How can sustainability reporting become a strategic advantage?
Despite recent setbacks regarding the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), many companies are wisely continuing with sustainability reporting and GHG accounting. The benefits are clear: greater trust among customers and investors, long-term resilience, and better preparation for future requirements. We support you on your journey towards structured and practical sustainability reporting.
Your situation
More and more companies are having to grapple with regulatory requirements – whether sector-specific, national, or at European and international level. In the field of sustainability and ESG reporting in particular, the regulatory framework is changing rapidly, requiring companies to constantly adapt to new requirements.
At the same time, market pressure is mounting: customers, banks, investors and supply chain partners increasingly expect robust ESG data and transparent information on climate and sustainability issues. Sustainability reporting is thus becoming not just a regulatory obligation, but a key component of a company’s future viability.
Your challenges
Implementing robust sustainability reporting involves a wide range of requirements:
- Assessment of relevant regulatory requirements (CSRD, ESRS, VSME, etc.)
- Conducting a two-stage materiality analysis
- Establishing robust data and governance structures
- Identifying and closing data gaps
- Integrating different business units and stakeholders
- Ensuring the verifiability and consistency of reporting
- Developing efficient processes and long-term reporting structures
What we offer you
Double materiality analysis
- Industry and supply chain analysis
- Identification and engagement of relevant stakeholder groups
- Financial materiality
- (Outside-in)
- Environmental and social materiality (Inside-out)
- We align material impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs) with the ESRS
GAP analysis
- Review of existing reporting processes and content
- Quality assurance of data, documents and processes
- Identification of existing data gaps in relation to the new reporting requirements
- Assessment and prioritisation of the identified gaps
Data management
- Defining the necessary data collection and governance structures
- Defining processes, including responsibilities and systems
- Ensuring auditability
Roadmap
- Formulation of specific measures to address identified data gaps
- Assessment of the measures: effectiveness, priorities
- Development of an implementation roadmap involving all relevant departments
Report generation
- Reporting: Drafting of text for the climate-related sections of ESG reporting
- Data processing; presentation in graphs
What do CSRD and VSME mean for your business?
Although the EU has recently focused its mandatory sustainability reporting requirements more heavily on very large companies, the issue remains relevant for many businesses. Customers, investors, banks and supply chain partners increasingly expect structured ESG data and reliable information on climate and sustainability issues. Those who establish transparency and build structures early on secure a strategic advantage – regardless of whether there is a legal obligation.
The binding framework for companies subject to reporting requirements is the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) within the context of the CSRD. In parallel, the VSME Standard (“Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs”) has been developed as a simplified voluntary standard for small and medium-sized enterprises. It enables a pragmatic entry into sustainability reporting and helps companies to build resilience, better understand risks and address the market’s growing demands in a structured manner.
Why HIC CONSULTING
We’ll show you how sustainability reporting can become not just a legal obligation, but a genuine source of added value for your business. Together, we’ll create clarity on relevant requirements, identify meaningful priorities and develop structures that are sustainable in the long term.
Our interdisciplinary team combines expertise in sustainability, regulation and data management with a pragmatic approach tailored to your business. In doing so, we look beyond mere reporting obligations – with a focus on resilience, future viability and strategic competitiveness.
Highlight Projects
Consultancy on implementing sustainability reporting in accordance with the CSRD
We supported the local public transport authority traffiQ in the conceptual and methodological preparation of its sustainability reporting in accordance with the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). A key component of our consultancy was the conduct of a dual materiality analysis in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), adapted to the specific circumstances of a local authority responsible for local public transport.
Are you looking to structure your sustainability reporting, or are you facing new regulatory requirements? We would be happy to assist you with analysis, strategy and implementation.
