CSRD: the new frontier of corporate transparency

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Sustainability

May 29, 2026

CSRD: the new frontier of corporate transparency

Previously considered the sole measure of corporate success, financial statements are losing prominence, and sustainability is assuming strategic importance

The corporate world is undergoing an unprecedented transformation in how it communicates its value to society. While previously a company’s success was measured almost exclusively by financial statements, today sustainability has taken center stage strategically. At the heart of this change is the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), a European Union directive that not only redefines the reporting of non-financial information but also establishes a new global standard that has already begun to cross the Atlantic and knock on the doors of Brazilian companies.

The CSRD is the direct evolution of the former Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD). It arose from the European Union’s need to channel investments into sustainable activities, as part of the “European Green Deal”. The central objective is simple, yet ambitious: to place sustainability reporting on the same level of rigor, comparability, and auditability as traditional financial reporting.

Unlike voluntary frameworks of the past, the CSRD introduces the concept of “double materiality”. This means that companies must not only report how climate change affects their business, but also how their operations impact the environment and people. It is a two-way street that requires full transparency about the risks and opportunities linked to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance).

The adaptation in Europe

In Europe, the implementation of the CSRD follows a strict timeline that began in 2024 for the largest companies. The European bloc understood that, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the capital market needs reliable data to differentiate companies that truly adopt sustainable practices from those that merely engage in “greenwashing”.

European companies are investing heavily in data collection systems and internal governance. Through the EFRAG (European Financial Reporting Advisory Group), the European government has established detailed standards that standardize what must be reported. Non-compliance or the delivery of inaccurate data now entails reputational risks and legal sanctions, elevating sustainability from the “marketing” level to the “compliance and audit” level.

The Brazilian landscape

A European rule may seem distant from Brazilian reality, but the effect is immediate and cross-sectoral. There are three main fronts connecting Brazilian companies to the CSRD:

  • Subsidiaries of European companies: Brazilian companies belonging to European groups must provide detailed data for the consolidation of their parent companies’ reports;
  • Supply chain: whether you export to Europe or supply a European giant, you are part of “Scope 3”. The CSRD requires European companies to monitor their global value chains. That is, if your client in Germany needs to report their carbon footprint, they will require you, a Brazilian supplier, to present your numbers;
  • Foreign investment: global investors are using CSRD criteria as a benchmark for capital allocation. Brazilian companies wishing to raise funds abroad will need to speak this “new language”.

How Brazilian companies should prepare

The moment is not for panic, but for active preparation. Brazil already has a growing alignment with international standards (such as those of IFRS/ISSB), which facilitates the path, but the depth of CSRD requires new steps.

Firstly, it is essential for companies to perform a gap analysis (gap analysis) to understand what data they already have and what still needs to be mapped. Governance needs to be strengthened: sustainability can no longer be restricted to an isolated department; it must be at the Board’s table and integrated with the financial directorate.

Furthermore, technology will be the great ally. Collecting emissions data, waste management, and diversity throughout the entire production chain requires robust management systems. Transparency will be the new competitive asset: companies that anticipate and present solid reports will find it easier to maintain international contracts and attract strategic partnerships.

Cost of opportunity

The CSRD should not be seen merely as a new bureaucratic obligation or an additional cost. For Brazilian companies, especially in sectors such as agribusiness, energy, and manufacturing, it represents a golden opportunity. Brazil has a clean energy matrix and unique biodiversity; knowing how to report these assets from the CSRD perspective can position our companies as global leaders in the low carbon economy.

The message is clear: the global market is changing the rules of the game. Those who understand CSRD not just as a technical norm, but as a tool for strategy and long-term solutions, will be the protagonists of the new sustainable economy.

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Who wrote this column

Rodrigo Thomaz

Especialista em negócios, pessoas, sustentabilidade, governança e marketing, tem mais de 13 anos de experiência em organizações de grande porte. Atua de forma sistêmica na liderança de projetos estratégicos, na estruturação de indicadores para a tomada de decisão executiva e na articulação com stakeholders complexos. É fundador do Instituto Rumo, onde liderou iniciativas de alto impacto socioeconômico, e atua como consultor e articulador institucional, com foco em inovação, eficiência organizacional e geração de valor sustentável no longo prazo.

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