The EU Green Deal, initiated in 2020, has led to several critical directives that aim to promote sustainability, transparency, and accountability for companies operating in Europe and globally. Here are the key directives related to corporate sustainability:
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD):
- This directive requires companies to be transparent about their sustainability efforts and report their data in a manner similar to financial reporting.
- The reports will eventually need to be audited, ensuring credibility and accountability. The CSRD applies to a broad range of companies, including large corporations and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in certain cases.
- European Sustainability Reporting Standard (ESRS):
- The ESRS provides guidance on how to report sustainability data. It defines around 1,000 data points that companies need to consider.
- A materiality analysis is essential for determining which data points are most relevant to each company’s specific risks and impacts. Companies are encouraged to go beyond these predefined points and assess other potential risk areas related to sustainability.
- Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD):
- This directive emphasizes corporate responsibility, particularly that of boards and executives, to ensure due diligence systems are in place for all sustainability data.
- It presents challenges, particularly in Asian supply chains, where data verification and transparency can be more difficult to ensure. The directive places responsibility on companies to ensure that suppliers meet sustainability standards and that the data they provide is reliable.
Scandic Sourcing’s Role
- CSRD Resource Center: Scandic Sourcing offers a resource center to assist companies with reference information and tools for preparing sustainability reports under the CSRD and ESRS frameworks.
- Support for SMEs: They assist small and medium-sized enterprises with sustainability reporting using GRI, CSRD, and ESRS formats, helping them navigate the new requirements effectively.
- Support for Larger Companies: Scandic Sourcing helps larger companies audit their supply chains for sustainability, focusing on verified and transparent data, particularly in complex regions like Asia. This includes their Supplier Code of Conduct Program, which ensures supplier compliance with sustainability standards.
If you need assistance or have questions about sustainability reporting, supply chain audits, or compliance with these directives, you can contact Scandic Sourcing at sourcing@scandicsourcing.com