What does the CSRD sustainability report mean for organisations?

The arrival of the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) means that a large group of organizations will be required to report on their sustainability policy and performance from 2023. From that moment on, they must have this information checked by an accountant. In this blog we explain what the CSRD means for organizations with more than 250 employees.

What is the CSRD?

In April 2021, the European Union adopted the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The directive is an extension of the existing European directive on sustainability reporting: the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD). This means that the CSRD will apply to all listed companies and to organizations that meet two of these three criteria:

1. More than 250 employees
2. More than 40 million euros turnover per year
3. More than 20 million euros on the balance sheet

The sustainability reporting resulting from the CSRD will help to make the environmental and social impact of business activities measurable and demonstrable. This will provide more insight into the progress of European companies towards the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

To which companies does the CSRD apply?

The obligation of the CSRD will apply to approximately 50,000 companies in Europe, of which approximately 250 are in the Netherlands.

Do other companies then not have to work with this sustainability guideline?

Certainly, because SMEs must also prepare for the directive. It must comply with the CSRD by 2026. This means that SMEs must already arrange in 2024 that they can comply with the sustainability report.

Get started: start with a CO2 footprint

Although the first reporting obligation under the CSRD will apply from 2023, many companies must already prepare or update their sustainability strategy on which the reporting is based in the run-up to this. Just like setting up processes and systems for data collection based on sustainability indicators and guaranteeing the quality of that data.

Are you preparing for the CSRD? Then there is a lot of work for your organization. It means that you have to start reporting on sustainability performance, while you may not have reported so widely before. A good starting point is a CO2 footprint, because a footprint gives you insight into the total CO2 emissions of your organization and the reduction options.

Based on a CO2 footprint you can give direction to the sustainability policy of your organization. Our carbon footprint tool Carbon Manager offers the possibility to calculate a footprint, monitor your data quality, run reports and achieve your sustainable goals.

Knowing more?

Curious about what the Carbon Manager CO2 footprint tool can do for your organization? Request a free demo and try the Carbon Manager for 3 months without obligation.