Sustainability Reporting in the EU: Challenges, Changes, and Opportunities

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BIOFIN webinar: Sustainability Reporting in the EU: Challenges, Changes, and Opportunities

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) represents a fundamental change to the way companies report on sustainability-related issues such as climate change, biodiversity, stakeholders, and business conduct in line with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs). This is one element of an effort by the EU to become the global leader in sustainable business transformation, with the CSRD operating alongside other pieces of legislation such as the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

Feedback on the first iteration of the ESRSs has resulted in the publication of draft amended standards in July 2025. ILSI Europe is hosting a webinar about how these changes may impact your reporting obligations in the coming years, and to gain an understanding of the interplay between the various legislative requirements developing at a supra-national level.

The session will be led by Dr. John Garvey and Ellen Jordan, both from the University of Limerick (UL), bringing academic knowledge and applied research perspectives.

Dr. John Garvey is a Senior Lecturer at the UL and BIOFIN-EU coordinator. He specialises in market systems and technology. He is an expert in risk management and finance, specialising in market systems, technology, and innovation in risk transfer and insurance. Dr. Garvey’s academic research includes volatility forecasting using high-frequency financial data, risk management in policymaking systems and innovation in risk transfer and insurance. His research has been disseminated to national and international media and general audiences as well as technical audiences in the policy and academic communities.

Ellen Jordan is a PhD researcher at the UL, specialising in the ability of EU-mandated sustainability reporting requirements to protect and restore biodiversity. Her background is law and accounting, providing an interdisciplinary perspective on the impact of increased regulation on sustainability practices, particularly in the context of large organisations subject to the CSRD.

Their presentations will cover:

  • An introduction of BIOFIN-EU objectives and remit.
  • A breakdown of the CSRD and the ESRSs – who the directive applies to, the outlook for the directive’s application over the next few years, interplay with EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, Non-Financial Reporting Directive and other regulations at an EU level.
  • A detailed explanation of the ESRSs, focusing on the standards that are most relevant to food industry.

A discussion on preliminary findings of how Irish companies are responding to the CSRD’s implementation as of January 2024 will follow. A live Q&A Session will close the webinar giving participants the chance to put their questions directly to the experts. 

This webinar is designed for professionals in the food industry who are involved in shaping, implementing, or communicating sustainability strategies within their organisations:

  • Sustainability & ESG teams, responsible for aligning company practices with EU sustainability requirements.
  • Corporate strategy & risk management, assessing how regulatory changes affect long-term planning and competitiveness.
  • Supply chain, procurement & sourcing, ensuring agricultural and raw material sourcing aligns with new disclosure standards.
  • R&D, product development & innovation, understanding how sustainability reporting frameworks connect to product claims and design.
  • Public affairs, communications & corporate responsibility, translating reporting obligations into stakeholder engagement and brand reputation.
  • Senior management & board members, overseeing compliance and strategic positioning in the context of EU sustainable finance regulations.

Register here!

Languages:

English