Robin Dufek’s Post

EU Omnibus Package: A game-changer for corporate sustainability reporting? The EU’s Omnibus Simplification Package is shaping up to be one of the most influential developments for corporate sustainability and ESG reporting in recent years. After months of negotiations, the process is far from over — with the European Parliament still divided over how far to go in simplifying (or weakening) the reporting obligations under the CSRD and CSDDD. Our latest article explores: ✅ The key elements of the proposed Omnibus package ✅ How the “Stop the Clock” Directive (EU) 2025/794 fits in ✅ What the latest political infighting means for companies preparing their sustainability disclosures ✅ And what businesses should expect as trilogues begin later this year As the EU edges closer to finalising its position, this could be a turning point for the future of corporate sustainability reporting and nature restoration. 📘 Read the full analysis by Rebecca Pflanz here: https://lnkd.in/ejyjDs_V #Sustainability #ESG #CSRD #CSDDD #CorporateReporting #EURegulation #SustainabilityReporting #OmnibusPackage #EUParliament #Compliance

🚨Key Moment for Corporate Sustainability in Europe 🚨 This week, the European Parliament rejected the negotiating mandate for the Omnibus proposal, which aimed to simplify obligations under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The vote: 309 in favour, 318 against, 34 abstentions. The proposal will return for a new plenary vote on 13 November 2025. Why it matters: The Omnibus package was designed to reduce the regulatory burden by raising thresholds, delaying timelines, and narrowing due diligence obligations. Its rejection shows that the Parliament is not ready to water down the EU’s sustainability and transparency framework — at least not without deeper debate. For companies, this means ongoing uncertainty about how far simplification will go — and a clear signal that accountability and data integrity remain non-negotiable. From a sustainability and supply chain perspective: As someone working on circularity, sustainable sourcing, and ESG reporting, I see this as a strong reminder that regulatory ambition is still alive — and that leadership in sustainability is built on transparency and credibility. A few reflections: Streamlining processes is positive — but simplification cannot come at the cost of responsibility. For companies already investing in circular models, supply chain traceability, or packaging sustainability, this moment reinforces the value of staying ahead of compliance. The rejection is a signal that sustainability governance is not just about efficiency — it’s about ambition. Those already building strong data and due diligence systems will likely be the ones turning regulatory uncertainty into competitive advantage. In short: The Parliament’s decision shows that Europe’s sustainability agenda is about more than bureaucracy — it’s about trust, data, impact, and fairness. For those of us working in ESG, circular economy, or responsible sourcing, this is not the time to pause — it’s the time to reaffirm and accelerate. 🔎 I’ll be following closely as the revised proposal returns for a November vote. Happy to exchange insights on what this means for packaging, supply chains, and sustainability reporting in the months ahead. #CSRD #CSDDD #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #ESG #Regulation #ResponsibleBusiness

A Step Forward, and a Reminder of the Work Ahead in Sustainability Reporting Efforts to streamline and simplify regulation under the European Commission’s "de-prioritization” agenda reflect a broader attempt to reduce administrative burdens, especially for U.S. and other foreign firms that have long raised concerns about complexity and transatlantic alignment. At the same time, SEC Chair Paul Atkins’ remarks at the OECD Roundtable in Paris underscored ongoing transatlantic dialogue. His comments acknowledged the EU’s commitment to avoid trade restrictions while emphasizing the need to focus on “financial materiality,” ensuring that sustainability reporting complements, rather than conflicts with, efficient capital markets. Together, these developments mark a milestone in global sustainability regulation: recognition that sustainability data must serve both investor transparency and economic competitiveness. The challenge now is to maintain momentum, ensuring that simplification doesn’t dilute substance, and that U.S. and EU regulators continue to converge around high-quality, decision-useful standards. Progress is being made, but the evolution of sustainability reporting is far from complete. #CSRD #ESG #SustainabilityReporting #Regulation #TransatlanticTrade #CorporateGovernance #Disclosure Check out this recent article from the Financial Times, which asks the strategic question: "Reporting absorbs resources, but does it prepare companies for a future in which transparency and accountability are inseparable from market access and innovation?"

