The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires companies to report their environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact with the same rigor as their financials.
As of 2024, many companies will have to present more detailed and standardized reports, under common criteria defined at the European level.
The goal: real transparency, comparable data and better-informed decisions for investors and other stakeholders.
This is not just about complying with a rule. If you don’t measure, you don’t compete. And if you don’t compete, you’re out.
Throughout the article, we’ll look at what this directive entails, who it applies to, and how to prepare for what’s coming.
The CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) is the European regulation that requires companies to report their ESG information with the same level of detail as their financial data.
It’s not just a change in how reporting is done. It’s a new standard that places sustainability data at the core of business.
The CSRD affects thousands of companies in Europe. It’s no longer just about large groups or multinationals.
It must be followed by companies that meet two out of these three criteria: more than 250 employees, over €40 million in revenue, or more than €20 million in assets.
It also includes listed SMEs and non-EU companies with significant operations within the European territory.
Since January 2024, large companies already under the NFRD must comply.
In 2025, it will be the turn of large companies that were not yet reporting.
In 2026, listed SMEs join in, with an extension option until 2028.
Can we relax? Not really. Deadlines are near, and the work of gathering and analyzing data won’t do itself.
Until now, talking about sustainability was optional. With the CSRD, measuring and reporting is no longer a choice, it’s an obligation.
This transforms the way we manage ESG data: it shifts from being a “nice to have” to a key decision-making tool.
ESG data becomes a strategic asset. It not only helps us comply with regulations, but also improves efficiency, enables access to funding, or helps win new clients.
The CSRD doesn’t only affect the companies that report. It also changes what investors, clients, and suppliers will demand from us.
They want real, comparable, and auditable data. They want to know where the risks and opportunities are.
And if you don’t have them, they’ll look for someone who does.
We are entering a new market logic, where measuring well can make the difference between growth and falling behind.
The CSRD does not settle for generalities. It requires us to report concrete, comparable, and auditable data on everything related to environmental, social, and governance sustainability.
A pretty PDF and generic statements are no longer enough. It’s time to show real impact and how we manage it.
This concept isn’t new, but it’s now mandatory.
What does it mean? That we must analyze the impact of the environment on our business and vice versa.
Not just what affects us, but also how our activity affects the planet, people, and the economic context.
Another key development: ESG reports must be reviewed by an independent third party.
Just like financial statements, ESG data now needs to be validated.
This avoids greenwashing and brings order to information quality.
The CSRD introduces a common language: the ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards).
With these standards, all companies that report will use the same framework.
That allows for comparison across sectors, countries, or competitors.
When we share clear and verifiable information, we gain credibility with investors, clients, and employees.
Companies that report well are the ones that inspire trust. And that translates into opportunities.
Banks and investment funds are already asking for it: if you don’t report your sustainability properly, you won’t get financing.
Complying with the CSRD opens the door to new sources of funding and improves financing conditions.
Often, the biggest risks aren’t in traditional accounting. Regulatory changes, reputation, climate, supply chain...
Complying with the CSRD helps us identify these risks and prepare so we don’t face bigger problems later on.
Complying with the CSRD isn’t just about avoiding penalties. It’s about being ready to compete in markets where this is already the norm.
If we move early, we gain an advantage. If we wait, we lag behind. And who wants to be left behind?
The big issue isn’t having data, it’s having it well-organized, up-to-date, and ready to use.
Many companies still rely on scattered Excel files, emails, and PDFs that can’t be cross-referenced.
How can we make decisions or report if we don’t have a single source of truth?
Not every team has the time or training to handle ESG data rigorously. And if on top of that the rules or standards change, things get even more complicated.
This is where many companies get stuck, not due to lack of will, but due to lack of means.
Sustainability is still kept in a drawer. It doesn’t intersect with finance, procurement, or strategy, and that’s a mistake.
If we don’t connect ESG with key processes, we miss opportunities and limit ourselves to “complying just to comply.”
Dcycle is not a consultancy or an audit.
We’re a tech solution designed to help any company manage its sustainability with clear, actionable data.
Forget about searching through a thousand sources. Here, everything is together and ready to use.
Do you need to report under CSRD, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), ISOs, EINF, or taxonomy?
With Dcycle, you select the use case and generate the reports with the data you’ve already collected.
No need to do the work twice. And no wasting time adapting formats.
When an external verification is requested, everything will be where it needs to be.
With traceability, documentation support, and comparable metrics.
No last-minute scrambles or chaos.
Doesn’t matter if you’re an SME or a multinational.
Our solution adapts to your business, not the other way around.
Because sustainability isn’t just for a few.
It’s for anyone who wants to compete seriously.
If you meet at least two out of these three criteria, you're in: more than 250 employees, more than €40 million in revenue, or more than €20 million in assets.
It also applies if you are a listed SME or a non-EU company with relevant operations in Europe.
The EINF (Non-Financial Information Statement) was the first step. The CSRD replaces it and raises the bar: more detail, more companies affected, and mandatory verification.
In short: what used to be a voluntary report is now a requirement with clear rules.
The ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards) are the official standards for reporting under the CSRD.
They define what information you must provide, how to structure it, and what indicators to support it with. They are the guide so we all report in the same language.
Can you do it manually? Yes. Is it a good idea? No.
Managing ESG data through Excel, emails, or shared folders is a recipe for chaos. A digital solution like Dcycle saves you time, errors, and headaches.
Non-compliance can lead to penalties, loss of access to funding, or being left out of tenders and supply chains.
But beyond fines, the real risk is being left out of the market. Because if you don’t measure, you don’t compete. And if you don’t compete, you disappear.
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