What is CSRD?
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is part of the Green Deal, the European Union’s plan to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and to protect human rights.
This legislation requires companies to prepare a sustainability report. In this report, they must explain what risks they have identified, what they are doing to address them, and how they plan to improve.
At each step in their supply chain, companies must demonstrate the risks related to the environment, human rights, and good governance, also known as ESG report (Environmental, Social, Governance).
The most significant and likely risks must be included, especially if they could damage the company’s reputation.
But the CSRD also presents opportunities: it helps companies to look ahead, work more sustainably, and be stronger in the future.
For whom?
Following the Omnibus proposal, CSRD legislation now only applies to companies with over 1,000 employees and a net turnover exceeding €450 million. Large companies (Wave 1) began reporting in 2025. Following the implementation of the Omnibus adjustments, they must reassess whether they are still in scope. Companies that had to start reporting in 2026 (wave 2) and 2027 (wave 3) under the previous CSRD obligations receive an additional two-year postponement. If they remain in scope, they will start reporting in 2028 (wave 2) or 2029 (wave 3).
What is the role of GS1?
A major part of sustainability reporting is based on reliable product data.
As a neutral and international organisation, GS1 supports the creation of uniform rules for capturing and sharing product data. This allows GS1 to play a key role in ensuring consistency of data definitions and calculation methods.
GS1 develops a common language that can be used worldwide.
This helps companies to work better together, and to streamline product data flows, making the supply chain more transparent.