From 2027, around 50,000 companies in the EU will report under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. For many mid-sized businesses it is the first time sustainability data will be audited like financial data.

Who is in scope

You are in scope if you meet two of three thresholds: more than 250 employees, more than €50M in turnover, or more than €25M in total assets. Non-EU groups with significant EU revenue are also included.

Start with double materiality

Before collecting a single number, run a double materiality assessment. It decides which ESRS topics you report on, and auditors will ask to see how you reached your conclusions.

Treat your first CSRD report like your first financial audit. The process matters as much as the numbers.

Get your data audit-ready

Every figure needs a source, a method and an owner. That means moving off spreadsheets and into a system that keeps an audit trail by default.

• Map each data point to an ESRS disclosure

• Assign one owner per data source

• Document estimates and the reason behind them

• Lock periods once they are reviewed

A six-month plan

Month one and two: materiality and scoping. Months three and four: data collection and gap filling. Month five: draft report and internal review. Month six: auditor walk-through and sign-off.