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Here's what these 3 European sustainability guidelines will get you

More and more entrepreneurs are facing European rules on sustainability. Maybe not directly - but indirectly, yes. Big customers ask you for data, banks want to know how sustainable your company is. And then it is useful to understand what is involved and what you can gain from it.

The EU has introduced three directives that together set a new standard in corporate sustainability:

  1. The CSRD requires large companies to report on their sustainability performance.

  2. The EU Taxonomy defines what is truly sustainable and helps companies and investors make targeted choices.

  3. The SFDR sets requirements for banks and investors to be transparent about sustainable investments.

They interlock: financial institutions use data from CSRD reports, companies use the taxonomy to assess which activities are sustainable - and you as a supplier are asked to provide that data.

Why this could also be your advantage

You may not fall under the CSRD yourself (yet). Yet you will have to deal with it. Large customers have to report and ask you, as a supplier, for figures. Banks use this information to determine financing requirements. If you wait, you will eventually have to act - under time pressure. If you act now, you can use it strategically.

"Companies that look beyond the rules benefit from sustainability. They build stronger customer relationships and improve their competitiveness."

Judith IJszenga, 2BHonest

Benefits of being proactive:

  • You will become more attractive to clients covered by CSRD.

  • You will increase your chances of getting funding and grants.

  • You will save costs by becoming more sustainable in a timely manner.

  • You will discover where your business opportunities lie in the sustainable economy.

👉 Also read: This is what understanding sustainability gets you: 10 benefits

Practical example: from burden to opportunity

Bakker Metaal (fictional) supplies steel components to construction companies. When customers asked for carbon data, they decided not to wait but to take action. They calculated their emissions, identified savings opportunities, implemented an energy management system and engaged with their supply chain. Thanks to their standard sustainability reporting, they won new contracts and saved €45,000 a year on energy.

What to do next?

1. Check your position
Do you fall under CSRD yourself? Or your customers? Look closely at the chain.

2. Map out what you are already doing
Do you have a CSR policy? Do you know your carbon emissions? What data are customers already asking for? This roadmap can help you.

3. Start reporting
Use simple formats. CSR Netherlands will soon be releasing templates based on the VSME.

4. Choose your first steps
See where you can make quick gains - in terms of COâ‚‚, materials or social impact. Make a schedule.

Not taking action? These are the risks

Waiting carries risks. Customers may switch to suppliers who do offer insight. You can miss out on funding. And last-minute adjustments are more expensive than structured steps.

👉 Also read: Not keeping track of your sustainability: these are the risks

And above all: see it as an opportunity