancies. That experience is valuable and worth highlighting, as having seen how big firms operate, freelancers can offer the same level of service with more flexibility and at a lower cost.  Also, big consultancies often try to productise their services, applying a standard approach across multiple clients. But many companies need a more bespoke approach. Someone they can engage with directly, who understands their unique needs. Freelance consultants offer that advantage. They are more hands-on, more accessible, and the person you meet at the interview is the person you hire and who delivers the work.

Showing decent stints with clients, repeat work, and providing references when needed also play a part in being able to compete in the market. Lastly, tenure is an asset. The industry continues to evolve, sometimes quite significantly, and having firsthand experience across different moments in its development is a real asset, one that many newer consultancies do not have.

5. What pricing strategies tend to work well for freelance ESG consultants, particularly when balancing competitive rates with the complexity of sustainability expertise?

Sustainability consulting comes in different levels, which dictate pricing, yet in the freelance world, companies sometimes overlook that, expecting extensive work for minimal pay. Freelancers need to assess each opportunity realistically instead of sticking to a flat rate. If a project is priced too low, it is okay to decline it rather than undervaluing your expertise. The bigger challenge is unrealistic expectations from clients, especially in sustainability. Sometimes, clients ask for highly skilled consultants with complex deliverables but offer rates that don’t recognise this. In these cases, it’s worth having a direct conversation, explaining market rates and the type of consultant they would need to deliver the work. Some companies do get it and price work competitively, while others try to stretch budgets too far. At the end of the day, it comes down to simple market economics. If you want high-quality, strategic sustainability work, you have to invest in it. It is common for clients to seek work for a rate that is too low, find no one suitable, and then come back to you with the higher rate you were asking for.

6. The green gig economy is gaining traction globally. Do you see freelancing as a driving force behind sustainable business models?

Sustainability consulting is a transitional role as companies build their internal sustainability capabilities. Many organisations have not fully developed in-house sustainability functions yet or face gaps when key team members leave. That is where consultants fill the vacuum and keep things moving forward. My view on whether the green gig economy is a driving force behind sustainable business models is that it is not. This is because I do not see sustainability as a discipline that can be fully outsourced to freelancers in the same way others can be. In fact, one of the most important success factors for any sustainability program is having a constant, consistent, and visible person/team in charge of the work and all things sustainability at a company.

7. What trends in sustainability consulting do freelancers need to be aware of to remain competitive and impactful?

Regulatory shifts in sustainability have been evolving for decades, but they are coming into fruition now. Companies need to comply. However, compliance alone is insufficient and certainly does not excite company leaders. Many sustainability professionals focus entirely on the ‘risk’ angle, which is only half the equation. The real opportunity lies in shifting the conversation toward value creation, ensuring sustainability is not seen as a compliance burden but as a strategic advantage. This notion of unlocking value through sustainability is gaining traction, turning ‘sustainability’ into a commercial driver rather than just a box to check. Companies are beginning to realise how sustainability can reduce costs, improve tender success, and drive corporate strategy. It remains a cost burden if companies limit their sustainability approach to just ticking those boxes. But when they broaden the conversation, they can explore opportunities to optimise, compete, grow, and outperform.

8. Some freelancers specialise in areas like carbon accounting or supply chain sustainability. Do you think there is an advantage to niche expertise, or is versatility more valuable?

Expertise is valuable. Sometimes a company just needs a specialist for a specific task. However, even with deep expertise in one area, sustainability professionals must have a broad understanding of how sustainability connects across a business. Sustainability is not siloed; it shows up in HR, IT, procurement, finance, and strategy – everywhere in a company. A good consultant sees the bigger picture, connecting divergent functions and identifying opportunities beyond their immediate scope. It is about looking at the puzzle from above, helping clients recognise interdependencies and ensuring that sustainability efforts are truly integrated. Often, that means guiding clients toward the right internal teams or even collaborating with other specialists. It does not have to be your job to execute every piece, but it is your job to understand the whole landscape and make informed recommendations. The best sustainability consultants do not just work within their niche; they bring people together to create an integrated program.

9. As freelance ESG consultants navigate evolving regulations, how do you stay ahead of compliance shifts and best practices?

Sustainability news is everywhere. LinkedIn alone is saturated with real-time updates, especially on regulatory shifts like CSRD. Staying on top of compliance changes is surprisingly achievable just by following industry conversations online. Market trends, however, require a broader lens. Publications like Responsible Investor, ESG Today, and Bloomberg’s ESG section help capture these movements, but the reality is that ESG is not a separate category; it is deeply embedded in everything. Global events, elections, and conflicts all ripple into ESG, influencing corporate strategies, energy markets, and financial decision-making. Higher energy costs in Europe can squeeze consumer spending, forcing companies to rethink costs and margins. ESG professionals must continuously interpret these dynamics, not just track headlines but decode their implications for business. Understanding sustainability is not just about following regulations or trends; it’s about seeing how the world moves and anticipating how those shifts shape business decisions.

10. ESG freelancing comes with unique risks, whether shifting regulations, corporate greenwashing, or balancing client demands with ethical sustainability. In your experience, what are the biggest challenges freelancers face in this space, and how can they navigate them while ensuring real impact?

Preventing greenwashing and reporting are, of course, fundamentals. However, sustainability consulting is not about technical expertise. It is about managing relationships. One of the biggest challenges consultants face is navigating internal stakeholder dynamics. Most companies do not have full buy-in across the board. Rarely does an entire leadership team say, Yes, sustainability—let’s go! The consultant’s role is to build trust and buy-in, pushing where appropriate but knowing when to ease off, allowing space for stakeholders to get comfortable. Even when you onboarded a client and built momentum, disruptions can happen – a merger, redundancies, or a major new product/service launch. At times like these, sustainability can often get deprioritised. A consultant’s job is not to prevent these realities but to maintain the program and restart it fully at the right time. If progress stalls, keeping the client informed ensures expectations are managed, preventing frustration when deliverables slip. It’s about transparency, ensuring clients understand the challenges, value the work, and remain engaged, even when sustainability is not top of their agenda. Sustainability consulting isn’t about doing the work and billing; it is about advising, guiding, and being accountable for the work.

A consultant’s job is not to prevent these realities but to maintain the program and restart it fully at the right time.

11. Are certain industries more open to working with freelance sustainability professionals than others? Where are the biggest opportunities right now?

Some industries are naturally more open to consultants, like creative fields, where seasonal work drives demand for freelance professionals, including sustainability consultants. Consulting firms, too, often experience fluctuating workloads, making them more amenable to bringing in external experts. Beyond that, it is less about specific industries and more about timing. Companies often realise that hiring full-time sustainability professionals takes time. And needs often arise quickly, making freelance consultants an attractive solution, especially for senior-level expertise. They can step in immediately, provide strategic support, and keep things moving while the company hires in the background. One area where freelance sustainability consulting is growing is sustainability software solutions. As companies adopt new tools for reporting and compliance, independent consultants are increasingly stepping in to help implement and optimise these systems.

12. Looking ahead, what is one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting in sustainability freelancing? Anything you wish you knew earlier?

If you are starting out in sustainability freelancing, be opportunistic, strategic, and proactive. Opportunities can land through job boards, but they can also come from networking and contacting people on LinkedIn. You can also grow existing work. Clients value freelancers who function as thought partners rather than just service providers. Build good relationships when you are on a job, spot opportunities, and provide recommendations so that you are at the top of your mind when the need arises. Most importantly, be approachable and friendly. Sustainability consulting often requires navigating complex stakeholder relationships; a positive, engaging presence makes all the difference. The stronger your connections, the more sustainable your freelance career will be.