“Do good and talk about it” is a well-known marketing claim. It’s likely why companies hire sustainability managers and make them a part of the communication team. Communicating numbers and progress charts engagingly is an art form.

Reporting regulations are getting stricter every year. Starting in 2025, businesses must publish an ESRS-compliant (corporate) sustainability report if they are already covered by the current regulation (NFRD). More importantly, though, beginning in 2026, all companies that fulfill two of the three criteria listed below must publish a non-financial report.

– More than 250 employees on an annual average

– Balance sheet total > € 20 million

– Turnover > € 40 million

This applies to all European businesses at first but will later be extended to non-EU companies with significant business activity in the EU (turnover of €150 million) if their European subsidiary meets the above criteria. And the pool of companies required to report will grow significantly in 2027 with all capital market-oriented SMEs joining in.

Needless to say, the window of opportunity to use the report as a USP and get ahead of everyone else is closing.

From our experience, the first report is mostly about gathering data and setting up internal processes to create a smooth workflow for the future. Storytelling – in this case – is a cherry on top, yet one that makes us very excited here at NEW STANDARD.S. It’s what we’ve been experimenting with and what we’d like to support you and your company with, too.