Sustainability reporting has entered a phase of stabilization and simplification. The CSRD remains the European reference framework, while changes arising from the Omnibus package and the ESRS are modifying the timetable and scope for certain companies.
Where does the CSRD stand in 2026?
The first companies have already reported under the ESRS. The timetable has been postponed for other waves. The European Commission has also initiated a reduction in the reporting burden and adopted revised standards in July 2026. The exact scope must therefore be assessed according to each group’s size, status and specific timetable.
What is not disappearing
Even when an obligation is postponed or its scope reduced, demand for ESG data continues: lenders, customers, investors, tender processes and parent companies require reliable information. Preparing sustainability data therefore remains a management and governance issue.
Why consolidation is concerned
Sustainability reporting shares several characteristics with financial consolidation:
- a group scope and inclusion rules;
- data collected from many entities;
- common master data and definitions;
- controls, validations and corrections;
- an audit trail;
- reporting subject to assurance.
However, units, sources and owners are more diverse: tonnes of CO₂, headcount, energy, water, accidents, supplier data and qualitative information.
Main impacts on processes
- align financial and sustainability scopes without confusing them;
- manage methodology changes and estimates;
- document sources and owners;
- organize materiality assessments and controls;
- reconcile ESG indicators with financial data;
- prepare for assurance and digital tagging.
What role can EPM play?
An EPM platform can share entity master data, calendars, workflows, access rights and controls. It does not replace environmental or HR operational systems, but it can become the governance and consolidation layer for indicators.
A pragmatic architecture
- identify the data actually required;
- assign an owner and source to each indicator;
- automate available data flows;
- control manual input;
- retain evidence and assumptions;
- produce cross-checks with finance.
Regulatory simplification should not lead companies to stop the underlying work. Groups that already have a data dictionary, workflow and audit trail will be better prepared for future obligations and stakeholder requests.