Companies covered by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will not only have to prepare a compliant report, but also have it audited. The audits are an independent assessment of whether the claims in the sustainability report are factual and based on the established norms.

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Summer is just around the corner, but this year it is not an off-season for those involved in ESG reporting. What updates can you expect on the European sustainability front in the coming months? Here we give you the key points.

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Update: on 26 February 2025, the European Commission published its EU Omnibus proposal to simplify sustainability legislation. Read our more recent article about it here.

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In the summer of 2023, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) received final approval. Those standards will determine how large European companies must report on ESG (environment, social and governance) issues from 2025 onwards. In this article, we explain the cross-cutting reporting standards ESRS 1 and ESRS 2, which lay down the general requirements for sustainability reporting, and introduce double materiality as a concept.

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Update: on 26 February 2025, the European Commission published its EU Omnibus proposal to simplify sustainability legislation. Read our more recent article about it here.

At the end of 2022, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the new European directive on sustainability reporting, came into force. 50,000 companies across Europe have to provide insight into their activities’ impacts on both people and the environment. What companies are we talking about? What and when do you need to report? And how do you leverage the CSRD for your business? You can read all about this here.

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Update: on 26 February 2025, the European Commission published its EU Omnibus proposal to simplify sustainability legislation. Read our more recent article about it here.

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CSRD-regulated companies have to report on their impacts, risks and opportunities linked to biodiversity and ecosystems, if and when biodiversity is material (relevant) to their business operations. So it’s high time to zoom in on this reporting standard: does it apply to your company? And how do you tackle biodiversity as a strategic topic?

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Update: on 26 February 2025, the European Commission published its EU Omnibus proposal to simplify sustainability legislation. Read our more recent article about it here.

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Companies subject to the European reporting requirement (NFRD or CSRD) must disclose how much of their turnover and expenditure is ‘sustainable’. What is and isn’t sustainable is defined within the EU Taxonomy. This European sustainability bible, launched in 2020, will enter into force in phases.

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Update: on 26 February 2025, the European Commission published its EU Omnibus proposal to simplify sustainability legislation. Read our more recent article about it here.

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On 24 May 2024, the Council of the European Union approved the Corporate SustainabilityDue Diligence Directive. From 26 July 2027, the first companies will berequired to protect human rights and the environment in their global supplychains.

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Update: on 26 February 2025, the European Commission published its EU Omnibus proposal to simplify sustainability legislation. Read our more recent article about it here.

Both Vandemoortele and Oxfam Fair Trade won awards at the Best Belgian Sustainability Reports ceremony. This was great recognition for their sustainable efforts!

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Busy preparing your sustainability report? Be sure to keep an eye on the latest trends and standards. That way, you create a report with impact.

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