📢 Today, as EU lawmakers vote on the Omnibus l “simplification package”, Frank Bold releases its landmark analysis of the first year of companies’ sustainability reporting according to EU legislation and standards. 🧐 Our findings are clear: Europe’s sustainability framework is working.  The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is already driving tangible progress. 📶 Climate transition planning and double materiality assessments are helping companies understand how sustainability issues affect their business and how their decisions impact society and the environment. ⚠️ Yet, just as companies are turning reporting into a management tool, policymakers risk weakening the very rules that make this progress possible. 👉 While gaps remain in climate and value chain transparency, the quantification of financial effects, and reporting on biodiversity impacts and dependencies, these challenges can be addressed by clarifying requirements in the standards and providing sector-specific guidance to companies. 💡The bottom line: continued guidance and iterative improvements, not deregulation, are what businesses need for effective risk management. 🔎 Based on an assessment of 100 large European companies, the report shows how the EU law and standards help companies move beyond compliance and use sustainability data to strengthen business resilience and competitiveness. 💬EU policymakers need to decide whether they want smarter reporting or weaker businesses. 🔗 Read the report http://bit.ly/46ZqoS5 #CSRD #SustainabilityReporting #ESG #DoubleMateriality #EUSustainability #EUPolicy 👇 See what the data reveals

The business of business is sustainability. 🌍 An overwhelming majority of large European companies are using the CSRD not as a compliance exercise, but as a strategic tool to manage risk and create long-term value beyond the next quarter. Frank Bold’s new landmark report offers the first glimpse of how leading European firms are putting the EU’s sustainability rules into practice, and what this means for smarter, more resilient business in Europe. #CSRD #SustainabilityReporting #ResponsibleBusiness #ESG #EUSustainability

⚠️ Europe’s sustainable finance rules are working, but they are at risk. Responsible Companies, Frank Bold’s new analysis shows that the 𝗖𝗦𝗥𝗗 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. 👉 As the EU negotiates the “simplification package”, the data is clear: smarter reporting means better business decisions. 

"⚠️ Yet, just as companies are turning reporting into a management tool, policymakers risk weakening the very rules that make this progress possible. "

See below for a report showing the positive impact of the EU Due Diligence Directive. In contrast, the recent letter from Total, Siemens and 46 other French and German companies calling for deregulation and more or less killing the whole European Green Deal, should be seen in the light of companies lobbying for their own short-term interests rather than EU competitiveness

🚨 EU Parliament Hits Pause on Sustainability Simplification The European Parliament just rejected the Omnibus proposal—a plan to simplify sustainability reporting rules (CSRD) and due diligence laws (CSDDD).The vote: 318 against, 309 for, 34 abstentions. Just 9 votes made the difference. What this means: The proposal goes back to the drawing board. Companies waiting for clarity on reporting requirements will need to stay patient a bit longer. Next steps: MEPs will vote on amendments on November 13, 2025.Bottom line: The EU is balancing business needs with environmental accountability—and it's not an easy line to walk. What's your take? Should sustainability rules be simplified or kept rigorous? 👇 #EUPolicy #Sustainability #CSRD #CorporateResponsibility #ESG #BusinessRegulation #EuropeanParliament #SustainabilityReporting

⚫️Big news from Brussels: The European Parliament has rejected the ⚫️Omnibus package, which would have significantly weakened sustainability and due diligence rules (CSRD & CSDDD). While this means uncertainty for businesses in the short term, it also sends a strong signal: ⚫️ Keep ambition high – the Green Deal’s core must stand. 🟢 Ensure transparent processes – no shortcuts to legitimacy. ⚫ Sustainability first – the transition is not negotiable. For us, transparency and ESG integration are not obligations but strategic necessities. 🟢ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards) set the baseline for corporate ESG disclosure, while ⚫️VSME (Voluntary SME standard) offers a simplified framework for smaller companies. Our answer: We will keep building on validated ESG data, 🟢life-cycle carbon accounting, and circular construction methods as the resilient strategy for the future. #ESG #CSRD #Sustainability #GreenDeal #EquinoxSystem