Advisory

From EMAS to CSRD: Strengthening Sustainability Reporting

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In a step toward streamlined sustainability reporting, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), in collaboration with Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) and Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA), has identified key synergies between the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
Contents

With CSRD mandating large companies to report under European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) from 2024 and listed SMEs as of 2026, with the additional possibility of voluntary opt-out until 2028, this alignment aims to reduce compliance burdens and eliminate duplicate reporting. Essentially, the analysis highlights how companies already using EMAS can leverage their environmental statements to meet CSRD requirements, particularly in areas such as energy, emissions, water, biodiversity, material use and waste. By mapping reporting overlaps, this initiative provides a structured pathway for businesses to optimise their sustainability disclosures while ensuring regulatory compliance.

What are the key synergies between EMAS and CSRD?

  • EFRAG’s publication highlights key areas of correspondence and identifies potential synergies between the disclosure requirements of the EMAS and CSRD regulations. The primary objective is to help organisations streamline compliance with both frameworks, preventing double reporting and minimising additional costs.
  • Companies already reporting under EMAS can leverage their reporting capabilities to fulfill ESRS environmental disclosure requirements due to several similarities between the two regulations. In more detail, the document outlines high-level mappings of these correspondences, focusing on the alignment between EMAS and the ESRSs. Partial correspondence has been identified for most of ESRS 2, E1-E5, and S1-2 Disclosure Requirements.
  • The level of assurance provided by EMAS meets the limited assurance requirements of the CSRD, and it is recommended that companies base their CSRD-aligned statements on their EMAS reports.

 

What key actions can result from the synergy between EMAS and CSRD?

Companies reporting under EMAS can leverage this Regulation as a basis for developing sustainability statements that align with the CSRD disclosure requirements, particularly those outlined in the environmental ESRSs.

Understanding how companies report under EMAS can help in guiding the reporting according to CSRD requirements, namely for ESRS 2 and ESRS E1-E5.

 

How can Grant Thornton Luxembourg help you?

Our team of experts in Sustainability and ESG can assist you to:

  • Leverage EMAS for CSRD Compliance - by mapping existing EMAS disclosures to ESRS requirements and identifying additional disclosure needs.
  • Streamline Reporting Processes - by optimising current EMAS frameworks to align with CSRD requirements, particularly for ESRS 2 and ESRS E1-E5.
  • Ensure Assurance Readiness - by utilising EMAS audit trail as a base to meet CSRD’s limited assurance requirements.
  • Develop a Tailored Roadmap - to transition to CSRD compliance efficiently.
  • Enhance CSRD Knowledge - by providing training sessions for management and employees on integrating broader sustainability reporting practices aligned with CSRD.


Contact

If you wish to understand how you could best implement sustainability practices in your organisation, please contact Dara Kelly, Partner - Co-Lead Advisory, or Shane Quinn, Director - Advisory.