Are firms (getting) ready for the corporate sustainability reporting directive?

Abstract The study examines whether the announcement and passing of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) impacts the sustainability reporting of German firms. It sheds light on the interdependence of various actors, sectors and policy levels by examining how regulatory changes at the policy level affect the reporting practices of firms across multiple sectors. On the one hand, the scope of the CSRD is being extended, so that new firms falling within its scope may increase their voluntary sustainability reporting as part of the preparation process. On the other hand, the reporting requirements will be more stringent, so that firms currently under the mandate of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) may enhance their sustainability reporting disclosure practices in preparation for the CSRD. First, we find no increase in voluntary sustainability reporting by firms that are not under the scope of the NFRD but will be under the scope of the CSRD. Second, we find enhanced sustainability reporting practices by firms that are subject to the NFRD after the CSRD’s announcement and passing. This finding suggests that these firms begin to implement the new reporting requirements before the first reports are published in 2025. We illuminate the preparation for extensive reporting changes through sustainability reporting disclosure practices as an outcome of the preparation process. These changes may represent a high burden, particularly for firms with no previous experience of sustainability reporting.