Sustainability Reporting: What Changes with the New EU Directive

With the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 16, 2025, the Directive 2025/794 of the European Parliament and Council, which amends previous directives 2022/2464 (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive - CSRD) and 2024/1760 on due diligence, has come into force. The aim is to introduce a more gradual and sustainable timeline for the implementation of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) reporting obligations. The two-year postponement affects companies that would have had to comply with the new rules starting from January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, thus including numerous entities that have so far been considered priorities in the sustainable transition. This regulatory revision is part of a broader simplification package (Omnibus Package), which aims to rebalance the administrative burden without compromising the sustainability objectives set by the European Green Deal.

The new reporting obligations apply to large companies classified as public interest entities that have more than 500 employees, including parent companies of large groups with consolidated figures exceeding this threshold. However, the new directive, accommodating the requests of professional and business categories, opens a significant window for the spread of voluntary reporting, especially for SMEs and micro-enterprises. In this context, the updated document by the National Council of Accountants (CNDCEC) titled "ESRS VSME. Voluntary sustainability reporting for SMEs and micro-enterprises", reinterprets the initial draft standards in an evolutionary way considering the novelties of the Omnibus package. The approach aims to integrate sustainability and governance into administrative and accounting policies (OAC), making communication with stakeholders more accessible and straightforward.

The document from CNDCEC proposes a model that relates the topics of sustainability with corporate governance, considering the impact of ESG factors (environmental, social, and governance) in defining long-term strategies. It starts with the awareness that integrating sustainability into business processes is not just a regulatory requirement, but a fundamental lever for business continuity, competitiveness, and access to credit. In this context, ESG reporting serves as a dialogue tool between the company and its stakeholders, not only useful for measuring impacts and risks but also for identifying new growth opportunities. Therefore, a voluntary and proactive approach to reporting is desirable, allowing companies to prepare consciously for the full application of standards, mitigating the risks arising from abrupt or non-shared changes.

According to the CNDCEC, the European Commission's objective is rightly to confirm the fundamental principles of sustainability, while offering businesses a clearer and more accessible regulatory framework. However, the risk of underestimating the effects of regulatory instability remains high. Non-gradual changes can themselves constitute an ESG risk, which must be anticipated and managed within business processes. In a global economic context marked by geopolitical tensions, protectionist policies, and inflation, the ability of companies to demonstrate their resilience through transparent and value-oriented reporting will become increasingly central. For this reason, business consultants must also be ready to support companies in this transition, transforming regulatory obligations into strategic tools.

This article was created as part of the "Biodiversity services EU expansion" project (CUP: E43D22000480009) under the Lombardy Region's "PR FESR 2021-2027 – INTERNATIONALIZATION LINE 21-27" call, aimed at supporting the internationalization of Italian companies. 3Bee is the naturetech company that develops innovative technologies for monitoring, protecting, and regenerating biodiversity, helping businesses define customized climate strategies based on analyzing their impacts and dependencies on nature. With a consolidated portfolio in Italy, Germany, and France and significant partnerships, 3Bee continues its expansion in international markets to create a tangible impact through technology.