The revision of the ESRS is moving forward—but has so far provided little relief. Despite initial simplifications, bureaucratic burdens and legal uncertainties remain high. The BDI is calling for clearer guidelines, the ability to report in a legally compliant manner, a focus on reporting requirements relevant to management decision-making, and greater practicality in order to ease the burden on companies and ensure competitiveness.

The new sustainability reporting requirements under the CSRD can significantly advance the green transition—but only if the reporting burden on companies remains manageable. Therefore, the burden on companies must be minimized as much as possible and be proportionate, both within the framework of the EU Omnibus currently being implemented and in the German implementation of the CSRD.

The BDI has actively contributed to the ongoing discussion on the revision of the CSRD as part of the European Commission’s omnibus package by issuing a position paper. It welcomes the measures presented on February 26, 2025, and is urging swift implementation—as well as further relief for companies.

On January 14, 2025, the BDI, in collaboration with the DRSC (German Accounting Standards Committee), published a brochure on industry-specific materiality analysis to assist affected companies with sustainability reporting under the CSRD.

Der gemeinsame Leitfaden des BDI und DRSC zur branchenspezifischen Wesentlichkeitsanalyse nach der CSRD soll Verbänden bei der Ermittlung branchenspezifischer Auswirkungen, Risiken und Chancen (IROs) sowie den damit verbundenen wesentlichen Nachhaltigkeitsthemen unterstützen und kann auch dazu genutzt werden, branchenweit wesentliche Angabepflichten und Datenpunkte zu identifizieren. Sie kann darüber hinaus berichtspflichtigen Unternehmen auf Basis branchenspezifischer Vorüberlegungen erste Anhaltspunkte für die zwingend erforderliche unternehmensindividuelle Wesentlichkeitsanalyse geben.

The Cabinet has approved the government’s draft bill for Germany’s implementation of the CSRD. The bill essentially provides for a one-to-one implementation of the European requirements. Nevertheless, there remains a need to make further refinements during the parliamentary process. In a webcast, the BDI, together with the DRSC, econsense, and EY, will discuss the changes in the draft and offer further guidance on implementation.

The BDI has provided a detailed response to the draft bill for the German implementation of sustainability reporting, as well as to European draft reporting standards for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Ultimately, the national implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) should be limited to a one-to-one implementation of the European requirements. The SME standards must be redesigned to be practical.

In a joint ESG brochure, the BDI and the German Accounting Standards Committee (DRSC) have compiled the most important information on the new reporting requirements resulting from the upcoming implementation of European sustainability reporting standards. The brochure is intended to provide basic information to the many thousands of companies reporting for the first time and to offer initial ideas for setting up corresponding implementation projects.

In March 2024, the Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) published the draft bill (RefE) for the German implementation of the new European sustainability reporting requirements for large and publicly traded companies. The provisions contained therein essentially constitute a one-to-one implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

With the national implementation of the EU-wide “Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive” (CSRD), many German companies will face new reporting requirements starting in 2024. Here is an overview of the key deadlines and details.