Our Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive approach

The EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is transforming the sustainability reporting landscape. As part of the CSRD there will be 12 sector agnostic European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs) to apply, requiring disclosures on E, S and G including over 120 metrics. Almost 50,000 companies are subject to the CSRD, including non-EU companies which have subsidiaries operating within the EU or are listed on EU regulated markets in accordance with ESRSs.

Even companies with longstanding experience in sustainability reporting will likely require advancements in their ESG data collection, processing, and reporting systems.

With our insights from years of sustainability reporting, KPMG professionals have developed a fast-track readiness assessment to evaluate companies’ level of CSRD maturity.  We are able to identify relevant ESG data gaps, benchmark CSRD maturity against peers, and create a clear strategy and a concrete roadmap to CSRD compliance.

With the first CSRD reports due in 2025 — for companies with year-ending 31 December 2024 — the clock is ticking, and companies need to assess whether they are prepared now. 

The CSRD extends to topics which few companies have had contact with as part of prior sustainability reporting. Next to ESG risk management, social challenges like the treatment of workers – within organization and along their value chain – are also part of the new CSRD. This expansion results in the mandatory disclosure of over  hundreds of metrics and targets, which require input from stakeholders in organizations’ upstream and downstream value chain. In addition there will be a mandatory groupwide limited assurance requirement. 

KPMG professionals have developed a fast-track readiness assessment to evaluate companies’ level of preparedness for the new CSRD. We can identify key gaps in data availability, benchmark performance against peers, assess the impact of the new standards on the organization, and help you create a clear strategy and a concrete roadmap to be ready for the 2024 deadline. Our five-phase approach can help you embed the CSRD requirements in your organization while, at the same time, help you seize ESG-related opportunities.

As companies’ ESG performance comes under increasing scrutiny, sustainability reporting is going mainstream. Keeping track of, and adapting to evolving sustainability regulations has become a critical strategic priority. Leveraging our approach to CSRD, can help you in many ways including but not limited to:    

• Setting ESG targets and determining the key metrics to meet existing and future regulations
• Understanding the impact of ESG factors on the business, and demonstrating how a circular, net-zero, people-friendly business model can create competitive advantage
• Establishing a cross-functional governance structure to collect, report and approve ESG data
• Considering investing in ESG data management, with appropriate processes and controls
• Preparing for mandatory limited assurance of ESG reports