Sustainable communication
CSRD - The EU's new regulations for sustainability reporting
On January 1, 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) were launched. The purpose of the new EU directive is to raise the quality standards for sustainability reporting and integrate it with financial reporting. Are you aware of what CSRD means for your company?
The regulation is comprehensive and impacts all three areas of sustainability work: environment, social, and governance. With CSRD, sustainability reporting transitions from low requirements for data quality and structure to demands for verifiability and third-party auditing.
The implementation will occur in four phases:
- Fiscal year 2024: Companies already subject to sustainability reporting requirements (listed companies with more than 500 employees).
- Fiscal year 2025: Companies meeting two of the following criteria: at least 250 employees, €50 million in revenue, and €25 million in total assets.
- Fiscal year 2026: Listed small and medium-sized enterprises, small and so-called non-complex credit institutions, and captive insurance companies, as well as non-EU companies with at least one subsidiary in the EU generating at least €150 million in revenue. Micro-enterprises will have an extension until the fiscal year 2028.
- Fiscal year 2028: Companies headquartered outside the EU will also be covered by the CSRD. These companies will complete their fiscal year in 2028 and report in 2029.
The Global Reporting Initiative e (GRI) has been involved in developing the standards. This means that companies that have reported in accordance with GRI will recognize the structure.
Sustainability reporting
In Sweden, companies and organizations that meet at least two of the following criteria are required to prepare a sustainability report:
- More than 250 employees
- Revenue exceeding 350 million SEK
- Total assets exceeding 175 million SEK
However, there are significant advantages to sustainability reporting for smaller companies as well—not due to legal requirements, but because it is strategically smart.
A sustainability report is an effective tool for driving the issue internally, as well as for building the brand.
We help you structure the report according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a standard applied by the majority of companies and organizations. It is a global standard for reporting economic, environmental, and social impacts. Companies can either fully adhere to it or draw inspiration from it, but either way, it always serves as a solid foundation.
A relevant sustainability report becomes more than just an effective tool in sustainability efforts; it also fosters internal pride and strengthens the brand.
Strategic sustainability communication
Being able to communicate your sustainability work in a clear and credible way is more important than ever. Stakeholders demand to know how you are working on the issue and it is perhaps more important than ever to get the communication right.
It may seem obvious that balance, clarity and transparency are preferable to greenwashing and sweeping descriptions. Yet we’re seeing too much of the latter – and it’s affecting both your brand and your company’s valuation. Legislation is also tightening in this area and it is important to navigate correctly.
We help you ensure strategic sustainability communication that both drives change and strengthens your brand.
Storytelling and other texts
With stories we create credibility and context, fill the brand with meaning and show what we really mean with all the nice descriptions, fancy powerpoints and graphs.
We often meet companies that do lots of good things, but forget to share their acheivments or hide it in bureaucratic documents in someone’s drawer. What a waste! There is a lot of power to be found in stories, both internally and externally.
Get in touch and tell us what you’re doing, and together we’ll bring out the stories!
Find the right tone
Most companies engage in sustainability in various ways, but are you effectively communicating the impacts of your sustainability efforts both internally and externally?
With a kick-start, you can get up and running quickly!
- We conduct a competitor and market analysis, as well as a current communication analysis.
- A half-day workshop to define your desired state and positioning.
- We develop a concrete and clear communication strategy and action plan that helps you reach customers, employees, future hires, owners, suppliers, and the media.
