CSRD: From Compliance Burden to Strategic Advantage

In her keynote at SoS.25, Dr. Katharina Grimme, EMEA Sustainability Research Lead at IDC, highlighted a crucial shift: CSRD is not just about compliance—it’s about value creation.

While many companies still perceive the CSRD as a burden, IDC data shows it’s a powerful lever for strengthening resilience, reducing risk, attracting talent, and gaining competitive advantage.

Key insights from IDC’s research:

1. 5 stages of CSRD readiness—from “Preparing” to “Aligned”
2. Only 11% of companies are currently fully prepared
3. Sustainability delivers measurable value: 90% say it reduces risk, 78% say it lowers costs, 82% say it increases revenue

Dr. Grimme’s clear message: “Lean into the headwinds”—use technology, build internal alliances, and embrace regulation as a driver for impact and transformation.

The challenge is real. So is the opportunity.