What is the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)? 

CSRD Meaning

The Corporate Sustainability Directive (CSRD) is an European Union directive designed to enhance the scope and quality of sustainability reporting by corporations operating within the EU. It mandates the detailed disclosure of a wide range of sustainability-related information. The CSRD replaces the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) to meet growing demands for transparency. 

Key Changes from NFRD: 

The CSRD is part of the broader EU Sustainable Finance Framework, and it works alongside the EU Taxonomy and the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) to achieve EU Green Deal goals.

Key element of CSRD reporting:

The key elements of CSRD reporting include mandatory disclosure of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts, risks, and performance using standardised EU criteria. Companies must follow the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), ensure third-party assurance, and provide digitally tagged, comparable data aligned with the EU Green Deal and sustainable finance goals.

Double Materiality

Double materiality allows for a dual focus reporting on how company operations impact ESG factors, and how ESG factors affect business operations. Following the CSRD directive, companies must report on Impacts, Risks, and Opportunities (IROs) related to their operations and value chain.

Objectives and Scope of the CSRD

The objectives of the CRSD are:

The scope of CRSD is:

Who is Subject to the CSRD?

The CSRD applies to all large companies and all companies listed on EU regulated markets, excluding micro-enterprises. The list is estimated to cover approximately 50,000 companies, a significant increase from the 11,000 under the NFRD.

• Companies Under NFRD:
  • Criteria: Publicly listed, employ more than 500 people, and balance sheet > €25 million, or net turnover > €50 million.
• Large Companies:
  • Criteria: Meet at least two of the following:
    • Balance sheet > €25 million
    • Net turnover > €50 million
    • Employee count > 250
• Listed SMEs:
  • Criteria: Listed on EU markets, and meet two or more of:
    • More than 50 employees
    • Balance sheet > €5 million
    • Net turnover > €10 million
• Non-EU Companies:
  • Criteria: Non-EU companies with a significant EU presence, either through meeting any of the criteria above, or:
    • A net turnover > €150 million in the EU for two consecutive years, AND fulfills any of the following:
      • At least one subsidiary in the EU considered a “large company”
      • At least one listed subsidiary on an EU market
      • Has an EU branch with net turnover > €40 million

CSRD Reporting Implementation Timeline

Companies should prepare for full compliance, building robust systems for data collection and reporting.

Phased-In Approach:

NFRD Companies                                                    Listed SMEs

From January 1, 2024                                          From January 1, 2026

First report due in 2025                                      First report due in 2027

Optional two-year opt-out with an explanatory statement

Additional Phase-In Flexibility:

First Year:

Omission of anticipated financial effects from climate and other environmental impacts allowed.

First Three Years:

Qualitative disclosures allowed if quantitative disclosures are impracticable.

Small Entities:

May omit data on GHG emissions, biodiversity, resource use, and social disclosures in first two reporting years.

CSRD Disclosure Requirements

CSRD requires companies to disclose detailed, standardised information on how sustainability issues affect their business and how their operations impact people and the environment. Disclosures must cover key ESG areas—such as climate, biodiversity, social responsibility, and governance—using the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), with mandatory third-party assurance.

Financial and Non-Financial Disclosures

The disclosures can fall under financial and non-financial categories.

Financial Disclosures:

• Traditional financial statements
• Financial implications of sustainability risks and opportunities

Non-Financial Disclosures:

• Environmental matters: Emissions, waste management, resource conservation  
• Social concerns: Employee well-being, human rights, community relations
• Governance issues: Board diversity, executive remuneration, anti-corruption measures

General Disclosure Requirements

Governance	Structures Policies Practices related to sustainability
Strategy and Business Model	Sustainability strategy Objectives Alignment with overall business strategy
Impacts, Risks, and Opportunities (IROs)	Processes for identifying and assessing material impacts Sustainability risks and opportunities.
Metrics and Targets	Specific metrics Targets for sustainability performance.

Conclusion: What is CSRD?

In conclusion, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) marks a major shift in how companies across the EU—and beyond—report on their sustainability practices. By requiring transparent, standardised, and assured ESG disclosures, the CSRD aims to improve corporate accountability, empower stakeholders with better information, and drive the transition to a more sustainable, resilient economy.

CSRD: FAQs